In the 2023 NFC Wild Card round, the Detroit Lions hosted the Los Angeles Rams. This marked Stafford's return to Detroit, where he spent the first 12 seasons of his career. This was the first Jared Goff went against his former team at home. The Lions won the game 24-23.
The Lions open their 2024 season by hosting the Rams in an NFC Wild Card rematch. This was the first Sunday Night Football game of the season. This was the first time since 2013 that defensive tackle Aaron Donald was not on the Rams roster as he announced his retirement during the offseason.
Game Recap
The Rams got the ball to start, and immediately went three and out after a huge defensive stance by the Lions to set the tone. The Lions offense looked to take advantage, but they also went three and out on their first drive.
The Rams got the ball and ran 13 plays for 67 yards in six and a half minutes. Wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Paka Nacua were involved early on, catching passes to give them a fresh set of downs. They got to the endzone, but loss of yardage due to a sack and penalty forced them to settle for a field goal, which got them on the scoreboard.
Detroit got the ball and also got their offense going. They were able to get in the endzone after converting a 4th down, which was something they did well last season. They were put in a 4th and goal situation after an incomplete throw to Sam LaPorta that would have been a touchdown.
They decided to take the points, and they got on the board with the made field goal. The Rams continued moving the ball down the field nicely, and quickly got into Lions territory. But two incompletions led to a 4th down situation, which they decided to go for. They would not get the conversion, and it was a turnover on downs.
The Lions took over at their own 23-yard line and immediately got it going. Goff threw a pass to wide receiver Jameson Williams that went for 36 yards. Then Jahmyr Gibbs ran the ball for 14 yards, followed by another pass to Williams for 13 yards. They got all the way to the end zone and finally scored a touchdown to go up 10-3.
Los Angeles had a chance to score before the half, but the drive ended with Stafford being picked off by safety Kerby Joseph in the endzone. It was a rare turnover as the Rams were the only team to not get picked off in the endzone last season.
The Lions got the ball to start the second half, but they immediately went three and out. The Rams would do the same on their first drive of the second half as they gained no yardage. The Lions got it back and immediately scored a touchdown thanks to a deep throw to Jameson Williams for 52 yards.
With Nacua ruled out the rest of the game due to a knee injury and the offensive line out of sorts for the Rams, it seemed like Detroit would run away with the win. But one thing about the NFL is that anything can happen.
After not scoring a touchdown on their first two trips in the end zone, the Rams scored two touchdowns on their next three trips in the endzone. Their second trip to the endzone in the second half resulted in a field goal due to an offensive holding penalty that pushed them back.
Detroit's defense gave up 17 unanswered points and their offense went three and out twice. Goff also threw a pass that was meant for wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown but was intercepted by safety John Johnson III.
The Rams were clicking on all cylinders and it looked like they would walk away with the win. But they were forced to punt due to a false start penalty and incomplete pass that was meant for Kupp.
The Lions caught a break and were able to get into Rams territory and settle for a field goal. Bates made the kick and the game was tied 20-20. The Rams got the ball with 17 seconds left but the fourth quarter ended after Stafford was sacked.
The overtime period began and the Lions received the ball first. They went back to what was working in the first half: running the ball and being physical. It was the David Montgomeery show as he ran the ball several times to get them to the endzone.
The Rams finally called a timeout after Detroit got to the nine-yard line, but it did not matter as Montgomery ran the ball for the touchdown, and that was the end of the game.
Jared Goff finished with 18 completions out of 28 attempts for 217 yards along with one touchdown and one interception. Jameson Williams finished with five receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown. David Montgomery finished with 17 carries for 91 yards and the game winning touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs finished with 11 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Matthew Stafford finished with 34 out of 49 completions for 317 yards along with one touchdown and one interception. Cooper Kupp finished with 14 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. Kyren Williams finished with 18 carries for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Photo Courtesy: Daniel Mears/The Detroit News
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