Carmen Vitali
NFC North Reporter
DETROIT — The opening notes of “Put On” by Young Jeezy boomed through the loudspeaker at Ford Field as the Detroit Lions took the field for the opening kick. They had won the opening coin toss and decided to take the ball first against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs.
“I put on for my city…”
The overwhelmingly Honolulu Blue crowd raised white towels and spun them in the air.
“On, on for my city…”
The noise crescendoed as the decibel levels on the jumbotron climbed. Lions players lined the sideline, some jumping up and down ready to burst with energy, some solemn and intense, unwaveringly fixated on the field.
“I put on…”
The special-teams unit made a perfect line with Jack Fox setting up the ball dead-center. Fans continued to yell as if they were going into battle, waving their towels as if they were brandishing weapons.
The music cut off, the stadium was silent for a split second and then Fox made contact with the ball as the entire stadium was swallowed by sound again.
This is the football Detroit deserves.
Three years ago to the day, head coach Dan Campbell talked about building a team that would get back up if you knocked them down… and bite kneecaps on their way there. The Lions have now won their second home playoff game at Ford Field this season, fulfilling promises made three years ago.
They downed the Buccaneers 31-23 in an absolute dogfight.
Center Frank Ragnow, already battling through various ailments, was injured in the first half when Bucs rookie defensive tackle Calijah Kancey tackled quarterback Jared Goff right onto the back of Ragnow’s legs. Ragnow still finished the game.
‘He’s the best center in football’ — Lions’ Taylor Decker gets emotional when talking about Frank Ragnow
The Bucs’ defense frustrated the Lions and their plethora of offensive playmakers, particularly in the first half. At halftime, running…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/lions-all-grit-in-monumental-divisional-round-win-as-they-put-on-for-detroit
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Publish date : 2024-01-22 01:45:16
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