NFC Wild Card Playoffs: LA Rams @ Detroit Lions

[goldenlions]

Well this is it.  What the whole season has been all about, making the playoffs, winning the division, and getting a home playoff win.

Despite all the storylines, which needs not be addressed unless you really want.  This is going to take the great Goff (which we have seen at home most of the season) on offense, the stout Oline protecting, and the run game to get it done.  The Lions defense is going to be tested, a big spot for AG and his defense that needs to be prepared and not make those big mistakes.  Limiting the run to under 100 and give up all the passing yards is what this defense does and that will be the key.


Now for the bad news.  For the Lions to win this game they will have to defy history in more ways than one.

1.  Obviously, no playoff game played in Detroit for 30 years
2.  Only the one playoff win all our lives (unless anyone on here is 70 or something).
3.  The number 3 seed is a killer, the past 20 seasons.  In those 20 past seasons, the #3 seed has lost at home in the wild card round 11 times (including the last 6 years).  Only two teams made the NFC Championship game, the '08 Eagles and the '03 Carolina (only one to make the SB).


For the Lions to win this game they will have to defy history, but this team seems poised to be a team of destiny and all walls can be torn down with a victory.

LFG!!!!!

[def]

Oh Boy...

Here we go. First and foremost mofos, let's enjoy this. It's been a run let me just say that, a run of football futility that has witnessed me personally, breaking more than 2 televisions, (though I was going to upgrade), smashed also more than a handful of fifths of Scoresby and other gut rot Scotches, tried to film a reverse the curse of Bobby Layne video back in the day, though I never uploaded it, because the footage got a bit fuzzy, both technically and spiritually as mass amounts of (scoresby) was involved. There have been ref nightmare scenarios that I'm sure have manifested into the many ulcers in my stomach, not to mention a little ref PTSD that has also coursed through my synapses like a Vietnam vet ingesting too much agent orange from all the god damn napalm throughout the years...

BUT IT'S THE DAMN PLAYOFFS! So yes - LET'S ENJOY THIS, at least as much as we can enjoy something we want so badly! There will be much anxiety I fret, but we've all been there troops. Put on your war faces and pack that survival pack with all the essentials that could get us through this. This is our personal Vietnam and the war has just begun!

Still like most people that have been injured in combat, I am not sure if I believe it just yet. I am not sure if it has sunk in completely. Mostly, I have been trying not to jinx this year and mostly I am amazed at how good this version of the Lions can be. When WCF passed (RIP) I felt the shift internally. Something was happening in Detroit, the old Ford brother that nearly tanked the newly minted Lincoln side of Ford in 1955 with the Lincoln Contential Mark 2, an upgrade from his father. It cost as much as a Bentley back then and was huge. It didn't sell well and the Ford family discontinued the mark 2 in (ironically) 1957. The Ford family bought the Lions in 1964 and WCF was it's owner and operator leading our Lions down a path of colorful failure.

We all know the history, but when WCF passed (RIP) his daughter presumed ownership along with his wife and well, here we are.

The point is, enjoy this. We've had our heart ripped out more than those damn Vietkong have ripped the hearts out of us in the battlefield. They stalked us and set traps. Let us avoid those traps! The fury and rage of war cannot be denied, but with it always comes casualties. May the football gods shine down on The LaPorta for he is truly a gifted soldier. Let's face it men, we've been through the football gamut more than The Washington Generals were against the Globetrotters. This game is our Hamburger Hill. We've been ridiculed and footballs great stepchild's for longer than we care to remember. We have been outmanned in the past and outgunned, but we're ready this time! In the name of Jesus, LET US BE READY!

NOW PUT ON YOUR DAMN WAR FACE! SHOW ME YOUR FUCKING WAR FACE!

THIS IS FUCKING WAR. MAKE NO MISTAKE!

And most of all...let's ENJOY THIS! BUT NOT TOO MUCH BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY ENJOY WAR! 

THERE IS ONLY VICTORY!

That said, this game scares the living shit out of me. I won't mention what HS Stafford attended or the sheer DRED I would feel if he came back to Ford Field and won in some twisted Hollywood script shit, but this game is EVERYTHING.

This game is the key and they cannot let Stafford get comfortable. Blitz his ass like Normandy beach. Blitz his ass often and with bad intentions. Cover those shifty white WR's and stop that running back that has been quite effective this year.

OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WILL BE ON DEFENSE!

Defense wins championships and it all starts here!

We have to light it up on O! There are no other options and unless Stafford tanks, which I doubt he will, THIS WILL BE ANOTHER NAIL BITER!

SO SHOW ME YOUR FUCKING WAR FACE AND MAY FORD FIELD BE LOUDER THAN A HUNDRED B-57's TAKING OFF ON THE BIGGEST MISSION YET!

May GOD protect the die hard Lions fans and may the football gods shine down upon thee...

LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Vic]

I was talking to my kids about the game and Stafford coming back to play against us. When they were very young they would sit with me on Sundays and hear me yell at Stafford on gameday quite often

The first thing they said is "he needs to throw interceptions like he did all the time when he played for us". Wouldn't that be fitting with the game on the line.

[sanders97]

After cancelling the NFL ticket for the first time in 20+ years and turning away from football, completely, I started watching again on Thanksgiving Day, last year. I had been loosely following; reading news articles and the occasional talking heads broadcast, but I sat with family...who have also witnessed my decades of torture...and cautiously claimed, "The Lions have no business in this game against Buffalo. I'll buy the hype if they even make this a ballgame".

Since then, I have learned so much about Brad Holmes and Sheila Hamp. I already knew Dan Campbell was pretty awesome, as a human being and as a player. To imagine him as a quality coach was not difficult. And now, here we are.

I'm as nervous as anyone else. Anyone with any level of confidence is just built to be positive, which as we all know, is not a recipe for preserving quality mental health, as a Lions fan. But this team is definitely not the same ol', same ol'. I honestly did not see them even making it this far, this year. I figured next years would be their best run...and it still may be. But I think this is to be enjoyed, right now.

Regardless of outcome, I'm already impressed and finally excited to watch Lions football, again.

[Vic]

Yo Sanders!

[goldenlions]

If I had a dozen tickets to this game, I’d take all you Goombas! But alas I just have 2 and I am taking my Dad. He took me to the last Lions home playoff game in 1994 (fuck you Sterling Sharpe), thought I would return the favor and hoping for a better outcome and another game next weekend!

[Felix]

What up sanders...my brother from an angry motha....

And that's badass G....enjoy that time with Pops, no matter the outcome...we are getting old, who knows how many more cool opportunities we get with our old timers...

[Vic]

Jan 11, 2024 8:07:28 GMT -6 def said:

Oh Boy...

Here we go. First and foremost mofos, let's enjoy this. It's been a run let me just say that, a run of football futility that has witnessed me personally, breaking more than 2 televisions, (though I was going to upgrade), smashed also more than a handful of fifths of Scoresby and other gut rot Scotches, tried to film a reverse the curse of Bobby Layne video back in the day, though I never uploaded it, because the footage got a bit fuzzy, both technically and spiritually as mass amounts of (scoresby) was involved. There have been ref nightmare scenarios that I'm sure have manifested into the many ulcers in my stomach, not to mention a little ref PTSD that has also coursed through my synapses like a Vietnam vet ingesting too much agent orange from all the god damn napalm throughout the years...

BUT IT'S THE DAMN PLAYOFFS! So yes - LET'S ENJOY THIS, at least as much as we can enjoy something we want so badly! There will be much anxiety I fret, but we've all been there troops. Put on your war faces and pack that survival pack with all the essentials that could get us through this. This is our personal Vietnam and the war has just begun!

Still like most people that have been injured in combat, I am not sure if I believe it just yet. I am not sure if it has sunk in completely. Mostly, I have been trying not to jinx this year and mostly I am amazed at how good this version of the Lions can be. When WCF passed (RIP) I felt the shift internally. Something was happening in Detroit, the old Ford brother that nearly tanked the newly minted Lincoln side of Ford in 1955 with the Lincoln Contential Mark 2, an upgrade from his father. It cost as much as a Bentley back then and was huge. It didn't sell well and the Ford family discontinued the mark 2 in (ironically) 1957. The Ford family bought the Lions in 1964 and WCF was it's owner and operator leading our Lions down a path of colorful failure.

We all know the history, but when WCF passed (RIP) his daughter presumed ownership along with his wife and well, here we are.

The point is, enjoy this. We've had our heart ripped out more than those damn Vietkong have ripped the hearts out of us in the battlefield. They stalked us and set traps. Let us avoid those traps! The fury and rage of war cannot be denied, but with it always comes casualties. May the football gods shine down on The LaPorta for he is truly a gifted soldier. Let's face it men, we've been through the football gamut more than The Washington Generals were against the Globetrotters. This game is our Hamburger Hill. We've been ridiculed and footballs great stepchild's for longer than we care to remember. We have been outmanned in the past and outgunned, but we're ready this time! In the name of Jesus, LET US BE READY!

NOW PUT ON YOUR DAMN WAR FACE! SHOW ME YOUR FUCKING WAR FACE!

THIS IS FUCKING WAR. MAKE NO MISTAKE!

And most of all...let's ENJOY THIS! BUT NOT TOO MUCH BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY ENJOY WAR! 

THERE IS ONLY VICTORY!

That said, this game scares the living shit out of me. I won't mention what HS Stafford attended or the sheer DRED I would feel if he came back to Ford Field and won in some twisted Hollywood script shit, but this game is EVERYTHING.

This game is the key and they cannot let Stafford get comfortable. Blitz his ass like Normandy beach. Blitz his ass often and with bad intentions. Cover those shifty white WR's and stop that running back that has been quite effective this year.

OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WILL BE ON DEFENSE!

Defense wins championships and it all starts here!

We have to light it up on O! There are no other options and unless Stafford tanks, which I doubt he will, THIS WILL BE ANOTHER NAIL BITER!

SO SHOW ME YOUR FUCKING WAR FACE AND MAY FORD FIELD BE LOUDER THAN A HUNDRED B-57's TAKING OFF ON THE BIGGEST MISSION YET!

May GOD protect the die hard Lions fans and may the football gods shine down upon thee...

LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Def,

Its time. Time for many shots of Scorsby and bong tokes and to call Geekchick over and lube up her bunghole. I see the band has finally gotten back together here on the RZ and we need the big... over the top push to make this happen Sunday. Time for a drunken role call and epic story line from our resident wordsmith. This has to come from only you...The man, the myth, the legend, the former Mayor of Gladwin Michigan, AKA Hollywood Jimmy the Greek...DEF

[def]

Jan 11, 2024 13:13:33 GMT -6 goldenlions said:

If I had a dozen tickets to this game, I’d take all you Goombas! But alas I just have 2 and I am taking my Dad. He took me to the last Lions home playoff game in 1994 (fuck you Sterling Sharpe), thought I would return the favor and hoping for a better outcome and another game next weekend!

And that my friends is what it's really about.

[TRUMP]

Lions need to lean on the running game and keep stafford off the field as long as possible. need a 2 to 3 score lead into the 4th qtr so stafford doesnt have one of his patented come from behind wins.
when the rams do have the ball on offense we need to hit Stafford hard and often, even risk a penalty. he gets jittery the more he gets hit. i think La Porta plays. Amon is amped for this game and he will e key to moving the chains.

Lions 34
Rams 24

[sanders97]

Jan 11, 2024 13:13:33 GMT -6 goldenlions said:

If I had a dozen tickets to this game, I’d take all you Goombas! But alas I just have 2 and I am taking my Dad. He took me to the last Lions home playoff game in 1994 (fuck you Sterling Sharpe), thought I would return the favor and hoping for a better outcome and another game next weekend!

My pops just moved back up to Michigan and I',ve made one visit, so far.  Idk if I could talk him into a game.  He defected when we moved out of the area and decided to follow the home team (Pats) when we moved to Rhode Island.  At least they sucked back then.  Haha

But hellz yeah, golden...This will be one for the memory album, one way or the other.  

[sanders97]

Jan 11, 2024 14:19:51 GMT -6 Felix said:

What up sanders...my brother from an angry motha....

And that's badass G....enjoy that time with Pops, no matter the outcome...we are getting old, who knows how many more cool opportunities we get with our old timers...

Good to see most of the old timers.  I'm still angry, but probably more chill than back in the day.  Most of all, I'm lovin' bein' a Lions fan, right now.  I really want them to win and get the playoff win monkey off their back, but I had next year pegged as their best shot at a Lombardi, so I'm happy with what I've seen, already.

Idk if I'll be as present as I was, but knowing you sad sacks are still hangin' out, I'm sure I'll pop in from time to time.

[badnews3123]

James Mitchell is out. So sounds like Laporta will go at least limited.

No James Houston either.

[TRUMP]

Packers defeat Cowboys

Lions defeat Rams

TB defeats Eagles

GB defeats SF

lions defeat TB

lIONS defeat GB

Lions to SB and all games played at home....

[Blaming Brad]

Jan 12, 2024 14:47:32 GMT -6 badnews3123 said:

James Mitchell is out. So sounds like Laporta will go at least limited.

No James Houston either.

Wasn't expecting Houston. Kind of a buzzkill on Mitchell, especially since it seems it happened in practice.

[Felix]

atozsports.com/detroit/lions-defense-has-a-big-request-for-lions-fans-on-sunday/


I don't understand...I've always been told noise doesn't effect games 🤣

But in all seriousness...I think McVay and ol Staffy will have something cooked up and come out on fire...I just hope the fans don't let that deter the energy

[TRUMP]

williams could have a break out game. he was idle last week due to injury but has recovered. look for a lot of williams in any way the can get him the ball.
gonna be fun to watch.

[jay]

Campbell will not let this team fail. Heavy does of Gibbs and Monty. Expect Jamo to get a couple deep balls.

[Vic]

yeah it's going to be ground and pound

[badnews3123]

This was the match-up I wanted the least. Don’t like Stafford and the WR match-up against this secondary. And McVay coming up with the plan. If they can stop the run though, which has been the strength of the D they can have some opportunities.

Offense has to be as sharp as they’ve been all season. If they can find a way to limit Donald and run the ball and create off play-action they should be able to move the ball consistently.

I’ve gone back and forth on them winning, but my gut now says the pull it out.

Lions 31
Rams 27

[Blaming Brad]

Jan 14, 2024 14:55:19 GMT -6 badnews3123 said:

This was the match-up I wanted the least.

With the way GB is playing right now, kind of glad it's not them.

Jan 14, 2024 14:55:19 GMT -6 badnews3123 said:

Don’t like Stafford and the WR match-up against this secondary.

For what it's worth, the "strength" (and I use that term lightly) of the Lions pass defense seems to be covering the slot which is where Kupp and Puka seem to thrive.

[icouldblion]

The way GB is exposing the fraud that is the cowgirls is gonna open up an opportunity for another home game if we can handle the Rams. Hopefully CJGJ is ready to step up and hopefully we can get pressure on Stafford without having to go blitz-heavy.

First team to 40 wins.

[Blaming Brad]

Jan 14, 2024 17:34:00 GMT -6 icouldblion said:

First team to 40 wins.

Or last team to 40.

[TRUMP]

cowboys geting thumped. i picked GB. i also pick TB or Eagles. Lions win tonight. GB beats SF, Lions play NFC at home every game. BOOM.

[icouldblion]

LET'S FUKKIN GOOOOOOO!!!!