Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions fans are rooting so hard for Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 56 that they are selling Detroit Rams t-shirts … in Detroit!
If former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford needed a nickname, he is the Detroit Ram.
In his first year quarterbacking the Los Angeles Rams, Stafford has the NFC Champions playing in their own building in Super Bowl 56 vs. the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. While it is understandable that most of Michigan is rooting for Stafford to get his day in the sun, just look at this Detroit sports apparel shop selling Detroit Rams shirts next to No. 9 Lions Stafford jerseys.
Why be a Highland Park Ram or even a Georgia Ram when you can be a Detroit Ram?
Detroit Lions fans make Detroit Rams shirts to help support Matthew Stafford
This would be embarrassing for pretty much any other franchise. But since this is the Lions, we will let it slide. After all, they are one of four NFL franchises to never reach a Super Bowl and the only one residing in the NFC. The only other franchise with as much postseason futility for as long is the Cleveland Browns over in the AFC. In 56 years, neither of them have won their conference.
Ultimately, this is not about the Lions’ perpetual dysfunction more than it is a celebration of their greatest quarterback since Bobby Layne. Stafford battled through injuries, poor roster construction, coaching turmoil and organizational chaos for over a decade. Now in his mid-30s, he has a chance to show the rest of the NFL world what Detroit knew all along: The dude can ball!
There are only two days between the big game and now to procure your blue Detroit Rams t-shirt.