DETROIT — Jared Goff threw for a landing and accomplished a game-sealing first down in opposition to the crew that solid him away, and the Detroit Lions gained a playoff sport for the primary time in 32 years, beating Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 on Sunday evening.
The Lions (13-5) ended a nine-game postseason dropping streak — the longest in NFL historical past — that dated to a victory over Dallas on Jan. 5, 1992.
They misplaced a house playoff sport two years later and hadn’t hosted one since.
Detroit can have two residence playoff video games for the primary time in franchise historical past, internet hosting both Tampa Bay or Philadelphia within the divisional spherical subsequent Sunday.
The Rams (10-8) had an opportunity to take the lead late within the fourth quarter, however Detroit’s protection held. A holding penalty pushed Los Angeles out of discipline objective vary, and Stafford — the Lions’ longtime quarterback who gained a Tremendous Bowl after he was traded to the Rams — threw incomplete on fourth down.
On the primary play after the two-minute warning, Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for 11 yards, permitting the Lions to expire the clock — a lot to the delight of long-suffering followers who witnessed the franchise’s second postseason victory since successful the 1957 NFL title.
In opposition to the franchise he as soon as led to the Tremendous Bowl, Goff was 22 of 27 for 277 yards and threw a 2-yard landing cross to rookie tight finish Sam LaPorta to place Detroit forward 21-10 halfway by means of the second quarter. The Lions acquired Goff and a pair of first-round picks for Stafford three years in the past.
Stafford, who performed a lot of the sport with a bandaged and bloody hand after he slammed it right into a defender’s helmet, completed 25 of 36 for 367 yards with two touchdowns. File-breaking rookie Puka Nacua had 9 receptions for 181 yards.
