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    • Sure, it took overtime, but Detroit Lions showed real courage in beating the Rams
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    Sure, it took overtime, but Detroit Lions showed real courage in beating the Rams

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    It was a night when the wait was finally over and the hype was out of control. Detroit was amped up and ready for primetime national TV, and the streets were filled with fans, and parking lots were lined with tailgates, and everyone was walking toward Ford Field excited and happy.

    It was truly deafening.

    And you know what happened?

    The Detroit Lions saw the moment.

    DIRECT OBSERVATIONS: Detroit Lions survive overtime, beat LA Rams 26-20 in season opener

    Lived up to the hype.

    Yes, it took overtime.

    Yeah, it was a great ride in the end.

    But this was a victory full of guts and determination and power and speed and grit – and everything that can make this team special.

    Detroit Lions 26, Los Angeles Rams 20.

    One lost.

    There are many more to come.

    Can your heart take any more of this?

    WINDSOR: Detroit Lions Finally Remember Their Identity in OT as They Bully LA Rams in 26-20 Win

    Wild finish

    It was a night when the game went into overtime, and Eminem was blaring over the speakers, the lights in the crowd were flashing and everyone was on their feet.

    And the Lions brought in Kalif Raymond for a reverse when it mattered most. First down at the 42. What a brilliant decision to start OT.

    Then came David Montgomery, full force, bursting through a hole in the ground and into Rams territory.

    First down at the Rams’ 37 yard line.

    Then he did it again, it looked like he was going to stop, but he kept running, kept turning – that’s where the courage is, that’s where the strength is.

    It looked like this team was forcing itself to win.

    Then came the speed – Jared Goff to Jahmyr Gibbs for another first down.

    They seemed unstoppable.

    Then it turned to rugby, as everyone started pushing Montgomery toward the goal line. The Rams defense crumbled. Exhausted. But the Lions were still strong. And on the next play, touchdown. Montgomery for the score and the win.

    Sure, there were problems

    It was a game in which the Lions overcame their own mistakes.

    Towards the end of the second quarter, Aidan Hutchinson was penalized for roughing the passer after hitting Matthew Stafford in the knees. It felt like one of those penalties that would turn the game around. It pushed the Rams into Lions territory. Before you knew it, Stafford was inside the 10 and shooting balls into the endzone with less than 30 seconds left in the first half.

    Then that defense became stronger.

    Stafford threw the ball late in the middle and shot the ball into the end position. Kerby Joseph intercepted the ball.

    Stafford placed both hands on his helmet.

    And the Lions had a 10-3 lead at halftime.

    Jameson Williams was excellent

    It was a night where the Lions showed off their great weapon: Jameson Williams.

    Goff hit it, cut over the middle for 26 yards. And they gave him the ball around the right sideline for 14 yards, putting the ball deep in the red zone.

    But he got injured and stayed on the grass. And the crowd started chanting, “Jameson!”

    MORE ABOUT JAMESON: Detroit Lions’ Jameson Williams appears poised for a breakthrough after just one game

    Or maybe it was “Jay – Mo!”

    Anyway, it was confusing.

    But the point was clear: We appreciate you. We love you!

    He walked cautiously off the field.

    They taped his left ankle and he was able to return to the game after missing one game.

    Yes, that was scary when he lay down and limped off the field.

    But they tied him up and brought him back inside.

    And then? In the third quarter?

    Williams danced in the end zone. Ankle? Which ankle? He had a touchdown of 52 yards.

    Stop with the damn punishments

    It was a night when Lions coach Dan Campbell told NBC during halftime, “No more penalties that cost us money!”

    And then?

    Good.

    The Lions were given more penalties that cost them dearly.

    Terrion Arnold’s defensive pass interference scored the Rams’ first touchdown.

    Here is the grit

    It was a match in which the team fought for every inch.

    On a touchdown run, Gibbs was hit well short of the end zone. Maybe even on the 2 or 3. But he fought his way through and somehow reached the ball out before it hit the grass, which was a real Houdini act, sort of floating in the air and reaching out – touchdown.

    Amazing.

    A second on the secondary

    It was a night when Detroit unveiled its new defensive line.

    And it wasn’t perfect.

    A secondary never is. But they made just enough plays, knocked away just enough passes, covered just enough receivers and held Stafford to just 3 points in the first half.

    Catch that ball

    It was a night of near misses.

    How many near interceptions did the Lions have?

    Three?

    And Goff had Williams free in the end zone, but missed him.

    Just wow

    It was an evening full of drama.

    This match was a yo-yo of emotions.

    Up and down.

    Up and down.

    The Rams scored 17 straight points to take a 20-17 lead with 4:30 left.

    But the Lions held firm.

    They pulled it out. They made plays when they had to make them.

    One done. A whole lot more to go.

    What a start.

    Contact Jeff Seidel: [email protected] or follow him @seideljeff.

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