Recap: Lions knock off Rams, Stafford in thrilling playoff battle

The Lions secured their first playoff win in over 30 years with a 24-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams Sunday evening. With the wildcard win, Detroit advances to the divisional round of the playoffs and will host the winner of Monday's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.. 

It was a true shootout in the first half. The Lions scored a touchdown on their first three drives and punted just once, while the Rams punting unit never saw the field. Detroit’s drives were long and bruising, featuring a mix of intermediate passes and solid runs. Los Angeles, on the other hand, notched plenty of explosive plays to keep up with the home team’s offense. 

Things slowed down in the second half as possessions became precious. Despite some second-half struggles from the offense, quarterback Jared Goff and the Lions offense were able to move the ball when it mattered - in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. 

Quarterback Jared Goff finished with 277 yards and a touchdown. The offense put up a terrible second-half showing, putting up just three points, but the unit wound up icing the game in the final minutes, capped off with a 11-yard catch by wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. The star wide receiver finished with a game-high 110 receiving yards.

The defense had some tough moments against quarterback Matthew Stafford and his elite receiving core. Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua had a stellar evening full of clutch receptions, snagging 181 receiving yards and a touchdown. However, Detroit’s defense buckled down in the red zone, forcing three field goals on three redzone possessions. Those bend-don’t-break moments wound up being the difference maker in a game decided by just three points.

Goff, offense seals the victory for Detroit

Drive starts: DET 25 (8:10 4th)

Goff throws an incompletion under pressure on first down and Montgomery rushes for six yards on second - it's already third down for Detroit's offense. Goff throws a pass over Reynold's head and the Lions are already punting.

Drive starts: LA 8 (7:18 4th)

Rivers snags just a couple yards on a first-down rush, but Nacua breaks a tackle and rushes to midfield with a 35-yard catch. Stafford keeps the offense chugging along with a 15-yard dump off to Rivers. He throws an incompletion to Higby on first down, but slings a 6-yard completion to Kupp to make it third-and-manageable. A holding penalty on third down makes it third-and-long, but Stafford throws in incompletion to Nacua and the Rams are forced to punt it away.

Drive starts: DET 17 (4:07 4th)

Montgomery gets the first carry of the drive, plowing ahead for a 3-yard gain. The bell-cow back gets a reception on second down, breaks a tackle and gains 11 yards to keep the chains moving along. Montgomery gets another first-down carry and grabs just a yard. Detroit goes to the air on the very next play, as Goff and St. Brown connect for a 11-yard pass and ice the game for the Lions.

Final: Lions 24, Rams 23

Rams settle for yet another field goal, trail Lions 24-23 in 4th

Drive starts: DET 25 (2:33 3rd)

St. Brown opens the drive with a 10-yard catch. Gibbs gets a pair of carries to kick off the next set of downs, but he collects just four yards and the Lions are facing third-and-6. He's tripped up on third down and the Lions are forced to punt it away.

Drive starts: LA 10 (14:53 4th)

Williams drives forward for a 15-yard rush on first down. He gets another carry on the next play, but takes it for just a couple yards. Stafford tosses an incompletion on second, forcing an early third down for the Rams offense. Nacua gets just enough for a first down on a screen pass, spinning out of a tackle for nine yards.

Williams gets yet another first-down carry, grabbing just a yard. However, Stafford rips a short 10-yard pass down the middle of the field to move the chains. Williams gets 17 yards on a pair of carries following the first and Stafford gets a chunk play with one of his favorite targets. Nacua comes down with a 22-yard catch down the middle of the field and the Rams are well inside the red zone.

Williams loses a yard on a first-down carry and Stafford dumps off a 3-yard pass on second. It's third down just outside Detroit's 10-yard line. He can't connect with Kupp in the endzone and it's yet another redzone stop for the Lions defense.

Lions 24, Rams 23 (8:10 4th)

Rams kick field goal, trail 24-20

Drive starts: LA 25 (8:40 3rd)

Williams rushes for a quick five yards before Stafford grabs a 17-yard chunk play with a pass to Rivers. Los Angeles' offense keeps on marching down the field. Nacua snags a 9-yard pass and Rivers rushes right up the middle for seven yards, earning a quick first down.

Stafford throws a 4-yard pass to Kupp and a 22-yard pass to Allen down the middle of the field, putting the offense just outside the 10-yard line. He throws an incompletion on first down and Nacua loses a couple yards on an end around. It's a massive third-and-12 for the Rams offense.

Stafford picks up just four yards with a dump off to Kupp and the Rams settle for a field goal.

Lions 24, Rams 20 (2:33 3rd)

Lions add field goal, lead 24-17

Drive starts: LA 25 (15:00 3rd)

Stafford slings a quick 14-yard pass to open the second half. The former Lions quarterback takes a deep shot on the very next play to Kupp, but it's well over the star receiver's head. Stafford faces pressure on second and attempts to escape the pocket, but loses a yard. It's another incompletion on third down on a deep shot and the Rams are finally punting it away.

Drive starts: DET 20 (13:17 3rd)

Montgomery grabs four yards on first down and Reynolds drops a pass on second down, forcing the Lions into a quick third-down situation. Goff lofts a 30-yard lob to St. Brown to keep the offense on the field, putting the offense in Rams territory.

Gibbs grabs just a yard before another explosive play from St. Brown. The slanting star receiver grabs a 17-yard pass down the middle of the field. However, the offense is back up with a couple of negative plays on the next two plays. Gibbs loses five yards and Goff is sacked for five yards, setting up third-and-20 for Detroit's offense. It's just a 5-yard dump off to LaPorta and the Lions settle for a field goal. Kicker Michael Badgley nails the 54-yard field goal.

Lions 24, Rams 17 (8:41 3rd)

Lions head into locker room with 21-17 lead

Drive starts: DET 25 (4:02 2nd)

Gibbs illustrates his speed on an 11-yard first down carry, racing along the left sideline. Goff faces plenty of pressure on first down and flips a backward pass away. It's recovered for a loss of 15 yards. Gibbs snags some of the lost yardage with a 10-yard gain on a screen pass and it's the always-clutch St. Brown making a clutch play to keep the drive alive. He comes up with a 23-yard catch and the Lions are in Rams territory.

Gibbs gets a pair of carries to open the next set of downs, collecting a total of five yards. It's third down again for Detroit's offense. Los Angeles gets pressure on third down and Goff is forced to throw an incompletion, forcing fourth down. The Lions line up like they're going for it, but a controversial false start backs it up five yards and it's a punt.

Drive starts: LA 5 (0:59 2nd)

Williams grabs a quick six yards on first down and Kupp snags a 7-yard pass, but the Rams let the clock run out.

Halftime: Lions 21, Rams 17

Atwell TD cuts into Lions lead

Drive starts: LA 25 (7:12 2nd)

Nacua gets another chunk play to start off the drive, grabbing a 21-yard pass and immediately putting his team near midfield. A defensive holding penalty on the Lions on the next play hands the visitors some free yardage on the next set of downs.

Rivers rushes for no gain and Stafford throws a 5-yard pass, setting up the first third down of the drive. Stafford takes a deep shot, but he can't quite connect and it's fourth-and-5. Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay decides to go for it, and Stafford keeps the chains moving with a 6-yard pass to Kupp.

Just a play later, wide receiver Tutu Atwell grabs a pass, breaks a tackle and rushes into the endzone for a 38-yard touchdown, cutting into Detroit's lead.

Lions 21, Rams 17 (4:02 2nd)

LaPorta TD puts Lions ahead 21-10

Drive starts: DET 25 (13:25 2nd)

Montgomery rumbles ahead for 11 yards on first down. He gets another carry on the next set of downs, this time notching five yards. Detroit goes back to the air to keep the drive alive, as Williams snags a 13-yard catch. Goff throws his first incompletion of the game, followed up by a 5-yard pass to Reynolds, and it's third down.

However, Goff finds his trusty weapon, Amon-Ra St. Brown. The duo connects for 14-yard gain and the Lions are just outside the red zone. Gibbs immediately puts the offense deep into the red zone on the very next play, grabbing a pass and racing past defenders for 16 yards. A neutral zone infraction puts Detroit at the 5-yard line.

Montgomery gets three straight carries at the doorstep, but collects just three total yards. However, head coach Dan Campbell elects to attempt the conversion. Goff connects with LaPorta in the endzone and the Lions score on their third straight drive.

Lions 21, Rams 10 (7:12 2nd)

Nacua, Rams respond, trail 14-10

Drive starts: LA 28 (1:31 1st)

Detroit's pass rush gets home to kick of the Rams second drive, with Aiden Hutchinson sacking Stafford for a loss of nine. After a short-yardage rush on second down, Stafford notches a clutch 19-yard pass to Robinson to keep the offense on the field.

WIlliams loses a yard on a first-down carry, but Stafford makes it third-and-1 with a 10-yard pass to Nacua. Facing third down, it's another clutch pass from Los Angeles' quarterback - but this one ends up in the endzone. Nacua is wide open and races down the left sideline for a 50-yard touchdown.

Lions 14, Rams 10 (13:24 2nd)

Lions score on second straight drive, lead 14-3

Drive starts: DET 25 (4:26 1st)

It doesn't take long for Detroit's offense to find the endzone again. After a short 3-yard pass to running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Goff slings a 10-yard pass to Reynolds and a roughing the passer penalty tacks on an additional 15. Detroit keeps it flying through the air, this time a 14-yard pass to Gibbs.

Despite a holding penalty to kick off the ensuing drive, Detroit's offense keeps on moving. Goff slings a deep 33-yard ball to Reynolds and Gibbs slips through the teeth of the defense for a 10-yard touchdown, extending the team's early lead.

Lions 14, Rams 3 (1:31 1st)

Rams settle for FG

Drive starts: LA 25 (9:30 1st)

The Rams are looking to respond after the Lions quick touchdown drive. Running back Kyren Williams gets the first touch of the game for the Rams, plunging ahead for a gain of five yards. Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua grabs a 4-yard pass on the very next play, setting up a third-and-1. Quarterback Matthew Stafford throws an incompletion, but a pass interference penalty on safety Brian Branch hands the Rams a first down.

Stafford throws a quick 9-yard pass and Williams slips ahead for five on the next play, putting the offense near midfield. It's another quick pass to kick off the next set of downs, this time a 6-yard pass to David Allen. Los Angeles finally grabs a chunk play with a 21-yard screen pass to Nacua, putting the team inside the red zone.

Williams gets a first down carry and an unnecessary roughness penalty on safety Kerby Joseph tacks on more yardage, putting the offense inside the 10-yard line. Stafford throws three straight incompletions and the Rams have to settle for a field goal.

Lions 7, Rams 3 (4:26 2nd)

Lions score on opening drive, capture 7-0 lead

Drive starts: DET 25 (15:00 1st)

The Lions offense is on the march. Running back David Montgomery gets the first carry of the game and plows ahead for 10 yards and a first down. Wide receiver Jameson Williams grabs a quick 6-yard pass to kick off the next set of downs, followed up with a 5-yard rush to move the chains again.

Detroit snags its first chunk play of the game courtesy of wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who grabs a 24-yard pass down the middle of the field to propel the offense well into Los Angeles territory. The Lions pick up yet another first down in just a couple plays, with a 7-yard rush from Montgomery and a 4-yard rush from wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown combing for 11.

Quarterback Jared Goff throws it tight end Sam LaPorta for an 8-yard gain before ripping another 8-yard pass, this time targeting Reynolds, and Detroit is at the goal line. Montgomery punches it in just a few plays later with a 2-yard touchdown rush and the Lions capture an early 7-0 lead.

Lions 7, Rams 0 (9:30 1st)

Pregame

The Lions are hosting their first playoff game in 30 years Sunday evening, taking on the No. 6 seed Los Angeles Rams.

To add further drama to what is already sure to be a raucous atmosphere, the matchup features two quarterbacks taking on their former teams. Matthew Stafford will be back in Ford Field for the first time since the blockbuster trade sent him west, while Jared Goff will play the Sean McVay-led Rams for just the second time in his career.

The teams have had vastly different trajectories since the trade back in 2021. In Goff's first year as a Lion, the team went 3-13-1. Stafford won the Super Bowl.

However, head coach Dan Campbell has Detroit in a much different situation just a couple of years later. After a second-half surge last season, the Lions have made the leap to the top of the NFC North this year and finished with a 12-5 record. A collection of rookies has helped boost Detroit into the upper echelon of the league: tight end Sam LaPorta has broken records with a stellar season, running back Jahmyr Gibbs has paired with David Montgomery as one of the best tandems in the league and linebacker Jack Campbell has continued to grow all season.

Detroit may be without LaPorta's talents this weekend, though, thanks to a knee injured suffered in the final game of the regular season against the Vikings.

Though the Rams aren't quite the powerhouse that they were back in 2021, this year's team is no slouch. A stellar draft class highlighted by star wide receiver Puka Nacua and defensive tackle Kobie Turner have strengthened what many analysts thought was a middling team, propelling Los Angeles to 10 wins.

The rookies aren't the only ones to worry about, though. L.A. still has plenty of top-shelf talent from its Super Bowl run a few years back, namely Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and star pass rusher Aaron Donald.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Alex Faber.

Rams at Lions

▶ Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. Sunday, Ford Field, Detroit

▶ TV/radio: NBC/97.1

▶ Line: Lions by 3

▶ Records: Rams 10-7; Lions 12-5

▶ Outlook: The Lions will be playing their first home playoff game since the 1993 season.