Rams 23 - 24 Lions summary, stats, scores and highlights | NFL Wild Card Weekend
Who better to hear from after the Lions win than a Detroit kid? Aidan Hutchinson let's you know how much this win means to him and for the fan base. The Lions will host another playoff game next week and you can bet Ford Field will be rocking again.
The Rams could only manage two field goals after going down by 7. Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown sealed the game with this first down pass that allowed the Lions to kneel the ball and give these fans something they have been waiting for for 32 years. After three decades the Lions have won a playoff game, just their second postseason win in the Super Bowl era.
The Lions were forced to punt on their final possession of the first half, but came back and scored a field goal to make it four scoring drives on their first five possessions. This Michael Badgley field goal from 54 yards out was the last score of the game from Detroit as they took a 24-17 lead with 8:31 left in the third quarter but that was enough for the Lions defense who buckled down in the second half.
The Lions punched back right before the halftime break with another big play from midfield. Stafford found Tutu Atwell on this crossing pattern that he took to the house. That was the only way the Rams were able to get into the endzone in Detroit on Sunday night. They got into the red zone three times but failed to punch it over the goal line on all three trips inside the 20.
The Lions go for it on 4th down more than any team in the league, so under their own roof, at the two yard line, in the playoffs, of course they were going to go for it on 4th down. Goff completed each of his first 10 passes so letting him go to the air on 4th and 1 from the two was a safe bet. He hit Sam LaPorta in the endzone to take a 21-10 lead midway through the second quarter. Goff ended the night with 277 yards on 22/27 passing with one TD and no mistakes.
It was a more bitter than sweet homecoming for Matthew Stafford who was greeted to chants of Jared Goff when coming on to the field from the tunnel. The former Lion who spent more than a decade in Detroit was beat up all night long, but did what his former fans are used to. He fought through the pain and kept him team in the game.
The Rams got inside the 10 yard line on their first drive but would have to settle for a field goal. That would be a recurring theme for LA in the Wild Card round game. Matthew Stafford and his offense got into the end zone twice, but both TDs came off of big passing plays from the middle of the field. This one was on 3rd and 1 and the former Lion found a wide open Puca Nacua for the 50 yard TD.
Nacua had 181 yards on 9 catches setting a rookie playoff record.
Detroit looked like they might run away with the game early on as their offense could do no wrong in the first half. They went up two scores thanks to this Jahmyr Gibbs 10 yard TD run as Detroit scored on their opening two possessions. The Lions resurgent run game has been a big reason for their success this year, and that was no different on Sunday night. Montgomery and Gibbs set the tone early, with two TDs and the fans were ready to blow lid off of Ford Field.
It had been a long time since Lions fans had seen a playoff game played in Detroit. A lot of fans are too young to have ever seen a playoff game in the Motor City, but Dan Campbell and his team has made this team a championship contender in a matter of a few years.
The Lions earned their first postseason home game in three decades and didn’t disappoint. They came out swinging as Jared Goff opened the defense up with the pass game which freed up space for David Montgomery to punch in the TD on the game’s first drive.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
DETROIT WIN A PLAYOFF GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 32 YEARS!!!
Goff takes a knee and that is going to do it!!!
Tears are flying down the faces of some of these Lions fans as they are going to win just their second playoff game in the Super Bowl era.
Goff hits St. Brown on the stop route at the marker and he makes the catch for a first down and that might have just won the Lions this game!
1st and 10 from the DET 43. Timeout LA with 1:54 to go, that's their last.
Montgomery gets the handoff and he is cut down after a short gain of a yard. That will take us to the Two Minute Warning!
2nd and 9 from the DET 32.
Pass to Montgomery out of the backfield and he made a move around a defender and picks up the first down with an 11 yard gain!
1st and 10 from the DET 31.
Montgomery gets the handoff to the right side and he picks up two yards on the first down run.
2nd and 8 from the DET 19.
DET get the ball back from the 17 with 4:07 to go.
Stafford goes deep for Nacua on the in route and that pass is batted down by Azalone!
4th and 14 from the DET 44 and the Rams will punt.
Check down to the flat for Rivers who is taken down two yards behind the line of scrimmage but a holding call will be accepted by DET.
3rd and 14 from the DET 44.
Check down to the flat for Rivers who is taken down two yards behind the line of scrimmage but a holding call will be accepted by DET.
3rd and 14 from the DET 44.
Stafford over the middle and he finds Kupp for a 6 yard pitch and catch.
3rd and 4 from the DET 34.
Roll out from Stafford looking for Higbee and he took a big shot to the lower leg and that ball falls incomplete.
2nd and 10 from the DET 40.
Pass to Rivers out of the backfield and he takes it 15 yards on the catch and run.
1st and 10 from the DET 40.
Stafford finds Nacua over the middle and breaks free down the left sideline for a 35 yard gain!
1st and 10 from the LA 45.
Rivers gets the handoff up the middle and he picks up two yards on first down.
2nd and 8 from the LA 10.
DET get the ball from their 9, down by one with 7:18 left in the fourth quarter.
Goff's pass to the right side for Reynolds on the stop route but that pass was too high and LA force a three and out.
4th and 5 from the 30.
Run to the right side for Montgomery and he picks up 5 yards to make it 3rd and manageable.
3rd and 5 from the DET 30.
Screen pass set up for Montgomery but LA was all over it so Goff just threw it into the dirt.
2nd and 10 from the 25.
DET get the ball from the 25 up by one with 8:10 to go.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Maher comes on for a third time tonight and drills another short field goal, this time from 29 yards out.
DET lead 24-23 with 8:10 to go.
Stafford took a shot to the endzone for Kupp on the left sideline and the coverage was great which made the one handed catch impossible to reel in.
4th and 8 and the Rams have to settle for a field goal on another trip to the red zone.
Screen pass set up for Rivers and he picks up three yards on the left side. Anzalone stays down and he will have to at least miss this huge next play.
3rd and 8 from the DET 11.
Williams is wrapped up in the backfield for a loss of one on first down.
2nd and 11 from the DET 14.
Stafford steps up in the pocket and fires it to Nacua who was in double coverage and he drags it down for a gain of 22 yards.
1st and 10 from the DET 13.
Stretch handoff to Williams who took it to the left side, cut back into the middle and got 12 yards for a first down.
1st and 10 from the DET 35.
Williams gets the handoff and he picks up 5 yards on the first down run to the right side.
2nd and 5 from the DET 47.
Stafford fires one over the middle for Robinson and he makes the grab on the fast ball that was a bit behind him.
1st and 10 from the LA 48.
Williams gets the handoff and takes it for a yard on first down.
2nd and 9 from the LA 37.
WR screen to Nacua and he had some blockers but had to lay a big hit on a defender to fight for extra yards and the first down.
1st and 10 from the LA 36.
DET had to take another timeout as the play clock was winding down. That's their second.
Stafford going to the left side for Robinson but that pass was to far in front of the WR. No flag flies despite a bit of contact downfield.
3rd and 8 from the LA 27.
Williams gets it back on a handoff up the middle and he is stopped after a gain of 2.
2nd and 8 from the LA 27.
Williams had a big hole up the middle and he busts up the middle for a gain of 15 yards!
1st and 10 from the LA 25.
LA will get the ball back from the 10 yard line to start the fourth quarter.
Goff stepped up in the pocket and tripped over someone's foot, looked like his own lineman as he is touched down for a one yard sack. That is going to be the last play of the third quarter.
4th and 7 coming up from the DET 38.
Gibbs gets another handoff this time to the right side and he gets another two yards.
3rd and 6 from the DET 39.
Gibbs up the middle on the first down run and he is stopped for a loss of two yards.
2nd and 8 from the DET 37.
DET get the ball from the 25 and Goff finds St. Brown on the right side for a gain of 10 yard to start the drive.
1st and 10 from the DET 35.
FIELD GOAL!!!
The Rams gets stopped again inside the 10 yard line and have to settle for a 27 yard Maher field goal. Stafford took a big shot after letting that pass go, hitting his head on the turf and clutching his arm while heading back to the sideline. They are going to take a look at him.
DET lead 24-20 with 2:33 left in the third quarter.
Stafford looking over the middle for Kupp on a short pass and he gets dragged down after a gain of 4.
4th and 8 from the DET 9.
End around from Nacua on the right side and the Lions sniff that out dropping his for a loss of 2.
3rd and 12 from the DET 13.
Roll out from Stafford to the right side and he just throws it away.
2nd and 10 from the DET 11.
Stafford finds Allen on the right side right at the marker and he breaks a tackle for a 22 yard catch and run.
1st and 10 from the DET 11.
Short pass to Kupp on the shallow route on the right side for 4 yards.
2nd and 6 from the DET 33.
Rivers powers his way through the middle for a gain of 7 and a first down.
1st and 10 from the DET 37.
Stafford over the middle for Nacua and he picks up 9 yards to bring up 2nd and short.
2nd and 1 from the DET 44.
Screen pass set up for Rivers and he races down field for a gain of 17 yards!
1st and 10 from the LA 47.
LA get the ball back from the 25 and Williams picks up 5 yards on the run to the left side.
2nd and 5 from the LA 30.
FIELD GOAL!!!
Badgley comes on for the first time tonight and he bangs home a 54 yard field goal!
The Lions lead 24-17 after scoring on four of their first drives of the night.
Goff was taking no chances on 3rd and long, as he finds LaPorta for four yards and that might put DET in field goal range.
4th and 17 from the LA 36.
Rush up the middle from Jones and he drops Goff for a loss of 6!
3rd and 21 from the LA 40.
Gibbs gets the handoff to the right side and he is dragged down for a loss of give after the Rams sniffed that run out.
2nd and 15 from the LA 34.
St. Brown with a slant pattern over the middle and Goff hit him in stride for a 17 yard catch and run.
1st and 10 from the LA 29.
Pitch to Gibbs on the right side and he is pushed out of bounds for no gain.
2nd and 10 from the LA 46.
Goff lobs one down the right sideline for St. Brown who broke free from his defender and takes if for 30 yards!
1st and 10 from the LA 46.
Goff with the short pass to Reynolds on the right side but the WR couldn't make the catch on a pass that was just a big out in front of him.
3rd and 6 from the DET 24.
DET get the ball from the 20 on their first possession of the second half and Montgomery picks up 4 yards on first down.
2nd and 6 from the DET 24.
Stafford hangs it high down field for Robinson who was double covered and that pass falls incomplete.
LA will punt on 4th and 11 from their 38.
LA are forced to take a timeout early in this third quarter on a third and long play that the Rams weren't set for.
Stafford saw nothing down field so he tucked it but was dropped for a loss of one.
3rd and 11 from the LA 38.
Stafford steps up in the pocket and throws down the right sideline for Kupp who was wide open but he overshot him!
2nd and 10 from the LA 39.
Stafford goes to the air on first down and he finds Robinson over the middle for Robinson for a big gain of 14 on the opening play of the third quarter.
1st and 10 from the LA 39.
WE ARE BACK IN DETROIT FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!!
LA get the ball to start the half and they will start the half from the 25.
The Rams only got into the red zone once in the first half and had to settle for a field goal. There two TDs catch on long passing plays, the first to Nacua and the second to Tutu Atwell who made the catch and broke free from the defender to flip into the endzone.
The battle of the QBs with a very connected pass couldn't be tighter. Stafford is 12/16 for 196 yards and two TDs, while Goff is 16/18 for 194 yards and a TD.
The Lions scored TDs on their first three possessions. The first two came on the ground, but on 4th and 1 inside the 5, after three straight runs the Goff dropped back and found LaPorta in the back of the end zone to take a 21-10 lead midway through the seond quarter.
The Rams punched back courtesy of a couple of big plays from Stafford who took a shot to his already banged up throwing hand. He hit Puca Nacua wide open down the left side on 3rd and 1 and the rookie put another TD on his impressive first year resume.
The Rams drove it all the way down inside the 5 on their first drive, but were held to a field goal and this time it was Gibbs who broke free up the middle and scored for a second straight drive and you got the sense that maybe the Lions were going to run away with this game early. Montgomery has 43 yards and a TD on 10 carries and Gibbs has 26 on 4 rushes.
What a first half it was and what a start it was for the Lions who came out on their first playoff drive in front of their home fans in three decades and marched right down the field. Goff got the passing game going which opened up space for David Montgomery to punch in the first TD of the game.
Stafford finds Kupp and he picks up 7 yards on the left side but that is going to bring us to the end of the first half!
DET lead 21-17 with 30 minutes to go from Ford Field.
Williams takes the first down run up the middle and he picks up 6 yards.
2nd and 4 from the LA 11.
LA get the ball back from the 5 with 59 seconds to go.
The offense stayed on the field and it looked like the Lions got LA to jump offsides but a false start is called instead. The LIons will punt with a minute to go in the clock.
Goff got hit as he released the pass and that pass falls incomplete which bring out 4th and 5. Will DET keep the offense on the field here?
Gibbs with another run to the left side and he gets four yards.
3rd and 5 from the LA 40.
Gibbs is pushed out of bounds on the left side after a gain of one on first down.
2nd and 9 from the LA 45.
Goff moves the chains on 3rd and long with a strike to St. Brown on the out route to the left side for a gain of 23 yards!
1st and 10 from the LA 46.
Pass to Gibbs out of the backfield and he fights for 10 yards. That will take us to the Two Minute Warning.
3rd and 15 coming up after the break.
Goff was in trouble, panicked a bit threw it backwards to Wright who had to fall on the loose ball for a loss of 15.
2nd and 25 from the DET 21.
DET take the ball back from the 25 and Gibbs gets pushed out of bounds on the left side after picking up 11.
1st and 10 from the DET 36.
These two teams have been going blow for blow for the first 26 minutes of this game. Two big plays result in two TDs for LA, this one from Stafford to Atwell for a 38 yard TD!
TOUCHDOWN LOS ANGELES!!!
Stafford put another bullet right on the money for Atwell who broke free of a defender and flips into the endzone to silence this Detroit crowd!
DET lead 21-17 with 4:02 left in what has been a fantastic first half from the Motor City.
The offense stays on the field and Stafford finds Kupp on the left side for a gain of 6 that will move the chains.
1st and 10 from the DET 38.
Stafford takes a shot down the right side for Robinson but he couldn't make the over the shoulder catch.
4th and 5 from the DET 44.
Stafford going over the middle with a short pass to Skowronek and he picks up 5 yards on the pitch and catch.
3rd and 5 from the DET 44.
Rivers gets the handoff to the left end and he is stopped for no gain.
2nd and 10 from the DET 49.
Stafford looks over the middle but his pass to Higbee was too far in front of the WR. A flag flies and the Lions are going to be called for defensive holding.
1st and 10 from the DET 49.
LA gets the ball back from the 25 and Stafford finds Nacua on the pass to the left side and he makes the catch, fighting for extra yardage on the 20 yard pick up.
1st and 10 from the LA 25.
The Lions have been going for it on 4th down all year, no matter where they are on the field, how far away from the marker they are, and so in the playoffs, with their offense rolling on the 2, you knew they were going for it. Goff found LaPorta, who was a question mark coming into tonight after hyperextending his knee, in the back of the end zone. That's three TDs on three drives for LA.
TOUCHDOWN LIONS!!!!
Goff pump faked once, pump faked twice and on the third wind up found LaPorta in the back of the endzone on 4th down!
DET lead 21-10 after scoring TDs on their first 3 drives!
Montgomery gets the handoff again and he is stopped a yard short of the marker! DET is going to keep the offense on the field.
4th and 1 from the 2.
Montgomery gets the handoff and he is stopped after a gain of 3 on the run up the middle.
3rd and 3 from the LA 4.
After an encroachment penalty on LA, Montgomery is stopped at the line of scrimmage on the run to the left side.
2nd and 5 from the LA 6.
Goff finds Gibbs on the screen pass to the right side and he takes it 16 yards down to the 11!
1st and 10 from the LA 11.
St. Brown made the catch right at the marker, shook off a defender and took it for 14 yards for a first down!
1st and 10 from the LA 27.
short pass from Goff over the middle to Reynolds who picks up 5.
3rd and 5 from the LA 41.
Goff's short pass to the right side was too far in front of St. Brown and that's his first incompletion after 10 straight completions.
2nd and 10 from the LA 46.
Comeback route from Wiliams and he makes the catch downfield for 13 yards!
1st and 10 from the LA 46.
Montgomery up the middle on first down and he picks up another nice chuck of 5.
2nd and 5 from the DET 41.
DET get the ball back from the 25 and Montgomery streaks up the middle for an 11 yard gain to start the drive.
1st and 10 from the DET 36.
Nacua broke free down the left sideline on 3rd and 1 and check out the move at the end of the play. This rookie has done a whole lot of the course of his first season, add playoff TD to the list.
TOUCHDOWN LOS ANGELES!!!
Stafford takes a shot up the left side and finds a wide open Nacua who made a move on a defender inside the 5 and backed into the endzone!! This rookie is something else!
Rams respond, they trail 14-10 with 13:24 to go in the first half!
Stafford hits Nacua on the stop route right in front of the marker and he is taken down a yard short of the first down.
3rd and 1 from the 50.
Williams is dropped in the backfield by Anzalone on his run up the middle.
2nd and 11 from the LA 40.
Stafford steps up in the pocket and first a dart to the right sideline for Robinson who makes the catch and moves the chains on the final play of the first quarter!
1st and 10 from the LA 41 after the break.
Williams gets the handoff up the middle and he is taken down after three yards.
3rd and 16 from the LA 22.
LA get the ball back from the LA 28 to start their second drive looking to keep pace with the Lions.
On the first play of the drive, Stafford trips over his own feet and is touched down by Hutchinson for a 9 yard loss!
2nd and 19 from the LA 19.
The passing game has been rolling with Goff coming out of the gate on the money, and that's set up two rushing TDs from Montgomery on the first drive and Gibbs on the second drive. It's all DET so far.
TOUCHDOWN LIONS!!!
Gibbs gets the carry up the middle and breaks a tackle at the line of scrimmage to walk into the end zone from 10 yards out!
DET lead 14-3 with 1:31 to go in the first quarter!!!
Goff fires another bullet over the middle and he finds Reynolds again for a 33 yard pick up to the 10 yard line!
1st and Goal from the 10!
Pitch to Gibbs who got 3 yards on the first down run, but a holding call will bring the Lions back.
1st and 20 from the DET 43.
Goff finds Gibbs out of the backfield and he breaks a tackle and busts up field for a gain of 14 yards!
1st and 10 from the LA 33.
Goff finds Reynolds on the right side for a gain of 10 and DET will get a free 15 after a late hit on the QB by Hampton.
1st and 10 from the LA 47.
DET start their second drive of the night from the 25 and Goff finds Gibbs on the right side for a short gain of 3.
2nd and 7 from the DET 28.
FIELD GOAL!!!
The Rams drive all the way down the field but get held inside the 10 and have to settle for a 24 yard Maher field goal.
DET lead 7-3 ten minutes into this one.
DET brought the rush and Stafford's pass was deflected and almost picked off by Branch!
4th and Goal from the 6.
Stafford held on to it until the last second and his pass over the middle was too high for Kupp.
3rd and Goal from the 6.
Stafford lobs it up to Kupp in the endzone but he couldn't catch up to that ball on the left side of the endzone.
2nd and Goal from the 6.
Williams gets 4 yards up the miiddle and a unnecessary roughness call on Joseph wil take the Rams inside the 10.
1st and Goal from the 6.
WR screen to Nacua on the left side and he follows his blockers for a gain of 24 and the Rams are in the red zone.
1st and 10 from the DET 16.
Play action from Stafford who had pressure in his face and he flings it to Allen with the 6 yard picks up to the left side.
2nd and 4 from the DET 37.
Williams with the handoff up the middle and he moves the chains with a 5 yard run.
1st and and 10 from the DET 48.
Stafford checks down to Williams who takes the short pass 9 yards on the right side.
2nd and 1 from the DET 48.
Stafford looking for Nacua over the top on 3rd and 1 and the contact draws a pass interference flag on DET.
1st and 10 from the LA 43.
Stafford to the air for the first time and goes short over the middle to Nacua who was taken down after a 4 yard gain.
3rd and 1 from the LA 34.
Matthew Stafford steps on the field for the first time to a roar of boos, as the Rams get the ball from the 25.
Williams gets the handoff up the gut and he gets 5 yards on first down.
2nd and 5 from the LA 30.
It's a noise that hasn't been heard in Detroit for over 30 years! The Lions are in the endzone in the post season in Detroit! No nerves shown on that first drive that went 75 yards and 10 plays.
TOUCHDOWN LIONS!!!
The Lions came out swinging and punch it into the endzone with a Montgomery run up the middle from a yard out!
DET lead 7-0 after the first possession of the game!
Montgomery takes the handoff up the middle and he is stopped just short of the goal line.
2nd and Goal from the 1.
Slant pattern from Reynolds and he makes the catch before getting taken down inside the 5!
1st and Goal from the 2.
Goff finds LaPorta on the left side and he is pushed out of bounds at the 10 after an 8 yard gain.
2nd and 2 from the LA 10.
Goff finds St. Brown from the first time and he picks up 5 yards on the short pass to the right side.
2nd and 3 from the LA 23.
Goff first a bullet and threads the needle down the middle for Reynolds who made a finger tip catch in traffic for a 24 yard gain!
1st and 10 from the LA 30.
Montgomery moves the chains with a five yard run up the right side.
1st and 10 from the DET 46.
Goff going to the air for the first time and he finds Williams for a 6 yard gain of first down.
2nd and 4 from the DET 41.
Montgomery gets the handoff on the first play of th game and he finds a hole up the middle for 10 yards!
1st and 10 from the DET 35.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DETROIT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1993!
The Lions start the night with the ball and get it from the 25.
The stars are out in Mo Town
The Rams are usually the team with the all the star power on the sideline, but tonight the stars are out in the Motor City. Sitting on the sidelines are two Detroit Lions greats, Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson are back at Ford Field with long time Lion fan and Detroit native Eminem is watching with them as the playoffs come back Detroit for the first time in a long time.
Detroit back home in the postseason
The Lions playoff record is not really one to brag about if you’re a Detroit fan. A lot of fans may not even be old enough to remember the last time the Lions got a chance to host a playoff game. It’s been over three decades since the Mo Town faithful got a chance to play in the postseason in their home soil. They lost that game 28-24 to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. That started a seven game losing streak in the playoffs that has stretched over 30 years. In those 30 years the Lions played playoff games in 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2014, and 2016 and each of those games were played on the road. Each of those games resulted in a loss. Tonight the Lions have only done once in the Super Bowl era: win a playoff game. That sole win game against the Cowboys all the way back in 1992.
And the plot thickens
It was the trade that changed the history of the LA Rams in their return to LaLa Land. After drafting Jared Goff and seeing him lead the Rams to the Super Bowl, only to fall short LA shipped him off to Detroit and brought in Matthew Stafford who despite putting up fantastic numbers was stuck in Detroit and never had a chance to compete for a title. In his first year in LA, and the Rams first year with fans in the stands at Sofi, Stafford led his new team to the Super Bowl played on home soil and brought a title to the franchise for the first time since the Kurt Warner days in St. Louis. Now Stafford returns to the place he called home for over a decade, looking to break the hearts of the fans that loved him and most likely still do, although you wouldn’t know it by his entrance onto the field.
Go off Goff
Jared Goff is the anchor of this offense but the steady run game has only added to the explosiveness of this offense. When they win, they usually do so in high scoring, entertaining shootouts. They scored 30 points in 9 of their 12 wins, and in a lot of those shootouts they have have had to do so as their defense has had their ups and downs this season. They have showed they are a playoff quality team for the first time in a long time, but now it’s time to show they can win a game now that they are in the postseason.
Williams stealing the show
Talk about Matt Stafford, talk about Cooper Kupp, talk about rookie Puka Nakua all you want but Kyren Wiliams has been one of the revelations not just in LA but in the NFL. The second year RB out of Notre Dame has turned it on this season, and the LA offense has been thankful that he has. He has six games of 100+ yards and has scored 12 TDs while averaging 5 yards a carry. He is a powerful back that gets plenty of yards after contact and that has a way of tiring a defense out during the later stages of the game.
How the Lions got here
The Lions came into the season with a lot of hype and only added fuel to that fire with their win over the defending champion Chiefs in Week 1. After winning 8 of their last 10 to end the season last year they just narrowly missed the playoffs but the anticipation grew in the offseason and the Lions didn’t disappoint, winning their division for the first time in thirty years. There have been moments of turbulence during Detroit’s return to glory, but they have a balanced offense led by Jared Goff and RB’s David Montgomery and Jamyrh Gibbs and a defense that has shown the ability to shut teams down at times, but also shown some vulnerability at times.
How LA got here
It was a difficult start to the season for LA, who won just three of their first eight games and had to deal with injuries to Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford. The season looked like it was going to be another disappointment for a team just two years removed from the Super Bowl, but Stafford’s come back, Kupp’s recovery and a rookie WR’s explosion on to the NFL scene has propelled this Rams side into one of the most hottest teams in the playoffs. They won 7 of their last eight to claim one of the Wild Card spots before the final week of the season and now they look to keep the run alive in a hostile environment in Detroit.
We are live from Detroit
There is no time for nostalgia tonight from Detroit as Matthew Stafford returns to the place he calls home for over a decade in a Wild Card Weekend showdown from Ford Field. The Los Angeles Rams head north to take on the Detroit Lions who return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, scores and highlights of tonight’s game from the Motor City
Rams vs. Lions
Hello everyone and welcome to Ford Field where the Lions have earned the right to host a playoff game for the first time since 1993. Detroit came in as a lot of people’s dark horse team and they have proven that they deserve to be here after a long playoff drought. They didn’t just make the playoffs, they won their division for the first time in three decades and what is their reward for taking the NFC North title? They get to host one of the most important players to ever pass through their franchise, and a very dangerous Rams team. Matthew Stafford returns to Mo Town three years after being traded to LA for current Lions QB Jared Goff. There are plenty of stories on the line tonight, but the most important one is there is a spot in the next round of the playoffs on the line.