Eminem watched Commanders run play called Slim Shady to seal win over his beloved Lions in Detroit

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? Washington Commanders tight end John Bates may have to stand up if that question is posed around him. Bates helped the seal the win for the Commanders on Saturday nightGetty After all, he was the man who effectively ended Detroit’s season when he caught a 20-yard pass from Jayden Daniels to all but wrap up the Commanders shocking 45-31 win over the top-seeded Lions. The name of that play? Slim Shady. And if that wasn’t cool enough, Bates made the play with notorious Lions fan, Eminem, in attendance. “It was really cool,” Bates told talkSPORT.com in an exclusive interview. “It’s a play that we’ve had in for a long time now, just kind of been waiting for the right opportunity to run it. “I wasn’t necessarily expecting that call on third and five to seal the game, I think it surprised a lot of people. “Kliff sent in the call and we got the perfect look and the perfect front for it and made a play, made a linebacker miss and was able to help kind of seal that game up. “Crazy too, the play is called Slim Shady and we got it from Detroit and Eminem was at the game. “It was kind of the perfect ending in Detroit to call that one.” Eminem has been a lifelong Lions fan and built relationships with numerous players, including franchise great Calvin JohnsonGetty When asked what the reaction was like not only to that play, but to the win in general, Bates likened it to a euphoric feeling. “Pure joy,” Bates recalled. “For our team to be in a position that we’re in, to go into a hostile environment against the number one seed and to win at their place the way that we did. “To put ourselves in a position to play in a game that we’ve been talking about since DQ and AP first got here. “It’s a really cool opportunity. “And so, there was just pure joy and happiness across the locker room. “Guys excited for this opportunity and all the hard work and dedication that we’ve put in this year into making a run and to be able to be the team that we are right now is really paying off.” The Commanders have been the surprise of the season and are now just one win away from the Super Bowl. They are in the NFC championship for the first time since the 1991 season. Led by their star rookie quarterback Daniels and first year head coach Dan Quinn, the sky seems to be the limit. Bates and the rest of the team seem to be having the time of their lives, especially after one of the most shocking upsets in recent memory. They can thank Slim Shady for that one. Follow talkSPORT NFL on Facebook Follow our talkSPORT NFL page on Facebook for the latest breaking NFL news, exclusive video interviews, and the biggest talking points from around the league. Our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘End Zone’ will also keep you across the very latest NFL news with exclusive access and our weekly ‘Rundown’ review show.

Jan 23, 2025 - 00:47
 0
Eminem watched Commanders run play called Slim Shady to seal win over his beloved Lions in Detroit

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?

Washington Commanders tight end John Bates may have to stand up if that question is posed around him.

DETROIT,MICHIGAN-JANUARY 18:  
Tight end John Bates (87) of the Washington Commanders keeps possession of the ball during an NFL Divisional Round game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders  in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Saturday, January 18, 2025. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Bates helped the seal the win for the Commanders on Saturday night
Getty

After all, he was the man who effectively ended Detroit’s season when he caught a 20-yard pass from Jayden Daniels to all but wrap up the Commanders shocking 45-31 win over the top-seeded Lions.

The name of that play?

Slim Shady.

And if that wasn’t cool enough, Bates made the play with notorious Lions fan, Eminem, in attendance.

“It was really cool,” Bates told talkSPORT.com in an exclusive interview.

“It’s a play that we’ve had in for a long time now, just kind of been waiting for the right opportunity to run it.

“I wasn’t necessarily expecting that call on third and five to seal the game, I think it surprised a lot of people.

“Kliff sent in the call and we got the perfect look and the perfect front for it and made a play, made a linebacker miss and was able to help kind of seal that game up.

“Crazy too, the play is called Slim Shady and we got it from Detroit and Eminem was at the game.

“It was kind of the perfect ending in Detroit to call that one.”

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 14: Former Detroit Lions player Calvin Johnson poses for a photo with Eminem before the Lions home game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field on January 14, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions beat the Rams 24-23. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Eminem has been a lifelong Lions fan and built relationships with numerous players, including franchise great Calvin Johnson
Getty

When asked what the reaction was like not only to that play, but to the win in general, Bates likened it to a euphoric feeling.

“Pure joy,” Bates recalled.

“For our team to be in a position that we’re in, to go into a hostile environment against the number one seed and to win at their place the way that we did.

“To put ourselves in a position to play in a game that we’ve been talking about since DQ and AP first got here.

“It’s a really cool opportunity.

“And so, there was just pure joy and happiness across the locker room.

“Guys excited for this opportunity and all the hard work and dedication that we’ve put in this year into making a run and to be able to be the team that we are right now is really paying off.”

The Commanders have been the surprise of the season and are now just one win away from the Super Bowl.

They are in the NFC championship for the first time since the 1991 season.

Led by their star rookie quarterback Daniels and first year head coach Dan Quinn, the sky seems to be the limit.

Bates and the rest of the team seem to be having the time of their lives, especially after one of the most shocking upsets in recent memory.

They can thank Slim Shady for that one.

Follow talkSPORT NFL on Facebook

Follow our talkSPORT NFL page on Facebook for the latest breaking NFL news, exclusive video interviews, and the biggest talking points from around the league.

Our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘End Zone’ will also keep you across the very latest NFL news with exclusive access and our weekly ‘Rundown’ review show.

What's Your Reaction?

like

dislike

love

funny

angry

sad

wow