Post by D6 on Jan 15, 2024 8:30:47 GMT -5
Thoughts in ****
Instant observations: Lions topple Matthew Stafford, get first playoff win since 1991
Instant observations: Lions topple Matthew Stafford, get first playoff win since 1991
Updated: Jan. 14, 2024, 11:42 p.m.|Published: Jan. 14, 2024, 11:13 p.m.
Detroit Lions take on Los Angeles Rams in first home playoff game in 30 years
By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
DETROIT -- There is nothing wrong with your television set. Please do not attempt to adjust the picture. Yes, the Detroit Lions have done it.
They have really done it.
For the first time since 1991, the Lions have won a playoff game, taking out Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams with a 24-23 victory in a wild-card game on Sunday night at Ford Field. They will host the winner of No. 4 Tampa Bay or No. 5 Philadelphia next weekend at Ford Field, with a trip to the NFC championship game at stake.
Detroit snapped a nine-game losing streak in the playoffs, a drought that stretched back 11,697 days, the longest in the four major professional sports in North America. No one had waited longer for this moment. Few -- if anyone -- had their hearts broken more along the way.
**** Incredible accomplishment by the Lions, first getting to host a 1st Round playoff game and beating a very good LA Rams team, that's very well coached! For a long time, including during much of this game, I had major doubts that I would ever see another Lions playoff game win. Thankfully, the 32 year drought is over! Thank you, Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, Jared Goff, and everyone in the Lions organization that made this playoff win possible! Great job by the Lions fans at the game. The fans definitely made a difference in the outcome of the game. The Rams using two timeouts on Offense long before the final few minutes of the game might have been the difference in a very close game. ****
But these Detroit Lions have been something else this season, winning a franchise-record 12 games, going without a losing streak for the first time since 1973, enjoying their most productive offensive season ever, all while playing their best football in the biggest moments. It doesn’t really make sense. They’re still among the youngest teams in the league, and have little experience on the prime-time stage because of their profound struggles.
Yet they went 4-1 in prime-time games during the regular season, with their only loss coming in controversial fashion in Dallas. Then they took the field in their highest-stakes game in a generation -- in their first home playoff game in 30 years -- and took out Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams, as fireworks exploded overhead, and blue and silver streamers fell into the crowd.
**** The Lions are indeed #AllGrit! This team displayed tremendous resolve in securing this win. A total team effort! ****
The Lions allowed Los Angeles to hang around by stalling out on offense and allowing a pair of field goals on defense that trimmed their lead to 24-23 in the fourth quarter, and Stafford had another shot at their defense in the final minutes, driving all the way to Detroit’s 34-yard line, and into position for a go-ahead field goal.
But Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein was flagged for holding Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, pushing Los Angeles out of field goal range. Stafford targeted rookie Puka Nacua with a third-down pass, and hey, why not, the kid had only caught all nine targets for 181 yards at the time. But for the first time all night, Detroit got a stop, with Cam Sutton breaking up the pass over the middle of the field.
**** I gladly admit I was wrong about thinking the Lions should have declined the penalty to make it 4th and 6 instead of 3rd and 14. While Cam Sutton could easily been called for Passing Inference as a result of grabbing the back of Puka Nacua's jersey, it's possible that the Lions coaches made an educated guess that a penalty wouldn't be called unless it was crystal clear in real time. The officials made an overt mistake by calling Taylor Decker for False Start on 4th and 5 late in the 2nd QTR. After what occurred at Dallas 15 days prior, I don't think this officiating crew wanted to make a call in the 4th QTR that would end up costing the Lions the game. Regardless, Dan Campbell's decision to accept the Holding Penalty paid off. ****
The Lions got the ball back with 4:07 left in a 24-23 game. They never let Stafford touch it again, thanks to the man he was traded for three years ago. Goff moved the sticks twice on that final drive, connecting on second-and-long passes to David Montgomery for 11 yards, then again to Amon-Ra St. Brown for 11 yards right after the two-minute warning.
**** David Montgomery making Rams OLB-Edge Player Michael Hoecht miss a tackle on him on the 2nd Down pass, with a move gave the Lions the much needed first 1st Down on what became the final possession of the game. Great job by Jared Goff, Amon Ra-St. Brown, and the Lions protection on the 2nd Down play that resulted in a completion, first down, and in essence a game clincher for the Lions!****
Los Angeles was out of timeouts after squandering two of them earlier in the half due to the deafening crowd noise, and had no recourse to stop the clock. Goff took three knees as the crowd roared, fireworks exploded, streamers flew from the rafters that are now adorned with an NFC North championship banner.
**** Fantastic moments! ****
While Matthew Stafford -- the man who did a lot in Detroit, but could never do this -- was left helpless on the sideline nursing his battered ribs, watching another season end in heartbreaking fashion in Detroit. Only this time, the Lions were coming out on top.
****Matthew Stafford played a heck of a game. Props to him for his performance, even though the Lions came out on top. Overall, Stafford and the Rams handled the crowd noise substantially better than I expected, even factoring the two timeouts they used earlier in the 2nd Half. The Rams didn't have a false start the entire game. ****
And just like that, these Brand New Lions have continued to defy their own history, advancing to a second-round game back here at Ford Field due to the Cowboys’ loss earlier in the day.
It was a night no one in this city will forget.
Let’s do this again next week.
**** I predicted the Packers to upset the Cowboys but I was surprised the Packers dominated the game until the Cowboys scored two relatively late TDs, with successful 2 Point Conversions, to make the score (48-32) much closer than the game. This is even with the Cowboys driving ball pretty deep in the final minute of the game. My guess is Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy will be fired by Owner/GM Jerry Jones. Like I previously expressed, I believe the Lions got a break being the # 3 Seed instead of the # 2 Seed. This Packers team is VERY dangerous. ****
Some more instant observations:
-- There’s no doubt who Detroit’s quarterback is. Jared Goff was serenaded before he even managed to touch cleat to turf, as the crowd erupted into chants of “JARED GOFF” when he was shown on the big screen walking up the tunnel, and they didn’t stop until Matthew Stafford ran out onto the field, at which point the former Lions quarterback was greeted to lustful boos -- that eventually turned back into big cheers for Goff.
**** The Lions fans collective at the game did a great job showing support for Jared Goff and contributing to the Lions winning the game! ****
He led the Lions to a 10-play touchdown drive to open the game, then walked back onto the field for his second series to more cries of “JARED GOFF.” And the quarterback who wasn’t good enough for L.A. anymore continued to cook L.A., completing his first 10 passes on the night and 15 of 16 overall, with the only misfire coming on a throwaway while under duress. He hooked up with rookie tight end Sam LaPorta on a touchdown pass on fourth down, and three straight touchdown drives overall to open the game.
**** Jared Goff and the Lions overall Offense were sensational on the Lions first 3 possessions. This might have been the best 3 Lions possessions to begin a game ever! ****
He cooled after that, and those failed fourth-quarter drives made the game a lot tighter than it had to be. But when it mattered most, Goff was at his best down the stretch, and helped salt away the win with those second-and-long passes to David Montgomery and Amon-Ra St. Brown, the latter of which led to yet more cries of “JARED GOFF” as he took three knees to drain what remained of L.A.’s season. Goff finished 22 of 27 passing for 277 yards and one touchdown while playing turnover-free football, and surely got some measure of satisfaction out of being the man who gave up on him, and the man he was traded for.
**** Jared Goff made one huge mistake in this game, a decision in the latter part of the 2nd QTR that could have resulted in a lost fumble. When Rams DT Aaron Donald got pressure on Goff in a 1st and 10 situation pretty deep in Lions territory, Goff should have rolled away from the pocket, and thrown the ball away. Instead, he went back towards the middle of the pocket, and under pressure threw a lateral to Brock Wright. The ball hit the ground. Thankfully, Wright fell on the ball. Otherwise, I thought Goff did a great job with his decisions. ****
Stafford was nearly as good though, and magnificent when targeting Nacua, finishing 25 of 36 passing for 367 yards and two touchdowns overall. Nacua had 181 yards on nine catches, and was a total mismatch for one-on-one coverage, which often came against safety Kerby Joseph. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn did a good job scheming up pressure, and Stafford left the game at one point after taking a shot to the ribs from Aidan Hutchinson, but the Lions had no answers at all for the rookie wideout.
**** Nacua, who lasted to Round 5, is arguably even more of a draft steal than Amon-Ra St. Brown (Round 4) was in 2021. Nacua is extremely difficult to tackle. His NFL future looks very bright. ****
-- Jared Goff wasn’t the only guy given up on by the Rams. Josh Reynolds was cut by Los Angeles, then Tennessee too before being claimed off waivers by Detroit three years ago. What a move that has turned out to be for the Lions. Reynolds has been a rock-solid starting receiver over the last couple years, then saved some of his best football of all for his old team, racking up five catches for 80 yards against Los Angeles. He caught a 33-yarder that helped set up the first score of the night. Amon-Ra St. Brown is a star, but the Lions wouldn’t be nearly as explosive without guys like Reynolds doing work behind him.
**** Josh Reynolds was terrific in the 1st Half. In the 2nd Half, Reynolds wasn't on the same page as Goff on one pass, and didn't have a reception in the 2nd Half. To Reynolds' credit, he continued to contribute as a blocker. ****
-- The Lions had early opportunities to run away from Los Angeles, scoring touchdowns on their first three drives of the night, but the Rams hung around because Detroit couldn’t take advantage of its opportunities to get off the field. Stafford connected with DeMarcus Robinson on a 19-yard pass that moved the chains on third-and-15, and Stafford made Detroit pay with a 50-yard touchdown bomb to Puka Nacua just four plays later. Later in the first half, Stafford connected with Cooper Kupp on a fourth-down pass that moved the sticks, then found Tutu Atwell for a 38-yard touchdown one play later. Detroit never did pull away, but did just enough to prevail anyway.
**** The Lions pass rush and outside CB coverage definitely need major upgrades in the off-season. The Lions came close to losing this game, because of both. ****
-- Where would the Lions be without their rookie class? Brad Holmes was criticized for his moves at the top of the draft, but Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and Brian Branch has all played integral roles in this special season. All showed up big against Los Angeles too. LaPorta earned the start just one week after hyperextending his knee and caught a fourth-down touchdown pass in the second quarter, while Gibbs added a 10-yard score. That’s 24 touchdowns from the rookie class this season, a franchise record. Branch made some of the defense’s biggest plays too, including tipping a third-down pass near the goal line to force an early field goal, then tackling Cooper Kupp on another third-down near the goal line late in the third quarter, forcing yet another field goal. Detroit didn’t get many stops, but Branch had a hand in some of the biggest stands of the night.
**** Brian Branch was the Lions best DB in this game and in the conversation with Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill regarding who was the Lions best Defensive player in the game. ****
Maybe, just maybe, Brad Holmes knows a thing or two we don’t about the draft? He was hammered for trading back to take a running back and linebacker in the first round, then a tight end -- and a tight end not named Michael Mayer at that -- in the second round. Now Gibbs has become one of the most productive rookies in franchise history, while LaPorta set the NFL record for catches by a first-year tight end. Branch was among the best nickel corners in the league. Even Jack Campbell, the slowest-developing pick of the bunch, has played his best ball down the stretch.
**** Jack Campbell did a good job vs. the run and shredded a block on a reception, making a tackle that prevented even more damage on the sizable gain that resulted in a 1st Down and more. ****
-- Aidan Hutchinson continued his late-season tear by racking up two sacks and five quarterback hits against Los Angeles, including delivering a big hit that knocked Matthew Stafford into the blue medical tent. Hutchinson wreaked havoc all season -- his 102 pressures were just two off Micah Parsons’ league high -- but the sacks have come lately too, with seven in his last three games. Put some respect on that guy’s name. He’s never mentioned among the elite pass rushers in the league, but he’s produced like it this season, and changed the course of the playoffs by knocking Stafford’s ribs.
**** Aidan Hutchinson's 2 sacks in this game were as a result of Matthew Stafford falling down and a coverage sack. Having said that, Hutch did make his presence felt, with the Holding Penalty on RT Rob Havenstein, on 3rd and 4, on what became the Rams last possession, arguably his most important contribution to the Lions on the field yet. ****
-- For the second time in three weeks, Taylor Decker was at the center of a critical blown call by the refs. The veteran left tackle was flagged for false start on a fourth-and-4 in the final minute of the first half, robbing the Lions of the opportunity to go for the conversion and another critical score to separate from Los Angeles. Replays show Los Angeles clearly jumped first. Instead, the Lions were forced to send Jack Fox onto the field for his first punt of the night, and Detroit headed up the tunnel hanging onto a 21-17 lead -- with L.A. due to get the ball first in the third quarter. Considering how hot the Rams were at the time, it was a big sequence.
**** Thankfully, the Lions did enough to overcome the bad officiating decision.
Jack Fox had a tremendous Punting game for the Lions. The Lions definitely won the field possession battle, in very large part to Fox and Punt Gunner Khalil Dorsey. ****
-- Linebacker Alex Anzalone, one of the hearts of the defense, was battling through injury in the second half before finally being pried off the field by the training staff in the fourth quarter. He went immediately into the locker room and did not return.
**** Alex Anzalone did return. ****
-- There’s been a whole lot of hand-wringing about the Lions’ field-goal kicking this season, which was so suspect that they switched kickers less than a month before the start of the playoffs. Michael Badgley didn’t exactly instill confidence by missing two point-after attempts down the stretch either. But he came up big against L.A., including draining a 54-yard field goal that gave Detroit a 24-17 lead with 8:41 left in the third quarter.
**** Tremendous kick by Michael Badgley in a huge pressure situation! Sam LaPorta broke a tackle on the 3rd Down play, gaining around 3 extra yards. That was almost certainly the difference in Dan Campbell deciding to attempt the FG. ****
-- Veteran receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones replaced Kalif Raymond as the starting punt returner. Raymond missed the game with a knee injury he suffered in the regular-season finale against Minnesota.
****DPJ did a good job fielding the Rams late Punt, gaining around 3 yards. The Rams Special Teams were their # 1 weakness going into the game. DPJ didn't make a Fair Catch, because the Rams weren't aggressive in trying to prevent a return. While the Rams and very well coached on Offense and Defense, my guess is Sean McVay is going to make one or more changes regarding their Special Teams coaches. ****
-- You thought the cheers were loud for Jard Goff? You should have heard the ovations for Eminem, who was shown on the big screen right after the Lions took a 14-3 lead on a touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs. The stadium began pulsing to “Lose Yourself,” and thousands sang along to the seminal hit. Eminem was among several celebrities who made their way to Ford Field, along with rapper Big Sean, Red Hot Chilli Peppers drummer Chad Smith, actor Sam Richardson, actor Taylor Lautner, plus a slew of former Lions greats, including the greatest of them all, Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.
**** It was great to see Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson at the game, with Megatron greeting his former teammate and close friend, Matthew Stafford. ****
.........
This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. LA Rams preview: Playoffs: 1st Round ( 2023 ).
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1994/lions-rams-preview-playoffs-round
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Instant observations: Lions topple Matthew Stafford, get first playoff win since 1991
Instant observations: Lions topple Matthew Stafford, get first playoff win since 1991
Updated: Jan. 14, 2024, 11:42 p.m.|Published: Jan. 14, 2024, 11:13 p.m.
Detroit Lions take on Los Angeles Rams in first home playoff game in 30 years
By Kyle Meinke | kmeinke@mlive.com
DETROIT -- There is nothing wrong with your television set. Please do not attempt to adjust the picture. Yes, the Detroit Lions have done it.
They have really done it.
For the first time since 1991, the Lions have won a playoff game, taking out Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams with a 24-23 victory in a wild-card game on Sunday night at Ford Field. They will host the winner of No. 4 Tampa Bay or No. 5 Philadelphia next weekend at Ford Field, with a trip to the NFC championship game at stake.
Detroit snapped a nine-game losing streak in the playoffs, a drought that stretched back 11,697 days, the longest in the four major professional sports in North America. No one had waited longer for this moment. Few -- if anyone -- had their hearts broken more along the way.
**** Incredible accomplishment by the Lions, first getting to host a 1st Round playoff game and beating a very good LA Rams team, that's very well coached! For a long time, including during much of this game, I had major doubts that I would ever see another Lions playoff game win. Thankfully, the 32 year drought is over! Thank you, Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, Jared Goff, and everyone in the Lions organization that made this playoff win possible! Great job by the Lions fans at the game. The fans definitely made a difference in the outcome of the game. The Rams using two timeouts on Offense long before the final few minutes of the game might have been the difference in a very close game. ****
But these Detroit Lions have been something else this season, winning a franchise-record 12 games, going without a losing streak for the first time since 1973, enjoying their most productive offensive season ever, all while playing their best football in the biggest moments. It doesn’t really make sense. They’re still among the youngest teams in the league, and have little experience on the prime-time stage because of their profound struggles.
Yet they went 4-1 in prime-time games during the regular season, with their only loss coming in controversial fashion in Dallas. Then they took the field in their highest-stakes game in a generation -- in their first home playoff game in 30 years -- and took out Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams, as fireworks exploded overhead, and blue and silver streamers fell into the crowd.
**** The Lions are indeed #AllGrit! This team displayed tremendous resolve in securing this win. A total team effort! ****
The Lions allowed Los Angeles to hang around by stalling out on offense and allowing a pair of field goals on defense that trimmed their lead to 24-23 in the fourth quarter, and Stafford had another shot at their defense in the final minutes, driving all the way to Detroit’s 34-yard line, and into position for a go-ahead field goal.
But Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein was flagged for holding Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, pushing Los Angeles out of field goal range. Stafford targeted rookie Puka Nacua with a third-down pass, and hey, why not, the kid had only caught all nine targets for 181 yards at the time. But for the first time all night, Detroit got a stop, with Cam Sutton breaking up the pass over the middle of the field.
**** I gladly admit I was wrong about thinking the Lions should have declined the penalty to make it 4th and 6 instead of 3rd and 14. While Cam Sutton could easily been called for Passing Inference as a result of grabbing the back of Puka Nacua's jersey, it's possible that the Lions coaches made an educated guess that a penalty wouldn't be called unless it was crystal clear in real time. The officials made an overt mistake by calling Taylor Decker for False Start on 4th and 5 late in the 2nd QTR. After what occurred at Dallas 15 days prior, I don't think this officiating crew wanted to make a call in the 4th QTR that would end up costing the Lions the game. Regardless, Dan Campbell's decision to accept the Holding Penalty paid off. ****
The Lions got the ball back with 4:07 left in a 24-23 game. They never let Stafford touch it again, thanks to the man he was traded for three years ago. Goff moved the sticks twice on that final drive, connecting on second-and-long passes to David Montgomery for 11 yards, then again to Amon-Ra St. Brown for 11 yards right after the two-minute warning.
**** David Montgomery making Rams OLB-Edge Player Michael Hoecht miss a tackle on him on the 2nd Down pass, with a move gave the Lions the much needed first 1st Down on what became the final possession of the game. Great job by Jared Goff, Amon Ra-St. Brown, and the Lions protection on the 2nd Down play that resulted in a completion, first down, and in essence a game clincher for the Lions!****
Los Angeles was out of timeouts after squandering two of them earlier in the half due to the deafening crowd noise, and had no recourse to stop the clock. Goff took three knees as the crowd roared, fireworks exploded, streamers flew from the rafters that are now adorned with an NFC North championship banner.
**** Fantastic moments! ****
While Matthew Stafford -- the man who did a lot in Detroit, but could never do this -- was left helpless on the sideline nursing his battered ribs, watching another season end in heartbreaking fashion in Detroit. Only this time, the Lions were coming out on top.
****Matthew Stafford played a heck of a game. Props to him for his performance, even though the Lions came out on top. Overall, Stafford and the Rams handled the crowd noise substantially better than I expected, even factoring the two timeouts they used earlier in the 2nd Half. The Rams didn't have a false start the entire game. ****
And just like that, these Brand New Lions have continued to defy their own history, advancing to a second-round game back here at Ford Field due to the Cowboys’ loss earlier in the day.
It was a night no one in this city will forget.
Let’s do this again next week.
**** I predicted the Packers to upset the Cowboys but I was surprised the Packers dominated the game until the Cowboys scored two relatively late TDs, with successful 2 Point Conversions, to make the score (48-32) much closer than the game. This is even with the Cowboys driving ball pretty deep in the final minute of the game. My guess is Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy will be fired by Owner/GM Jerry Jones. Like I previously expressed, I believe the Lions got a break being the # 3 Seed instead of the # 2 Seed. This Packers team is VERY dangerous. ****
Some more instant observations:
-- There’s no doubt who Detroit’s quarterback is. Jared Goff was serenaded before he even managed to touch cleat to turf, as the crowd erupted into chants of “JARED GOFF” when he was shown on the big screen walking up the tunnel, and they didn’t stop until Matthew Stafford ran out onto the field, at which point the former Lions quarterback was greeted to lustful boos -- that eventually turned back into big cheers for Goff.
**** The Lions fans collective at the game did a great job showing support for Jared Goff and contributing to the Lions winning the game! ****
He led the Lions to a 10-play touchdown drive to open the game, then walked back onto the field for his second series to more cries of “JARED GOFF.” And the quarterback who wasn’t good enough for L.A. anymore continued to cook L.A., completing his first 10 passes on the night and 15 of 16 overall, with the only misfire coming on a throwaway while under duress. He hooked up with rookie tight end Sam LaPorta on a touchdown pass on fourth down, and three straight touchdown drives overall to open the game.
**** Jared Goff and the Lions overall Offense were sensational on the Lions first 3 possessions. This might have been the best 3 Lions possessions to begin a game ever! ****
He cooled after that, and those failed fourth-quarter drives made the game a lot tighter than it had to be. But when it mattered most, Goff was at his best down the stretch, and helped salt away the win with those second-and-long passes to David Montgomery and Amon-Ra St. Brown, the latter of which led to yet more cries of “JARED GOFF” as he took three knees to drain what remained of L.A.’s season. Goff finished 22 of 27 passing for 277 yards and one touchdown while playing turnover-free football, and surely got some measure of satisfaction out of being the man who gave up on him, and the man he was traded for.
**** Jared Goff made one huge mistake in this game, a decision in the latter part of the 2nd QTR that could have resulted in a lost fumble. When Rams DT Aaron Donald got pressure on Goff in a 1st and 10 situation pretty deep in Lions territory, Goff should have rolled away from the pocket, and thrown the ball away. Instead, he went back towards the middle of the pocket, and under pressure threw a lateral to Brock Wright. The ball hit the ground. Thankfully, Wright fell on the ball. Otherwise, I thought Goff did a great job with his decisions. ****
Stafford was nearly as good though, and magnificent when targeting Nacua, finishing 25 of 36 passing for 367 yards and two touchdowns overall. Nacua had 181 yards on nine catches, and was a total mismatch for one-on-one coverage, which often came against safety Kerby Joseph. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn did a good job scheming up pressure, and Stafford left the game at one point after taking a shot to the ribs from Aidan Hutchinson, but the Lions had no answers at all for the rookie wideout.
**** Nacua, who lasted to Round 5, is arguably even more of a draft steal than Amon-Ra St. Brown (Round 4) was in 2021. Nacua is extremely difficult to tackle. His NFL future looks very bright. ****
-- Jared Goff wasn’t the only guy given up on by the Rams. Josh Reynolds was cut by Los Angeles, then Tennessee too before being claimed off waivers by Detroit three years ago. What a move that has turned out to be for the Lions. Reynolds has been a rock-solid starting receiver over the last couple years, then saved some of his best football of all for his old team, racking up five catches for 80 yards against Los Angeles. He caught a 33-yarder that helped set up the first score of the night. Amon-Ra St. Brown is a star, but the Lions wouldn’t be nearly as explosive without guys like Reynolds doing work behind him.
**** Josh Reynolds was terrific in the 1st Half. In the 2nd Half, Reynolds wasn't on the same page as Goff on one pass, and didn't have a reception in the 2nd Half. To Reynolds' credit, he continued to contribute as a blocker. ****
-- The Lions had early opportunities to run away from Los Angeles, scoring touchdowns on their first three drives of the night, but the Rams hung around because Detroit couldn’t take advantage of its opportunities to get off the field. Stafford connected with DeMarcus Robinson on a 19-yard pass that moved the chains on third-and-15, and Stafford made Detroit pay with a 50-yard touchdown bomb to Puka Nacua just four plays later. Later in the first half, Stafford connected with Cooper Kupp on a fourth-down pass that moved the sticks, then found Tutu Atwell for a 38-yard touchdown one play later. Detroit never did pull away, but did just enough to prevail anyway.
**** The Lions pass rush and outside CB coverage definitely need major upgrades in the off-season. The Lions came close to losing this game, because of both. ****
-- Where would the Lions be without their rookie class? Brad Holmes was criticized for his moves at the top of the draft, but Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and Brian Branch has all played integral roles in this special season. All showed up big against Los Angeles too. LaPorta earned the start just one week after hyperextending his knee and caught a fourth-down touchdown pass in the second quarter, while Gibbs added a 10-yard score. That’s 24 touchdowns from the rookie class this season, a franchise record. Branch made some of the defense’s biggest plays too, including tipping a third-down pass near the goal line to force an early field goal, then tackling Cooper Kupp on another third-down near the goal line late in the third quarter, forcing yet another field goal. Detroit didn’t get many stops, but Branch had a hand in some of the biggest stands of the night.
**** Brian Branch was the Lions best DB in this game and in the conversation with Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill regarding who was the Lions best Defensive player in the game. ****
Maybe, just maybe, Brad Holmes knows a thing or two we don’t about the draft? He was hammered for trading back to take a running back and linebacker in the first round, then a tight end -- and a tight end not named Michael Mayer at that -- in the second round. Now Gibbs has become one of the most productive rookies in franchise history, while LaPorta set the NFL record for catches by a first-year tight end. Branch was among the best nickel corners in the league. Even Jack Campbell, the slowest-developing pick of the bunch, has played his best ball down the stretch.
**** Jack Campbell did a good job vs. the run and shredded a block on a reception, making a tackle that prevented even more damage on the sizable gain that resulted in a 1st Down and more. ****
-- Aidan Hutchinson continued his late-season tear by racking up two sacks and five quarterback hits against Los Angeles, including delivering a big hit that knocked Matthew Stafford into the blue medical tent. Hutchinson wreaked havoc all season -- his 102 pressures were just two off Micah Parsons’ league high -- but the sacks have come lately too, with seven in his last three games. Put some respect on that guy’s name. He’s never mentioned among the elite pass rushers in the league, but he’s produced like it this season, and changed the course of the playoffs by knocking Stafford’s ribs.
**** Aidan Hutchinson's 2 sacks in this game were as a result of Matthew Stafford falling down and a coverage sack. Having said that, Hutch did make his presence felt, with the Holding Penalty on RT Rob Havenstein, on 3rd and 4, on what became the Rams last possession, arguably his most important contribution to the Lions on the field yet. ****
-- For the second time in three weeks, Taylor Decker was at the center of a critical blown call by the refs. The veteran left tackle was flagged for false start on a fourth-and-4 in the final minute of the first half, robbing the Lions of the opportunity to go for the conversion and another critical score to separate from Los Angeles. Replays show Los Angeles clearly jumped first. Instead, the Lions were forced to send Jack Fox onto the field for his first punt of the night, and Detroit headed up the tunnel hanging onto a 21-17 lead -- with L.A. due to get the ball first in the third quarter. Considering how hot the Rams were at the time, it was a big sequence.
**** Thankfully, the Lions did enough to overcome the bad officiating decision.
Jack Fox had a tremendous Punting game for the Lions. The Lions definitely won the field possession battle, in very large part to Fox and Punt Gunner Khalil Dorsey. ****
-- Linebacker Alex Anzalone, one of the hearts of the defense, was battling through injury in the second half before finally being pried off the field by the training staff in the fourth quarter. He went immediately into the locker room and did not return.
**** Alex Anzalone did return. ****
-- There’s been a whole lot of hand-wringing about the Lions’ field-goal kicking this season, which was so suspect that they switched kickers less than a month before the start of the playoffs. Michael Badgley didn’t exactly instill confidence by missing two point-after attempts down the stretch either. But he came up big against L.A., including draining a 54-yard field goal that gave Detroit a 24-17 lead with 8:41 left in the third quarter.
**** Tremendous kick by Michael Badgley in a huge pressure situation! Sam LaPorta broke a tackle on the 3rd Down play, gaining around 3 extra yards. That was almost certainly the difference in Dan Campbell deciding to attempt the FG. ****
-- Veteran receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones replaced Kalif Raymond as the starting punt returner. Raymond missed the game with a knee injury he suffered in the regular-season finale against Minnesota.
****DPJ did a good job fielding the Rams late Punt, gaining around 3 yards. The Rams Special Teams were their # 1 weakness going into the game. DPJ didn't make a Fair Catch, because the Rams weren't aggressive in trying to prevent a return. While the Rams and very well coached on Offense and Defense, my guess is Sean McVay is going to make one or more changes regarding their Special Teams coaches. ****
-- You thought the cheers were loud for Jard Goff? You should have heard the ovations for Eminem, who was shown on the big screen right after the Lions took a 14-3 lead on a touchdown run by Jahmyr Gibbs. The stadium began pulsing to “Lose Yourself,” and thousands sang along to the seminal hit. Eminem was among several celebrities who made their way to Ford Field, along with rapper Big Sean, Red Hot Chilli Peppers drummer Chad Smith, actor Sam Richardson, actor Taylor Lautner, plus a slew of former Lions greats, including the greatest of them all, Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.
**** It was great to see Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson at the game, with Megatron greeting his former teammate and close friend, Matthew Stafford. ****
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This new thread is a continuation of the following thread:
Lions vs. LA Rams preview: Playoffs: 1st Round ( 2023 ).
detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/1994/lions-rams-preview-playoffs-round
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