The Detroit Lions defeated Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 to win a postseason game for the first time in thirty-two years thanks to a touchdown pass from Jared Goff and the completion of a game-winning first down against the team that cut him loose.
After raising his arms in the air and urging Ford Field supporters to roar even louder, Jared Goff took the final snap to snap the playoff drought for his long-suffering team.
The throng responded, raising the volume to that of a siren.
Goff also delivered.
Against the team that rejected him, Goff completed a pass for a victory-sealing first down and threw for a touchdown. On Sunday night, the Detroit Lions defeated Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 to win a postseason game for the first time in thirty-two years.
The NFL’s longest-ever nine-game postseason losing streak came to an end on January 5, 1992, when the Lions (13-5) defeated Dallas. Two years later, they hosted and lost a home playoff game; they had not hosted one since.
To this city, it means a great deal, according to Goff. “We were aware of the significance of making it to the postseason and winning this game when the season began. Furthermore, this is only the beginning for us. There is still some run left.
As the third-seeded team in the NFC, Detroit will host either Tampa Bay or Philadelphia in the divisional round on Sunday, marking the first time in franchise history that the team will have two home playoff games. Green Bay destroyed Dallas, the second-seeded team.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Rams (10-8) had an opportunity to take the lead, but Detroit’s defense stopped them. Los Angeles was forced out of field goal range by a holding penalty, and Stafford, the former quarterback for the Lions who was traded to the Rams and went on to win a Super Bowl, completed an incomplete pass on fourth down.
As the Lions ran out the clock on the first play following the two-minute warning, Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for 11 yards, much to the relief of long-suffering fans who witnessed the team’s second postseason victory since winning the 1957 NFL title.
“It’s the greatest home environment I’ve ever played in, and I think next week will surpass it,” Goff remarked.
Midway through the second quarter, Goff put Detroit ahead 21-10 against the team he once led to the Super Bowl. He was 22 of 27 for 277 yards and found rookie tight end Sam LaPorta for a 2-yard touchdown pass.
The Lions acquired Goff and a pair of first-round picks for Stafford three years ago.
“Jared was really efficient. You could see the command that he has,” said Rams coach Sean McVay, whose relationship with Goff soured before the trade. “There’s a lot made of it, but I’m really happy for him. We wanted to come away with a win, but he’s done a great job.”
Stafford finished 25 of 36 for 367 yards and two touchdowns despite playing the majority of the game with a bandaged and bloody hand from slamming it into a defender’s helmet.
“Matt Stafford is the only quarterback I would want on our team,” McVay declared. “He was excellent. He had grit. He made throw after tough throw with guts. He stood there dropping dimes all day long as the rush came crashing down on him.”
Stafford was selected by Detroit with the first overall pick in 2009, and despite his flashy stats, he never won a postseason game in his twelve seasons. Following the game, Stafford gave numerous staff members and players in Detroit hugs.
For the Rams, record-breaking rookie Puka Nacua caught nine passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions’ two rush touchdowns came from rookie Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, while St. Brown had seven receptions for 110 yards.
The Rams were behind by 11 points at the half, but Stafford’s 50-yard touchdown pass to Nacua and his 38-yarder to Tutu Atwell helped them close the gap to 21-17.
Halfway through the third quarter, the Lions led by seven points thanks to a season-long, 54-yard field goal by Michael Badgley, which was also the longest in Detroit’s playoff history. It was also the longest of his postseason career.
For the majority of the game, the Rams moved the ball freely, but with 8:10 left in the game, they had to settle for quick field goals from Brett Maher to cut the deficit to 24-23.
According to McVay, “the red area made a difference in the game.”
The Ford Field crowd was well aware that Stafford has made a career out of fourth-quarter comebacks. He led a drive to the Detroit 34 with a chance to put the Rams ahead for the first time, but the Lions’ defense forced him backwards from there.
With 4:07 remaining, Detroit took the lead, and Los Angeles, having used two timeouts earlier in the half to deal with the raucous crowd, was down to just one timeout. This made it possible for Goff to kneel following his pass to St. Brown.
With rapper and native of Motor City Eminem in attendance along with Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, the Lions got off to a strong start and appeared just as energised as their patient supporters.
“It was buzzing when we arrived for the pregame warm-ups,” according to Campbell.
When Stafford ran onto the field to pose for a pregame picture with his wife and their daughters, the fans booed him and chanted, “Jar-ed Goff! Jar-ed Goff,” for the Lions quarterback.
“Going into this game, I had two things I was playing for: I was playing for my teammates and I was playing for the city,” said Hutchinson, who grew up in suburban Detroit and starred at Michigan. “This city has been so deserving of this for so long, and we’re going to keep it up.”
INJURIES
Rams: Stafford was hit by two Lions late in the third quarter, and his right hand was bandaged after being cut in the second quarter. He claimed that during the play, he injured his head and ribs. RB A hand injury to Kyren Williams occurred during the fourth quarter. TE After taking a low hit in the fourth, Tyler Higbee hobbled off the field, favoring his right leg. S The team’s second-leading tackler, Jordan Fuller, was declared questionable due to an ankle injury and was eventually ruled out.