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The Detroit Lions opened up their 2023 season with an impressive road win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite the Lions' great performance, commentator Mike Tirico of NBC appeared to attribute the result more to Chiefs injuries.
Immediately following the game, Tirico made a comment that evoked rage from Detroit's fanbase.
“This has an asterisk because of no Chris Jones and no Travis Kelce,” stated Tirico flatly on the broadcast.
The comment quickly drew strong reactions from Lions fans, who are enjoying the franchise's most prosperous and nationally relevant period in several years.
Some noted that the Lions were dealing with some injuries of their own during the contest.
Lions were without Jamo, Moseley, and Julian Okwara.
— CrakT PhantomLion (@xPhaNToM_LioNx) September 8, 2023
Others expanded upon that point, noting that injuries are simply a part of the game.
A lot of teams have injuries, a lot of teams don't have a Chris Jones and a Travis Kelce.
Two teams play, one wins, there is no asterisks because someone is out.
If it was like the Saints-Rams bad-call in the playoffs, then yeah.. an asterisk maybe, but that's it.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 8, 2023
Indeed, the Chiefs were without their second and third best players when they took the field on Thursday vs the Lions. Kelce hyperextended his knee in practice earlier this week and was forced to miss the game. Jones, meanwhile, is holding out for a contract extension, although he still attended the game, watching from high above in an Arrowhead Stadium suite.
Still, this is the NFL after all, and injuries and holdouts affect almost every game that takes place. It's very rare to have a fully clean injury report for any contest, even at the beginning of the season. Yes, Kansas City's injuries were rather dramatic in terms of their significance and it's fair to wonder whether or not the result would have been the same had they played.
However, dealing in hypotheticals can lead one to a maze that has no end. Perhaps Mike Tirico's online backlash might make the famed announcer think twice the next time he speaks on such matters.
