Christian BooherSep 12, 2026
Previewing the Lions' season opener against the Saints, Booher lays out the expected starting lineup changes: rookie Blake Miller starting at right tackle, Tate Ratledge at right guard, and Jahmyr Gibbs as the unquestioned lead back after David Montgomery's departure.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Christian Booher said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromThe Lions will be turning things over to Blake Miller on the offensive line, as the rookie will make his first career start at right tackle.
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 5 Key Storylines I'm Watching Closest in Lions Week 1 Game Against Saints
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart“The Lions will be turning things over to Blake Miller on the offensive line, as the rookie will make his first career start at right tackle.”
- 2Tate Ratledge to be 1st on the depth chart“The Lions seem set with Tate Ratledge as the starting right guard, but the left side is unsettled heading into the game.”
- 3Jahmyr Gibbs to be 1st on the depth chart“The Lions traded away David Montgomery this offseason, cementing Jahmyr Gibbs as the primary option in the backfield for the first time in his career.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Tate Ratledge to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Jahmyr Gibbs to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 3 calls · 3 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
3 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 4 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 3 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Blake Miller · 2026 season13 calls from 11 pundits between 1 and 1. Christian Booher said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsBlake MillerDetroit Lions
Blake Miller to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsTate RatledgeDetroit Lions
Tate Ratledge to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsJahmyr GibbsDetroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Evan “Foxy” Fox · Score Predictions · Detroit Lions · Close 67
Foxy predicted a blowout Lions win over the Dolphins by a score of 45-21.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Detroit Lions · Hit 100
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.Nick Wright · Game Outcome Picks · Detroit Lions · Hit 100
Wright made several outright game calls for Week 9 alongside their spread picks: Kansas City beating the Jets 31-20, Detroit winning at Miami, New England edging Green Bay by a field goal or so, Carolina winning outright over Denver, and Houston blowing out the Chargers 27-12.Richard Sherman · Score Predictions · Detroit Lions · Hit 81
Sherman ranked the 49ers first in their Week 9 top five ahead of Buffalo, Chicago, Jacksonville and Denver, picked every Week 9 game with scores, and gave midseason award picks headlined by Brock Purdy for MVP and Kyle Shanahan for Coach of the Year.Mitchell Eisenstein · Score Predictions · Detroit Lions · Hit 83
Mitchell gave their Week 9 top-five power rankings, keeping Buffalo first and the 49ers second while elevating the Bears, Jaguars and Lions, and picked a slate of Week 9 games including a Packers win in New England, a Panthers upset of Denver, and blowouts for Detroit, Kansas City and Houston. They also tabbed Jonah Coleman as a late-season Offensive Rookie of the Year pick.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.