DETROIT — Jared Goff throws for a touchdown, gets the game-clinching first down against the team that ejected him, and the Detroit Lions beat Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams by 24 in 32 years. They won the playoffs for the first time. Sunday night at 11pm.
The Lions (13-5) ended their postseason losing streak at nine games, the longest in NFL history since a Jan. 5, 1992 victory over Dallas. They lost a home playoff game two years later and missed the host game. One since then.
“It means a lot to this city,” Goff said. “When this season started going into the playoffs, and we knew what this win meant. And, you know, this is just the beginning for us. There's still a run left. Yo.”
Detroit, the No. 3 seed in the NFC, will play two playoff games at home for the first time in franchise history, hosting either Tampa Bay or Philadelphia in the divisional round next Sunday. Second-seeded Dallas lost to Green Bay.
“Everyone wanted Dallas again, and the fact that we're back here is a blessing,” Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson said.
The Rams (10-8) had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but Detroit's defense held out. A holding penalty forced Los Angeles into field goal range, and Stafford, the longtime Lions quarterback who won a Super Bowl after being traded to the Rams, threw an incompletion on fourth down.
On the first play after the two-minute warning, Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for 11 yards, giving the Lions time to run out. Long-suffering fans were elated as they witnessed the team's second postseason victory since the victory. 1957 NFL title.
Against the team he once led to the Super Bowl, Goff went 22-of-27 for 277 yards and threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta midway through the second quarter in Detroit. took a 21-10 lead.
The Lions acquired Goff and Stafford for two first-round picks three years ago.
“Jared was really talented. You could see the command he had,” said Rams coach Sean McVay, whose relationship with Goff soured before the trade. “Despite everything, I'm really happy for him. He wanted to get the win, and he did a great job.”
Stafford played much of the game bandaged and bloody after slamming his hand into a defender's helmet, but completed 25 of 36 for 367 yards and two touchdowns.
“I wouldn't want anyone else at quarterback other than Matthew Stafford,” McVay said. “He was outstanding. He was gritty. He was gutsy and made tough pitch after tough pitch. The rushes were raining down on him, and he stood there and made 10 cents all day. I was dropping it.”
Detroit drafted Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick in 2009, and although he produced impressive results, he did not make the playoffs in 12 seasons. Stafford hugged dozens of Detroit players and staff members after the game.
“I’m happy for the players,” he said. “I’m happy for those guys.”
Record-breaking rookie Puka Nacua had nine receptions for 181 yards and one touchdown for the Rams.
David Montgomery and rookie Jahmil Gibbs each had rushing TDs for the Lions, and St. Brown had seven receptions for 110 yards.
Trailing by 11 points, the Rams got within 21-17 at halftime thanks to Stafford's 50-yard touchdown pass to Nacua and 38-yard touchdown pass to Tutu Atwell.
Michael Badgley's 54-yard field goal of his season, the longest of his postseason career and tied for the longest in Detroit's playoff history, gave the Lions a seven-point lead midway through the third quarter.
The Rams had the ball at their disposal for much of the game, but had to settle for a short field goal by Brett Maher to get within 24-23 with 8:10 left.
“The difference in the game was the red area,” McVay said.
Stafford has made a career out of fourth-quarter comebacks, a fact fans at Ford Field were well aware of. With a chance to put the Rams ahead for the first time, he led a drive to the Detroit 34, but was forced back by the Lions' defense from there.
Detroit took over with 4:07 remaining, and Los Angeles had only one timeout left after calling two early in the first half to deal with the large crowd that sounded like a siren. This allowed Goff to hit his knee after throwing to St. Brown.
The Lions got off to a strong start and looked as energetic as their long-suffering fans, along with Motor City rapper Eminem and Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.
Fans booed Stafford as he ran onto the field, posed for a pregame photo with his wife and daughters, and shouted “Jah Ed Goff!” Jaed Goff, the Lions' third-year quarterback.
“Going into this game, I had two objectives: to play for my teammates and to play for the city,” said Hutchinson, who grew up in the Detroit suburbs and played for the University of Michigan. '' he said. “This city has deserved this for a long time, and we’re going to keep it that way.”
