- Stafford spent the first 12 seasons of his NFL career as QB for the Lions
- Puka Nacua set a postseason record for most receiving yards by a rookie with 181
- provides the latest international sports news
The Detroit Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday night, recording their first postseason victory since defeating the Dallas Cowboys in January 1992.
“We fought for the two seeds to get another home game, and we got another home game,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after the game.
“This is probably the best thing I've ever experienced. That was absolutely electrifying,” Campbell continued. “I think the crazy thing is I came down to warm up before the game and you could just feel it. It was humming, the building was humming and I swear you could feel the electricity coming from the tunnel I was coming down. And it just grew from there.”
Jared Goff, whom the Lions acquired from LA three seasons ago in exchange for Matthew Stafford, had a touchdown pass and a game-winning first down against the team that gave up on him.
Stafford played well in his emotional return to Detroit, finishing the game with 367 yards and two touchdown passes.
The Detroit Lions defeated the LA Rams 24-23 in the wild card round of the NFL playoffs
Rams QB Matthew Stafford finished the night 25-36 with 367 yards and two touchdowns
Lions quarterback Jared Goff, traded for Stafford, went 22-27 with 277 yards and one touchdown
Detroit got off to a strong start and ruined Stafford's postseason return to Ford Field by leading the game 14-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Stafford was initially welcomed back to his old stomping ground with a chorus of loud boos, although he didn't seem to mind.
The two-time Pro Bowler had played the first 12 seasons of his NFL career in Detroit. Before his return, Detroit native and legendary rapper Eminem asked the QB for a “favor” and if he could “give us this favor.”
Stafford's children also wore jackets with the words “Born in Detroit Raised in LA” on the back.
Kelly Hall, wife of Matthew Stafford, is pictured with her twin girls on the sidelines of Ford Field
Kelly introduces her twin daughters to Martha Firestone Ford, owner of the Detroit Lions
Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs both scored touchdowns on the ground as Detroit built the early lead.
Montgomery finished the game with 14 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown, while Gibbs finished the night with eight carries for 25 yards and a touchdown and four receptions for 43 yards.
Stafford and the Rams' offense responded in the second quarter with touchdown passes to wide receivers Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell, cutting the Lions' lead to 21-17 early in the game.
Stafford finished his spoiled homecoming 25-36, 367 yards and two touchdowns.
Nacua set the NFL playoff record for most receiving yards by a rookie with 181 and totaled nine receptions.
Stafford and Goff hugged after the game before leaving the field
Puka Nacua set an NFL playoff record for most receiving yards by a rookie with 181 yards
Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs scored Detroit's two touchdowns
A hard-fought third quarter resulted in both teams only scoring field goals and Detroit entered the fourth quarter narrowly maintaining a 24-20 lead on the scoreboard.
LA was only able to score another field goal on fourth down to get within a point of tying the game before they were shut out by Detroit's defense for the rest of the game.
Amon-Ra St. Brown was the Lions' most important player all night, catching seven passes for 110 yards.
Goff finished the night 22-27 with 277 yards and a touchdown.
“This is the best home atmosphere I’ve ever played in front of,” Goff said after the game.