Along with Aaron Glenn's excellent defensive game plan, the environment at Ford Field played a role in the Minnesota Vikings' offensive struggles and in particular quarterback Sam Darnold playing so poorly.
On Tuesday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell opened his press conference by praising the fans.
"Let’s start with our fans, that was a great environment. We knew it would be, but it was electric in there and our fans, they play a factor in that," Campbell said. "They played a factor the other day and it’s hard to communicate and you can feel it in there and we appreciate it."
"And I do believe it really is an advantage. It’s a home field advantage and not everybody gets it, and we do and I’m glad that we earned that. So, fired up for us, fired up for the fans, we get two more here so that’s exciting."
The Lions will welcome the rest they'll get with their first-round bye, and their home field advantage is as good as any in the league. The players clearly feed off it.
Amon-Ra St. Brown calls on Lions fans to turn it up a notch in Divisional Round
On this week's episode of the St. Brown Bros. podcast, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown talked about Lions' fans with a call on them for the Divisional Round game that's coming.
"Shout out to the to the fans. We need you guys. We really need you guys in two weeks. We don't know who we're playing yet, but we need you to bring more energy than the Rams game," St. Brown said. "Can you guys please do that for me? We're going to need you guys loud. Please. You guys have been so great all year, but you guys got to take it to the next level. This is the playoffs. It's do or die. I do challenge you guys to be louder than you were against the Rams last year, because that Rams game was the craziest s**t I've ever seen."
The Lions beat the Rams in the Wild Card Round last year, the franchise's first playoff win in more than 30 years. St. Brown recalled the atmosphere for that game, with the added layer of former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford coming back to Detroit, and he knows the same energy is coming in the team's playoff opener this year regardless of the opponent.
"It was the most lit game I have ever been a part of in my life," St. Brown said. "This next game, just please, I know you guys are going to bring that energy."