In 2023, the Detroit Lions made a thrilling run to the NFC Championship Game but fell short against the San Francisco 49ers. Their journey to the title game kicked off with a dramatic Wild Card Round victory over the Los Angeles Rams, winning 24-23.
This game was historic for Ford Field as it marked the first playoff game ever held there, and Lions fans certainly made their presence felt. The atmosphere was so electrifying that Rams head coach Sean McVay took notice. On the “Pardon My Take” podcast, McVay expressed his amazement at the intensity of the crowd, even ranking Ford Field’s atmosphere above the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, where the Rams played during the 2018 playoffs.
McVay described the scene: “That was the loudest, by far. In Detroit, it was way louder. It was sick. It was a sick atmosphere. Credit to Detroit, and I’m telling you, my dad loved it. They were already out on the field. I came out like 60 minutes before kickoff, the stands are full. My dad said, ‘I heard these guys, these people booing their ass off at somebody. I watched you walking out.’ He was laughing, it was so funny. Everyone is booing, talking to me. It was great. I loved it.”
The excitement was palpable, as this was the Lions’ first playoff game since 2016 and their first home playoff game since the 1993 season. The energy from the fans was a huge boost, and the Lions won two home playoff games before their road loss to San Francisco. With such a passionate fan base, securing home-field advantage in the 2024 playoffs could be crucial for the Lions. Ford Field is clearly a challenging place for opponents to play.
