Now that’s what I call a homefield advantage in the NFL as for the first time ever, Ford Field in Detroit Michigan finally hosted an NFL Playoff game as the homefield crowd made a huge impact in this game. How fitting it was Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions against Matthew Stafford and the LA Rams in this Playoff game on Wildcard Weekend. Goff use to play for the LA Rams while Stafford use to play for the Detroit Lions where they are now wearing different uniforms. A couple of seasons ago during the 2021-22 season Matthew Stafford and the LA Rams won Super Bowl 56. Before that season Goff and Stafford were part of that blockbuster trade where they switched teams and I think it has gone well for both sides. Now they are playing each other in a playoff game as Matthew Stafford is making his homecoming to Detroit after playing for the Lions from 2009-2020 where he had success as a player but unfortunately his Lions never won a playoff game. The last time the Lions won a playoff game was January 5th 1992 at the Old Pontiac Silverdome against the Dallas Cowboys. Detroit Lions had lost 9 straight playoff games going into this game.
The Lions scored touchdowns on their first three drives to start the game as the offense was rolling with David Montgomery getting a 1 yard run, flashy rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs added a 10 yar run then rookie tight end Sam LaPorta on a 4th and goal got a 2 yard touchdown pass to make it 21-10 Lions lead as Ford Field was so loud as you can tell how excited the Lions fan base was finally in so long hosting a playoff game. One big thing the Lions defense did in this game was they held the Rams 0-3 in the red zone from scoring a touchdown as that is 18 key points off the board, give the Lions credit for tightening up when they had to in the red zone. Rams did score 2 touchdown but they were on two long Stafford touchdown passes. In the second half with crowd being so loud the Rams had to burn 2 timeouts on offense. It was a defensive battle in the second half as only field goals were scored by both teams. After the Lions got a huge stop they got the ball back with 4:07 left in the game from their own 17 yard line where they can finally win a playoff game by burning down the clock. Lions got one big first down with 3:24 left on a 2nd and 7 where Goff hit David Montgomery on a swing pass for 11 yards to move the chains. Then on a 2nd and 9 coming out of the 2 minute warning Goff hit his all pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St Brown for a 12 yard gain as the Lions team and fan base for the first time since January 5th 1992 the Detroit Lions finally win a playoff game. Yes I am a Chicago Bears fan but I am so happy for both the organization and the fan base for this moment after they waited so long to finally win a playoff game as Ford Field was rocking. With the 7th seed Green Bay Packers winning easily today over the Dallas Cowboys the Lions as the 3rd seed will host another playoff game at Ford Field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Philadelphia Eagles where Ford Field will be rocking again. Congrats to the Lions they did it.