Lions hold off Rams for first playoff win since 1991 season

The first home playoff game for the Detroit Lions in more than three decades had all the emotions and ear-ringing decibels expected of a fan base that had endured 32 years without a postseason victory.

And, boy, did those fans get a show.

The Lions and their high-powered offense jumped to an early lead and never let go, much as the Los Angeles Rams tried to pull it away. Detroit’s playoff drought finally ended with a 24-23 victory Sunday night at Ford Field. The city had waited 11,697 days since a 38-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 5, 1992.

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Detroit rolled through the first half with three consecutive touchdown drives, playing to the emotions of a crowd that regularly took jabs at Stafford, the Lions’ quarterback for 12 years.

They knew what was at stake — for them, for the city and for their quarterback, who two years ago was traded after his relationship with Rams Coach Sean McVay seemed to sour. Goff said throughout the week that his focus was narrow, that he and McVay are “good” — as if the trade was little more than a typical transaction. His play showed otherwise in the first three quarters.

Goff was methodical, spreading the ball to five receivers in the first quarter alone, and making checks at the line as offensive coordinator Ben Johnson pulled the strings. Goff finished 22 for 27 for 277 yards, one touchdown and a 121.8 passer rating.

The Lions did what they do best — use presnap movements and their top-five rushing attack to open up their play-action passing game — to turn their first three trips to the red zone into touchdowns.

But they hit a lull in the second half and the Rams capitalized. They had chipped away at Detroit’s early lead and by the second quarter turned the game into an offensive duel, each team trying to outsmart, outplay and outgain the other, all while the crowd intermittently chanted Goff’s name to dig at Stafford.

But Stafford was eager to play spoiler in his first trip back to Detroit, finding soft spots in the Lions’ zone coverage to thread passes and rack up yards, even while hurt. Stafford took a shot from defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and grimaced as he jogged off the field and into the medical tent. His backup, Carson Wentz, warmed up on the sideline before Stafford emerged, returned to the field without missing a snap and orchestrated a 13-play, 79-yard scoring drive that ended in a field goal to make it a one-point game.

It came down to third and 14 at the Detroit 44-yard line with 4:20 left. A conversion would put the Rams closer to a go-ahead score. A failed attempt probably would end their hopes.

Stafford’s pass to Puka Nacua, his rookie Pro Bowl receiver who racked up 181 yards and a touchdown on nine catches Sunday, fell incomplete. The Rams punted, and the Lions needed just two first downs to run out the clock.

They got them. The crowd of 66,367 erupted moments later as blue and white streamers fell from the rafters. They did it — finally.

— Nicki Jhabvala

Find highlights and analysis from Sunday’s playoff action below.