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DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions' 2024 schedule was released along with the rest of the NFL slate on Wednesday.
The Lions will be back in the spotlight as they're on the hunt to try and claim their Super Bowl championship.
After winning their first division title since 1993, Detroit is no longer catching the league by surprise. However, the Lions are back after a busy offseason where they reshaped the defense and reached multiyear contract extensions with foundational offensive pieces WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, OT Penei Sewell and QB Jared Goff.
The Lions will be tested right away in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, a rematch of their 2023 wild-card playoff victory on Sunday Night Football.
Detroit will head to Dallas in Week 6, travel to Lambeau Field for Week 9 against division rival Green Bay on Nov. 3 and go up against the 49ers in a rematch of the NFC Championship Game in Week 17.
Here's what's in store for the Lions:
Lions 2024 regular-season schedule
Week 1: Sept. 8 vs. Los Angeles Rams (SNF)
Week 2: Sept. 15 vs. Tampa Bay
Week 3: Sept. 22 at Arizona
Week 4: Sept. 30 vs. Seattle (MNF)
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: Oct. 13 at Dallas
Week 7: Oct. 20:at Minnesota
Week 8: Oct. 27 vs. Tennessee
Week 9: Nov. 3 at Green Bay
Week 10: Nov. 10 at Houston (SNF)
Week 11: Nov. 17 vs. Jacksonville
Week 12: Nov. 24 at Indianapolis
Week 13: Nov. 28 vs. Chicago
Week 14: Dec. 5 vs. Green Bay (TNF)
Week 15: Dec. 15 vs. Buffalo
Week 16: Dec. 22 at Chicago
Week 17: Dec. 30: at San Francisco (MNF)
Week 18: TBD vs. Minnesota*
*Date for Week 18 is to be determined
Strength of schedule: .509 (11th-toughest)
Over/under: 10.5
Biggest takeaway
When the NFL schedule was announced in 2023, the Lions were originally scheduled for four prime-time games, which was a huge deal. Now, following up on that record-setting season, Detroit is set for five in 2024, in addition to their annual Thanksgiving Day game versus the Bears on Nov. 28.
Including the playoffs, the Lions were 5-1 in prime-time games this past season (4-1 regular season). In three seasons under coach Dan Campbell, Detroit is 6-2 in prime-time games (5-2 regular season).
Revenge game
Sure, the Lions won 12 games in 2023 -- which tied for the most wins in a single regular season in franchise history, originally set in 1991. But the pain of falling one game shy of reaching their first Super Bowl, after blowing a 17-point halftime lead in the NFC Championship Game to the 49ers, still stings.
Sewell says he has watched the game at least 10 times and is using it as fuel for the upcoming season.
"Honestly, I watch that game a lot," Sewell said during a news conference for his contract extension on April 29. "I let it burn, just because of how close we were, but I watch it a lot, not only from that standpoint, but just trying to get better and seeing what went wrong and what we could work on. So, yeah, I say this all the time, it's on. It's simple as that."
The Lions will have a shot at redemption versus San Francisco during a Monday Night Football showdown on the road on ESPN/ABC before the end of the regular season, where they hope to be gearing up for another playoff run.
Bold prediction
Detroit will win the NFC for the first time in franchise history. After experiencing a heartbreaking loss to the 49ers on that same stage last season, the Lions return with the right mentality and have added the right pieces to punch their first Super Bowl ticket.
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BOSTON -- — Yandy Díaz snapped a sixth-inning tie with a two-run single and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Taj Bradley (1-1) pitched five solid innings in his second major league start this year, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
“I felt good,” Bradley said. “I felt like it wasn’t my best stuff with the fastball, not being able to command, but I was happy to get through those five innings.”
Kevin Kelly fanned two in a perfect ninth for his second career save and first this season.
Wilyer Abreu and Rafael Devers homered for Boston. Tanner Houck (3-5) allowed three runs — one earned — and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three.
The right-hander tossed a career-high 112 pitches, most by a Red Sox starter since Nick Pivetta threw 112 in his shutout against Houston on May 18, 2022.
“Too many walks (and) too many counts I fell behind led to a higher pitch count and led to more traffic on the bases,” Houck said. “Free passes between the three walks and the hit batter. Too many free passes from my end.”
Richie Palacios and José Caballero hit consecutive one-out singles off Houck in the sixth. After striking out Ben Rortvedt, Houck was replaced by right-hander Greg Weissert. Jose Siri tied it with a single before Díaz's base hit gave Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead.
“We hung in there on some at-bats, certainly Yandy’s was the biggest one,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Weissert, that guy is tough, tough on righties, tough on lefties, having a great start to his season. So, happy that Yandy got a breaking ball and was able to give us a two-run lead.”
Devers hit his fifth homer of the season in the bottom half.
Boston opened the scoring in the first when Jarren Duran led off with a double and scored on Connor Wong’s sacrifice fly.
Tampa Bay got a run in the fourth on an error by first baseman Garrett Cooper.
Abreu hit his fourth home run leading off the bottom of the inning.
“We didn’t do much,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We put pressure toward the end there but it wasn’t enough. It started off well and it was good to see Raffy getting one there, but overall didn’t do enough.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: LHP Jeffrey Springs, who has not pitched since April 2023 following Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to make his first rehab start Monday in the Florida Complex League. … INF Brandon Lowe, out since April 9 with a right oblique strain, was pulled from his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Durham after experiencing soreness in his injured oblique. Cash said Lowe would rejoin the team and resume swinging a bat before going back out on a rehab assignment. If all goes well, Lowe could be reactivated next week.
Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock, on the injured list since April 17 with a left oblique strain, went 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Worcester. He is expected to be activated early next week to start at Tampa Bay.
UP NEXT
The teams wrap up their series Thursday, with Tampa Bay looking for its third win in the four-game set.
RHP Zack Littell (2-2, 3.02 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Rays. Although he pitched in two games for Boston last season, it will be his first career appearance at Fenway Park.
RHP Cooper Criswell (2-1, 2.10) starts for Boston in his first career outing against the Rays. He pitched for Tampa Bay from 2022-23.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
