The Detroit Lions should be considered among the best teams in the National Football League.

With a revamped defense and an offense led by veteran quarterback Jared Goff, no team in the league has as much positive buzz and hype surrounding them than the Lions.

Detroit even upgraded their coaching staff, replacing inexperienced position coaches with respected leaders. Defensive line coach Terrell Williams and defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend will inherent young talent seeking to take their game to the next level in Aaron Glenn’s defensive scheme.

In a recent ranking of all 32 NFL teams, Bleacher Report listed the Lions as the No. 3 team in the league. One of their NFL writers also has the Lions as the top team in his own power ranking list.

More: Detroit Lions 2024 Training Camp Primer

Brent Sobleski expressed the overhauled defense and potent weapons on offense should allow the team to be serious contenders in 2024.

Sobleski explained, “The Lions were one half away from appearing in their first Super Bowl. If not for a couple of Josh Reynolds drops, they should have been. Detroit is ascending. Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta are entering their second seasons and should be even more dangerous. More importantly, last season’s bottom-six pass defense has been overhauled, with Carlton Davis III and Terrion Arnold now at cornerback. It’s time.”

Lions On SI NFL power rankings

32. Panthers
31. Patriots
30. Commanders
29. Giants
28. Raiders
27. Cardinals
26. Broncos
25. Titans
24. Saints
23. Vikings
22. Seahawks
21. Colts
20. Jets
19. Jaguars
18. Steelers
17. Falcons
16. Chargers
15. Bears
14. Rams
13. Cowboys
12. Dolphins
11. Buccaneers
10. Browns
9. Bills
8. Packers
7. Bengals
6. Eagles
5. Ravens
4. Chiefs
3. Texans
2. 49ers
1. Lions

Among the many reasons to find yourself at what’s likely to be a very crowded lakefront this week is the Milwaukee Air & Water Show, presented by WaterStone Bank, which brings a bit of international flair to the event scheduled for July 27 and 28. Let’s start with their overseas representatives as we run through this year’s headliners.

Frecce Tricolori (“Tricolor Arrows”)

This national air demonstration team is pulled from Italy’s pool of experienced Air Force pilots and flies the Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN, a light attack aircraft, for its performances. The group — like many of the squadrons you’ll be able to see this weekend — puts its precise moves on display, along with intricate formations and a little bit of panache in the form of colored smoke trails that represent the Italian flag.

“We are very honored and excited to perform for the first time in Milwaukee,” Lt. Col Massimilliano, Frecce Tricolori’s Pilot #11, said in a release announcing the team’s appearance. “Our multi-colored smoke will form a beautiful arrangement over the blue waters of Lake Michigan.”

The Thunderbirds

It’s been five years since this U.S. national air demonstration team last appeared in Milwaukee, and its return brings a group of six select U.S. Air Force pilots behind the sticks of F-16 Fighting Falcons. The team first started performing in 1953 and has appeared in front of more than 280 million people at demonstrations around the world.

The Army Golden Knights

Similar to their Air Force counterparts, it’s been a few years since the Golden Knights’ last appearance at the show. The parachute team’s high standards for membership are reflected in their 348 world records, as well as competition results that include 2,148 gold, 1,117 silver and 693 bronze medals.

Along with the Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels — who top-lined the 2023 Air & Water Show — the Golden Knights are one of three aerial demonstration teams officially sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Milwaukee Air and Water Show general information

The Air and Water Show starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, with the water portion starting things off. The National Anthem and Army Golden Knights are scheduled for noon each day, while the Thunderbirds will get underway at 3 p.m. There are many other air performers in the lineup this weekend, although times weren’t available as of this writing:

• Air National Guard F-35s
• U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Rhino Tactical Demo Team
• U.S. Navy Legacy Flight Formation and Grumman F6F Hellcat or F4U Corsair
• U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster Demo Team
• U.S. Air Force KC-46 Pegasus
• Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing — Northrup Grumman F-35 Lightning II
• Wisconsin Air National Guard 128th Air Refueling Wing — KC-135 Strato-Tanker
• U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit, B-1B Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress (pending final USAF approval)
• U.S. Coast Guard MH 60T Jayhawk — SAR Helicopter Demo

Water performers include the EFoil Fliteboard Demo, Robby Allen’s Ski Extreme Show, Wisconsin DNR Triple Boat Patrol, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department Marine Patrol Enforcement Boat and Milwaukee Fire Department Trident Fire Boat. There are also a handful of civilian air performers, including Trojan Thunder featuring the T-28 Trojan (and Waukesha native Paul Walter); the Re/Max Skydiving Team; and Bob Richards and Machaira, a one-of-a-kind muscle biplane.

Once again, this year’s event is free to attend, with viewing areas at Bradford and McKinley beaches. There are several reserved-seating options available for an additional cost at CenterPoint, in the Flight-Line Club and in the private Sky-Chalet VIP area. More information on those options, including prices and what’s included with each, are available on the show’s ticketing website.

From a parking perspective, the event encourages most people to use the Milwaukee County Parks grass lots between McKinley Marina and Veterans Park that open each day at 7:30 a.m. You can enter off Lagoon Road from Lincoln Memorial Drive or at McKinley Marina. Other parking locations include O’Donnell Park, the west side of Lincoln Memorial Drive and any available street parking on the East Side.

For more information this year’s Air and Water Show, visit the event’s website.