Sarni's Scrolls: Oh, What A Night In Detroit

Detroit Lions fans were ready to jump out of their seats. The long wait was finally over. 

"One more knee and business is done," Mike Tirico announced to the world.

The voice of NBC's Sunday Night Football, who has lived in Ann Arbor since 1999, punctuated the Lions' 24-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Wild-Card Round.

"For the first time in 32 years, the Detroit Lions have won a playoff game. Have at it!"

Have at it indeed. The joyful scene was unforgettable.

"It looks like Christmas and New Year's Eve all rolled into one," Tirico said.

The perfect announcer for the perfect moment.

And Tirico will be back in the Ford Field broadcast booth with Cris Collinsworth next Sunday as the No. 3 seed Lions host Monday's Philadelphia Eagles-Tampa Bay Bucs winner in the Divisional Round.

Detroit got to host after Green Bay knocked off No. 2 seed Dallas 48-32.

Thirty-two years is a long time.

 “If you want to text a Lions fan congrats on the playoff win," Tirico said. "Do it, it’ll be the first they’ve ever gotten, texting wasn’t around the last time the Lions won a playoff game.”

***

Preliminary Divisional Schedule

Saturday

4:30: Texans at Ravens or Chiefs, ABC/ESPN 

8:15: Packers at 49ers, Fox

Sunday

3:00: Bucs or Eagles at Lions, NBC

6:30: Chiefs at Bills OR Steelers at Ravens

***

The first NFL playoff game to air exclusively on a streaming service was huge success, according to NBC, which was quick to brag about it.

Saturday’s Dolphins-Chiefs AFC Wild Card Game averaged 23.0 million viewers across Peacock and the NBC affiliates in Miami and Kansas City, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 6% from Chargers-Jaguars on NBC last year (21.8 million) and the most-streamed live event ever in the United States. 

According to NBC, the Chiefs’ win drove Internet usage on Saturday to its highest-ever level in the United States and accounted for 30 percent of total traffic during its timeslot.

It was not immediately clear how many viewers the local over-the-air simulcasts contributed to the overall audience. Per NBC, the game averaged a 45.1 rating and whopping 74 share on KSHB in Kansas City and a 14.5/41 on WTVJ in Miami.

Earlier in the day, the Texans’ rout of the Browns averaged 29.0 million across NBC, Telemundo and streaming (including Peacock), the largest audience for a Saturday Wild Card game since Tom Brady’s final game with the Patriots in 2020.

***

The Australian Open began on Sunday, adding a 15th day to the first Grand Slam of the season.

ESPN, televising the tournament for the 40th consecutive year, is airing 240+ hours on its linear networks, a 35% increase over 2023. ESPN and ESPN2 are showing 110 live hours, up from 68 hours in 2023.

Every match streams live from all 15 courts... 650+ Main Draw matches, over 1,300 hours.

There are daily encore presentations from noon-3 p.m EST.

***

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula took issue with artwork from the U.S. Tennis Association that depicted the seeded U.S. stars in the Australian Open.

The USTA depicted the top seeds for the U.S. as "Wild Thornberrys" characters, and Gauff blasted the depictions in a post on her Instagram Stories. The post and the USTA’s artwork were both later deleted.

Worst thing I’ve ever seen," Gauff wrote. "Like a caricatures artist just decided to make (us) all look like hideous looking people. The art style is cool for a cartoon show but not for a hype post.

"Foul."

Gauff added that she would’ve liked to have been drawn as a "Bratz" character instead, according to ESPN.

Pegula wrote on X, "We are ugly af."

***

MLK Day hoops

NBA

■ 1: Rockets at 76ers, NBA TV

■ 3:30: Spurs at Hawks, TNT

■ 6: Warriors at Grizzlies, TNT

■ 10:30: Thunder at Lakers, NBA TV

College (men)

■ Noon: Ohio State at Michigan, Fox

■ 2: George Mason at George Washington, CBSSN

■ 2:30: Villanova at Marquette, Fox

■ 4: LaSalle at St. Joseph's, CBSSN

■ 6: Iowa at Minnesota, Big Ten

■ 7: Notre Dame at Boston College, ESPNU

■ 7: American at Loyola (Md.), CBSSN

■ 9: N.C. A&T at Hampton, CBSSN

***

ETC.

■ Taylor Swift's custom-made No. 87 jacket, which she wore at the Dolphins-Chiefs game on Saturday night, was designed and created by Kristin Juszczyk, the wife of 49ers all-pro FB Kyle Juszczyk.

■ The Miami Heat will honor Dwyane Wade by unveiling a statue of him in front of the Kaseya Center. Unveiling: fall, 2024

■ The NHL is playing six day games on MLK Day.

■ All three Tampa Bay pro teams -- Bucs, Rays, Lightning -- have made the playoffs in four straight seasons.

■ The NBA disseminated an analytics report to teams and select media members last week that said there is no correlation between players being load managed and having a reduced risk of injury.

■ "Boys In The Boat," the story of the University of Washington rowing team which made it to the 1936 Berlin Olympics, directed by George Clooney, is being described as " 'Chariots of Fire' with oars."

■ The Morning Brew on Wingspan: "Even the people who hate board games will like this game."

■ Watching the Monday sunset in Melbourne while awaiting the Monday sunrise in Fort Lauderdale.

***

■ Burger King, in a new push to prioritize customer satisfaction over speed, want workers to ask diners if they want a crown with every meal... telling customers "You rule" as they hand over the crowns.

■ Hidden Valley and Burt's Bees have teamed up for four new lip balm flavors -- Ranch, Buffalo Sauce, Crunchy Celery and Fresh Carrot.

■ Mattel has introduced four new Barbies in a Women In Film Collection -- cinematographer, movie star, film director, studio executive.

■ Miller Lite is making mints for drinkers who miss the taste of beer during Dry January.

■ Social media trend: Adult grandchildren are surprising their grandparents with sleepovers.

■ McDonald's is including 12 different Squishmallows with Happy Meals.

■ The "Mean Girls" musical movie debuted at No. 1 at the box office with a $28 million opening.

■ Kelly Clarkson, on the cover of People, is into infrared saunas.

■ Listen: "Something To Give Each Other" by Troye Silvan.

■ Watch: "Death and Other Details" starring Mandy Patinkin, Hulu.

■ Stat: 12,000 Americans will turn 65 each day this year.

***

THEY SAID IT

■ "Hey, hell of a season, dog." -- Patrick Mahomes to Tua Tagovailoa after Saturday's Dolphins-Chiefs game.