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Lions stay stuck in the middle, Michigan falls on mistakes, and Verlander gets a storybook Tigers ending
Sep 28, 2026
Detroit’s weekend rundown centers on three big takes: the Lions look like a slightly above-average team with a defense that still caps their ceiling, Michigan’s loss to Iowa was driven by turnovers and special teams, and Justin Verlander’s Tigers farewell delivered the kind of ending even a disappointing season couldn’t ruin.
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We've got another weekend of football in the books. Time to discuss it on this Monday
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I'm Dustin Fiocco with Detroit Sports Nation. It is time for your daily rundown
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We are going to get you up to speed with all the happenings from this past weekend. And let's start off with our Lions, who improved to 2-1 on the season
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Detroit beating a former Lion in Aaron Glenn and his New York Jets
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That win coming in somewhat nail-biting fashion. You kind of get the sense with this defense
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Any win the Lions get is going to be a nail-biter like that
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But I do want to talk about what we saw in the field from Sunday and three weeks into the season
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Because when you reach the three-week mark, when it reaches week three and you're past that and you close the books on that
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three games in, I think it is fair to give assumptions on what you have when it comes to a football team
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And I think my assumption that I've come to with what we have when it comes to the Detroit Lions is on their best day, the Lions are slightly above average
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Typically, they are an average to maybe good team. On their best day, they can be a little above average
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As a result, they are exactly where we had them pegged to start the year. Two and one on the season, that one loss coming to the Bills
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But this defense, I've said it a million times. I'll say it a million more until something changes
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This defense is not an NFL caliber defense. The offense is fine
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It's not a problem. It's not a hindrance. You got one of, if not the, best running back in the game when it comes to Jameer Gibbs
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You got talented receivers in Amon Ross St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and a very competent
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quarterback when it comes to Jared Goff. I'm not concerned with the offense
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The offense will keep you in any game against any team. but this defense they are the hindrance yes there are injuries to the secondary no nothing was
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addressed in the offseason but even with a returning potentially Kirby Joseph who said earlier this week we got the story he said he wants to return and he hopeful that he will
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Brian Branch, we expect him to return this year. But even then, those two players, I don't know if
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that's enough to fix this defense. They did some good things Sunday. Big sack fumble to win the
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game. I like the play of Jack Campbell. I like the play of Aiden Hutchinson. We got to the
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quarterback a few times. Geno Smith, he's had a history of tearing the Lions up before. I saw some
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things I liked on Sunday, but that's not enough for me to change the tune or put down the instrument
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and give up the band that I've been playing all season long in the fact that the Lions defense is
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just not built for NFL games. They are too hurt. They are too depleted. They do not have enough
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NFL-ready talent. Not trying to rag on anybody, but that's just the way it is. And until they
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improve, I can't see them going past slightly above average in my eyes. Now there is good news
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There is good news. Slightly above average may be good enough to win you the division because three
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weeks in, not only do I have a stance on the Lions, I've got stances on the other teams too
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in our NFC North. The Packers are bad. The Vikings surprisingly are good. And the Bears, I guess it
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all depends on what time of month it is for Caleb Williams. But the Lions need some improvement if
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they want to reach that next level. Right now they are good, potentially very good on a good day
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but they need improvement if they want to be a serious threat in this NFL. They have time to do
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it, but that defense needs to be addressed. Now let's address our college football teams. We'll
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talk about Michigan and Michigan State starting first with the Spartans because we all know they're
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not really playing for much, but pride this season. Spartans with a loss to Nebraska, not
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necessarily convincing fashion So I wouldn call that a moral victory It is what it is Sparty you can voice how you feel about that performance against Nebraska Drop them in the comments Michigan I going to get a little more in depth because this was a loss for Michigan Their first on the season first official loss we say
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The football gods, they give it the second and they take it one away. Michigan losing on the last
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play of the game to Iowa. Michigan, we know what you are this deep into the season too
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Offense is not what is going to win you games. What is going to win you games is defense
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And if you want me to come here and blame this defense for giving up a last second touchdown to Iowa, not going to do it
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This defense is fine. This defense is good. This defense is great
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This is a top rated defense. And you look at the college football scheme this season
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It's actually a very defensive league. You look at number one, Texas, who kind of squeaked by against Tennessee
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Did they win because of a dominant offense? No, it was defensive stance
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Michigan, they are a top-tier defense when it comes to college football
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Did they give up a touchdown in the last second? Sure, but I'm not going to fault them on it
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You know what hurt that game? You know what cost the Wolverines that game
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It was the offense and special teams. That's what's giving up points
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Michigan turnovers. Michigan not scoring when they're in the red zone. Michigan coughing the ball up when they're in the red zone
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And the first touchdown, the only touchdown for most of the game that Iowa obtained was on a kickoff return
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That's not the defense. That's on special teams. Michigan's defense is elite
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They will keep you in every single game and put you in an opportunity where you can win it
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Iowa, that should have been a win. Not on paper. That was a toss-up
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I could have gone either way between Michigan and Iowa. But the way that game was executed, it was Michigan's game to lose
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And guess what Because of the turnovers because of the special teams blunders because of not scoring when in the red zone Michigan game to lose That exactly what happened
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Michigan got the loss. Now, I want to talk about one more team
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It's a team we will see no longer for the 2026 year. Done
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Over. Kaput. End of the year. 162 played when it comes to our Tigers
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We will not see them until 2027. 2027, somebody we will not even see in 2027 is Justin Verlander. I have been so harsh on these
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Tigers for the last month or so. Incredibly harsh, and I'm going to stand by it, rightfully so. This
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was a team that should have won the division. This was a team that should have went to the playoffs
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They did neither. But I am human. I do have a soft side. And when it comes to what we saw on
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Saturday was pure cinema. JV retiring, Justin Verlander going out there and having a quality
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start to end his career. And he ended as a tiger. And what a way to end it. A two run walk off bomb
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bottom of the ninth with two outs. That is baseball cinema. One of my favorite movies
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Moneyball. I'll quote it right now. How can you not be romantic about the sport of baseball
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I am very disappointed in this Tiger season. It's finally over. Not the ending we wanted
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But when it comes to the ending of the career of Justin Verlander, what a storybook ending
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What a memorable game that took place to help close the chapter
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of the Comerica Park era for these Detroit Tigers. Those are my thoughts
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I'd love to hear from you. Make sure you're dropping them in the comments and liking and sharing
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subscribing, all that good stuff, especially subscribing to that newsletter. It's free
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We'll keep you up to date with everything you need to know when it comes to Detroit sports
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Speaking of which, I'm Dustin Fiocco. It has been your daily rundown here on Detroit Sports Nation
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