The Detroit Lions dedicate their first win of the season to the Oxford community following Tuesday’s deadly shooting

DETROIT – Viewed from the sidelines of Ford Field, Detroit Lion Coach Dan Campbell put his hands on his knees, bending slightly to wait for the final round of the game.

As a midfielder Jared Goff found rookie recipient Amon-Ra St. Brown on a touch down pass on foot to win an upset 29-27 ahead Minnesota Vikings that gave the Lions their first win of the season, Campbell yelled, jumping in joy as Goff ran up to him and gave him a tight hug.

After experiencing an emotional climax for the first time this season, Campbell doesn’t lose sight of the bigger picture.

“This game ball goes to the entire Oxford community and all those affected,” Campbell said, referring to Tuesday’s shooting at nearby Oxford High School that left four teenagers dead and several others were injured. “And that being said, man, I just… I want us not to forget these names: Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana, Justin Shilling, Tate Myre, Phoebe Arthur, Jon Asciutto, Riley Franz, Elijah Mueller, Kylie Ossege, Aiden Watson and Molly Darnell, a teacher.

“Those names are for all those who will never be forgotten and they are in our hearts and prayers.”

Even if there is no replay D’Andre Swift (shoulder), The Lions were playing inspirational football after the shooting. The school is located a little over 30 miles from Detroit. The Lions honored the victims with a moment of silence before the game began, and wore T-shirts, hats and helmet decals as a token of their gratitude.

“Like me, I’m just…my thought is, ‘Hey man, if we can in three hours ease their suffering a little bit, it’s worth it. It was worth it,” Campbell said. “And that’s how I think about this and we’ve done a great job. The players, they responded, played well.”

The team held a meeting on Saturday to review the full details of the Oxford High school shooting to make sure they knew how important it was to play. With some of the boys so engrossed in football, Campbell and his staff wanted to shed some light on what specifically was going on by showing them videos and media reports of the spectacle. terrible. A 15-year-old student is accused of killing 4 of his classmates and charged as an adult. His parents were also charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The Lions said they tried to rally around the story.

“You never hope for a tragedy like this, but you do hope to be a light for those people and a positive that they can enjoy watching today,” Goff said, trying to hold back. tears while wearing the Oxford hat. “I hope that they all watched today and can enjoy that win, and we can put their minds off whatever it may be, three o’clock. I think any time we can. I can do it, it’s so much bigger than our sport, it’s so much bigger than us. I think today is one of those special circumstances where we can go above and beyond. chance and make something special.”

Lions fans were also able to experience something special on Sunday: winning for the first time in more than a calendar year. Detroit will no longer have to question a winless season after celebrating its first win of the season since December 6, 2020. It also marks the Lions’ first win at home since November 15, 2020.

At halftime, the Lions held their biggest season lead after taking a 20-6 lead and ending a 10-game streak in which they were held below 20 points. Goff controlled the foul, going 25-to-41 with 296 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Without Swift, Jamaal Williams stepped up with 17 passes for 71 yards forward and St. Brown caught 10 passes for 86 yards of receiving the ball.

Detroit (1-10-1) also has an eight-game losing streak against the Vikings, as of 2017. It was the latest game in a season (the Lions’ 12th game) since 1970 that a team won its first game. in the decisive match. Touch the final game of rules. The previous mark belongs to 1999 Cleveland Browns, who went 0-7 before winning the Tim Couch Hail Mary last Halloween New Orleans Saints, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

After scoring the winning goal in the match, St. Brown described the scene as something he will never forget.

“Sure, sure. I mean, my first encounter in the NFL, my first NFL win, I’ll remember this day for a long time,” said St. Brown said. “The way it happened, the way it happened… I mean it was just… it couldn’t get any better.”