It took 32 years until the Detroit Lions won a playoff game again. No wonder their die-hard fans had tears after Jared Goff took a final knee to seal a 24-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
The Lions faced their former starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, and a Rams squad that won seven of their last eight games before entering the playoffs. As of the league’s highest-scoring offenses, Detroit raced to a 14-3 lead courtesy of touchdown runs from David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Dan Campbell playoff locker room speech is even better than you'd hope.
— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2024
What a moment for the @Lions and Detroit. pic.twitter.com/zSsCtqCXCK
However, the Rams responded to Detroit’s attacks as Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell’s touchdown catches trimmed the lead to four, 21-17.
While both teams scored in each of their three drives during the first half, the second half became a defensive masterpiece. Michael Badgley’s 54-yard field goal conversion ended up being the game-winning score as the Rams failed to score a touchdown in the third and fourth quarters.
Both quarterbacks had solid performances as Stafford had 25 completions for 367 yards and two touchdowns, while Goff had 22 passes out of 27 attempts for 277 yards and a touchdown. The Rams also had a massive game from Puka Nacua, who finished with nine catches for 181 yards and a touchdown.
But Detroit survived Los Angeles’ challenge, earning them their first playoff win since 1991. Defeating the Rams also marked their first postseason victory as an NFC North team.
First Team All-Pro member Amon-Ra St. Brown caught seven passes for 110 yards. Montgomery and Gibbs combined for 82 rushing yards, while defensive end Aidan Hutchinson had two sacks.
Aside from their breakthrough playoff win under head coach Dan Campbell, the third-seed Lions will host a Divisional Round game after the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers. The Lions will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Philadelphia Eagles, who will play on Monday night in Florida.
-Lance Fernandez