Sunday, December 22, 2024

Jared Goff, Lions stun Rams in overtime in first ‘Sunday Night Football’ matchup of the season

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It took a last second field goal and a dominant overtime drive, but Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions have pulled off another win over the Los Angeles Rams at home.

The Lions, thanks to a one-yard touchdown run from David Montgomery in overtime, rallied to beat the Lions 26-20 at Ford Field in the first “Sunday Night Football” matchup of the season. The win was a rematch of last year’s playoff matchup in Detroit, where the Lions also picked up their win in what was their first postseason victory in more than three decades.

Montgomery led the Lions on their final drive of the game, and capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive in overtime with a one-yard touchdown run. That ended the game there without allowing the Rams to touch the ball in the extra period and gave the Lions the six-point win.

The Lions jumped up big early and took a 17-3 lead early in the second half after Jameson Williams hauled in a deep 52-yard touchdown pass from Goff. That followed a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown run late in the second quarter, and came shortly after Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was ruled out of the game with a leg injury. He was carted off the field in the first half, and ruled out just as the second half was getting started.

The Rams cut the game to just four points early in the fourth quarter, thanks to a Kyren Williams punch in touchdown and a field goal set up by a deep 63-yard reception from Tyler Johnson.

Though it looked like the Rams’ offense was going to get the stop briefly, Goff and Williams took off yet again. Goff hit Williams for a 27-yard reception to keep their drive alive, but he threw a brutal pick over the middle that gave the Rams life once again. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, however quickly marched the Rams down the field and completed their 80-yard drive with a nine-yard toss to Cooper Kupp for a touchdown. It marked their 17th-straight point and put them in the lead for the first time since the opening quarter.

The Rams came up with one last stop to force a Detroit field goal, which sent the game into overtime and eventually set up the Lions’ game-winning drive.

Stafford went 34-of-49 for 317 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Kyren Williams had 50 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and Kupp finished with 110 receiving yards and a touchdown on 14 catches.

Goff went 18-of-28 for 217 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Lions. Montgomery had 91 rushing yards on 17 carries to go with his touchdown in overtime, and Jameson Williams finished with 121 receiving yards and a touchdown on just five catches.

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  • David Montgomery leads Lions to win

    Click the photo to read more about the Detroit Lions’ overtime win against the Rams on Sunday night.

    DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 08: David Montgomery #5 of the Detroit Lions rushes with the ball against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field on September 08, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 08: David Montgomery #5 of the Detroit Lions rushes with the ball against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field on September 08, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

    Click the photo to read more about the Lions’ overtime win on Sunday night. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

  • Lions win in overtime

    Thanks to an eight-play, 70-yard drive, the Detroit Lions pulled off the win over the Rams on Sunday night.

  • Touchdown, Lions

    David Montgomery punched in a one-yard touchdown run, and the Lions have won the game.

    Final: Lions 26, Rams 20

  • David Montgomery, Lions running early

    David Montgomery has the Lions moving to start this extra period. They’re into Rams territory now, threatening to end this thing here.

  • Lions to get the ball first

    The Lions have won the toss and will start overtime with the ball. Here we go…

  • End of regulation: Rams 20, Lions 20

    We’ve got free football in Detroit.

  • Lions kick field goal, tie game up

    The Lions made it down into the red zone, but the Rams stopped them short and forced a field goal. We’re tied now 20-20 with just 17 seconds left.

    It’s looking like overtime is coming at Ford Field.

  • Lions moving, picked up targeting call

    Kamren Kinchens just got called for a very blatant targeting call after a Sam LaPorta catch in the middle of the field, and the Lions are suddenly in scoring position with just less than two minutes left.

  • Lions force a punt

    Detroit just came up with a critical stop to force a Rams punt, so the Lions have one last chance here to win or tie the game. They’ll start with the ball at their own 33-yard line with 2:11 left.

  • I have no idea how Matthew Stafford just pulled this off. The Rams are driving again ahead of the two-minute warning trying to seal a win in Detroit.

  • Rams force a Lions punt

    Jared Goff was nearly intercepted again, and the Lions have to punt. The Rams will get the ball back now with just more than four minutes left.

  • Rams take the lead with 4:30 left

    And just like that, the Rams are in the lead. Matthew Stafford just hit Cooper Kupp for a 9-yard touchdown to cap that 80-yard drive.

    The Rams lead now 20-17 with 4:30 left at Ford Field.

  • Matthew Stafford is dealing right now. He just slung a ball deep to Cooper Kupp, who just barely managed to haul in a 27-yard catch before going out of bounds, to put the Rams in scoring position. Incredible.

  • John Johnson just barely saved this interception. The call stands, and the Rams are taking over at their own 20.

  • Jared Goff intercepted

    After a promising drive, Jared Goff just threw a brutal interception. A pass intended for Amon-Ra St. Brown in the middle was just picked off by John Johnson. That gives the Rams life.

    Detroit leads 17-13 with 9:09 left in the game as this play is under review.

  • Rams settle for a field goal, again

    The Rams had several opportunities to tie this game up, and even got it to the goal line after a pass interference in the end zone, but the Lions came up with the stop.

    After a 26-yard field goal from Joshua Karty, the Lions’ lead is down to just four.

  • Rams get a huge chunk to get deep into Lions territory

    Count off 63 yards for Tyler Johnson and the Rams are in business.

  • Lions held to quick 3-and-out

    Rams still in the game after Detroit couldn’t get out of the starting blocks on its drive following the Rams’ touchdown. The Rams will have to go the length of the field again on this series to tie the game, after Detroit was able to down the punt at the Rams’ 16-yard line.

  • Kyren Williams punches it in, Rams cut into Lions lead

    A huge response for the Rams who drove the length of the field, picking up a fourth-and-4 — and a little help from a well-timed pass interference penalty — going 70 yards in 11 plays for the score.

  • Huge penalty sets up Rams with 1st-and-goal

    Rookie corner Terrion Arnold got caught grabbing Cooper Kupp on a route into the end zone, which set up the Rams on the goal line.

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