Detroit police gearing up for first ever NFL playoff game at Ford Field

DETROIT (WWJ) - The last time the Detroit Lions had a home playoff game was back in 1994 at the Pontiac Silverdome and after 30 long years, the anticipation and excitement is building in Detroit as the Lions bring the playoffs to Ford Field for the first time ever this month.

And the Detroit Police Department said they'll be ready.

Police Chief James White told WWJ's Charlie Langton that the department is expecting large crowds and a super charged atmosphere downtown when the Lions host a wild-card team in first round the weekend of Jan. 13-15.

While the exact date of the game will be announced when the playoff bracket is set Jan. 7, White said the department has already geared up for the big game.

"We're super excited, like everybody else. We're going to be ready we're going to be ready for large crowds and excited folks, myself included," the chief said.

White explained that fans will see police officers present while walking downtown, but much of what the department has planned, as far as security goes, will happen behind the scenes.

"We're going to have officers strategically deployed throughout the footprint of Ford Field. We're going to have our undercover units deployed," the chief said. "We've got a lot of other things we're going to do with technology, surveillance. You know, we're gonna be looking for anybody that's you know, doing something other than enjoying the football game."

White added that he will personally be in attendance for the big game at Ford Field -- not as Chief of Police, but as a fan.

Before the big playoff game, WWJ sport reporter Chris Fillar says the Lions must first get through this weekend's last regular season game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field, which -- win or lose -- won't affect the Lions playoff position.

But a win would tie them with the Lions' 1991 team for the most victories in franchise history.

'They're still hungry," Fillar said of the Lions' desire to finish their historic season with nothing but another victory. " If they beat the Vikings on Sunday, that would give them their 12th win. Now, if you ask the billboards around here, they already have it."

In addition to being added to the team's record books, they could still end up with a better seed if they win and both the Cowboys and the Eagles fall.

"Now, their opponent for the playoffs will also be determined," Fillar continued. "It could be Matthew Stafford's Rams or the classic opponent rival, Green Bay among others. So it should be fun for the fans to give their team one last boost at Ford Field before the real test begins in Detroit the week after."

Kickoff against the Vikings is at 1p.m.on Sunday, Jan. 7 with the play-by-play available on WWJ' sister station 97.1 the Ticket.