By George Eichorn
The place was electric. Lions fans numbering over 66,000 filled Ford Field for the 2023 home season opener.
And while the Tigers’ opening day still ranks as a civic holiday downtown the Lions are gaining ground! Fans without tickets and numbering in the hundreds filled nearby bars and restaurants as the Lions came home after a stunning win in their NBC-TV Thursday Night football opener, 21-20 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The talk of the town was all Lions – and has been for more than a few months now. Dreams of a division title, home playoff game and even the team’s first-ever Super Bowl appearance danced like sugar plums in the minds of fans.
The fun started last Saturday when a VIP audience was on hand as a giant statue of Hall of Fame Lions running back Barry Sanders was unveiled outside Gate C at Ford Field.
Barry was there with his family, Mayor Mike Duggan, Lions ownership headed by Sheila Ford Hamp and Martha Firestone Ford, former coach Wayne Fontes, former teammates of the star running back, media and friends. Statue artists Omri Amrany and Lou Cella grinned from ear to ear!
The spectacular statue is the only one ever commissioned by the franchise in their 90th NFL season. That alone is a testament to Barry’s greatness.
Before Sunday’s afternoon game against the visiting Seattle Seahawks, the field was filled with the likes of Sanders, Fontes, Calvin Johnson, Herman Moore, and many others connected with the glory days of the franchise. The place was buzzing with excitement well before the opening kickoff.
Unfortunately for Lions fans the end result was not expected. An overtime loss to Seattle, 37-30, on 30 second-half points by the Seahawks offense led by quarterback Geno Smith.
The Lions defense was full of holes and that’s not a good sign. Despite improvements on the roster and a solid effort ten days earlier against the Chiefs, the Lions defenders came up short when they needed to stop Seattle, especially on big plays.
Jared Goff of the Lions had a very good game, passing for 28-of-35, 323 yards and 3 touchdowns. The one key miscue was an interception by Goff thus ending his streak of games without a pick.
The other story was the injuries suffered by the Lions. Star safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, running back David Montgomery, linebacker James Houston, wide receivers Antoine Green and Amon-Ra St. Brown and guard Vaitai Halapoulivaati were hurt. The worst of these is CJGJ as his torn pectoral muscle may require a lengthy stay on the injured list.
Offensive tackle Taylor Decker, defensive end Josh Paschal and cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Khalil Dorsey were sidelined for the Seattle game.
Despite the loss, fans held their heads high and talked of a turnaround for game three when the Lions host the Atlanta Falcons, September 24, at Ford Field. Game time is just after 1 p.m. (FOX and 97.1 The Ticket).
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or @Sandgsports99 on X (formerly Twitter).
