After 32 years of not winning an NFL Playoff game, the Detroit Lions shocked fans last Sunday when they clinched their second playoff win in their Divisional Round victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On Sunday, January 21, the Lions hosted the Buccaneers in Ford Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, where they clinched their 31-23 victory over Tampa Bay. This win over the Buccaneers advances the Lions to the NFC Championship game that is occurring tonight.
Throughout their playoff run, the Lions’ longest and die-hard fan, acclaimed rapper Eminem, has continuously expressed his support for his hometown team. Eminem has taken to social media on numerous occasions to express his support and plea to various key figures, such as Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. In one of his posts, the famous rapper conveyed his support for his hometown team by stating that his New Year’s resolution was for the Lions to win the Super Bowl title.
Following last Sunday’s game, the Detroit franchise is one step closer to ensuring that Eminem’s New Year’s resolution becomes a reality. The Lions entered Sunday’s competition as the favorite to win the Divisional Round game. The Detroit franchise was a 6-point favorite over Tampa Bay and favored at -273 on the money line, while the Buccaneers were +222.
Up until the final quarter of the game, fans were unsure which team would clinch the win, as the two franchises were tied at the end of each of the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, the Lions managed to break loose of the tie as they scored two touchdowns and two field goals within the first ten minutes of the final quarter. Ford Stadium became electric as fans cheered on the Lions throughout the game’s final seconds.
Y'all ever heard a roof pop off a building?@derrickbarnes21 | #AllGrit pic.twitter.com/KSFvFxKBH9
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 21, 2024
Last Sunday’s Divisional Round win advances the Lions to their first NFC Championship game since 1991, where they will go head-to-head against the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are set to host the Detroit franchise tonight at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The 49ers are no strangers to the NFL Playoffs, as the San Francisco franchise has clinched five Super Bowl titles and seven NFC Championship titles in their 19 appearances in the game.
The San Francisco franchise is the current favorite for the NFC Championship title, as they are favored to win the game by 7.5 points. When looking at the money line, the 49ers are favored at -351, while the Lions sit at +276. While odds can change as the game approaches, it seems the Lions will have a lot of work they need to put in tonight if they want to secure the NFC Championship title and advance to the Super Bowl.
With the Lions’ biggest fan by their side and advocating for the team, the Detroit franchise cannot let him down. The Detroit fanbase has been waiting 32 years for a real shot at the Super Bowl title, and this year is their best chance at securing one. Will the Lions be able to grant Eminem’s New Year’s resolution, or will the Super Bowl title be out of reach?
