The fourth game of these NFL playoffs offers the first real thriller.
In the end, it is the Detroit Lions who can celebrate in the wild card round by defeating the Los Angeles Rams 24:23 and thus celebrating their first postseason victory in 32 years.
What makes this victory particularly emotional is that it comes against long-time Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The next opponent has not yet been determined. The same will be determined on Monday in the duel between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
THIS IS HOW THE GAME GOES:
Matthew Stafford couldn’t expect any big expressions of love. When he returned to his long-time workplace, the “prodigal son” was mercilessly booed.
This also shows how excited the fans in Detroit were for the first ever home playoff game at Ford Field (the arena opened in 2002). The last time a postseason match took place was 30 years ago in Detroit.
It wasn’t just a meeting with the former team for Stafford. In the mega trade that brought the veteran QB to Los Angeles in 2021, things went in exactly the opposite direction for Jared Goff.
In this direct encounter they owed each other nothing. The first punt came shortly before the end of the first half. Goff set the pace for the Lions and Stafford kept pace with the Rams in a highly entertaining matchup.
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs ran into the end zone for Detroit in the first quarter. The second quarter featured wonderful TD passes from Stafford to super rookie Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. In between, Goff served his rookie tight end Sam LaPorta in the end zone.
Nacua would ultimately set a new playoff record for rookies with an impressive 181 receiving yards.
The score at halftime was 21:17 for the Lions in an open exchange of blows that lost none of its intensity in the second half. However, thanks to a significant improvement in both defenses, both opponents were held to one field goal each in the third quarter.
Eight minutes before the end, kicker Brett Maher shortened the Rams’ lead to 23:24 with his next field goal. What a crime thriller!
While the Lions offense didn’t really succeed, the Rams offense didn’t manage the necessary field goal on the next and ultimately final possession, which is why Detroit was ultimately able to take the game home.
Back at it @Samlaporta 🙌#LARvSIT | #AllGrit pic.twitter.com/FH1dnPVVdN
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 15, 2024
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS FOR BOTH TEAMS:
Given Green Bay’s win in Dallas, it was clear before the game even started that the winner of this match would face the winner of Monday’s duel between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Since the #2 seed, the Cowboys, is gone, the sports city of Detroit will get a second home playoff game within a week after three decades of waiting.
Since Tampa Bay is more of an average team and Philly has been pretty out of sorts in recent weeks, the Lions can be classified as favorites against both possible opponents.
Before the start of the season, very few people believed that the Rams would be able to take part in the playoffs, so they have managed to prove what is possible with excellent coaching from Sean McVay, experienced quarterback play and one or two highly gifted youngsters like Nacua.
Stafford, soon to be 36, isn’t getting any younger. So sooner or later a decision will have to be made regarding his future. However, given his form this season, there is no reason to move on from him.
The Rams have already won the Super Bowl with Stafford. The Lions are now further in the race with Goff. This trade, which has been discussed so intensively, could have a particularly emotional happy ending.
PUKA DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE.
📺 @SNFonNBC | @AsapPuka pic.twitter.com/Uo9rgMUyvp
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 15, 2024
DETROIT LIONS:
Name
Passing Yards Rushing Yards Receiving Yards Jared Goff 277 (1 TD) David Montgomery 57 (1 TD) 11 Jahmyr Gibbs 25 (1 TD) 43 Amon-Ra St. Brown 110 Josh Reynolds 80 Jameson Williams 19 Sam LaPorta 14 (1 TD)
LOS ANGELES RAMS:
Name
Passing Yards Rushing Yards Receiving Yards Matthew Stafford 367 (2 TD) Kyren Williams 61 9 Ronnie Rivers 9 35 Puka Nacua -2 181 (1 TD) Demarcus Robinson 44 Tutu Atwell 38 (1 TD) Davis Allen 28 Cooper Kupp 27 Ben Skowronek 5
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2024-01-15 04:05:21
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