They came, they roared, they shed tears of joy. Generations of Detroit Lions fans finally found their reward Sunday night as their team won an NFL playoff game for the first time in three decades.
As the seconds in the fourth quarter ticked down, the noise inside Ford Field seemed to grow louder and louder until it erupted into thunderous celebration when the team clinched the win with Quarterback Jared Goff taking a knee.
In Section 215, a standing-room only section, fans already were on their feet. They joined a growing crowd emerging from the stands and pouring out into the second floor concourse to join chants of "Let's go, Lions" and "Jared Goff."
They held signs carefully crafted for Sunday, a day when their homemade creations would transform into memorabilia, including one that read "In Goff We Trust."
Haley Kurmas, 41, of Grosse Pointe Park, held her sign noting her admiration for Detroit Lions' defensive end Aidan Hutchinson . A newer fan – following the team for about four or five years – Kurmas acknowledged that she jumped on the bandwagon later than other fans who followed the team through some tough years. But she's glad she did.
"I always been a football fan, kind of always in the closet and I finally was like, 'Listen, I'm a Lions fan, I don't care if they lose every single game,' " she said.
But on Sunday, she joined fans old and new to celebrate a Lions win.
Another fan, Anthony Kasgorgis, was so excited he could barely express himself.
Kasgorgis slowly walked through crowds of people jumping, dancing and hugging one another in a Ford Field concourse, gazing and smiling at the joy, soaking in the moment fans have long awaited.
"To see us win another playoff game is great, it's awesome," Kasgorgis said. "We're ready. We're taking the whole thing."
The 33-year-old, decked out in a Hutchinson jersey, never gave up hope on the Lions over the years through losses and disappointments. Instead, he remained committed and expects the team to advance till the end.
"From the beginning, I've always had trust in this team, no matter what (through) the ups and downs. I'm ready for round two. Let's go!" Kasgorgis said. "I'm ready for the Super Bowl!"
Frigid temperatures and blistering winds were no sweat for Detroit Lions fans capitalizing on the chance to roar at their former star quarterback who now plays for the Other Team.
Some attending Sunday night's game said before the game they didn't want to see their fellow fans boo former Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford as he returned to Ford Field after leaving for the Los Angeles Rams in a trade for quarterback Jared Goff.
But not everyone agreed. Ed Lis, 53, of Clarkston, said he planned to vocalize his disdain for the former Lion during the game. He wore Stafford's Lions jersey, braving the No. 9 in a sea of fans roaming the stadium's concourse. But Lis placed tape over the Stafford name on the back.
"Well, first of all, we shouldn't wear Stafford jerseys today because we're playing Stafford," he said. But Lis has his own personal frustration with Stafford after Lis went to London to watch the Lions play the Atlanta Falcons in 2014. Traveling across the pond, Lis said when he stood outside the teams' buses, some players stopped to greet him. But he said Stafford rebuffed him. "I've got this sad video of me saying, 'Hey, Matt, I came all the way to London, you won't even sign my jersey?'" Lis said.
Another fan tweaked his Stafford jersey for the game Sunday. Chris Waisen, 32, of Durand, handwrote "Williams" on his back. Lions' wide receiver Jameson Williams now wears the No. 9 jersey.
-- Clara Hendrickson
Lifelong Detroit Lions fan Paul Fish remembers the last home playoff games for Detroit. He was a kid. Barry Sanders was his guy. Three decades ago.
Earlier Sunday night, Fish was speechless about the fact the Lions finally were back for a home playoff game.
"You just can't put it into words. It's all emotion, heart and effort right now," Fish said, warming up inside Ford Field with a brew, dressed in blue from head to toe. He wore striped overalls and a Lions branded hat, scarf and gloves.
Fish is a season ticketholder who was ready for whatever would come his way in his Lions fan future. He wouldn't initially say -- without profanity -- how he feels about seeing Stafford returning to the field to play against his old team. But eventually Fish gave in.
"He put his heart and soul into this town," Fish said. "But tonight, he's our enemy. Tomorrow, he can be our best friend again."
Rather than booing the former quarterback when he steps onto his old turf, Fish said he'd turn his head away.
-- Dana Afana
As outside temperatures plunged toward zero degrees three hours before kickoff, devout Lions fans managed to brave the icy winds for their tailgating traditions. Shawn Rowden, 36, of Linden, said the weather wasn't going to force him indoors -- not on this day.
"It's just not the same," Rowden said in a parking lot west of the stadium. With the playoff stakes so high, Rowden said, he might blame himself if the game didn't go well and he'd abandoned his pregame ritual. Plus, it was important to show the other team how committed Lions' fans can be. He wore a Lions jersey over a Lions costume with a full mane, which provided some insulation.
Eric Thornton, 34, of Romeo, has tailgated with his friends since 2005, and on Sunday he sat in another lot near the stadium, sipping a Labatt beer next to a fire pit. Friends and family joined him for a potluck spread that included brisket and chicken. Thornton called the game in Detroit "one of those dreams" fans have long imagined.
The Lions' game against the Rams made history. It marks the teams' first home playoff game within Detroit's city limits since 1957 . On the eve of the competition, iconic buildings in and near downtown were aglow with Lions' blue. The top of Michigan Central lit up with the teams' signature color while streaks of blue light circled their way around Motor City Casino. A giant Lions jersey adorning the iconic Spirit of Detroit statue at the bottom of Woodward Avenue outside city hall whipped in the wind Sunday morning.
"I think regardless of what way it goes, at least we're able to create some memories that will last for a long time," Thornton said.
--Clara Hendrickson
Generations of Lions fans have waited -- not always patiently -- for the teams' success.
More: Detroit Lions predictions vs. Rams: Will Stafford spoil Ford Field's first playoff game?
Brothers Adam and Brian Postma, both of Grand Rapids, before 5 p.m. said they were heading to the game on behalf of their mother, a devoted fan who died of dementia and would have loved to see her team make it this far in the season. The two strutted along Brush Street toward Ford Field, wearing sweatshirts commemorating their mother with an image of her smiling and showing off her Lions-themed manicure.
"She was a diehard Lions fan. We took her to the game for the last five years," Adam Postma said. "She never missed a game for the last 10 years.
"Hopefully she'll be pulling some strings up there for us to pull out the victory."
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The brothers couldn't miss the opportunity to watch the team play in person, for themselves and their mother.
"We used to take her with us every year, and she loved it," Brian Postma said. "They're in the playoffs, we're wearing her with us."
--Dana Afana
Scott Millington and his friends ran a tent full of drinks and snacks on Madison Street, no matter the temperatures. In fact, the tailgate helped Millington in preparing a book dedicated to Detroit's football social scene.
The 34-year-old based in Detroit has been photographing tailgates at "every single" Detroit Lions home game this season with the goal of creating a book of portraits to show off the city's enthusiasm for the home team.
"As a photographer, I love documenting moments. A lot of people see what's happening at Ford Field but don't see what's happening here. Some people I've met traveled from Buffalo to come to every home game … some people come from the U.P., that's a huge drive," Millington said. "Some people have seen every loss."
He plans to roll out a published book ahead of the NFL draft in April.
For the Lions to make it this far, Millington said, the home playoff tailgate will likely stand out to him the most because of the historical moment.
"We haven't seen it in 30 years," Millington said. "I've seen a lot, I've seen them lose … it's just kind of cool."
Millington shares his photography to his Instagram page @sapmillington.
--Dana Afana
Detroiters Ray Wells and Sharene Bryant called Sunday night a "very big deal" as they waltzed into a packed Elwood Bar and Grill donning flashy Lions gear, chanting "Go Lions!" And high-fiving patrons.
"I started watching the Lions in 1991," Wells said. " I haven't seen this much excitement since then.
"For us to have a home playoff, we're here in Detroit. It's so amazing. It's like a dream come true, it feels like Christmas again."
Bryant said she was also looking forward to the city hosting the NFL draft in a few months.
" I will be there. My son plays football, and his team will be there for the draft," Bryant said.
The night marked a very special moment for the city to Wells.
"The Lions are bringing a lot of joy. Everybody's helping everybody together. It's a family atmosphere. Go Lions!"
-- Dana Afana
Even as the sky darkened and temperatures dropped further, the line to go inside Tin Roof Detroit seemed to grow even longer. Some enduring the wait grabbed a bite to eat from the bar's food truck stationed outside the front entrance. Tacos and fried tenders are some of the most popular items customers ordered, said Demetrius Major, 35, of Detroit, who was working the truck Sunday evening. But not everyone orders off the menu, he said.
"People like to come with custom orders because they think we're a coney Island because we open all night," Major said.
While he serves the crowd outside, his father, Dwayne Major, 57, of Southfield, works inside as the bar's chef. Dwayne Major said the bar was packed, but opening day for the Tigers was busier than at that time Sunday night, he said. But Lions fans may have Tigers fans beat on stamina.
"These people have been here all day and the game ain't 'til eight," said Dwayne Major. Not to mention the cold weather they've had to tolerate, he noted.
Both father and son are big Lions fans. Asked if he passed his fandom down to his son, Dwayne Major said no.
"We're just Detroit born," he said.
-- Clara Hendrickson
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Generations of Lions fans erupt, celebrate 1st playoff win in ages
