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.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER47 updates
Featured
Yahoo Sports Staff
Ryan Young
David Montgomery leads Lions to win
Click the photo to read more about the Detroit Lions' overtime win against the Rams on Sunday night.
Ryan Young
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.
Detroit never gave LA a chance to touch the ball in OT 💪
David Montgomery and the Lions run game went to work in overtime.
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.
Ryan Young
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.
Ryan Young
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.
Ryan Young
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.
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.
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 9, 2024
Ryan Young
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.
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.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Rams get a huge chunk to get deep into Lions territory
Count off 63 yards for Tyler Johnson and the Rams are in business.
Oh my Tyler Johnson!
He goes 63 yards to put the @RamsNFL in Detroit territory.
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.
Yahoo Sports Staff
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.
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.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Rams pick up huge 4th down in Detroit territory
Even with the injuries, the Rams have been making something happen coming out of the locker room in the second half. They picked up a fourth-and-4 — once again inside the 30-yard-line of the Lions — to keep a drive alive. Even though the game is in the middle of the third quarter, Sean McVay didn't hesitate, feeling that his team needs touchdowns to get back into the game.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Jared Goff connects with Jameson Willams for a 52-yard touchdown
Another big one for Williams and this one puts the Lions further out in front. Williams put a slick double move on Tre'Davious White to blow by him for the score and a 14-point Detroit lead.
This is a huge blow for the Rams tonight. Puka Nacua went down with an injury in the first half and was carted off the field. The Rams then announced as the second half was starting that he'd be out for the rest of the night.
He'll finish with 7 yards on a single catch.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Halftime: Lions 10, Rams 3
The Rams are dealing with some injuries and have gotten the ball inside the 25-yard-line three times and have just three points to show for it. Meanwhile the Detroit offense had some rhythm going on a pair of long drives that wound up with points and the Lions do receive the ball to start the second half.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Stafford throws crucial interception in the end zone
Kirby Joseph saved his team some points with the end zone pick. A stunner for the Rams, who didn't turn the ball over in the red zone at all last season.
Stafford picked in the end zone!@Lions get another huge stop on defense.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams are having some trouble. Tackle Joe Noteboom was carted off the field, Matthew Stafford got up hobbling after a hit and had to have an ankle re-taped. Also, Puka Nacua had to have a knee taped up and is questionable to return to the game.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Lions score after review
Jahmyr Gibbs was initially called down on the play, but after review, the ruling was reversed to a touchdown, the first of the season for Detroit.
After review, Jahmyr Gibbs got the ball across! @Lions take the lead late in the 1st half.
Detroit has gone 78 yards in eight plays and has a second-and-goal on the 1-yard-line, looking for the game's first touchdown.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Williams gets ankle taped, has helmet on on the sideline
Per the NBC broadcast, Williams walked off the field under his own power during a commercial break.
Yahoo Sports Staff
More from former Alabama stars for the Lions doing work
Following up the Jameson Williams big play was a 14-yard screen pass to Jahmyr Gibbs and then a reverse to Williams where he picked up 13 more.
Scary moment for Lions at the end of that Williams run though, as he was slow to get up and the Detroit athletic training staff came out on the field to check on him. Williams missed time in his first two NFL seasons due to injury and a gambling suspension. It would be a tough blow to Detroit if this were anything other than a minor tweak for Williams.
Carlton Davis knocked down the pass intended for Cooper Kupp and the Rams come up empty after getting down near the red zone. The incompletion was Stafford's 19th pass of the first half — he's 12/19 and has been sacked once.
Despite Kyren Williams finishing third in the NFL in rushing last season, the Rams don't seem to be interested in making him a focal point in their offense in the early going vs. the Lions. The Rams have called 20 passing plays in their first 27 offensive snaps.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Lions tie game at 3-3
After converting on a fourth-and-2 with a David Montgomery run, the Lions settled for a field goal on a fourth-and-goal. Both teams are on the board, but haven't been able to finish a drive yet.
Lions RB splits in the first quarter:
David Montgomery: 9 of 11 snaps, 7 carries Jahmyr Gibbs: 2 of 11 snaps, 1 carry pic.twitter.com/G1Qf5j6Yxc
Both teams have moved the ball, but points are still at a premium. David Montgomery has carried seven times for 33 yards and the Lions are on the move heading into the second quarter, knocking on the red zone door.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Rams strike first with field goal
13 plays and 57 yards are what the Rams chewed up on their second drive, and it looks like Matthew Stafford is going to shoulder the load tonight. The Rams have run 16 plays and already dropped back 13 times. Stafford is 9-of-12 for 66 yards and he's been sacked once.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Rams on the move on their second drive with three first downs and completions with Nakua and Kupp
And the drive almost got off to a hairy start, if not for this great stab by Matthew Stafford.
Matt McCarty started the year on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour, but has assured himself of starting in three majors after claiming his first US PGA Tour title.
South East Melbourne Phoenix have had head coach applicants 24 hours after sacking Mike Kelly and believe they can turn their winless NBL season around.
A no-confidence motion in Tasmania's deputy premier and treasurer over the bungled delivery of new Bass Strait ferries appears to have the numbers to succeed.
A man was arrested at a security checkpoint near Donald Trump's Coachella rally after he was allegedly found with two guns and a high-capacity magazine.
Ali Brigginshaw has delivered an impassioned defence of coach Brad Donald following criticism of his Jillaroos selections for the Pacific Championships.
Lee Carsley's England team have rebounded with a 3-1 win over Finland in the Nations League, but the caretaker boss isn't sure he wants the job full-time.
Australian coach Dario Vidosic has taken Brighton to within a point of the top in the Women's Super League, while Mary Fowler's Man City now lead the way.