Lions Shed Negative Labels in Playoff Triumph

No, you are not just waking up from a dream, Detroit Lions fans. Sunday night actually did happen.

The Lions, in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd at Ford Field, produced one of the most memorable moments in franchise history. They knocked off Matthew Stafford and the L.A. Rams, advancing to the divisional round of the NFL postseason. It marked the organization’s first playoff win in 32 years.

Although Detroit pulled out the monumental win, it didn't come close to playing an “A-level” game.

Sure, Jared Goff and the offense started off hot, with 75-yard drives resulting in touchdowns on each of their first three possessions. However, Ben Johnson's unit cooled off and began to sputter immediately after that. It recorded as many punts as it did points (three) the rest of the way in the wild-card playoff contest.

Then, there's the Lions' defense, which struggled all night long to curtail the production of Stafford and rookie phenom Puka Nacua. The quarterback-wide receiver duo connected nine times for 181 yards, including on a 50-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter.

Stafford and the Rams ended up totaling a staggering 425 yards of offense against Aaron Glenn's defense.

Lions teams of yesteryear – the “Same Old Lions” squads of the past three-plus decades – would've never been able to prevail in a game like Sunday, in which they didn't play their best football. Those teams – as L.A. kept answering Detroit score for score in the first half – would've easily folded at some point.

But, this Lions team, as it's displayed all throughout the 2023 campaign, is different. It doesn't have to play a complete game throughout all four quarters to beat opponents.

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It's because Dan Campbell's squad – just like the head coach himself – embodies a relentless nature and constantly answers the bell even as the odds may be stacked against it (just as it seemed at times vs. the Rams Sunday).

“That we can answer the bell in big-time games,” Lions left tackle Taylor Decker said, when asked about what the Lions’ victory over the Rams proved. “I’m telling the guys before the game, the moment that we’ve been waiting for is here. We’ve been putting in the work, blood, sweat, tears, pain, and now, it’s here. It’s just special.”

In the end, Goff made just enough throws, and Detroit made just enough stops – specifically in the red zone, where it held L.A. without a touchdown – to record the franchise-altering win.

Campbell couldn't say enough about Goff, the once-maligned Rams quarterback, after the game.

“Just thought he played top-notch football," Campbell said of his starting signal-caller. "He probably had two errors, and everything else was, I thought he was on point. He looked loose, he looked relaxed. I thought he threw the ball with conviction. Was strong in the pocket, got us in the right play. And, he felt that way all week. He was just locked in all week.

"Just really proud of him and what he means to us and his play today. And, I bring it back again (to this): He’s one of the reasons that we won this division, and he’s another reason why we just won our first playoff game here in 30 years.”

Goff finished 22-of-27 passing for 277 yards and a touchdown in the wild-card playoff win. He also connected with his favorite target, Amon-Ra St. Brown, for an 11-yard completion to seal the game with 2:00 to play.

It was an unforgettable night for Goff and his teammates, which was made all the more sweet by being able to close out the victory in front of their loud-and-proud loyal fans.

“It was – almost it was surreal,” Goff said of what it felt like to take the final kneel-down. “It was something that you kind of imagined for so long. From the moment I got here, you imagine getting that playoff win and having this type of atmosphere in front of our home crowd, and being able to sit on the ball like that and finish it out. And, yeah, it kind of all hit me there. And, to be honest with you, I didn’t know it was over once we got the first down until they sent in the personnel, and then it kind of all hit me at once. But, yeah, kind of had to subdue a lot of emotions this week, and was able to kind of enjoy that moment.”

As if the Lions’ 4-1 record in primetime games during the regular season wasn't proof enough, it goes without question now that the Lions can win on the national stage.

Whether on the road (like in Week 1 against the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs) or at Ford Field (like on Sunday), Campbell’s team has proven time and time again this season that it can beat the “big boys” on the biggest of stages.

In three short years, Campbell has effectively flipped the script in the Motor City. He's taken the Lions from a dormant franchise and one of the laughingstocks of the league, and turned them into one of the most feared squads and a final four team in the NFC.

And, Detroit's triumph over Los Angeles this weekend has only further separated the franchise from its old reputation as a beaten-down, irrelevant organization.

At this current juncture, though, Lions fans shouldn't care one iota about the team's past.

The “Same Old Lions” are dead, and have been dead for a while now. And, if they had any chance of being “resurrected,” it would've happened Sunday night against Stafford, the one-time beloved Detroit passer.

Right now, it's time for Lions fans everywhere to live in the present. Because this current Detroit team delivered a special moment on Sunday, one of the finest in franchise history.

Enjoy it. Embrace it. Cherish it.

This is how it's supposed to feel when you're the fan of a playoff-winning team.