The Detroit Lions climbed back to .500 with their second straight win, 31-28 against the visiting Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
For the second consecutive week, the Detroit Lions (3-3) came up with a defensive stop at the end of a back-and-forth game to seal a win at home, taking down the Los Angeles Rams (3-3) 31-28 on Sunday.
The Lions took the ball first and went 75 yards in eight plays, scoring on a seven-yard pass from Matthew Stafford to Marvin Jones to take a 7-0 lead early in the first. The Rams responded in kind with a ten-play, 75-yard drive and tied the game with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Case Keenum to Kenny Britt.
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The Rams took the lead on their next possession, Keenum capping off an 11-play, 84-yard drive with a one-yard bootleg touchdown run. The Lions responded themselves with Andre Roberts hauling in a tough two-yard touchdown catch on fourth and goal to end a 14-play, 75-yard drive and tie the game at 14 late in the second.
The Rams launched a drive as the first half ended but the Lions defense came up with a goalline stand, stuffing Todd Gurley on fourth and goal on the final play of the half to preserve the tie going into halftime.
After forcing a three-and-out on defense to start the second half, the Lions offense returned to the field and Stafford found Golden Tate, who made two defenders miss on a 62-yard reception, setting up a four-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Anquan Boldin to put the Lions back in front. The Rams answered with their third 75-yard-plus touchdown drive of the game, tying the game once again with a 15-yard pass from Keenum to tight end Lance Kendricks.
After forcing a three-and-out on the Lions’ next drive, Los Angeles took the lead back once again, Britt scoring his second touchdown of the game on a nine-yard reception early in the fourth quarter. Once again, the Lions offense responded, driving 84 yards in 13 plays and tying the game on a 23-yard pass from Stafford to Tate with 6:09 left in the fourth.
After forcing a Los Angeles three-and-out, the Lions drove into Rams territory and Matt Prater kicked a go-ahead 34-yard field goal to put the Lions ahead 31-28 with 1:33 left in the fourth. Keenum tried to launch a drive for the Rams at the end but was picked off by Rafael Bush, sealing a 31-28 Lions win.
Inconsistent Lions defense gets stops in critical moments
The Lions’ defense has been inconsistent at best this season but came through in clutch situations on Sunday. At the end of the first half with the game tied at 14, the Rams opted to go for it on fourth and goal inside the Lions’ one-yard line. The Lions responded with a stop, stuffing Todd Gurley in the backfield to keep the scores level at halftime.
The Lions opened the second half by keeping Los Angeles off the scoreboard for the second straight drive. After kicking off to start the third, Detroit forced the Rams to go three-and-out, giving the Lions a short field which they turned into a go-ahead touchdown.
The most important plays the defense made, however, came on its last two series in the fourth quarter. After tying the game with 6:09 left, Detroit’s defense held firm again as the Rams punted after three plays. When Los Angeles looked to launch a game-tying or game-winning drive in the dying moments, Rafael Bush‘s interception quickly snuffed out the drive and iced the win for Detroit.
Fourth downs prove critical for both teams
The Lions have been uncharacteristically aggressive on fourth downs this season. They came into Sunday’s game three-for-three on fourth down conversions in their first five games and converted two more against the Rams.
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On the first drive of the game, the Lions faced fourth and one near midfield and converted on a two-yard run by Zach Zenner. They would score a touchdown later in the drive. They went for it again on fourth and goal from the two-yard line late in the first half and tied the game on an impressive touchdown catch by Andre Roberts.
Moments later, the defense came up with a huge stop on fourth down as the Rams looked to take the lead on fourth and goal on the final play of the first half, stopping Todd Gurley in the backfield.
There was one fourth down opportunity, however, that the Lions did not take that was worth thinking about. On their game-winning field goal drive late in the fourth quarter, Detroit faced fourth and inches at the Los Angeles 17-yard line with the game tied and the Rams out of timeouts. If the Lions had gone for it and gotten it, they would have been able to run the clock down and kick the field goal on the last play of the game, but failing to convert would give the Rams a chance to win with a field goal of their own. After sending out the offense to try unsuccessfully to draw the Rams offsides, they opted to kick the field goal and not risk failing to score, which ended up working out in their favor, although doubtlessly the decision will still be debated.
Passing offenses shine, rushing offenses struggle
The Lions gave up a first rushing touchdown for the first time season on a Case Keenum scramble in the first half, but did a good job limiting Todd Gurley in the game, holding him to 58 yards on 14 carries and 39 yards on four receptions. Keenum, on the other hand, had an outstanding game including a franchise-record 19-straight completions, completing 27 of 32 passes overall for 321 yards and three touchdowns, as well as his rushing score. The Lions made the big play at the end, however, picking off Keenum to end the game as he tried to lead the Rams down the field in the final minutes.
Fantasy CPR
On the other side of the ball, Matthew Stafford had an outstanding game, completing 23 of 31 passes, four of which were dropped, for 270 yards, four touchdowns and no turnovers. Wide receiver Golden Tate had 165 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin passed Torry Holt for 15th all-time on the NFL’s receiving yards list.
The Lions’ rushing game, however, struggled with the absence of Theo Riddick, Ameer Abdullah and Dwayne Washington. Zach Zenner led the Lions, matching Gurley’s production with 58 yards on 14 carries. New signee Justin Forsett struggled in his Detroit debut, carrying five times for five yards. Golden Tate got three yards on his only carry out of the backfield.
1991 Lions, Dick Stanfel honored by Lions
30 members of the 1991 Detroit Lions were present at Ford Field on Sunday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that team as part of the Lions’ homecoming game. Among those present were some of the greatest players in Detroit history, including Barry Sanders, Bennie Blades, Herman Moore, Eddie Murray and Chris Spielman, who was on the FOX broadcast of the game. The 1991 Lions are the most recent Lions team to win a playoff game, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 38-6 in the NFC Divisional game.
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New Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Dick Stanfel, who played for the Lions from 1952-1955 and was named team MVP in 1953, was honored on Sunday as well as the Lions inducted him into the team’s Ring of Honor. Stanfel died in 2015.
Former Lions Jim Gibbons, Patrick Cain and Ted Karras were also honored at the game with a pre-game moment of silence. All three died this past year.
Highlight Of The Week:
Golden Tate is very difficult to tackle.
Elsewhere In The NFC North:
The Chicago Bears (1-5) lost 17-16 to the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3) at home and the Green Bay Packers (3-1) trail the Dallas Cowboys (4-1) at home, 17-6 at halftime. The Minnesota Vikings (5-0) have a bye this week.
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Up Next:
The Lions will host Washington (2-3) next Sunday on FOX at 1:00.