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The Detroit Lions take on the Baltimore Ravens tonight on ESPN’s Monday Night Football at 8:40 p.m. First of all, I am ecstatic because I finally get to write about football. Second, I’ve got your back. In this article I will give a Lions’ season recap, tell you tailgating hotspots and refer some of the best bars and restaurants in Metro Detroit to go before, during or after the game.
Lions Season Recap:
The Lions are in a heated battle for the National Football Conference (NFC) North division championship. Despite coming off a loss in the “snow bowl” at Philadelphia last week, our boys in the Honolulu blue and silver currently control the division with a 7-6 record. The rival Chicago Bears defeated the Cleveland Browns yesterday, which currently puts the Bears in first place of the division with a record of 8-6. That being said, if Detroit wins tonight, it will once again take over first place since the team has already defeated the Bears twice this season. The Green Bay Packers stunned the Dallas Cowboys as well yesterday in comeback fashion, which doesn’t help the Lions. As you can see, this is an ever-so-important game. Most likely Detroit is going to need to win the division to make it to the playoffs. Here is a short breakdown of the first 14 weeks of the Lions’ season, just in case you haven’t been keeping up:
Overall Record: 7-6
Division Record: 4-1
Conference Record: 6-4
Points for: 346
Points against: 321
Tailgating Hot Spots:
Eastern Market: The largest tailgating location near Ford Field, accommodating 750 parking spaces. Ten minute walk to Ford Field, but also offers shuttle every 15 minutes.
Beaubien & Congress Parking Lot: Located seven blocks away from Ford Field. It was also home of the Super Bowl XL Tailgate Party.
Bud Light Tailgate: It is free and open to the general public located on Brush Street outside of Gate A between Montcalm and Adams.
Bars to Consider—pregame, during the game or post-game:
Bookies Bar & Grille, 2208 Cass Ave., in Downtown Detroit will be running its usual Lions game day specials. Bookies offers a pitcher of domestic beers and four shots for $15. This is a great deal because it pretty much cuts the normal price in half! In addition it sells mason jars of beer for $6. If you’re not attending the game this is a good place to be, but if you are, a complimentary shuttle service is available.
Beaver Creek, located at 1609 N. Wayne Rd., in Westland has one of the greatest Monday Night Football deals in Metro Detroit. First of all it offers $1 bottles of select beer, but couple that with $0.35 chicken wings and it’s really a no brainer from there. That is a steal where I come from. It isn’t your rowdy bar crowd scene, but if you’re not downtown it is a great place to go. The restaurant also raffles off an NFL jersey at halftime.
Lefty’s Lounge sits at 5440 Cass Ave., in Midtown Detroit and is “Wayne State’s premier sports bar.” Lefty’s offers $3 pints and pitchers for $10 of Labatt and Labatt Light as well as its award winning All-Star burger for $7.99. I definitely recommend this place.
Tap at MGM Grand Detroit located at 1777 3rd street in Detroit is a great atmosphere for some Monday Night Football. Tap will be running its usual “Monday Madness” specials, which include $4 pints, $12 pitchers and $6 one-topping pizzas. Watch the Lions roll on one of its 40 HD TVs. At halftime, or whenever you get the urge to let it ride, head out to the casino floor and play some slots or your table game of choice.
24 Seconds Bar & Grille resides at 3071 W. 12 Mile in Berkley. On Mondays, it offers $2 domestic drafts and $2 well drinks for those planning to watch the game in house. For those who are lucky enough to hold tickets to the game, 24 Seconds offers a shuttle all the way to Ford Field and back for just $20.
Regardless of if you are going to the game, going to the bar or watching from home, make sure to tune in tonight and root for the Lions. We’ll see if quarterback Matthew Stafford and quite possibly the greatest wide receiver of the past decade, Calvin Johnson, can lead the Lions to victory. Roar!
