Author: Michael

The 2023-24 NFL season kick-off is almost here! OutKick is unveiling its team-by-team preview series. Last week, we covered the AFC and NFC West. This week, we’re tackling the AFC and NFC North, continuing with last year’s runner-up in the NFC North, the surprising and upstart Detroit Lions.
Detroit Lions 2022-23 Record: 9-8

Detroit Lions 2023-24 Win Total Over/Under: 9.5

Offseason Moves
The Detroit Lions biggest weakness in 2022 was pass defense. And that came down, mostly, to a horrifically-bad secondary. So, they went to WORK in free agency to change that.

Episode 2 of Hard Knocks digs a little deeper. In the first episode, we saw a lot about Aaron Rodgers. Tuesday night, we learned more about the supporting cast.
Here are my five fantasy takeaways from Episode 2:
1. This defense is going to be a problem.
Quinnen Williams — “Q Ball” — looks every bit the defensive star and has a $96-million smile. At one point, Rodgers looks at the camera and holds up two fingers to signify the 11 sacks Williams created vs. the Panthers during a scrimmage last week.

The New York Jets offense has enough stars to light Broadway but coach Robert Saleh’s unit right now features a lot of glitter and glamour but no glue.
No foundation.
No settled offensive line.

Updated #Jets offense:
QB: Aaron RodgersRB: Breece HallRB: Dalvin CookRB: Michael CarterWR: Garrett WilsonWR: Corey DavisWR: Allen LazardWR: Mecole HardmanWR: Randall CobbTE: CJ UzomahTE: Tyler Conklin
Powerhouse. pic.twitter.com/4kz2MVXzHJ
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) August 14, 2023

Many big names on the New York Jets offense.

England’s relentless run to the pinnacle of women’s soccer continued Wednesday with a 3–1 win over Australia in the 2023 Women’s World Cup semifinals.
A year after winning the country’s first European championship, England booked a ticket to its first Women’s World Cup final. Awaiting the Lionesses will be an enticing matchup with Spain, which defeated Sweden in Tuesday’s semifinal. 
England started off on the right foot with Ella Toone’s goal in the 36th minute.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
The Lionesses get over the hump at the cost of the hosts.
A sold out crowd at Stadium Australia in Sydney left with disappointment on Thursday as England knocked out the host nation with a 3-1 in the semifinals of the women’s World Cup.
Dominating every phase of the game, England was tactically more sound for the entire evening and more poised tactically. Australia’s inability to mount a consistent attack started their downfall, and numerous defensive failings sealed the deal.

It’s been a long time for the Longhorns, 14 years between league championships, but they are the favorites to win the Big 12 in their last season in the league.

Texas is the favorite to win the Big 12 in its last season in the league.

Football is in the air, and after another summer filled with headlines about realignment and NCAA policy, it’s important to remember that the players are what make this whole thing go. Here are SI’s standouts heading into the 2023 season.
First Team
QB: Caleb Williams, USC
The USC superstar will try to do what has proven elusive since 1975: repeat as Heisman Trophy winner. He’ll have the stage and the relevancy to do so.

For a minute there, it looked like the shared vision of the Chargers and Khalil Mack for 2022 was about to play out in a very, very big way.
Set opposite Joey Bosa, easily the best bookend Mack has ever had, the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year registered three sacks in the opener against the team that drafted him. What’s more, it was back-to-back sacks from him and Bosa that closed the Raiders out. It was, as those guys saw it, just the beginning. Or so they thought.
“It was like a high.

Anthony Richardson makes his money playing in the NFL, and that’s good because his outlook as a rapper is definitely not elite.
The fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was officially named the starting QB Tuesday morning for the Colts. Fans are eager to see what he can do on the field.
Richardson has a strong arm and is a freak of nature athlete, but he’s also incredibly raw. The former Florida QB will go through some serious growing pains.