Detroit, MI
Five key Detroit Tigers questions ahead of the postseason
DETROIT — A.J. Hinch still had not gone through all the unread congratulatory texts on his phone when the Detroit Tigers’ preparation for the proverbial “hangover game” began.
After so much excitement the night before, this day was dark and dreary. “Borderline Gotham City,” Hinch said. There was a lengthy delay, and after nearly two months of adrenaline, a slow nine-inning slog.
The Tigers lost to the Chicago White Sox 4-0 in the penultimate game of the regular season. Sunday is the finale. Their postseason opponent is still to be decided. They will play either the Orioles in Baltimore or the Astros in Houston.
So with the postseason now a reality, here’s a preview of the team’s biggest questions and decision points.
How many pitchers for the wild-card round?
Because the wild-card round is only three games max, there’s a strong chance the Tigers will have only 12 pitchers active for the series. Some teams have even used as few as 11 in shortened series. The Tigers already have to cut the roster from 28 to 26. Going with only 12 pitchers would allow the Tigers to retain Justyn-Henry Malloy and Jace Jung for help against left-handed pitching.
For now, the Tigers are leaning toward carrying an extra bench bat rather than an extraneous arm they’d prefer to stay away from anyway.
But a disclaimer: Never rule out a surprise with Hinch and Scott Harris making these maneuvers.
Where does Jackson Jobe fit in the puzzle?
Although he’s one of only two Tigers players with playoff experience, Kenta Maeda is the likely choice to be the first pitcher left off the roster.
But what other pitcher could miss the wild-card round? That’ll be an interesting one, and likely Detroit’s toughest decision. Casey Mize is one player at risk. He’s not going to work as a starter, and he’s only pitched once so far out of the bullpen, where his stuff did not tick up. Ty Madden, who has a 4.30 ERA and was not effective Saturday, could be an even more probable option.
The real question in all this is what the Tigers will do with Jackson Jobe. Would they really throw the rookie into a pressure-packed situation in the playoffs? Jobe has only pitched twice since his promotion, neither in a true leverage setting. He has never entered a game with runners on base. But he does have the capability to miss bats, and he did shut down the White Sox on Saturday, going three innings and allowing no hits and a walk while striking out two batters. (And for the record, Jobe did not actually have to clean up the entire Tigers clubhouse after Friday’s postgame celebration. “Everyone was just messing around,” he said.)
First Major League strikeout for Jackson Jobe! #RepDetroit @jacksonwjobe pic.twitter.com/svYdoYkL9k
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 28, 2024
The Tigers are 21-12 against left-handed starters this year, but they haven’t exactly fared well against lefties in recent days. Since the Tigers’ hot streak intensified Aug. 13, Detroit has only a .648 OPS against left-handed pitching compared with a .749 OPS against right-handed pitching.
A big part of the concern has been the slumping Andy Ibáñez. A bona fide lefty killer for the first half of the year, Ibáñez is hitting only .165 with just three extra-base hits since July 21. The Tigers hit him leadoff Thursday and Friday to get him reps and jump-start his bat. Ibáñez finally responded with a double Friday.
Despite his struggles, Ibáñez is likely a lock for the playoff roster. He still has huge upside against lefties and remains a chess piece opposing managers have to be cognizant of in late-game situations.
The Tigers just need to hope they can get Ibáñez to settle down in the box and reclaim his first-half form.
“He wants it so badly when he’s in there, and sometimes that makes him a bit over-anxious, maybe swinging too much,” Hinch said. “Nobody is more prepared than him, and no one has more energy in their at-bats than Andy.”
What will the pitching look like?
Tarik Skubal is starting Game 1 on Tuesday. Signed, sealed, delivered.
“Getting him in Game 1 is pretty awesome,” Hinch said.
But after that?
Expect more of the same pitching shenanigans we’ve witnessed each of the past two months. Reese Olson and Keider Montero are candidates to work as starters. It’s just as likely the Tigers will opt for openers and bulk relievers as they have so often in their miraculous run. Trying to map out whom the Tigers will throw is a fool’s errand. And might that be to their advantage?
“Even given my experience, I’ve never done the opener in the postseason, and we haven’t even had our full personnel meeting on how we’re going to attack whoever we play,” Hinch said. “I’m going to try to keep everybody guessing just as much as I have with you guys for the last two months.”
Can the magic continue?
The question was asked about a million times in the midst of Friday’s postgame celebration. Asked Thursday whether the Tigers’ play as of late was magic or something else, Hinch said, “I don’t know, but if so, bottle it up and keep bringing it to the ballpark. … Getting to the ballpark every day, there’s a renewed energy every single day. Whether that’s magic, whether that’s momentum, whether that’s vibe, whatever, we love it and we want more of it.”
Then Friday night came more quotes.
“Now it’s a playoff-bound team,” Hinch said. “We checkmarked that box, and now we can try to stack more and more wins to create an even more special summer.”
“I’m just excited that we got in,” Harris said. “Hopefully, we can do some damage in October.”
How far could they go?
“As far as it takes us,” Riley Greene said. “We’re gonna keep believing until it happens.”
(Photo: David Rodriguez Munoz / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Detroit, MI
Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: How to watch today’s NFL game, kickoff time, TV channel and more
The Chicago Bears have already made it into the NFC playoffs, but a Week 18 win against the Detroit Lions will determine their seed in the postseason and what happens next in the wild card round. The Lions are out of playoff contention, but they face a tricky situation themselves; while a win would be great for morale in the short term, a loss ultimately gives them a better draft position.
The Lions vs. Bears game will kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET this Sunday on Fox. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch this Sunday’s game and get the full Week 18 schedule for the rest of the league.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears:
Date: Sunday, Jan. 4
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
TV channel: FOX
Streaming: DirecTV, FOX One, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo + more
Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game time:
The Lions vs. Bears game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT this Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game channel:
The game between the Lions and the Bears will air on FOX.
How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game without cable:
You can stream FOX on platforms like DirecTV and Fubo, and the game will also be available on FOX’s streaming platform FOX One. You can also tune in on NFL+ for mobile viewing.
DirecTV is currently offering its Entertainment tier package for just $49.99 for your first month – a $40 savings over the regular rate.
DirecTV’s Entertainment tier gets you access to loads of channels where you can tune in to college and pro sports, including ESPN, TNT, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, and, depending on where you live, local affiliates for ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.
Whichever package you choose, you’ll get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN+’s new streaming tier, ESPN Unlimited.
The best part is that you can currently try all this out for free for 5 days. If you’re interested in trying out a live-TV streaming service for football season but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.
Try free at DirecTV
FOX One is a streaming service from FOX that launched in August. With a subscription to FOX One, you can tune in to all your favorite FOX channels like FOX News, FOX Sports, FOX Weather, FS1, FS2, FOX Business, FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network (B1G), and local FOX stations all in one place.
FOX One offers live programming, as well as on-demand shows and movies. At launch, the base price for FOX One will cost $19.99 a month, or you can save with an annual subscription for $199.99. FOX Nation fans can even bundle it with FOX One for $24.99 a month, or opt for an annual subscription, which nets out to $19.99/month.
You can also bundle FOX One with ESPN’s newly revamped streaming service for $39.99/month.
$19.99/month at FOX
NFL Week 18 schedule:
All times Eastern.
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Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026
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Panthers vs. Buccaneers: 4:30 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
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Seahawks vs. 49ers: 8:00 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026
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Colts vs. Texans: 1:00 p.m.(CBS)
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Chargers vs. Broncos: 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
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Browns vs. Bengals: 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
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Packers vs. Vikings: 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
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Jets vs. Bills: 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
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Commanders vs. Eagles: 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
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Saints vs. Falcons: 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
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Titans vs. Jaguars: 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
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Cowboys vs. Giants: 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
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Lions vs. Bears: 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
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Cardinals vs. Rams: 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
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Dolphins vs. Patriots: 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
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Ravens vs. Steelers: 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
How to watch NFL games in 2025:
Many NFL games are broadcast on local channels, so if you’re looking to catch an in-market game, it may be as simple as turning on your TV (or setting up a digital TV antenna) or finding a live TV streaming service that carries the correct RSN (Regional Sports Network). If you want to watch out-of-market games, a $7 monthly subscription to NFL+ will let you watch every out-of-market-game local and primetime game in the season on your phone — but only a select few regular season games on your TV. You could also spring for the uber-expensive NFL Sunday Ticket package to get every out-of-market Sunday game of the season.
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When it comes to nationally broadcast games, NFL games typically air across ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC and NFL Network. Thursday Night Football games stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, select football games will stream exclusively on Peacock, games on CBS will stream live on Paramount+, and Monday Night Football games will air on ESPN or ABC and stream on the newly revamped ESPN+ this season. That’s six channels and four streaming platforms to keep up with this season — and that’s not counting your local RSN’s for in-market games and an NFL+ or NFL Sunday Ticket subscription for out-of-market games. Plus, Netflix is once again hosting at least two Christmas Day matches, so add that subscription into the mix. And we can’t forget about Fox One, Fox’s first streaming service, a place where you can also stream games airing on FOX (if you don’t already have access to it).
Confused? You’re not alone. Here’s a breakdown of the platforms we recommend checking out ahead of the 2025 NFL season, so that come game time, tuning into your favorite team’s games will be as easy as simply turning on the TV.
DirecTV is currently offering its Choice tier (typically $108+/month with fees) for just $79.98 (after fees) for your first month.
DirecTV’s Choice tier gets you access to all the usual football suspects: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, plus ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network and plenty more local Regional Sports Networks. (If you want to avoid paying the RSN fees, the Entertainment Tier has plenty of channels you can catch NFL games on, too.)
Whichever package you choose, you’ll get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN’s new streaming tier, ESPN Unlimited.
The best part is, currently, you can try all this out free for 5 days. So if you’re interested in trying out a live TV streaming service for football season, but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.
- Full package free trial available
- Many local RSNs included
- Free ESPN unlimited
- Unlimited Cloud DVR
- Cost
- Regional Sports Network fee
$79.98 for your first month at DirecTV
Fubo’s new skinny sports bundle, Fubo Sports, includes local broadcast stations owned-and-operated by ABC, CBS and FOX, plus additional affiliates in select markets, as well as ACC Network, Big 10 Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox News, FS1, FS2, Fubo Sports Network, ION, NFL Network, SEC Network and Tennis Channel. It also includes free access to ESPN’s new ESPN+ unlimited plan. Fubo subscribers also get unlimited cloud DVR storage.
You can get $10 off your first month of the Fubo Sports package, which brings the cost to $45.99. After your first month it goes up to $55.99/month.
This new Fubo package has you covered for most nationally broadcast or in-market NFL games, and still leaves you with major savings compared to a traditional cable package.
The platform offers a free trial period, so you can check it out for a few days of the 2025 NFL season and decide if it’s right for you this year.
- Free trial available
- Unlimited cloud DVR storage
- Free ESPN unlimited
- Entirely sports-focused
- Doesn’t include NBC
$45.99 for your first month at Fubo
Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football games. On top of Amazon Prime Video, an Amazon Prime subscription includes free shipping, exclusive deals, access to the Prime Day 2025 sale event, Amazon Music, a year of free GrubHub+ and more. A standard Amazon Prime subscription is $15 monthly or $139 annually, but discounts are available for students and those on qualified government assistance. You can try Amazon Prime free for 30 days.
- You probably already have access to Prime Video
- Only Thursday Night Football games
$15 at Amazon
A basic $6.99 per month (or $40 annually) NFL+ subscription will get you live local and primetime regular and preseason NFL games exclusively on your phone or tablet, plus live audio for every game of the season across supported devices and access to NFL Network. NFL+ Premium, while a little pricier at $14.99 per month (or $80 annually) also includes access to NFL RedZone, plus full and condensed replays of every game across supported devices.
- Can only watch MOST live games on your phone
$6.99/month at NFL
ESPN’s revamped streaming platform offers thousands of exclusive live events, original studio shows and acclaimed series that air across ESPN’s suite of 7 linear channels, as well as exclusive content on ESPN+, ABC on ESPN, SEC+, ACCNX and some content from NFL Network and NFL RedZone. The new tier costs $29.99/month or $299.99/year.
Also of note, for its first year in existence, ESPN unlimited includes “bundle” access to Disney+ and Hulu at no extra cost!
And starting September 3, for an extra $10/month, you can bundle ESPN unlimited with NFL+ Premium, which includes full access to NFL Network and NFL Redzone, plus out-of-market NFL games on mobile.
- All ESPN content in one place
- Content from NFL Network and NFL RedZone
- Bundle option with NFL+
- Only ESPN games available with the base service
$29.99/month at ESPN
FOX One is a streaming service from FOX that launched in August. With a subscription to FOX One, you can tune in to all your favorite FOX channels like FOX News, FOX Sports, FOX Weather, FS1, FS2, FOX Business, FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network (B1G), and local FOX stations all in one place.
FOX One offers live programming, as well as shows and movies on demand. At launch, the base price for FOX One will cost $19.99 a month, or you can save with an annual subscription for $199.99. FOX Nation fans can even bundle it with FOX One for $24.99 a month, or opt for an annual subscription which nets out to $19.99/month – that’s like getting a year of FOX Nation free.
$19.99/month at FOX
Paramount+ offers subscribers access to loads of sports, including loads of weekly NFL games all season long, plus great shows like Survivor, The Challenge and more.
Unlike a lot of other streaming services these days, Paramount+ still offers a free trial — so new subscribers can sign up to watch Week 1 of the NFL season and all the other great programming on the platform. Once the trial ends, you can choose the ad-supported Essential plan or their ad-free Premium plan with Showtime for access which also gives you ad-free streaming of on-demand content, live access to your local CBS station, and full streaming access to Showtime. Paramount+ Essential plan costs $7.99/month, while Paramount+ Premium plans cost $12.99/month.
Try it free at Paramount+
How to watch NFL games in person:
Tickets for the 2025 NFL season are on sale now.
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Every way to watch NFL games this season:
To recap, here are all the ways you can watch NFL games in 2025.
High Wind Warning Today
Winds could gust up to 60mph today. Snow squalls could reduce visibility and wind chills could be as low as the teens this afternoon. Meteorologist Lori Pinson has your forecast.
(FOX 2) – With a High Wind Warning and high wind gusts expected to hit Southeast Michigan on Monday, utilities are preparing for a busy afternoon with possible outages.
DTE says it has response teams in place to deal with a loss of power to homes around the region.
DTE: Weather may cause power outages
According to DTE, approximately 6,200 homes were without power to start things out this week.
That number could rise as the wind picks up throughout the day. Gusts up to 60 mph are expected to blow through in the late morning and early afternoon.
“Our Storm Response Teams are ready to restore power as quickly and safely as possible,” read a note from DTE on their website.
The company will also be providing an update on their prepared response at 9 a.m.
Tap here to see the DTE outage map.
Dig deeper:
If someone does come across a downed power line, they should avoid the spot.
DTE recommends staying at least 25 feet away from the downed lines, and assume they are live and dangerous. If anyone sees downed power lines, they’re asked to report it here.
If there is an emergency, such as a fire or you see a power line on an unoccupied car, first call 911 then call the power company. DTE Energy can be reached at 800-477-4747. Consumers Energy can be reached at 800-477-5050.
More: How to apply for reimbursement from DTE, Consumers Energy
If you are inside your vehicle and a wire falls on it, DTE says to stay in your vehicle and call 911.
However, if you must get out of the vehicle, DTE advises removing loose clothing, and getting out without touching the frame. Jump with your feet together to avoid touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Do not remove your feet until you are at least 20 feet away from the vehicle.
46k Outages Elsewhere
The recent blast of active weather over the weekend has already knocked out power for a big chunk of the state further to the north.
Approximately 46,000 households remain without power, according to Consumers Energy.
The bulk of those outages are north of Mount Pleasant, near Claire off of Highway 127.
See the outage map here.
According to Consumers Energy, they have 500 crews responding to the outages and hope to have power restored by 10 p.m.
High Wind Warning
Michigan will be under a high wind warning for the majority of Monday.
The National Weather Service issued the order from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. The winds will shift from Southwest to Northwest at 25 to 35 mph. Occasional gusts between 45 and 55 mph are expected with a speeds climbing to 60 mph.
That means downed wires and tree branches are not out of the question.
Incoming snow could also worsen visibility on the road.
The Source: Data from DTE and Consumers Energy, as well as forecast information from the National Weather Service were cited for this story.
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