DETROIT – The Detroit Lions opened the season with a balanced offense that lasted longer than the Los Angeles Rams, gaining yards on the ground and taking to the air for some crucial plays, just like they did in their NFC wild-card game.
David Montgomery’s 1-yard touchdown run in overtime helped the Lions to a 26-20 victory over the Matthew Stafford-led Rams on Sunday night.
“At the beginning of the season, many games come down to who makes the fewest mistakes,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell. “We made one less than them.”
The Lions squandered a two-touchdown lead in the third quarter, but were able to extend the game with Jake Bates’ 32-yard field goal to tie the game in the final minute of regulation time.
Detroit won the coin toss and took advantage of possession by gaining at least 9 yards on the first four plays of overtime, setting up Montgomery’s winning goal.
The Rams could have spoiled Detroit’s season-opening party when Stafford threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp for the lead with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter.
They just couldn’t make enough plays on either side of the ball to hold on to the win.
Los Angeles put up a tough fight despite losing Pro Bowl receiver Puka Nacua and two linemen from its battered line.
“I’m really proud of this group,” said Rams coach Sean McVay. “A lot of our guys have been out, but a lot have stepped up.”
“We just didn’t make it.”
The Lions took a 17-3 lead in the third quarter after Jared Goff threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams.
“We had been working on this one-two move all week and he outran them with it,” Goff said.
However, Detroit lost its comfortable lead because its former star quarterback dismantled them and its current one threw an interception early in the fourth quarter.
John Johnson intercepted Goff’s pass up the middle at the Rams’ 20-yard line, denying Detroit a chance to kick a field goal and restore its seven-point lead.
Stafford took advantage, leading a 10-play, 80-yard run that capped off with the touchdown pass to Kupp. Late in the fourth quarter, he failed to complete enough passes to keep the ball and secure the win, leading to a punt that allowed Goff another shot from his 31-yard line with 2:11 left.
“I had a chance to win it,” Stafford said. “In every game, there are plays you want back.”
The Lions reached the Rams’ 14-yard line and settled for Bates’ tying field goal, sending the game into overtime.
McVay stressed that he did not regret a decision he made in the second quarter.
With the score tied at 3-3, McVay had the opportunity to attempt a 40-yard field goal, but lost the ball when Stafford threw an incomplete pass to Kupp.
“We came here to be aggressive, and I would not reverse that decision,” McVay said.
Stafford completed 34 of 49 passes for 317 yards with one touchdown and one interception and threw the ball into the middle of the end zone where Kerby Joseph was waiting early in the second quarter. He was hit several times, particularly on the right ankle, but each time he bounced back up and made more plays.
“You have to give Matt Stafford credit for putting in an outstanding performance despite all the hits,” Campbell said.
Kupp reached a career high with 14 pass catches and 110 yards gained.
Goff completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Williams reached a career high with five catches and set a personal record with 121 yards gain.
“I’m proud of him,” Campbell said. “He still has a lot of room for improvement. That wasn’t his best ball, but he made some plays.”
Montgomery managed 17 runs for 91 yards and Jahmyr Gibbs ran 11 times for 40 yards – both scored a touchdown.
Rams: Nacua (knee) was injured in the first half after catching four passes for 35 yards and not returning. … LT Joe Noteboom (ankle) was carried off the field in the second quarter after starting in place of Alaric Jackson, who is serving a two-game suspension for violating NFL conduct rules. LG Steve Avila (knee) later went down.
McVay said after the game that he had no news on the team’s injured players.
Lions: DT DJ Reader (leg) and S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) were inactive.
Rams: Stay on the road and play at Arizona on Sunday.
Lions: Host Tampa Bay on Sunday in a rematch of the divisional round of the playoffs, a game Detroit won 31-23.
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