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Lions opener buzz, Tigers' late-season series, Michigan's QB pressure, and Pistons questions
Sep 12, 2026
Detroit Sports Nation’s daily rundown leans into the Lions’ season opener, brushes past a low-stakes Tigers series, and turns sharply to the pressure on Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood. It also lands on the Pistons’ bigger roster problem: the need for a second scorer and a contract situation that’s testing fan patience.
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We're just two days away from the Lions kicking off their season, and we're starting to get a really good idea of what we can expect to see on the field
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I'm Dustin Fiocco with Detroit Sports Nation. It is time for your daily rundown on Friday, September 11th, where we give you all the information from yesterday
0:15
So you are well-versed for today. And let's start off with the NFL, because we've already played a couple of games on the season
0:22
Last night was a blowout in favor of the Niners over the L.A. Rams
0:27
Rams one of those teams that many people had high expectations for on the season
0:31
Many saying they would be the best team in the NFC. I personally wasn't
0:36
I've actually argued many a times. I think the Lions will be the best team in the conference
0:40
That in part due to an easy schedule. So let's talk about those Lions because they start their season on Sunday against the Saints
0:48
Don's got the articles to get you geared up for that matchup. One of which on Tom Kennedy
0:53
It is confirmed that he will be playing on Sunday. Many of us expected that, but how about this for a twist
1:00
Tom Kennedy will also be returning the punts. You gotta like that extra narrative, especially considering Lions fans have really gravitated
1:07
towards this player lately. Seems like every year Detroit has a player that they seem to latch onto that they define
1:14
as gritty or undervalued, underappreciated. Tom Kennedy could certainly fall into that category, so I think fans are going to be eager
1:21
to see him in that role. And somebody we'd like to see in any capacity, Derek Moore
1:26
He was a limited participant in practice yesterday. That is a sign that maybe the edge rusher will be good to go for Sunday He would certainly be a big help Regardless this should be an easy win for the Lions I think it going to be in dominant fashion at Ford Field
1:42
Lots going on in downtown Detroit, though, this weekend. Not just the Lions opener, also a series at Comerica Park
1:48
Tigers playing a last-place team in the Colorado Rockies. Can't really sell you on the fact that there's a playoff chase on the line for the Tigers
1:55
They are six and a half back, just 16 games to go in the season
1:59
so not much meat on those bones. I think it's a pointless series, but we will see how they fare
2:05
Now let's get right back to football because we do have a couple of college games
2:09
on the line for Michigan and Michigan State. When it comes to Michigan, mark my words
2:14
this game on Saturday is the biggest game for the Wolverines since they won the Natty
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Let me tell you why. The last couple of years have been clearly a rebuild year for the Wolverines
2:26
the past two seasons. We've been trying to figure out the coach. We've been trying to figure out the
2:31
QB. Right now, this game on Saturday, unranked Michigan home underdogs against ranked Oklahoma
2:38
This game determines the future of Bryce Underwood. If he lays an egg, he's done. That's my personal
2:46
opinion. I cannot see him playing any further into the season, at least as a starter, if he goes out
2:53
there and has a performance like he did against Western. Coach Whittingham has made no bones about
2:58
it. He hasn't walked down the aisle with him. They haven't gone to the courthouse together
3:02
They are not committed to Bryce Underwood The leash I believe is truly very short on this quarterback And if he goes out there and lays another dud just like he did last weekend the leash may be taken off altogether
3:16
Bryce Underwood, he may just be right to the pound. I can't see this going good for him
3:21
Maybe he can come out and ball out, but unless he looks competent, I think his future as the starting quarterback for Michigan is in serious jeopardy
3:30
They're going to have to pull off a Hail Mary-like miracle if they want to come away with a win
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But Bryce Underwood, he has to look competent. Meanwhile, the Spartans, they're heavily favored
3:40
They're taking on Eastern. We'll see if they have as much struggles as Michigan had against Western
3:45
Do want to end, though, with one more team that's got a lot of question marks around their future
3:50
It is the Detroit Pistons. Guys, we've got articles from both Glenn Cook, Kaplan, and Richard Knight
3:56
Looking at them right now, you should as well. It's all on the future of Jalen Duren and all the question marks surrounding it
4:03
How have we not finalized something with Jalen Duren? How has Jalen Duren not accepted it
4:09
I'll tell you why. The Pistons know his value and Jalen Duren doesn't
4:14
What we need on this Pistons team is a scorer number two opposite of Cade Cunningham
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And I am so disappointed that this team has not gone out and gotten him
4:25
All they have done is ride out basically with what they've got. They added Dort who's a good three-point shooter off the bench
4:31
Yippee, whatever. whatever what they need is a scorer number two and we learned in the postseason Jalen Durin cannot
4:37
fill those shoes he not a hindrance to this team as long as he not scorer number two and right now Durin wants to be paid like a scorer number two That just not what he is And we got articles too stating they expecting the Pistons to not be a 60 team
4:54
this year, and I am in complete agreement. I can't see that happening
4:59
They were fortunate to be a 60-win team last season. I'll tell you why they were
5:03
It's because the conference was very, very weak. You had Tyrese Halliburton out all season for the Pacers
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You had Jason Tatum. He was out for most of the season
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That's not going to be the case this year. You are not going to run into that much fortune on a yearly basis
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Pistons, I'll give them their credit, they took advantage of a weak conference. But they're probably not going to get that fortune this time around
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And considering we didn't make drastic enough improvements in the offseason, we saw what this team truly is in the playoffs
5:34
They're a good team, they're just not built for the championship. Jalen Durant on his own is not going to be good enough to get us there
5:41
We need an additional piece, but Jalen Durant and his contract situation right now
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all it's doing for JD is absolutely destroying his good grace with the Detroit fan base
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Guys, those are my opinions. I'd love to hear from you. You can drop them in the comments
5:57
Like and share, and especially, guys, subscribe to the newsletter. That helps us out greatly, and it is so simple to do
6:04
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It's a very simple way that we can get you all of the information you need to stay up to date with Detroit sports
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So for Detroit Sports Nation, I'm Dustin Fiocco, and this has been your Daily Rundown
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