Detroit Lions are Super Bowl favorites for first time ever
(Field Level Media) — The Kansas City Chiefs finally took their first loss of the season on Sunday, and while 9-1 is still a strong record to have, it caused a noteworthy shift in the NFL landscape.
The Detroit Lions surpassed the Chiefs to become the betting favorites to win the Super Bowl at several sportsbooks — for the first time in the woebegone franchise’s history.
The Chiefs were the unchallenged favorites to win Super Bowl LIX ever since notching their second straight championship last February. They remained atop odds boards despite several shaky performances and near-losses throughout their first nine games.
Before the Chiefs lost 30-21 to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the Lions steamrolled the Jacksonville Jaguars 52-6, scoring touchdowns on their first seven drives and never punting. Jared Goff had 412 passing yards and four touchdowns in the Lions’ eighth straight victory.
That combination of events put Detroit, a franchise that had not won a playoff game between 1991 and 2023, over the top.
Metal, debris fall from roof at Cowboys’ stadium
(Reuters) — A large piece of metal came loose and crashed onto the field at AT&T Stadium near Dallas on Monday, hours before the home team Dallas Cowboys were set to play the Houston Texans, but no injuries were reported.
A Cowboys spokesman said that the metal piece and additional debris fell while the stadium’s retractable roof was in the process of opening. The stadium is located in Arlington, which sits about midway between Dallas and Fort Worth.
“It is being reviewed further, and a decision regarding the ability to re-open the roof safely will be made when possible,” the spokesman said in a statement provided to Reuters.
Images on social media showed a large piece of metal sitting on the field. Media reports indicated that it landed near multiple production workers.
The incident occurred just three days after the 80,000-capacity stadium played host to a packed crowd for a wildly anticipated boxing match between former champ Mike Tyson and social media influencer-turned-fighter Jake Paul.
Ichiro, King Felix among 14 first-time HOF candidates
(Field Level Media) — Seattle Mariners legends Ichiro Suzuki and Felix Hernandez were among the 14 newcomers on the Hall of Fame ballot released Monday.
The other first-time candidates are CC Sabathia, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Carlos Gonzalez, Ian Kinsler, Ben Zobrist, Troy Tulowitzki, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Curtis Granderson, Adam Jones and Fernando Rodney.
Suzuki swept American League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors in 2001 and made the All-Star team in each of his first 10 seasons. The 10-time Gold Glove outfielder retired with 3,089 hits and a .311 average.
Hernandez was a six-time All-Star and the 2010 AL Cy Young award winner. He tossed a perfect game in 2012, won league ERA titles in 2010 (2.27) and 2014 (2.14) and finished his career with 169 wins and 2,524 strikeouts.
Cowboys put QB Dak Prescott on IR, elevate DB Josh Butler
(Field Level Media) — The Dallas Cowboys officially placed quarterback Dak Prescott on injured reserve and elevated cornerback Josh Butler to the active roster ahead of Monday night’s game against the Houston Texans.
Prescott underwent season-ending surgery to repair a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon last week.
Cooper Rush makes his second straight start under center Monday when the Cowboys (3-6) host the Texans (6-4).
Butler, 27, has been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster in each of the past two games. The former USFL player made his NFL debut in Week 9 and has recorded one tackle while playing nine snaps on defense and 22 on special teams.
Astros’ stadium renamed Daikin Park through 2039
(Field Level Media) — The Houston Astros will now play baseball at Daikin Park under a 15-year naming-rights partnership announced Monday.
The agreement with Daikin Comfort Technologies North America Inc. takes effect on Jan. 1 and runs through the 2039 season.
Previously known as Minute Maid Park since 2002, the 41,000-seat facility originally opened as Enron Field in March 2000.