This one isn’t sitting well with Lions fans.
Following Detroit’s 21-20 upset of the Chiefs in the NFL season opener on Thursday night, NBC commentator Mike Tirico said the win shouldn’t be taken at face value — prompting widespread outrage.
“This has an asterisk because of no Chris Jones and no Travis Kelce,” Tirico said on the broadcast as the Chiefs and Lions players shook hands on the field.
Kansas City’s star tight end Kelce missed the game with a bone bruise on his knee and Jones, a stud defensive tackle, is in the midst of a holdout over a contract dispute.
For Lions fans, supporters of a team that is finally on the rise again, and NFL supporters alike, Tirico’s comments sparked a wave of anger.
“No offense to Mike Tirico, but this is a ridiculous thing to say after a team wins,” Dov Kleiman tweeted.
“We have teams with 10 guys on IR every year in the NFL (in later weeks of a season), you never hear someone try to take a win away by saying ‘Asterisks’ — guys didn’t play.”
“Mike Tirico can take his ‘asterisk’ and shove it. The Lions earned this win regardless of who was on the field or not,” another fan wrote.
Another group of fans pointed out that the Lions’ win could play a role in playoff consideration, which looks like a legitimate goal on the horizon for a Detroit team that hasn’t made the postseason since 2017.
“Terrible take from @miketirico — an asterisk win? Won’t be an asterisk if that win is the difference between playoffs and not. Injuries happen. By this comment, every game after week 12 should be an asterisk win,” one fan said.
The Lions were 9-8 last season with the NFL’s fifth-ranked offense and, based on Thursday night, look like a legitimate threat for the NFC North crown this season.
