Like most Detroit Lions, Eminem is eager to witness a playoff victory.
Detroit hasn’t won a postseason game in 32 years. To snap that drought, the Lions must get through Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.
Before Sunday night’s game, the Detroit-based star begged Stafford to let his former team prevail. Slim Shady reminded the quarterback that he headlined the Super Bowl LVI halftime show when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.
“You owe me this favor, bro,” Eminem told Stafford . “I was there for you when you won it. I was there for you. I was right there. I rapped for you, Stafford. Bro, I rapped for you! Can you just let us have this one?”
A message for Matthew Stafford from @Eminem . pic.twitter.com/LJO3np0xSw
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 14, 2024
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Three years ago, the Rams sent Jared Goff to Detroit in a deal for Stafford. The former No. 1 picks now lead their teams into Ford Field on Super Wild Card Weekend.
Stafford instantly succeeded outside the Motor City, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after Eminem performed alongside fellow hip-hop icons at SoFi Stadium. Yet the deal hasn’t exactly gone poorly for Detroit.
Widely viewed as a short-term bridge for Detroit, Goff has ignited top-five offenses in consecutive years. He steered the Lions to an elusive NFC North title with 4,575 passing yards and 30 touchdowns this season.
But Marshall Mathers and Lions fans know Stafford too well to enter Sunday’s game with much confidence. The 35-year-old bounced back from an injury-derailed 2022 season to register a 92.5 quarterback rating. Stafford threw 15 touchdowns to three interceptions over his last six games.
Eminem shouldn’t expect Stafford to gift his old team a win out of charity, so the Lions will have to earn a victory. Sunday’s game starts at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.