On Thursday afternoon, the town of Windsor, Ontario held a flag-raising ceremony to indicate its help and solidarity with Detroit Lions followers forward of the staff’s Divisional Spherical playoff recreation. Situated proper throughout the Detroit River from the house of the Lions, the Canadian metropolis has each social and financial hyperlinks to Detroit and is house to many followers of the staff.
In keeping with the Windsor Star, Ward 3 (downtown) Councillor Renaldo Agostino got here up with the thought to hoist a Lions flag outdoors Metropolis Corridor and led the ceremony. The Metropolis of Windsor’s official Fb web page posted an important video that includes clips of remarks from Councillors Renaldo Agostino, Kieran McKenzie, Jim Morrison, Angelo Marignani, plus the flag-raising second (hat tip to CBS Information Detroit for linking this of their story).
As reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Company, the Councillors had an upbeat message on the event. From Jim Morrison: “You already know, what’s actually nice is how that is bringing Detroit and Windsor collectively, and we’re not considering of all of the dangerous issues which can be occurring in all places.” After which there was this from Councillor Agostino:
“We’re not Detroit — we’re South Detroit. We’re displaying our brothers and sisters over the border that we’re supporting them. There’s a whole lot of Lions followers right here,” remarked Ward 3 Coun. Renaldo Agostino at a particular elevating of a Detroit Lions flag at Windsor metropolis corridor on Thursday.
“The one factor we’re all united on,” Agostino exclaimed. “That is soccer nation… It is a distinctive time for us, and we higher be on board.”
Additionally from reporting by the CBC, native companies within the Windsor space confirmed Lions fever and gross sales of Lions gear is rising after the playoff win final week over the Los Angeles Rams. Each the Windsor Star article and CBC story on Thursday’s flag-raising ceremony talked about a information launch from the Downtown Windsor Enterprise Enchancment Affiliation that talked in regards to the financial influence of the Lions’ success.
Chris MacLeod, chair of the Downtown Windsor Enterprise Enchancment Affiliation, described the upcoming recreation as “historical past within the making for our U.S. neighbour,” in addition to “a catalyst for downtown and regional financial vitality.”
“We’re excited to welcome guests and followers to Downtown Windsor. This surge in financial exercise might be a testomony to our two-nation vacation spot and the robust cross-border relationship between Detroit and Windsor,” MacLeod enthused in a information launch from the DWBIA.
MacLeod famous that many Windsor companies have prolonged their hours and staffing in anticipation of extra clients on Sunday.
You like to see such enthusiasm, and we hope to see an important turnout this weekend from the worldwide contingent. We go away you now with this implausible interview from final week (earlier than the Rams recreation) by CBC Windsor’s Amy Dodge of some season ticket holders who broke out in Gridiron Heroes on the studio.
We salute our fellow Lions followers in Canada and can see you all on Sunday in a roaring Ford Discipline. Now, on to the remainder of your Weekend Notes:
LaPorta scored on a fourth-down landing move from Goff within the 24-23 wild-card win in opposition to the Rams. Because it seems, LaPorta improvised his route on that play due to a little bit of teaching recommendation from Friday’s observe.
“Fridays are our red-zone day,” LaPorta stated. “So Jim Hostler, considered one of our pass-game coordinators, and works so much with the tight ends, he’s in our room fairly ceaselessly. He simply hinted to me, like, ‘If you happen to don’t get the ball on the preliminary route, what do you suppose you’re going to do?’ I used to be like, “I assume I by no means thought of that, Hos. I’ll in all probability tuck it in.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, that’s good.’ However yeah, he simply talked about that to me, gave me just a little trace.”
That trace proved to be value seven factors in a one-point win that may by no means be forgotten.
What’s fairly neat is LaPorta drew an incredible protection matchup on that play:
That left LaPorta in a one-on-one matchup with a 310-pound edge rusher named Michael Hoecht.
That’s a little bit of a mismatch, and Goff fired a bullet that hit LaPorta operating free alongside the again of the top zone.
“Then in fact the primary individual I see on the sideline is Hos, taking a look at me out of the aspect of his eye,” LaPorta stated, smiling. “I used to be identical to, ‘It was identical to you stated, Hos.’”
Michael Hoecht dropped into protection 19 instances (!) for the Rams final evening and was focused six instances.
All six targets went for 1st downs+touchdowns. No different defender allowed extra YAC. pic.twitter.com/EfNQYlDEfy
— AJ Schulte (@AJSchulteFB) January 15, 2024
Thanks, Coach Hostler. Thanks a lot.
Earlier than this season, I sat down with Lions OC Ben Johnson to unravel the influences on his scheme and his teaching strategy.
It was a subscriber piece, however given the present nationwide curiosity, we have unlocked it. Lions followers, it is nonetheless value your time. https://t.co/tn5W45PwkZ
— Justin Rogers | Detroit Information (@Justin_Rogers) January 20, 2024
MLive’s Kyle Meinke hear from Lions followers to study extra about what final week’s playoff win meant to them. He wrote about their “tales of heartbreak and triumph.”
Of their newest Dungeon of Doom Podcast episode, MLive’s Kyle Meinke and Ben Raven introduced on particular visitor Dan Miller. The voice of the Lions mentioned the playoff win in opposition to the Rams, the upcoming playoff recreation in opposition to the Buccaneers, and instructed the hosts what his favourite second was from the Lions’ win over the Bucs in Week 6 (trace: it’s a monstrous block). You possibly can hearken to the whole 54-minute audio on Spotify in an internet participant.
Ifeatu Melifonwu has essentially the most magnificent lock display screen ever:
