Despite their record, the Detroit Lions gave the Los Angeles Rams a formidable challenge before falling 19-28. The Rams now have a 6-1 overall record.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford made 28 throws for 334 yards, securing three touchdowns. Stafford made his 300th career regular season touchdown during the matchup.
“It was nice to get that done with a win,” Stafford said. “It’s pretty cool, I’m pretty sure I’ll appreciate it probably more when I’m done playing.”
Detroit quarterback Jared Goff secured 268 passing yards and one touchdown in his first contest against the team that drafted him first overall in 2016.
“There’s a lot of guys I never saw after the trade. And being able to see them and say hello and catch up for two minutes was good. It was healthy and it was good,” Goff said. “Then once the game started, like I said during the week, it was very as usual. It really felt like any other game.”
The Lions pulled several tricks throughout the game, including two fake punts and one offsides kick. After scoring their first touchdown, the Lions committed the offsides kick and retained possession. A few plays later, they committed their first fake punt. This boosted the Lions to 10 points in the first quarter. Rams head coach Sean McVay mentioned how their antics were “a good wake up call” for the team.
“I think you’re always on alert for it if you think that it’s a possibility that teams can potentially give that to you,” he said. “It was something that you do work throughout the course of the week with your weekly rhythm in your process in the kicking game.”
Stafford leaned on his aerial attack, mainly targeting wide receiver Cooper Kupp for big advances. He praised his wideout corps for their effort during this game, on the practice field, and the times in between.
“I think we’ve spent a lot of time together, spent a lot of time talking about the game of football, I really do that with all of our receivers,” Stafford said. “I’m lucky in that regard that our guys love the game, love the x’s and o’s, love the little, tiny parts of what makes the passing game really good or just okay.”
Kupp’s had 156 receiving yards and two touchdowns and wideout Van Jefferson had a scoring catch.
“I think Detroit did a good job being able to drive by backs and possessions and you just got to weather the storm, that happens,” Kupp said. “But you do your best trying to put points up on the board when you get those opportunities.”
Linebacker Kenny Young and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day committed one sack each.
“The sack that I had, it was crazy because we all thought [Jared Goff] threw it because he pump faked so fast,” Joseph-Day said. “Everyone stopped and I stopped too and we thought he threw it and we realized and then they smashed him.”
Late in the fourth quarter when the Lions had the momentum to score and tie the game, corner Jalen Ramsey committed an interception.
“They ran double-post and I was able to undercut it and make a play on the ball,” Ramsey said. “[defensive tackle Aaron Donald] got a good pressure, so [Goff] probably forced the pass.”
The Lions also had strong performances from the Detroit offense; running back Jamaal Williams made 57 rushing yards. Running back D’Andre Swift had 48 rushing yards, 96 receiving yards and one touchdown.
On Halloween, the Rams will battle the Houston Texans at the NRG Stadium.
