Think Detroit fans are ready for Sunday?
As the clock ticked down on the Red Wings' 3-0 win over the Flyers on Thursday night -- which pulled the Wings within one point of the Leafs and two of the Lightning as the near the 50-game mark (!!) -- the fans at Little Caesars Arena broke into a Ja-red Goff! chant. Because of course.
Behold:
Derek Lalonde and the Red Wings, who feature several Michigan-born players and lifelong Lions fans, are enjoying the Lions playoff run as much as anyone. The coach was even getting updates on the bench when the Wings' game two weeks ago in Toronto overlapped with the Lions' wild-card game against the Rams. The players gathered around the TV in the locker room after their own win to watch the Lions finish the job.
That was the night the Ja-red Goff! chants started at Ford Field. They haven't stopped since. You'll even hear them Sunday in San Francisco where hordes of Honolulu blue fans are expected to be in the crowd as the Lions play the 49ers for a spot in the Super Bowl. Lalonde heard the chants Thursday night, and loved them.
"A fan myself," he said. "It's been unbelievable to watch. Of course you can feel the energy, and it's awesome. This is an unbelievable time in Detroit. I'm glad we're pitching in a little bit, playing at a really high level, but how can you not be energized? This is flat-out amazing. Goosebump-amazing."