The Detroit Lions path to a Tremendous Bowl run received off to a really disappointing begin. They blew a 14-point lead, giving the Los Angeles Rams a late lead.
Nevertheless, Detroit did simply sufficient within the closing 5 minutes of the sport to tie the ballgame. Then they dominated extra time for a single possession landing win and a 26-20 victory over the Rams.
Right here’s the way it occurred.
First quarter
The Lions received the toss and deferred, giving Matthew Stafford and the Rams the primary alternative to get on the board. However they wouldn’t come shut, as Alex Anzalone picked up a pair of tackles for losses in three performs, leading to a direct three-and-out.
However the Lions failed to choose up a primary down on their preliminary drive, as nicely. Jared Goff was sacked by Byron Younger on a third-and-4.
The Rams offense had some life on their second drive, as they added just a little tempo to the combo. Stafford littered the Lions secondary with a bunch of brief passes, working their approach into Lions territory and down into the pink zone. However a Levi Onwuzurike sack pushed the Rams again, they usually finally needed to accept a 41-yard area aim. 3-0 Rams.
The Lions took the other method on their second drive, deploying their floor sport with a wholesome dose of David Montgomery. The Lions drove contained in the Rams’ 30, dealing with a third-and-2 as the primary quarter expired.
Second quarter
The Lions didn’t convert on third down, however on fourth-and-2 from the Rams’ 27, Detroit went again to Montgomery for a conversion and a recent set of downs. A nifty play to Sam LaPorta shortly set the Lions up first-and-goal. However Detroit, too, stalled, and settled for a 25-yard area aim, which Jake Bates promptly made. 3-3 tie.
The Rams labored their approach down with extra brief sport, and finally discovered themselves in a fourth-and-4 from Detroit’s 23 yard-line. Los Angeles opted to go for it, and Cooper Kupp dropped a move with Carlton Davis in tight protection.
NOTE: On this drive Rams WR Puka Nacua suffered a knee harm. He would return later, however in the end be dominated OUT within the second half.
Goff discovered Jameson Williams on the very subsequent play for a 36-yard explosive play right down to the Rams’ 41-yard line.
Goff then related with Jahmyr Gibbs for a 14-yard display play to maneuver the chains. An finish round to Williams put the Lions isn the pink zone, and whereas he briefly needed to depart with an obvious foot/ankle harm, he solely missed a play to get it wrapped. The Lions slowly inched their approach towards the aim line and finally punched it in with a 1-yard Gibbs landing run to make it 10-3 Lions with 1:57 left within the half.
Aided by a roughing the passer on Aidan Hutchinson, the Rams have been in a position to get into area aim place shortly, and Colby Parkinson picked up 20 yards to get LA into the pink zone. However simply because it seemed just like the Rams have been about to tie it up earlier than the half, Aidan Hutchinson compelled an errant move by Stafford that went into the ready palms of Lions security Kerby Joseph for a half-ending choose.
Third quarter
The Lions received the ball first, however shortly went three-and-out after Williams received plastered on a crossing route on a third-and-4. Jack Fox had an ideal punt to pin the Rams inside their very own 5-yard line, however rookie Ennis Rakestraw misplaced management of his physique and unintentionally knocked the ball into the top zone.
The Rams, now with out Nacua, beginning left deal with Joe Noteboom, and guard Steve Avila struggled to maneuver the ball, going three-and-out, with Brian Department almost selecting off Stafford on third down.
The Lions prolonged their lead thanks to a different deep shot to Williams for a 52-yard landing catch. 17-3 Lions.
However the Rams wouldn’t go quietly. Regardless of the Rams being shorthanded throughout, Stafford led the offense down into the pink zone, and Kyren Williams punched it in from 2 yards to make it 17-10 Lions with 3:33 left within the third quarter.
The Lions offense couldn’t reply again, and shortly went three-and-out. Goff discovered LaPorta and third-and-5, however the second-year tight finish was a full yard brief and Detroit opted to punt and provides the ball again to Stafford.
Poor tackling from the Lions secondary gave the Rams an explosive play proper off the bat on the following drive. Tyler Johnson took a brief move, stopped on a dime, and scooted downfield for a 63-yard achieve to finish the third quarter with Rams in scoring place.
Fourth quarter
A move interference name on Terrion Arnold—the second towards him—put the ball on the Lions’ 1-yard line. However a defensive cease, then a holding penalty pushed the Rams again, and the Lions have been in a position to get a cease, holding the Rams to a area aim. 17-13 Lions.
To keep away from one other three-and-out, Goff scrambled his strategy to a 7-yard achieve, then he adopted it up with a 27-yard strike to Williams. However just a few performs later, Goff tried to suit a ball in a decent window to St. Brown, and Rams security John Johnson jumped the route for an interception.
The Rams took benefit of the choose, shifting into Lions territory. A 20-yard shot to Kupp and a 13-yard toss to Demarcus Robinson received them into the pink zone. Then a play-action move to Kupp discovered the top zone, giving LA a 20-17 Rams lead with 4:30 left.
Detroit simply couldn’t discover their offensive rhythm. One other three-and-out, punctuated with a close to interception ended the Lions’ drive shortly, giving the ball proper again to Stafford with 4:10 left. It will be up for the Lions protection to make a play and attempt to get the ball again.
Stafford accomplished a third-and-5 with strain in his face to keep away from a three-and-out, and pressure the Lions to begin utilizing their timeouts. However Detroit would get the cease they wanted on the following set of downs, as a floater of a move to Kupp was simply too lengthy on third-and-10.
Detroit’s closing probability would come at their very own 31-yard line with 2:11 left and two timeouts of their pocket. The Lions would choose up an enormous play to LaPorta, who not solely picked up 18 yards, however absorbed an unlawful hit that added one other 15 yards to the play. Gibbs picked up a necessary third-down on a 4-yard toss to maneuver Detroit to the 19-yard line with 52 seconds left. However Detroit would stall, needing Bates to kick a 32-yard area aim to tie it up late. He did, and it was 20-20 tie with 17 seconds left.
Stafford tried to work some late-game magic with 17 seconds and three timeouts. However Aidan Hutchinson lastly received residence for a sack, and to extra time we went.
Time beyond regulation
The Lions received the toss and clearly needed the ball first. The drive received off to a very good begin with an 11-yard finish round to Kalif Raymond. Montgomery adopted it up with a formidable 21-yard rush into Rams territory. A swing move to Gibbs put them contained in the Rams’ 20-yard line, hanging distance to finish the sport. A few Montgomery runs received the Lions right down to the 1-yard line for a first-and-goal state of affairs.
It solely took Montgomery one try to get in and with the sport for Detroit. 26-20 Lions.
