NFL – Page 3 – The Sports Fan Project

How ’bout Them Lions?

October 21, 2024October 21, 2024DouglasTHill2 Comments

Full disclosure: The Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys game of the Texas Football Trifecta portion of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project was not part of the original plan. It was simply going to be Friday Night Lights and the Red River Rivalry. A daily double, if you will;-) But then the NFL schedule makers revealed the 2024-25 schedule in May and there it was, Lions-Cowboys the Sunday following Oklahoma-Texas in the Cotton Bowl. Suddenly, we were scooping up Standing Room Only tickets as soon as they hit the market to ensure we were in the building for a rematch from last year’s muffed call by the officials. Yes, Decker reported!

**^{Like most things in Texas, AT&T Stadium is oversized.}**

As I’ve noted several times in this space since I began The Sports Fan Project, my relationship with my hometown NFL franchise – the Detroit Lions – is of the love/hate variety. And, until a year ago, it leaned more heavily on the hate side of the ledger. For as long as I can remember, the Lions would figure out innovative ways to lose games. Sometimes with the help of officials (see that 2023 Cowboys’ game, for example) but more often than not it was simply due to ineptitude on the playing field, the sidelines, or the board room.

It should suprise no one, then, when I say that the last time I saw the Lions play in person was almost 18 years ago in Glendale, AZ, during a yawner of a 17-10 loss to the Neil Leinart-led Cardinals; one of just eight games Leinart won as a starting quarterback during his 6-season NFL career.

I’ve still not seen the Lions play a game in Ford Field, which debuted during the 2002 season, but in the name of sports fandom research and experiencing Texas football at all three levels, I’ll absolutely subject myself to whatever product the Honolulu Blue and Silver put on the field at AT&T Stadium.

Jerry’s House

AT&T Stadium from a distance. — **^{The stadium is visible for miles in all directions.}**

I’m sure if I was a Dallas Metroplex native I’d be more tolerant of Dallas Cowboys’ owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones. Afterall, following his purchase of the franchise in 1989, the Cowboys have been to the playoffs 18 times, appeared in three Super Bowls, and won each of them. Granted, an entire generation (or three!) of Cowboys’ fans has been born since their last Super Bowl win in 1995 which makes fans of Dallas’ pro football team not too dissimilar from Lions’ fans, I suppose.

One of his more recent successes was convincing the City of Arlington and its residents to go all in on constructing a new home for his team (and other events). That became AT&T Stadium alternatively known as Jerry World and/or the Death Star. It opened in 2009.

It. Is. Massive.

With a capacity of over 100,000 (including standing room guests) it is the largest NFL venue by capacity. Sitting in a wide clearing among Arlington’s Entertainment District, it does have a the look of a massive spaceship that’s been moored in metro-Dallas.

My friend Rob, whom I was paired with for this event, has a goal of seeing the Lions play in all opposing venues. AT&T Stadium was his 16th and he wanted to give it a thorough walk through so he and I arrived shortly after the gates opened.

There’s plenty to see and do even without a game ticket, which I’m sure was part of the plan. We entered from the West and it features a massive outdoor plaza known as the Miller Litehouse which includes a mini football field (ala the green space adjacent to the high school football field all the little kids play ball on during games), food trucks, beverage service, merchandise stands, and plenty of screens to watch any and all of the NFL action. Following the game there was even a band performing on a small stage.

^{Clockwise from upper left, the West plaza included plenty for fans of all ages; Rob and I just outside the plaza; the East plaza as seen from inside AT&T Stadium; the West plaza post-game was still rollicking close to an hour after the game ended; the decision to stay in a house within walking distance to the stadium more than paid for itself with these parking rates in private lots adjacent to the venue.}

It was more of the same inside.

There was plenty of largese, from the massive video boards over the field to the spacious concourses to the luxury suites at virtually ever level of the stadium.

Much later, I noticed one thing that was lacking: public restrooms. Rob and I set up shop on the East end Standing Room Only area between the third and fourth levels of seating. Unless you had access to the suites on the level we were standing you either needed to go up or down two flights of stairs to get to a public restroom. For a place that routinely tops 90,000 spectators (93,644 for this game) and claims to have room for over 20,000 standing room only patrons, this seems a massive oversight in the construction plans.

^{Clockwise from upper left, we had a encounter with the famous Dallas Cowboys’ cheerleaders as they entered the stadium following a pregame peformance at the Miller Litehouse; me and Rob on the fourth level; a view from the lower level; the view from my vantage point near the end of the game; the look at the East stadium plaza, the building on the right is Globe LIfe Field, home of MLB’s Texas Rangers.}

Not the Lions of My Younger Years

**^{Yeah, I watched most the game on the big screen or over and around the heads}**
**^{of dozens of others, mainly Lions’ fans, from my endzone perch.}**

As noted above, me attending Lions’ road games does not have a solid track record. In addition to the aforementioned Cardinals game, my previous two Lions games were also road losses: a 2003, 20-16, setback in Denver; and a 2001, 28-6, season-opening loss in Green Bay.

To say I was a bit nervous before kickoff was an understatement.

This was, after all, the only game on this Texas gridiron triology where I had a dog in the fight. Sure, Wayne’s son Macker – part of our traveling party – was a University of Oklahoma graduate, but beyond that I had no connection to the Red River Rivalry and certainly none for our Friday Night Lights experience in Odessa on Friday.

Wayne, an ardent Lions’ fan, was confident, and Rob, a longtime Detroit season-ticket holder, was predicting an easy Lions’ win.

Still, when the Cowboys showd an ability to move the ball on their opening drive, appeared to be an functioning NFL team, and took a 3-0 lead on a field goal, I was not yet feeling as comfortable as my traveling companions.

Then, as some Detroit players said during post-game comments, the Lions got the ball and “unloaded the clip” (a handgun reference) on Dallas.

The Lions did not punt during their 47-9 rout of the Cowboys. They did not allow a touchdown. They forced five Dallas turnovers. They targeted Taylor Decker on a tackle-eligible pass. They ran a hook-and-lateral play with another tackle, Penei Sewell, that was waived off due to a penalty.

It was an absolute a$$-whooping … and it was glorious! Especially after learning that it was Jerry Jones’ 82nd birthday.

^{Clockwise from left, the irony was not lost on me that Ford Motor Company (with a plant in Arlington, TX) had advertising all over the stadium but is also the eponymous company of the Detroit Lions’ ownership; the Standing Room Only area was expansive, though views of actual field are minimal (there are big screens in the areas as well as the video boards over the field); me and some of the other Lions’ faithful.}

The best part, however, might have been the number of Lions’ fans who made the trip. Though there is no way to know for sure, I’d place the number of Detroit fans in AT&T Stadium between 15,000 and 20,000 and, due to the way the game was going, they made their presence known.

On more than one occasion, Rob remarked at how quiet (Lions’ fans aside) the stadium was. It was almost eerie.

^{Lions’ fans bust out a rendition of “Gridiron Heroes” in AT&T Stadium after an early Detroit touchdown.}

All Silent

Aidan Hutchinson Injury Scene — **^{My view of the Lions gathered around the injured Aidan Hutchinson.}**

AT&T Stadium did take on an even eerier silence midway through the third quarter when Detroit’s All-Pro defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson, lay on the turf writhing in pain.

There was but one replay of the incident on the video boards – rightly so – but it didn’t take long for the throng of Lions’ fans around us to view the play and injury on social media and ascertain it was not good.

When the cart came out to carry Hutchinson off the field, well, everyone else in the facility knew what most of Detroit did in that moment.

The Fan Teaser: Week 99 Solution

September 15, 2024September 10, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{Easy like Sunday morning. Who belongs to those}**
**^{knees and feet?}**

Walter Payton made a habit of going airborne whenever the Chicago Bears were anywhere near the goal line or in a short yardage situation. He does so in this image from nearly 40 years ago (October 7, 1984) when the host Bears beat the New Orleans Saints, 20-7. It was Payton’s only score that day, though he did rush for 154 yards on 32 carries.

Most significantly, perhaps, is that this was the game when Payton moved past fellow Pro Hall of Fame running back, Jim Brown, for the all-time rushing lead among NFL players. Payton went on to finish his career with 16,726 yards rushing over 190 games (Brown had 12,312 yards over 118 games). Emmitt Smith is the current record holder with 18,355 yards over 226 games.

^{Here’s a compilation of some of Payton’s airborne moments.}

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

The Fan Teaser: Week 79 Solution

April 28, 2024April 26, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{Ever wonder what’s going on inside this man’s head? Who is this man?}**

Forty years ago, the television viewing world became acquainted with Mel Kiper Jr., NFL Draft analyst for ESPN, and he’s not stopped infiltrating our Draft Day since

Kiper’s a quirky fella – no cheese but mashed potatoes on his pizza? how about no cell phone? – but he’s built an industry out of quirky and taking a deep dive into college football prospects that began while he was still in high school. That first gig with ESPN back in 1984? He earned a whopping $400.

^{Some of Mel’s greatest, er, worst hits.}

Just to review, The Fan Teaser comes courtesy of longtime buddy, Pat Schutte. The cropped photo below and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

The Fan Teaser: Week 68 Solution

February 11, 2024February 10, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{Figuring this one out should be elementary Mr. Watson.}**

Super Bowl XLIII pitted the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers against one another in Tampa Bay, FL.

The Steelers’ prevailed, 27-23, thanks in no small part to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger‘s 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left in the game. Holmes’s catch was sensational and has become known as the “Tampa Toe Tap.” Holmes finished with 131 yards receiving, the touchdown, and was named the game’s MVP.

As the NFL is wont to do, sharing video of on non-licenses sites is nearly impossible. If you’d like to check out Holmes’ heroics you’re able to view video of him discussing it here.

Santonio Holmes catches a game-winning TD pass in Super Bowl XLIII. — ^{Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes’s leaping touchdown grab with 35 seconds remaining gave Pittsburgh a 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. (Photo by Sports Illustrated’s Al Tielemans)}

Film Study

February 5, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

For a variety of reasons, I’ve found myself watching some sports documentaries recently. Here’s what those viewings have been, what I learned, and whether I’d rewatch them.

It Ain’t Over

I watched It Ain’t Over Christmas night with my father who was visiting for the holiday. The film was released in 2022 as – from what I can tell – a bit of a passion project by MLB legend Yogi Berra‘s granddaughter, Lindsay, who spends much of her time on camera reminding the viewers of the greatness her grandfather achieved. And, by and large, it achieves its goal. I’d find it hard to believe anyone who spends time with this film will walk away without a newfound appreciation for Berra and what the body of his work entailed. I’d certainly watch it again, though I’m still left wondering why Nick Swisher was one of the sitdown interviews. (Viewed on Netflix)

Black Ice

We here in the United States have this perception about our neighbors to the north in Canada that they’re a kinder and gentler people. More welcoming, more humane. You likely know the cliche. It turns out, however, when it comes to how we’ve historically treated black and brown people, we’re a fair amount more alike than we might think. I watched Black Ice on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and it provided the type of reflection that holiday is designed to instigate. Beyond a terrific historical look at the NHL and its parallels with MLB when it comes integration, I was awed by the multi-generational composition of those intereviewed and impacted by institutional racism. I certainly need to watch it again to better appreciate the history and ongoing challenges. (Viewed on Hulu)

The League

Speaking of racism – institutional, overt, or otherwise – The League takes a deep dive into the Negro Leagues. I saw this over a few days in early December and came away with a greater appreciation of the struggle for black players to find their way into MLB. And then, once integration occurred, how it began the slow death of the Negro Leagues and, utlimately, of the thriving economies in and around the communities where these teams played. Rich in information and first-person interviews from players from bygone years, this one is not to be missed. (Viewed on Hulu)

The Saint of Second Chances

Mike Veeck is part of one of the pre-eminent baseball families in history. His grandfather, Bill Veeck Sr., was a general manager with the Chicago Cubs and his father was unimitable, Bill Veeck Jr. The Saint of Second Chances, a pseudo bio-pic come documentary, takes a look at some of the Veeck family’s history, Mike’s uneven relationship with his father, the eventual reconciliation, and how he rebuilt his reputation after Comiskey Park’s Disco Demolition Night promotion that went, ahem awry. The film also attempts to tug at viewers’ heart strings by sharing the story of Mike’s daughter, Libby, who plays a huge role in the latter half of the movie. (Viewed on Netflix)

The Redeem Team

Ostensibly, The Redeem Team is the story of the 2008 U.S. Men’s Summer Olympic Team which won a Gold Medal after a series of American disappointments on the international stage. In reality, as the film moves on it, you became aware that it’s a bit of a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant who was a late addition to the squad. Likewise, viewers get a good sense – even as a younger player – of LeBron James‘ will to win and his leadership skills. Finally, Coach Mike Krzyzewski showcases his ability to motivate even the biggeset superstars in the sport. (Viewed on Netflix)

Bill Russell: Legend

Bill Russell: Legend is considered a TV series by IMDb, but let’s be honest, this is more like a 3-hour-plus documentary (split over two episodes) about one of basketball history’s most dominant and influential players, Bill Russell. It does take a deep dive into Russell’s life, dating back to his family’s beginnings in Alabama to the move to California to his time at the University of San Francisco to the crazy trade Boston Celtics’ GM/Coach Red Auerbach made to get him to Beantown (yes, he was essentially traded for the Ice Capades.) Unsurprisingly, it also explores the racial tensions between a successful black man in Boston and the greater community as well as how he became involved in the Civil Rights movement. There is a calvacade stars who opine throughout this “series” and their insights are brilliant. I especially love Jerry West‘s perspective as a long-time rival who so often found himself on the losing end of battles with Russell’s Celtics, you could feel his reverence for his foe. (Viewed on Netflix)

It was a Good Run

January 29, 2024January 28, 2024DouglasTHill1 Comment

**^{The Lions celebrate Jameson Williams’ first quarter touchdown in the NFC Championship. (Photo Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)}**

In my nearly 46 years living in Detroit, I’m not sure I’ve witnessed a city that so coalesced around one of its sports teams quite the way it has with this year’s Detroit Lions’ group. The 1984 “Bless You Boys” Tigers World Series Champions were close as were 1989’s “Bad Boy” Pistons, and, of course, the post-limousine accident Red Wings’ Stanley Cup Championship in 1998 was incredible.

None of it, however, would have equalled what this region would have witnessed had Detroit managed to seal the deal in Santa Clara Sunday night.

But alas …

Good news, there’s only about seven months until training camp opens.

The Fan Teaser: Week 66 Solution

January 28, 2024January 28, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{As we look at this image we’re channeling certain}**
**^{Bon Jovi}** **^{and Madonna songs. Who is it and what}**
**^{are the}** **^{circumstances specific to this photo?}**

Until today’s NFC Championship Game, the Detroit Lions have not had a playoff game in the San Francisco Bay area since New Year’s Eve, 1983.

Despite five interceptions by Detroit quarterback Gary Danielson, the Lions clung to a 23-17 lead deep into the fourth quarter before Joe Montana found Freddie Solomon for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:23 left.

Nevertheless, Detroit moved the ball into field goal range and kicker Eddie Murray had a shot to be the hero with a 43-yard field goal with five seconds left. Despite making three field goals already, including a then-playoff record 54-yarder, Murray’s attempt sailed wide right.

Head coach Monte Clark was spotted on the Detroit sideline seeking the assistance of a higher power as the field goal unit moved into position.

^{The NFL Films treatment of the previous Lions-49ers playoff game.}

Oh yeah, about the Bon Jovi and Madonna songs referenced in the clue: Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” and Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” Enjoy!

Well Done! Now Bring on the Bearded Buffoon

January 15, 2024January 16, 2024DouglasTHill2 Comments

**^{Matt Patricia didn’t have many correct answers during his three seasons as Detroit Lions’ head coach. He now calls defensive plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. (Photo by Jose Juarez, AP)}**

On January 5, 1992, I sat in the third level of the Pontiac Silverdome and watched the Detroit Lions utterly thrash the Dallas Cowboys, 38-7, in what was – until Sunday night – the last time the Lions won a playoff game.

For the 30-plus years since being among those 80,000 fans in the stands that afternoon, I have always puffed out my chest and noted I was at the last Lions’ playoff victory.

Today, I can no longer do so … happily!

Oh, I checked at what the get-in cost would be Sunday morning ($400 would have gotten me a standing room only ducat), but I chose to enjoy it from the cozy comfort of my home where there was a refrigerator and restroom steps away.

But I have a confession to make. I started heading to bed at halftime.

It was a Sunday night and while I didn’t have work Monday, I did have tasks to accomplish and wanted to treat it as a fairly typicaly start to a workweek. That means heading to bed by 10 o’clock.

As I settled in to do some reading, I put the game on the radio and listened to the Lions’ play-by-play team of Dan Miller, Lomas Brown, and T.J. Lang. Shortly before turning the lights out, I hit the sleep button for 60 minutes figuring I’d fall asleep at some point.

And, I did, but as I momentarily came out of my slumber, I heard the Lions’ had the ball and a 1-point lead approaching the 2-minute warning so I remained awake long enough to hear what would happen. And then this occurred:

Here is Dan Miller on the call for the Detroit Lions first playoff win since 1992. pic.twitter.com/HX7E3m3kwI
— Detroit Sports Center (@DetroitSC2020) January 15, 2024

I’m delighted for the 65,000 who were at Ford Field Sunday night. I’d imagine before the week’s up over a quarter million folks will claim to have been in attendance.

And, like most of them, I’m getting greedy. What with another home playoff game on the horizon for this week, I figure why not!?!

While I don’t know enough about the two potential opponents (either the Philadelphia Eagles or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) schematically speaking to understand who sets up best, I do know the play caller for the Eagles is a fella name Matt Patricia who drove the Lions’ franchise like it was a rental for a few seasons, posting a 13-29-1 from 2018-20.

Since this postseason seems to be about Lions’ paybacks (see ex-Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford‘s vanquishing Sunday), why not send the big bearded buffoon’s team packing as well. And, while we’re at it, who else is rooting for a Green Bay Packers’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers to allow for an exorcism of decades worth of Packers’ demons in the NFC Championship in Motor City?

(Update: That fella who used to coach in the D was embarrassed and eliminated by Tampa Bay, 32-9.)

The Fan Teaser: Week 64 Solution

January 14, 2024January 14, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{Those who catch on to this game quick}**
**^{will get this one as fast as Jack.}**

Forty-two years ago this week (January 10, 1982 to be exact) Joe Montana threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Dwight Clark in the NFC Championship Game at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park. Theretofore it became know simply as “The Catch.” You’re able to see the video of it here because, well, the NFL locks down its property and it’s tricky to embed it on this site.

“The Catch” occurred with under a minute left in the game and allowed the 49ers to defeat the Dallas Cowboys, 28-27. San Francisco went on to beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21, in Super Bowl XVI.

A couple of fun facts about this game:

If you did watch the clip above (and here) you’ll recognize the voice of the game’s play-by-play person. Yep, that’s longtime Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster, Vin Scully. This was his final football broadcast.
In the Candlestick crowd that late afternoon was a 4-year-old boy who’d wind up faring pretty well in the NFL himself, Tom Brady.

Young Tom Brady and Mom — **^{It must’ve been a long day for young Tom Brady who appears a bit sad following the 49e}**^{rs big win.} **^{(Photo from Brady Family)}**

It Had to Be Stafford and the Rams, Right?

January 8, 2024January 8, 2024DouglasTHillLeave a comment

Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford — **^{The Detroit Lions and quarterback Jared Goff will host Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs later this week. (Photo by Robert Hanashiro – USA Today)}**

You just knew it would work out this way, didn’t you?

Detroit wins its first NFC North Division title and hosts the first-ever playoff game at Ford Field and the opponent will be the Los Angeles Rams who are quarterbacked by … Matthew Stafford, the former face of the franchise.

When he was drafted first overall by the Detroit Lions in 2009 out of the University of Georgia he Stafford was to be the savior of a city’s bedraggled football team that had the ignominy of finishing 0-16 the year before and hadn’t won a division title in 25 years.

Alas, the best laid plans.

Rather than fully “Restore the Roar,’ Stafford helmed the Lions to nothing more than three second-place divisional finishes and three road Wildcard Playoff Round losses. His final three seasons in Detroit – all under ill-equipped Coach Matt Patricia – resulted in successive last-place divisional finishes and a grand total of 11 wins.

On Sunday, Detroit beat Minnesota, 30-20, to put a bow on a 12-win season that saw a new banner ascend to the rafters.

The team’s success this season can be directly attributed to, you guessed it, Matthew Stafford. Or at least the Lions’ return on his departure.

When Detroit sent Stafford to the Rams three years ago this month it was anyone’s guess how it’d turn out. The only other player as part of the package – then-Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff – took Los Angeles to a Super Bowl three seasons earlier, but to much of the football world he appeared to be a serviceable quarterback. Nothing more, nothing less.

The bounty for this trade of Stafford was a third round and two first round draft picks.

In the interim, while Detroit waited to see what the new regime of General Manager Brad Holmes and Coach Dan Campbell would do with those picks, most of Detroit pulled for Stafford and lived vicariously through he and the Rams’ magical 2021 season that resulted in the 23-20 Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

It was not until April’s NFL Draft that the final tally on the Stafford Trade was known:

Thanks to Draft Day trades by Holmes, those three draft picks became five. Those picks became defensive back Ifeatu Malifonwu, wide receiver Jameson Williams, defensive lineman Josh Paschal, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta, and defensive end Brodric Martin.

And, because the Lions were fairly devoid of talent that first year Holmes, Campbell, and Goff were in town, they wound up with the second overall selection which became Aidan Hutchinson. Add to the mix Lions’ Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson and suddenly Goff was more than serviceable.

So it seems only fitting then that for the Detroit Lions – one of just four NFL franchises to never appear in a Super Bowl (Browns, Jaguars, and Texans are the others) – to move to the next round this post-season they must first vanquish the city’s once favorite son who returns wearing a decidely different shade of blue and a Super Bowl ring on his finger.

I haven’t a clue what sort of reception Stafford will receive from the Ford Field faithful Sunday night (I suspect it will be respectful gratitude for his time served), but I do know that for this franchise to fully shake the “Same Old Lions” label it will need to finally sever ties with any affinity it has for Stafford and a major part of that will be the fans making life miserable for he and his Rams’ teammates, thus enhancing the chances of a Lions victory.

Has one franchise ever witnessed its past, present, and future all converging at such a critical moment?