Jared Goff leads Lions in revenge win over Rams

DETROIT — Led by quarterback Jared Goff, the Detroit Lions nabbed their first dwelling playoff win since 1991 with a 24-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Discipline.

Sunday’s wild-card spherical win got here on the expense of former Lions (now Rams) QB Matthew Stafford in his return to Detroit. Each groups got here out firing within the first half with the Lions carrying a 21-17 lead into halftime.

The Lions entered the playoffs because the No. 3 seed and can play the winner of the “Monday Evening Soccer” matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN+) within the divisional spherical subsequent weekend.

For the primary time in three a long time, the Lions hosted a house playoff sport in Detroit and the sold-out environment was electrical. With a plethora of ex-players and celebrities cheering them on, the Lions held off the Rams to finish the NFL’s longest energetic playoff victory drought. They hadn’t gained a playoff sport since defeating the Dallas Cowboys within the 1991 divisional spherical.

Promising development: Defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson continued his stellar play. Hutchinson ended the common season with 5 sacks within the closing two video games and put loads of stress on Stafford, recording two sacks and 4 QB hits.

Largest gap within the sport plan: Defensively, the secondary was picked aside by Stafford within the first half. In the course of the common season, the Lions allowed seven passing TDs of 25-plus air yards, the second most behind the Washington Commanders (11). On Sunday they gave up two to the Rams. Stafford threw a 50-yard landing move to receiver Puka Nacua and a 38-yard landing to receiver Tutu Atwell.

QB breakdown: Chants of “Jared Goff” echoed all through the constructing forward of the kickoff because the followers gave him his respect previous to dealing with the quarterback (Stafford) he was traded for in 2021. By the primary two drives of the sport, Goff was 9-of-9 and had not been pressured nor left the pocket whereas averaging 5.3 air yards per try. Goff would finish the night time with 277 passing yards, whereas going 22-for-27 with a landing. — Eric Woodyard

Subsequent sport: vs. winner of Eagles/Buccaneers (3 p.m. ET, Sunday, Jan. 21)

Within the week main as much as the sport, Stafford stated a number of instances that whereas he was excited to return to Ford Discipline, he was most excited that the Rams had been taking part in a playoff sport of any form after most exterior of the constructing did not assume that they had an opportunity to make the postseason.

Stafford’s return to Detroit — his first sport at Ford Discipline since he was traded to the Rams — didn’t have a fairytale ending for the Rams quarterback, who didn’t throw a landing within the second half.

Stafford accomplished 25 of 36 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns with a passer ranking of 120.9 in a sport the Rams by no means led.

Silver lining: The Rams continued to get manufacturing out of rookie fifth-round choose Puka Nacua, who had 9 catches for 181 yards and a landing. Nacua set the report for many receiving yards by a rookie in NFL playoff historical past, based on ESPN Stats & Info.

Troubling development: The Rams had been 0-of-3 within the purple zone towards the Lions, going 0-for within the purple zone in a sport for the primary time this season.

Largest gap within the sport plan: Goff was an ideal 22-of-22 for 277 yards and a landing when he was not pressured. That’s the most such makes an attempt with out an incompletion in a playoff begin since ESPN started monitoring pressures in 2009. On the flip facet, Goff was 0-of-5 with three sacks when pressured. These eight dropbacks beneath stress with out a completion are tied for Goff’s profession excessive. — Sarah Barshop