DETROIT — — The Detroit Lions opened the season by outscoring the Los Angeles Rams with a balanced offense, generating yards on the ground and getting in the air for several crucial plays, just as they did in their NFC wild-card game.

David Montgomery’s 1-yard touchdown run in overtime gave the Lions a 26-20 win over the Matthew Stafford-led Rams on Sunday night.

“Early in the season, a lot of games come down to who makes the least mistakes,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We made one less mistake than they did.”

The Lions squandered a two-touchdown lead in the third quarter, but extended the game with a tying 32-yard field goal by Jake Bates in the final minute of regulation.

Detroit won the toss and took advantage of having the ball, gaining at least 9 yards on the first four plays of overtime to set up Montgomery’s winning score.

The Rams had a chance to spoil Detroit’s season opener when Stafford threw a game-winning 9-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter.

They just couldn’t make enough plays on either side of the ball to hold on to the win.

Los Angeles put up a decent fight despite losing Pro Bowl receiver Puka Nacua and two linemen on their injured line.

“I’m really proud of this group,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “A lot of guys fell and a lot of guys stepped up.

“We just came up short.”

The Lions took a 17-3 lead in the third quarter after Jared Goff threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Williams.

“We had been working on that double move all week and he topped it,” Goff said.

However, Detroit lost the comfortable lead as their former star quarterback picked them apart and their current quarterback threw an interception early in the fourth quarter.

John Johnson intercepted Goff’s pass over the middle at the Rams’ 20-yard line, denying Detroit the chance to convert a field goal and restore a seven-point lead.

Stafford took advantage, leading a 10-play, 80-yard drive that he capped with the scoring pass to Kupp. He couldn’t complete enough passes late in the fourth period to keep the ball and secure the win, leading to a run that gave Goff another chance from his 31 with 2:11 remaining.

“I had a chance to win,” Stafford said. “Every game there’s plays you want to get back.”

The Lions reached the Rams’ 14-yard line and had to settle for a tying field goal by Bates, sending the game into overtime.

McVay stressed that he had no regrets about any decision he made in the second quarter.

When McVay had the chance to make a 40-yard field goal with the score tied 3-3, he decided to do so and lost the ball at times when Stafford threw an incomplete pass aimed at Kupp.

“We came here to be aggressive and I wouldn’t reverse that decision,” McVay said.

Stafford completed 34 of 49 passes for 317 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and threw a ball into the middle of the end zone where Kerby Joseph was waiting early in the second quarter. He took some hits, particularly to his right ankle, and popped up each time and made more plays.

“Give Matt Stafford all the credit, he played fantastic despite all the knocks he took,” Campbell said.

Kupp tied his personal best with 14 receptions and had 110 receiving yards.

Goff completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Williams tied his personal best with five catches and set a personal best with 121 yards receiving.

“I’m proud of him,” Campbell said. “He’s got a lot of room to grow. That wasn’t his best ball, but he made some plays.”

Montgomery had 17 carries for 91 yards and Jahmyr Gibbs ran 11 times for 40 yards, both scoring a TD.

Injuries

Rams: Nacua (knee) was injured in the first half after catching four passes for 35 yards and did not return. … LT Joe Noteboom (ankle) was stretchered off the field in the second quarter after starting in relief of Alaric Jackson, who is serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. LG Steve Avila (knee) later went down.

McVay said after the game that he had no update on the team’s injured players.

Lions: DT DJ Reader (leg) and S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) were inactive.

Next

Rams: Stay out and play Arizona on Sunday.

Lions: Host Tampa Bay on Sunday for a rematch from the divisional round of the playoffs, a game Detroit won 31-23.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL