Only one quarterback was revered at Ford Field on Sunday night, and his name is Jared Goff.
Ahead of the Detroit Lions’ wild-card round game against the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions home crowd went crazy for Goff—and went straight at Matthew Stafford.
When Stafford ran onto the field for the Rams’ pregame warm-ups, he entered his former home stadium packed with thousands of Lions fans who weren't shy about vocalizing their wrath and hostility. The boos immediately rained down on Stafford and pretty soon turned into deafening “Jared Goff” chants.
Crowd chanting “Jared Goff” as Matthew Stafford and the Rams take the field for warmups. pic.twitter.com/bnrZioN4ov
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) January 15, 2024
A friend just sent me this video from Ford Field…
— Evan Fox (@evanfoxy) January 15, 2024
🗣DETROIT IS READY #BNL pic.twitter.com/bLvQTuittW
Lions fans chanting JA-RED GOFF, JA-RED GOFF at Ford Field during warmups. pic.twitter.com/ZYwQ0gd7Wb
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 15, 2024
By contrast, Jared Goff leading the Lions onto the field before the game caused the stadium to erupt into raucous cheering, as was to be expected for a home playoff game.
Stafford played for the Lions for 12 years before he was traded to the Rams in 2021, winning a Super Bowl in his first season in L.A. As part of that trade, Goff hasn’t enjoyed nearly as much success in the Motor City but appears primed for a deep playoff run starting with Sunday’s matchup against his former team.
Sunday marks Stafford’s first return to Detroit since being traded and the playoffs are at stake. It should come as no surprise that Lions fans, looking for their first playoff win since January 1992, are treating him as nothing but a hindrance to Goff and the team’s hopes for postseason glory.
