The get-in price at Ford Field was far and away the most expensive of Super Wild Card Weekend, with fans eager to watch the Lions win a playoff game for the first time in 32 years. They’d lost nine straight postseason games, but this year — and this team — felt different. The Lions won their first ever NFC North title and hosted their first playoff game in 30 years.
Of course, this is a tortured fan base, so you couldn’t blame them for fearing the worst. After all, this is a franchise that’s suffered a winless 0-16 season and is accustomed to heartbreak. Plus, they watched another star-crossed franchise in the Cleveland Browns get blown out Saturday as favorites.
You could feel the tension in Ford Field the entire game, especially down the stretch as the Rams crept across the 50-yard line into field goal territory with less than five minutes remaining. However, a team that’s seen more than its fair share of heartbreak showed why this year’s Lions team is a far cry from what we’ve seen in the past. The defense got a key stop, and then the offense picked up a pair of first downs to secure a 24-23 victory.
THE LIONS WIN THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF GAME SINCE 1992pic.twitter.com/vxfddVygy8
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) January 15, 2024
The Lions were +2200 to win the Super Bowl heading into Week 1. The odds dipped as low as +1100 after Week 12, but were at +2000 heading into the playoffs. It’s now +950 after beating the Rams, which is second best in the NFC after the Super Bowl favorite 49ers (+180). They're also +380 to win the conference at DraftKings.
Meanwhile, the 2-seed Dallas Cowboys got blown out earlier in the day by the Green Bay Packers, meaning a frenzied Lions crowd gets to do it all over again next week. Detroit will host the winner of Monday night’s Eagles vs. Buccaneers game for the right to play in the NFC Championship Game. Kickoff is set for Sunday at 3 pm E.T.
