David Montgomery scored the game-winning touchdown for the Lions in overtime at Ford Field on Sunday night. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
It took a last-second field goal and a dominant overtime drive, but Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions picked up another win at home against the Los Angeles Rams.
Thanks to a one-yard touchdown run by David Montgomery in overtime, the Lions beat the Lions 26-20 in the first Sunday Night Football game of the season at Ford Field. The victory was a rematch of last year’s playoff game in Detroit, which the Lions also won, marking their first postseason victory in more than three decades.
Montgomery led the Lions on their final drive of the game, capping an eight-play, 70-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run in overtime. That ended the game without the Rams touching the ball in overtime and the Lions winning by six points.
The Lions got off to an early start, taking a 17-3 lead early in the second half after Jameson Williams caught a long 52-yard touchdown pass from Goff. This followed a touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs late in the second quarter and came shortly after Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was taken out of the game with a leg injury. He was carted off the field in the first half and was out just before the start of the second half.
The Rams cut the game to just four points early in the fourth quarter thanks to a punch-in touchdown by Kyren Williams and a field goal made possible by a deep 63-yard pass from Tyler Johnson.
Although it briefly looked like the Rams offense would stop the ball, Goff and Williams went for it again. Goff threw a 27-yard pass to Williams to keep their drive alive, but he made a brutal catch over the middle that breathed life back into the Rams. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, however, quickly marched the Rams down the field and capped their 80-yard drive with a 9-yard toss to Cooper Kupp for a touchdown. It was their 17th consecutive point and put them ahead for the first time since the first quarter.
The Rams made one last stop to force Detroit to a field goal, sending the game into overtime and setting up the Lions’ game-winning drive.
Stafford completed 34 of 49 passes for 317 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Kyren Williams had 50 rushing yards and one touchdown on 18 carries and Kupp finished with 110 receiving yards and one touchdown on 14 catches.
Goff completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Lions. Montgomery had 91 rushing yards on 17 carries and scored a touchdown in overtime. Jameson Williams had 121 receiving yards and scored a touchdown on just five catches.
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David Montgomery leads Lions to victory
Click on the photo to learn more about the Detroit Lions’ overtime win over the Rams on Sunday night.
Click on the photo to read more about the Lions’ overtime win on Sunday night. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Lions win in overtime
Thanks to a 70-yard drive and eight plays, the Detroit Lions defeated the Rams on Sunday night.
Touchdown, Lions
David Montgomery scored a one-yard touchdown run and the Lions won the game.
Final score: Lions 26, Rams 20
David Montgomery, Lions start early
David Montgomery gets the Lions moving early in overtime. They are now in Rams territory and are threatening to end things here.
Lions get the ball first
The Lions won the coin toss and begin overtime with the ball. Here we go…
End of regular season: Rams 20, Lions 20
We have free football in Detroit.
Lions score field goal and tie the game
The Lions made it to the red zone, but were stopped by the Rams and forced into a field goal. We are now tied 20-20 with just 17 seconds left to play.
It looks like there will be an extension at Ford Field.
Lions in motion, call for target acquisition received
Kamren Kinchens has just been warned for a very obvious targeting call after a catch by Sam LaPorta in the middle of the field and the Lions are suddenly in a good position to score with just under two minutes left.
Lions force a punt
Detroit just made a crucial stop that forced the Rams to punt, so the Lions have one last chance to win or tie the game. They start with the ball at their own 33-yard line with 2:11 left.
I have no idea how Matthew Stafford just did that. The Rams are back on the march before the two-minute warning and are trying to pull out a win in Detroit.
Rams force Lions to punt
Jared Goff was almost intercepted again and the Lions had to punt. The Rams got the ball back now with just over four minutes left.
Rams take the lead with 4:30 minutes to go
And the Rams are already in the lead. Matthew Stafford has just passed to Cooper Kupp for a 9-yard touchdown to cap the 80-yard drive.
The Rams now lead 20-17 with 4:30 left at Ford Field.
Matthew Stafford is in the thick of it. He just threw a ball to Cooper Kupp, who just managed to make a 27-yard catch before going out of bounds, giving the Rams a scoring opportunity. Unbelievable.
John Johnson was just able to fend off this intercepted ball. The decision remains and the Rams take over at their own 20.
Jared Goff intercepted
After a promising drive, Jared Goff threw a brutal interception. A pass intended for Amon-Ra St. Brown in the middle was caught by John Johnson. That gives the Rams life.
Detroit leads 17-13 with 9:09 minutes left in the game as this play is reviewed.
Rams again settle for a field goal
The Rams had several opportunities to tie the game and even made it to the goal line after a pass interference in the end zone, but the Lions prevented the tie.
After a 26-yard field goal by Joshua Karty, the Lions’ lead is now only four points.
Rams get a huge chunk to penetrate deep into Lions territory
Count 63 yards for Tyler Johnson and the Rams are in business.
Lions had to limit themselves to a quick 3-and-out
The Rams are still in the game after Detroit failed to get out of the starting blocks after the Rams’ touchdown. The Rams have to run the entire field again on this series to tie the game after Detroit was able to stop the punt at the Rams’ 16-yard line.
Kyren Williams scores, Rams reduce Lions lead
A great response for the Rams, who ran the length of the field, got a fourth down and a fourth down — and got a little help from a well-timed pass interference penalty — and went 70 yards and scored in 11 plays.
High penalty enables Rams 1st-and-Goal
Rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold was caught tackling Cooper Kupp on the way to the end zone, putting the Rams at the goal line.
