Lions President Offers Message Before Historic Playoff Game

The Detroit Lions have waited a long time for this moment.

For the first time since 2016, the franchise is back in the playoffs and will host its first playoff game in 30 years on January 14. Lions President Rod Wood couldn’t let the opportunity pass without sending a message to the team’s support base via social media.

“Lions fans, thank you for all your years of support, especially this season,” Wood said on his X (formerly Twitter) account. “You’ve been waiting for this for a long time. We know you’re eager to create a gameday atmosphere unlike anything witnessed at Ford Field before.

“Get there early, be louder than ever, and let’s make this night we’ll never forget.”

While Ford Field hosted the 2005 Super Bowl, the stadium, which opened in 2002, will host its first-ever Lions playoff game on January 14. Furthermore, the game will be the first NFL playoff game to be played in downtown Detroit since 1957.

The Lions will host the Los Angeles Rams in a playoff game at Ford Field at 8 p.m. ET.

Rod Wood of the Lions asks fans to assist the team in continuing to make history.

It’s unusual for a team president to send a thank you message before the season ends. But, given the franchise’s historic year, the social media message was more than justified.

The Lions won their first NFC North title and first division crown in 30 years with a 12-5 record.This secured the team’s first chance to host a playoff game since 1993.

In Week 16, Detroit won the division. However, with another victory in Week 18, the Lions tied their all-time win total of 12. The only other time Detroit won 12 games in a season was in 1991, when the Lions also won a playoff game.

Throughout their existence, the Lions are 7-13 in postseason games. However, they have only one postseason victory during the Super Bowl era.

The Lions would end a 32-year skid and nine-game postseason losing run if they beat the Rams. It would also be Detroit’s first Wild Card round triumph.

The Lions are 0-9 in Wild Card weekend history. In addition, they have lost 12 of their last 13 playoff games.

Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford Will Face Off in the First Lions’ Ford Field Playoff Game

For a long time, it seemed as if Matthew Stafford would be the quarterback who would lead the Lions to all of these firsts.Stafford led the Lions to the playoffs in 2011, ending a 12-year playoff drought. Stafford’s Lions also made the playoffs in 2014 and 2016.

However, after the 2020 season, Detroit traded Stafford to the Rams. Stafford led the squad to the Super Bowl in his first season. The Lions obtained quarterback Jared Goff as part of the transaction.

Goff is now in charge of the Lions’ historic 2023 season. However, he must defeat his Detroit predecessor in order for the Lions to participate in Divisional Weekend for the first time since 1991.

In 2023, Goff had a 67.3% completion rate, 4,575 passing yards, and 30 touchdowns.During the regular season, Stafford had a 62.6% completion rate, 3,965 passing yards, and 24 touchdowns.

In 12 seasons as Detroit’s starting quarterback, Stafford went 74-90-1.He was 0-3 in the postseason with the Lions, but Stafford is 4-0 in the playoffs as Los Angeles’ starting quarterback.