Lions End Playoffs Jinx
By George Eichorn
Thirty years in the making the Detroit Lions finally buried one of their Same Old Lions (SOL) battle cries by defeating the Matthew Stafford-led Los Angeles Rams, 24-23 on Sunday night at Ford Field in Detroit.
A raucous crowd of 66,367 packed Ford Field, cheering Lions QB Jared Goff, 29, as he exacted revenge on the Rams and Coach Sean McVay who traded Goff away to the Lions despite a Super Bowl appearance in LA in 2019. Goff completed 22 of 27 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta.
Goff hit receiver Amon-ra St. Brown with two minutes left in the game for a crucial first down. Having no time outs left the Rams could only watch Goff take three kneel-downs to preserve the Lions first playoff game since 1991.
The club won just its second playoff game since 1957 when the Lions defeated Cleveland for their last NFL title – well before the title game was dubbed the Super Bowl. In 1991 the Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys at the Pontiac Silverdome in the Divisional Playoffs, 38-6.
This time all the media and fan hype did not distract Coach Dan Campbell and the Lions: Goff vs. Stafford, Goff vs. McVay, the Lions losing history, and on and on.
Goff deserves a new contract as he is a perfect fit with the Lions. Shrewd drafting and trades by GM Brad Holmes plus great coaching by Campbell and his staff contributed to a 12-5 regular season and this wildcard victory. Detroit won its first division crown in 30 seasons and first NFC North title ever.
The Lions also earned a second home playoff date next Sunday, January 21, against the winner of the Philadelphia-Tampa Bay wildcard game.
This was just the second time in NFL history that the Lions and Rams played in a postseason. The first was in 1952 in the National Conference Championship. The Lions won that game also, 31-21, in Detroit.
As my colleague Scott Morganroth of the South Florida Tribune and Sideline Sports reminded us – Mike Tirico of NBC now knows how silly his season opening night comments were as the Lions beat Kansas City, defending Super Bowl champions, 21-20. You may recall Tirico wanting to put an asterisk on Detroit’s win because several Chiefs were out of the lineup with injuries. The Lions beat the Chiefs fair and square just as they did the Rams.
Reach George Eichorn at [email protected] or @Sandgsports99 on X (formerly Twitter).
Detroit’s Sports Broadcasters: On the Air: Eichorn, George B, Introduction Harwell, Ernie, Harwell, Introduction Ernie: 9781531617660: Amazon.com: Books[email protected] or @Sandgsports99 on X (formerly Twitter).
