The Detroit Lions are poised for an extraordinary playoff season, with a series of innovative community initiatives and a historic record on their side. The team, which has secured the NFC's No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history with an impressive 15-2 record, is gearing up to face the Washington Commanders in a decisive NFC divisional-round showdown on Saturday night. In a bid to further engage their community, the Lions have announced they will donate $1 for every specialty pizza and cocktail sold to the Detroit Lions Foundation throughout their playoff run.
The excitement surrounding the Lions' playoff journey has permeated the city, with fans and local businesses expressing their support in various creative ways. Notably, Mootz Pizzeria and Bar in downtown Detroit has introduced Lions-themed items such as the Honolulu Blue Pizza and specialty cocktails. The enthusiasm for the team is so palpable that the average selling price of tickets for this playoff game has soared to $855, marking it as the most expensive in franchise history.
Fans have taken their support to imaginative heights, with displays like a life-sized cake of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown completing a headstand. This edible masterpiece is currently on exhibit at The Home Bakery shop in Rochester, Michigan. A dedicated team of 11 workers crafted the cake over 200 hours during the festive season. The Home Bakery plans to keep this attraction until the end of February, drawing crowds and even a visit from St. Brown himself, who offered patrons the chance to win tickets to a playoff game.
"I haven't seen anything like this going on downtown, which is unique. We decided to jump on it early before anybody else did," – Tyler Westfall
Fans across Detroit are embracing the Lions' signature color, Honolulu blue, inspired by St. Brown dyeing his hair in the same hue—a nod to his memorable headstand celebration against the Green Bay Packers on November 3. This celebration has become emblematic of the team's fighting spirit and is influencing others in Detroit to showcase their loyalty through similar gestures.
The Detroit Police Department has joined the wave of support, permitting officers to wear Lions skull caps or baseball caps while in uniform. Such gestures highlight a city united behind its team, accentuating the unique connection between Detroit's culture and its beloved football franchise.
Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is particularly enthusiastic about the impending game, citing the fervent fan support as a potential advantage for the team.
"I feel like it's going to help us a lot. It's going to help us on the defensive side, it'll cause false starts and delay of games. I'm just looking forward to the fans doing what they do," – Jameson Williams
Williams acknowledges the pivotal role fans play in creating an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams, adding pressure on their opponents.
"They come out and they help us every home game we have, and they put pressure on quarterbacks and on offensive linemen, receivers and pressure on the whole opposing team's offense," – Jameson Williams
"Shoutout to the fans for doing that but I need y'all to do that for the rest of these two games we're having and make y'all way down [to the Super Bowl] and do it again," – Jameson Williams
Head Coach Dan Campbell praises this unique synergy between team and city as a driving force behind his desire to lead the Lions.
"It is unique. It's one of the things that for somebody like me was appealing about playing here, wanting to play here and coach here. This is a sleeping giant for football," – Dan Campbell
Campbell appreciates how deeply intertwined the team's identity is with Detroit’s community spirit.
"Man, this is our team, and they represent us and what they're about and the way they play, we can stand behind that," – Dan Campbell
With such robust support from fans and community initiatives alike, hopes are high that this season could mark a turning point in the Lions' playoff history. The team has yet to achieve significant post-season success, but this year’s determined squad is eager to change that narrative.
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