Is the Detroit Lions’ Home-Field Advantage a Fallacy?
It’s a known fact that when a football team plays at home, that team is going to have a home-field advantage. Or, is that even true? I’m questioning everything we’ve come to learn and believe about the home-field advantage. The past two Detroit Lions home games have me wondering if the Detroit Lions’ home-field advantage is a fallacy.
I love Detroit Lions fans. I’m one of them. That’s why I started my WRIF podcast, “The Squad with Anne Erickson.” After being a Lions fan for a long time and reporting on them, I wanted to talk more about the team, especially since my friends and family were getting sick of hearing me talk about the Lions all the time. So, I decided to channel that passion into a podcast. My point is that I’m a Lions fan. But, I also understand that Lions fans can be, well, a bit explosive. We’ve earned that right. The Lions have never really had a winning team, until now, so we’re revved up.
But, I can’t help but wonder if when things are going badly at a home game, the crowd can possibly bring the team down. Just look at the past two home games. The first one against the Chicago Bears we almost lost. That said, the Bears just beat the Minnesota Vikings, so they’re a stronger team than many realize when Justin Fields is healthy. But, that was a nail-biter of a game. Then, we flat-out lost to the Green Bay Packers, in a shocking defeat and high-profile Thanksgiving NFL game. In both cases, I wonder if the disgruntled home crowd tripped our guys up a bit. The good news is that I truly believe the Detroit Lions perform just as well on the road as at home, perhaps due to this counter-intuitive notion that the home games can be a bit intimidating.
I talk about this idea with Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit on “The Squad” this week. Listen right now below and wherever you get your podcasts.
Detroit Lions: 10 Totally Hilarious Things Dan Campbell Has Said
Dan Campbell quotes
This quote he said back before the Lions’ open practice at Ford field in 2022. “We are fricking starving … so the hyenas better get out of the way.” Via
Dan Campbell to the fans before the Lions’ open practice at Ford field: “We are fricking starving … so the hyenas better get out of the way.”
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) August 6, 2022" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Dave Birkett.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Dan Campbell quotes
Dan Campbell wanted a “pet lion” at practice. OMgosh.
Appearing on the
Dan Campbell wants to have a actual pet lion who follows him around this year at the team facilty, and he would feed him arm to it for a superbowl. Football guy @PardonMyTake pic.twitter.com/6bPjVzdvXG
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) May 17, 2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Pardon My Take” Podcast, Campbell said he asked for a pet lion at practice.“I’ll tell you what I would really love to do, just in general,” he said. “I’ve talked to (Lions owner) Sheila (Ford Hamp) about this. I don’t think we’re going to be able to do it, but I would love to literally just have a pet lion. Just a legit pet lion on a chain — a big-a** chain. And he just, he really is my pet. We just walk around the building, we go out to practice, we’re in 7-on-7, we’re behind the kicker when he’s kicking. We’re just … there we are.”
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 13: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter of a preseason game at Ford Field on August 13, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Dan Campbell quotes
I’m all for a good analogy. But this one is a bit much for me. But, hey, I’m not a football player. Talk the talk, and walk the walk, right? Here’s Dan Campbell’s toilet paper pep talk. The quote is from July 2, 2021, talking about practice in a press conference via
New @Lions HC Dan Campbell: "I told (the players), honestly, day one, I said, 'Look, I'm not carrying your toilet paper around. I'm not gonna wipe your butt. You're gonna wipe your own butt. You handle it and I'll treat you like men until you prove otherwise.'" More to come soon.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) July 2, 2021" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Michael Silver.“I told them, honestly, Day 1, I said, ‘Look, I’m not carrying your toilet paper around. I’m not gonna wipe your butt. You’re gonna wipe your own butt. You handle it and I’ll treat you like men until you prove otherwise.”
ALLEN PARK, MICHIGAN – JULY 28: Detroit Lions head football coach Dan Campbell speaks with the media before the Detroit Lions Training Camp on July 28, 2021 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Dan Campbell quotes
Who doesn’t remember the praying mantis comment? Dan Campbell said regarding Josh Reynolds, “He’s slippery man. I call him the praying mantis. He’s the spider of death. There’s something about him. Fricking serpent.” This is via
Dan Campbell on Josh Reynolds: "He’s slippery man. I call him the praying mantis. He’s the spider of death. There’s something about him. Fricking serpent."
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) July 30, 2022" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Dave Birkett.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions watches his team during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Dan Campbell quotes
I don’t get this quote at all. But, hey, it’s working, so keep these quotes coming, Dan!
“We’ll tread water as long as it takes to f***ing bury you.” This was said in August 2022 via
“We’ll tread water as long as it takes to fucking bury you.”
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) August 4, 2022" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Tyler Dunne.
I have zero clue what this means but, by God, it’s beautiful. pic.twitter.com/xHVqazuEFQ
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 19: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on from the side line during the third quarter of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Ford Field on December 19, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Dan Campbell quotes
Here’s another one I don’t get. It’s from “Hard Knocks” in 2022. “It doesn’t matter if you have one a**-cheek and three toes, I will beat your a**.” Okay.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 11: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on December 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Dan Campbell quotes
“I swear to God, I’m not a lunatic.” This was another quote from “Hard Knocks.” Dan, honestly, anyone who is going to head up the Detroit Lions and shoot for the Super Bowl has got to be a lunatic- the best kind. It’s okay. Embrace it.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 09: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions walks off the field after defeating the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on January 09, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Dan Campbell quotes
Here’s another quote from “Hard Knocks.” Campbell says, “There is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is no light. There’s a song Metallica has, ‘No Leaf Clover,’ and it says, ‘Man, when it comes to the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, it’s just a freight train coming your way.'” I’m not crying, you are.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 04: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on during the third quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field on December 04, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Dan Campbell quotes
“You grade them off the tape, you don’t grade off somebody out here in pajamas,” via
"You grade them off the tape, you don’t grade off somebody out here in pajamas."
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 2, 2023" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Sporting News. This is in regards to not liking the often misleading evaluations from the Scouting Combine.
Lions coach Dan Campbell isn't too worried about a player's 40 time at the NFL Combine. pic.twitter.com/4C7xf67Ty9
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts against the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Lambeau Field on September 20, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Dan Campbell quotes
This one wasn’t just a quote, but imagry, too. It went viral last year. It’s the moment that Dan Campbell went on “Hard Knocks” and shook out a pair of pants. “This last bit of losing has got to get outta here.” Via the
"This last bit of losing has got to get outta here." 😤
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2022" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NFL.
📺: #HardKnocks with the @Lions airs tonight 10pm ET on @HBOMax pic.twitter.com/5fyllUFChM
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 31: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions while playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field on October 31, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
