The NFL world has not yet over the excitement of the season finale week. The final weeks of the season have been extremely competitive, albeit only the formidable teams made it to the playoffs. Now, the NFL playoffs are finally here.
As the NFL playoffs kick off, anticipation is at its peak with the No. 3-seed Detroit Lions facing the No. 6-seed Los Angeles Rams in a highly anticipated wild-card matchup. Given the level of both team’s performance, the match can be the best wild-card game of the weekend. Adding a unique twist, Lions faithful and rapper Eminem has injected his fandom into the mix. He publicly requested Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to lose against his beloved Lions.
Eminem request Matthew Stafford to lose to Lions
The upcoming NFC wild-card matchup between the Rams and the Lions has garnered attention not just for the quarterback face-off but also for a plea from none other than Eminem. The celebrated rapper, also known as Marshall Mathers, took to social media to request a special favor from Matthew Stafford.
The backstory unfolds with the 2021 trade that shook the NFL landscape. It sent Stafford to the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff, who headed to the Lions. Eminem, being a devoted fan of the Lions and Detroit’s other professional sports teams, sees this game as an opportunity for a return favor.
In a promotional clip aired on NBC, Eminem addressed Stafford by hilariously reminding him of the rapper’s support during his time with the Lions. He then asked for a favor by asking to lose to the Lions in the wild-card match.
“Stafford, what’d I say? You owe me this favor, bro. I was there for you when you won it. I was there for you. I was right there. I rapped for you Stafford. Bro, I rapped for you! Can you just let us have this one? Just this one?”, Eminem said.
Eminem’s passion for the Lions has been evident in his public expressions of support, extending beyond football to other Detroit teams like the Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers. He has been very vocal about his support towards the Lions, as exemplified by his urge to the team’s offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to stay with the franchise when the OC was linked with other teams.
Even during crucial moments, such as the Lions’ recent division title victory, Eminem hasn’t shied away from celebrating and showcasing his allegiance on social media with a funny mistake.
Rams vs Lions match preview
The highly anticipated Wild Card matchup between the Rams and Lions is set to unfold at Ford Field on January 14th at 5pm PT on Sunday night. The clash, which will be aired on NBC, promises an incredible showdown between two potent offenses.
The LA Rams, boasting a 10-7 record, are led by Matthew Stafford, who will be facing his former team for the first time as a visitor. He played a crucial role in the team’s win at Super Bowl LVI in SoFi Stadium after his trade from the Lions. They will enter the game with an impressive 7-1 record in their last eight matches.
On the flip side, the Lions, with a 12-5 overall record, have had a standout season under the leadership of Jared Goff. Goff guided the Lions to their first-ever NFC North title. This Wild Card game marks a historic moment for the Lions as they host their first playoff game at Ford Field since January 8, 1994.
The SportsLine consensus placed the Lions as three-point favorites for this matchup. The over/under, set at 51.5 points, highly reflects the anticipation of a high-scoring contest between these offensive powerhouses.
