Lions beat L.A. Rams, 24-23, for first playoff win in 32 years

Detroit Lions beat L.A. Rams, 24-23, for first playoff win in 32 years

Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Lions have gotten the playoff monkey off their back.

Jared Goff's first-down pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown iced the game as the Lions beat Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams, 24-23, for the team's first playoff win in 32 years.

The Lions host the winner of the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers next weekend.

Matthew Stafford, in his first game at Ford Field since being traded by the Lions to the Rams three years ago this month, went 25-for-36 with 367 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta celebrates a touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the first half of the NFC wild-card game at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024.

The Lions punted to the Rams with 7:18 to play, and Los Angeles picked up a holding penalty on an incompleted third-down play. The Lions accepted the penalty, creating a third-and-14 from their own 44 with 4:24 remaining. Stafford's pass to Puka Nacua (nine catches, 181 yards, one touchdown) was incomplete, and the Rams punted with 4:07 left.

Detroit took over at their own 17-yard line after struggling much of the second half. After a David Montgomery 3-yard run, his reception and run on the right flat went for 11 yards and a first down. Another Montgomery run added another yard and sent the game to the 2-minute warning.

Then on second-and-9, Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for an 11-yard gain, a first down and L.A.'s final timeout.

The Lions lined up in victory formation with 1:52 to play and tied a bow on their first playoff win since 1992.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.