The Detroit Lions made history on Sunday night when they beat the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card round and ended their 30 year playoff win drought. The Lions did it with a lot of names that you know. Guys that have been here for while and guys that are deserving of the big moment.
One player on this team has been waiting longer than anyone for this moment and seven weeks ago, he wasn't even sure it was ever going to happen. That's 14 year NFL veteran Tyson Alualu. For the first time in his career, he can say that he's won a playoff game.
The Lions signed Alualu in December and after a few weeks, the Lions starting elevating him to the active roster. and they've been doing so for the last three weeks in a row and on Sunday night he played in his first playoff win.
"It's a blessing man. To come in and, like I said before, just jumping on a moving train and be part of this group." Alualu said. "You know, just from outside perspective was just, you know, they got something good going here and I just thought it was the right time, the right place to come in and put my hand in a pile and try and contribute to helping this d-line and just helping the team get some wins, and it just kind of feels amazing to be in this position."
Alualu played 22 snaps against the Rams on Sunday night and that's after the last two games where he played at least 30 snaps in both. Alualu should be elevated once more in the divisional round. His space eating on the defensive line really helps the Lions continue to stop the run. Alualu is also probably looking to get back out in front of this Ford Field crowd. A crowd that blew him away after years of playing in front Steelers and Jaguars fans that are pretty loud and proud in their own rights.
"This was a electric! It was electric out there. I think I got a feel (for how Lions fans are) might have been the Denver game at home. Way different feels than when I've came here to play in the past. So like I said, just they got something good going here and I'm just blessed to be a part of it."
The Lions will play either the Eagles or the Bucs at home in round two of the playoffs on Sunday, Alualu will be out there and he'll be looking for his second playoff win of his 14-year-career.
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