DETROIT — The Detroit Lions opened the season by outlasting the Los Angeles Rams with a balanced offence, grinding out yards on the bottom and going to the air for some pivotal performs simply as they did of their NFC wild-card sport.
David Montgomery’s 1-yard landing run in time beyond regulation lifted the Lions to a 26-20 win over the Matthew Stafford-led Rams on Sunday evening.
“Early within the season, a whole lot of video games come right down to who makes the fewest errors,” Lions coach Dan Campbell mentioned. “We made one lower than they did.”
The Lions misplaced a two-touchdown lead within the third quarter, however prolonged the sport with Jake Bates’ tying 32-yard subject purpose within the ultimate minute of regulation.
Detroit received the coin flip and took benefit of getting the ball, gaining at the least 9 yards on its first 4 performs in time beyond regulation to arrange Montgomery’s profitable rating.
The Rams had been ready to spoil Detroit’s season-opening occasion when Stafford threw a go-ahead, 9-yard landing move to Cooper Kupp with 4:30 left within the fourth quarter.
They only couldn’t make sufficient performs on either side of the ball to carry on for the win.
Los Angeles put up fairly a battle regardless of dropping Professional Bowl receiver Puka Nacua and two linemen on its banged-up line.
“I’m actually pleased with this group,” Rams coach Sean McVay mentioned. “We had a whole lot of guys go down and lots of people stepped up.
“We simply got here up brief.”
The Lions had a 17-3 lead within the third quarter after Jared Goff threw a 52-yard landing move to Jameson Williams.
“We had that double transfer labored out all week and he smoked them on it,” Goff mentioned.
Detroit, although, misplaced the snug cushion as a result of its former star quarterback picked them aside and its present one threw an interception early within the fourth.
John Johnson intercepted Goff’s move over the center on the Rams 20, taking away Detroit’s probability to kick a subject purpose and restore its seven-point lead.
Stafford took benefit, main a 10-play, 80-yard drive that he capped with the scoring move to Kupp. He couldn’t full sufficient passes late within the fourth to maintain the ball and seal the win, resulting in a punt that gave Goff one other shot from his 31 with 2:11 to go.
“I had an opportunity to win it,” Stafford mentioned. “Each sport, there’s performs you need again.”
The Lions reached the Rams 14 and settled for Bates’ tying subject purpose that despatched the sport to time beyond regulation.
McVay insisted he didn’t remorse a choice he made within the second quarter.
With an opportunity to try a 40-yard subject purpose when it was tied at 3, McVay elected to go for it and turned the ball over on downs when Stafford threw an incomplete move that focused Kupp.
“We got here right here to be aggressive and I wouldn’t take that call again,” McVay mentioned.
Stafford accomplished 34 of 49 passes for 317 yards with a landing and an interception, lobbing a ball in the course of finish zone the place Kerby Joseph was ready early within the second quarter. He took some hits, significantly on his proper ankle, and popped up every time and make extra performs.
“Give Matt Stafford a whole lot of credit score he performed lights out regardless of taking all these hits,” Campbell mentioned.
Kupp matched a profession excessive with 14 receptions and had 110 yards receiving.
Goff was 18 of 28 for 217 yards with a landing and an interception.
Williams tied a profession excessive with 5 catches and set a private greatest with 121 yards receiving.
“I’m pleased with him,” Campbell mentioned. “He nonetheless has a whole lot of room for development. That wasn’t his greatest ball, however he made some performs.”
Montgomery had 17 carries for 91 yards and Jahmyr Gibbs ran 11 occasions for 40 yards — with each scoring a TD.
INJURIES
Rams: Nacua (knee) was harm within the first half after catching 4 passes for 35 yards and didn’t return. … LT Joe Noteboom (ankle) was carted off the sector within the second quarter after beginning rather than Alaric Jackson, who’s serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s private conduct coverage. LG Steve Avila (knee) went down later.
McVay mentioned after the sport that he didn’t have an replace on the group’s injured gamers.
Lions: DT D.J. Reader (leg) and S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) had been inactive.
UP NEXT
Rams: Keep on the street and play at Arizona on Sunday.
Lions: Host Tampa Bay on Sunday in a rematch from the divisional spherical of the playoffs, a sport Detroit received 31-23.
