Lions defeat LA Rams 24-23 to win their FIRST postseason match in thirty-three years.
Stafford played quarterback with the Lions for the first 12 seasons of his NFL career.
With 181 receiving yards, Puka Nacua set a postseason record for most receiving yards by a rookie.
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In the NFL playoffs’ Wild Card round on Sunday night, the Detroit Lions overcame the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 to win their first postseason game since triumphing over the Dallas Cowboys in the 1991–92 campaign.
As the first quarter came to a close, Detroit was ahead 14-3 and destroying Matthew Stafford’s postseason return to Ford Field.
When Stafford first took the field, he was met with a chorus of boisterous jeers as he returned to his former haunts.
The two-time Pro Bowler had spent the first 12 seasons of his NFL career playing in Detroit. Renowned rapper and native of Detroit, Eminem, urged the quarterback to do him a favor and to “let us have this one” before making his way back.
Detroit took an early lead thanks to scores from Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Gibbs finished the game with eight carries for 25 yards and a touchdown along with four receptions for 43 yards, while Montgomery finished with 14 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown.
With touchdown throws to wide outs Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell in the second quarter, Stafford and the Rams offense replied, cutting the Lions’ lead to 21-17 at the half.
With a final record of 25–36, 367 yards, and two touchdowns, Stafford had a spoiled homecoming.
With nine receptions for a total of 181 yards, Nacua went on to set the NFL playoff record for most receiving yards by a rookie.
After a fiercely contested third quarter in which neither team scored beyond field goals, Detroit went into the fourth quarter with a razor-thin 24-20 lead.
Detroit’s defense kept them out the rest of the way after LA managed just another field goal to get within one point of tying the game.
After catching seven catches for 110 yards, Amon-Ra St. Brown emerged as the Lions’ most valuable player of the game.
QB Jared Goff of the Lions, who was acquired by Detroit in return for Stafford three years prior, finished the game with a 22-27 total, 277 yards, and a touchdown.
‘That’s the best home atmosphere I’ve played in front of,’ Goff said after the game.
