The first three games of wild card weekend were uncompetitive blowouts. The Lions and Rams changed that with a very competitive Sunday night affair that left few fingernails for fans of either team.
In the end, the Lions prevailed in Ford Field, 24-23, with Jared Goff kneeling in victory formation. The former Rams quarterback outdueled the former Lions quarterback for the first postseason victory in Ford Field and Detroit’s first playoff win since the 1993 season.
Both offenses came out on fire. There were points scored on the first six drives of the game, with three touchdowns by Detroit and two TDs and a field goal from the Rams. Jared Goff completed his first 10 passes, while counterpart Matthew Stafford threw for 137 yards and two TDs in the second quarter,
Detroit took the 21-17 lead into the half, though their final drive ended in some officiating controversy, because no Lions game is complete without one.
In the second half, the defenses put their better feet forward. Detroit managed just one field goal, a 54-yarder from Michael Badgley, in their next four drives. The Lions defense held tough in the red zone, holding the Rams to two short field goals in their next three drives.
That set up crunch time over the final half of the fourth quarter. Detroit’s defense got a critical stop with a little over four minutes left, thanks in part to a couple of officiating decisions from referee Craig Wrolstad’s crew that went their way.
Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for a massive first down inside the two-minute warning to seal the cathartic win for Detroit. He finished 22-of-27 for 277 yards and a touchdown. Stafford threw for 367 and two touchdowns, but the stalled drives in the red zone prevented the narrative of No. 9 returning to Detroit and ruining the party from happening.
The Lions now advance to the divisional round, where they will face the winner of the Buccaneers/Eagles game. Detroit will host that game no matter the opponent.