On a day when both the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions featured in playoff games, it was crystal clear: One of those teams calls themselves America's Team but the other is actually America's Team.
It's just easy to root for Dan Campbell, Jared Goff and these Lions.
With a win over the Los Angeles Rams, Detroit won its first playoff game since the 1991 season. And NFL Twitter couldn't have been happier for them.
There were, of course, Lions fans on Twitter who could hardly contain their emotion.
Who else is in tears after the Detroit Lions win? PROUDLY have tears running down my face. #AllGrit pic.twitter.com/CyUpTl6cCs
— Danny Bennett (@RealDannyB) January 15, 2024
But everywhere you looked on social media, there were also fans from around the league tipping their caps and outright celebrating a brilliant night for the sport.
NFL Twitter came together to celebrate the Lions playoff win
Fans around the NFL watching the Lions win in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/6M4NljdZgx
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) January 15, 2024
For the first time in my entire life, I want my team to be like the Lions
— Adam Patrick (@adampatrickNFL) January 15, 2024
Y’all deserve it! pic.twitter.com/5vthTolOIY
— Lawrence Jackson (@LoJackson94) January 15, 2024
Good for you, Lions fans. What a street fight of a game. What a moment.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) January 15, 2024
detroit pic.twitter.com/w8YkW0SThT
— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) January 15, 2024
This is so cool for Detroit. What a scene.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 15, 2024
Don’t you dare asterisk this win for Lions fans. The refs blatantly screwed them during the season, missed the most basic false start in the first half, and they scored TDs when the Rams scored FGs. Lions won this. Congrats to them!
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) January 15, 2024
Hard not to feel happy for Goff. What a turnaround for him.
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 15, 2024
Good for Dan Campbell, the Lions, and the city of Detroit pic.twitter.com/QVrudQrper
— Mike Lefko (@MikeLefko) January 15, 2024
The Lions and Rams fought through the closest playoff game of Super Wild Card Weekend thus far. Detroit had a narrow one-point lead going into the final minutes but successfully ran out the clock thanks to a third-down conversion from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The offenses stole the show in the first half as the teams traded points. David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta had touchdowns in the first half for the Lions. On the Rams' side of things, Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell caught long touchdown passes. The difference at the break was a field goal instead of a touchdown for Los Angeles on their first drive.
The defenses buckled down in the second half. The Lions were held to one 54-yard field goal to go up 24-17 in the third quarter. The Rams scored the final six points of the game on Brett Baher field goals. But they were one point short.
As good of a story as the Rams have been this year, the Lions were simply a better one. After trading Matthew Stafford to LA, they had to watch as he won a Super Bowl in another uniform. But Campbell and company were building something special in Detroit the whole while. It's paying off now.