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.

Dan Campbell is a likeable dude. He is also always saying something that make you either feel good or go, "Heh? What the heck?" I mean that in the best possible way.

I've put together a list of 10 totally hilarious things Dan Campbell has said during his few years with the Detroit Lions so far. Some of these have me scratching my head, while others just have me rolling in laughter. Dan, we love you! I hope for more great quotes this season.

Listen to the latest episode of "The Squad with Anne Erickson" below for some hot takes on the NFL Draft and what it means to the Detroit Lions. Reach out to me and give me your take on the Detroit Lions on social media here. Go Lions!

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 Dave Birkett.

Dan Campbell wanted a "pet lion" at practice. OMgosh.

Appearing on the "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."

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 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."

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 Dave Birkett.

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 Tyler Dunne.

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.

"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.

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.

"You grade them off the tape, you don’t grade off somebody out here in pajamas," via The Sporting News. This is in regards to not liking the often misleading evaluations from the Scouting Combine.

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 NFL.