Detroit Lions (3) – Los Angeles Rams (6): 24-23
Authors of a great start with three touchdowns in their first three possessions, the Lions then stalled. But their defense contained the Rams well in the second half.
The Lions logically win. They will still play at home during the Divisional Round thanks to the defeat of the Cowboys. It will be against the winner of the game between the Eagles and the Buccaneers.
The key moment: Puka Nacua lets the match slip away
Once again the Rams' best receiver in the match, Puka Nacua (9 rec, 181 yards, 1 TD) has little to complain about. And it's because he was so good that Matthew Stafford (25/36, 367 yards, 2 TDs) looked for him on a decisive 3rd&14. Unfortunately, the ball is a little high, Cameron Sutton pulls his jersey a little, and Nacua can't catch the ball.
The Lions then lead by one point (24-23). While on the Lions' 44-yard line, Sean McVay decides not to attempt a long fourth attempt. The Rams punt. They will never see the ball again. Jared Goff (22/27, 277 yards, 1 TD) finishes the job with passes to David Montgomery (14 races, 57 yards, 1 TD) and Amon-Ra St.Brown (7 rec, 110 yards), for two firsts down decisive.
Film of the match: the Lions start strong, the Rams lack efficiency
It was a party in Detroit. For the first time since January 1994, the Lions are playing a playoff game at home. And it’s an understatement to say that Dan Campbell’s team is there for the reunion! The first possession is a 75-yard drive in 5:30 for a touchdown by David Montgomery. The second is completed by a 10-yard run from Jamhyr Gibbs (8 races, 25 yards, 1 TD) in the end zone. At the end of the first quarter, the locals led 14-3.
The Rams react with big plays. Matthew Stafford, former local idol, finds Puca Nakua for 50 yards and a touchdown (14-10). But the Lions keep their foot on the accelerator. Jared Goff finds Sam LaPorta (3 rec, 14 yards, 1 TD), injured in the knee a week ago and yet very present to give some air to his team (21-17). But the Rams responded again, this time with an explosive action from Tutu Atwell, who scored a 38-yard touchdown. At the break, the Rams let the storm pass and are still alive: 21-17.
If the first part of the match was explosive, the defensive coaches obviously worked well during halftime. Detroit adds a field goal (24-17) before being neutralized on the next two possessions. Los Angeles had the opportunity to get back into the match, but Stafford and his gang were stopped twice about ten yards from the end zone. They settle for two field goals to get closer (24-23). They recovered the ball 7mn18 from time with the opportunity to go ahead. This is where Nacua is too short on third attempt, then the Lions eat up the rest of the clock.
The MVP: Jared Goff gets his revenge
Sent to Detroit by the Rams with a label of near failure, Jared Goff did not tremble when it came time to take his revenge. The success of the Lions is collective, but Goff played his role as conductor perfectly. Apart from a small alert on a fumble covered by his team, he made no mistake. Above all, he was sharp in hot moments, with the two crucial conversions on third attempts at the end of the match.
The flop: Cooper Kupp, missing (or almost)
The awakening of Cooper Kupp will not have been for the playoffs. Author of “only” four games with more than 100 yards this year, the Rams receiver caught 5 passes this Sunday. But for only 27 yards, leaving Nacua to do the heavy lifting. The presence of a real effective duo would perhaps have allowed the Rams to make the difference. Maybe his ankles never really left him alone, but this match is like the season for Kupp: to forget.
The stat: 0/3 in the red zone for the Rams
We rarely win a playoff game with field goals. By leaving without a touchdown from their three passes in the last 20 yards, the Rams condemned themselves.
And now ?
Helped by the collapse of the Cowboys, the Lions will host again in the next round. It will be Philadelphia or Tampa Bay, two teams that seem well within Detroit's reach given current dynamics.
For the Rams, it's a bittersweet evening. Victory was clearly possible. But even despite the defeat, Los Angeles ended a rather unexpected season with an honest performance in the playoffs. The franchise has discovered a star receiver with Puka Nacua, Matthew Stafford seems to still have a little gas in the tank, and Sean McVay has already announced that he wants to continue. More positive than expected at the start of the season.
