Lions edge Rams, break decades-long playoff win drought

Field Level Media|published: Sun 14th January, 23:20 2024

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery celebrate after Gibbs scored a touchdown in the first half against the L.A. Rams at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2023. credits: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jared Goff passed for 277 yards and a touchdown as the host Detroit Lions won their first postseason game in over 30 yards by holding off the Los Angeles Ram, 24-23, on Sunday night.

David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for touchdowns for the NFC North Division winners in their opening-round victory. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught seven passes for 110 yards for the Lions, whose last playoff win came on Jan. 5, 1992, against Dallas.

The Lions (13-5) will host the winner of Monday's Philadelphia-Tampa Bay game in the conference semifinals next weekend.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, playing in Detroit for the first time since the Lions traded him in March 2021, passed for 367 yards and two touchdowns. Puka Nacua caught nine passes for 181 yards and a touchdown for the Rams (10-8). Kyren Williams added 61 yards on 13 carries.

The Lions scored on their first three possessions and led 21-17 at halftime.

Goff connected on all five of his pass attempts on the Lions' first drive. Montgomery finished it off with a 1-yard plunge.

Brett Maher kicked a 24-yard field goal on Los Angeles' first possession.

Goff also completed all four of his throws on Detroit's second drive. Gibbs scored the touchdown with a 10-yard run up the middle.

The Rams cut Detroit's advantage to 14-10 on Stafford's 50-yard, third-down touchdown pass to Nacua.

Detroit regained an 11-point lead midway through the second quarter. Goff hooked up with Sam LaPorta from 2 yards out on 4th-and-1 for the touchdown.

Stafford fired a 38-yard scoring pass to Tutu Atwell, who beat one-on-one coverage, with 4:02 remaining in the half.

Michael Badgley nailed a 54-yard field goal with 8:41 left in the third quarter to give the Lions a 24-17 lead.

Maher made a 27-yard field goal later in the quarter to pull the Rams within four points. He nailed a 29-yarder with 8:10 remaining to cut Detroit's lead to 24-23.

Following a Lions three-and-out, the next Rams' possession stalled in Detroit territory. After Los Angeles punted, the Lions then picked up two first downs to run out the clock.

—Field Level Media

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