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Lions resume noisy run in dramatic fashion, beat Stafford again

Vaseline September 9, 2024

Detroit — The Lions and their fans had such a good time last year, hey, we might as well keep the ride going. It came back on opening night, and picked up right where it left off, right down to the last sweaty second.

If the Lions are to prove themselves again, same path, same goal, same opponents, it was a great start, occasionally sloppy, relentlessly compelling. The stakes weren’t the same as their January playoff thriller against the Rams, but it still felt that way. Matthew Stafford was back, throwing rockets and misery at the Lions, and they dodged it again, but only just.

In overtime, the Lions finally put their feet up, with David Montgomery hitting the winning touchdown drive, capping a 26-20 victory with a 1-yard burst. It was every bit as heavy as it looked, every bit as heavy as expected, every bit as loud as ever, and though the Lions buckled, they didn’t break.

It was Stafford versus Jared Goff all over again, but without the overblown storyline. The Lions’ motto this season is “It Takes More,” and it certainly did that tonight. It cost Jameson Williams a standout game, who lived up to his promise of an impact with 121 yards receiving, including a 52-yard touchdown. It cost Goff a rebound from a crucial interception and a clutch drive to force overtime.

Stafford looked like his old Lion self, taking hits and throwing balls, making spectacular plays behind a battered Rams offensive line. He was 34 of 49 for 317 yards, and like Goff, threw for one touchdown and one interception.

“I give that team a lot of credit,” Dan Campbell said of the Rams. “I thought Stafford played a great game, took hits after hits, got up and made unbelievable throws. They fought and they fought. But we’re tough to break down, so we did what we had to do.”

That was the ultimate point of the night, a continuation of last season’s message. The Lions don’t rely on one player or one plan, so they have to find new ways to win. As Super Bowl favorites, they have a target, and Stafford certainly hit the bull’s-eye.

He helped the Rams recover from a 17-3 deficit and appeared to have the lead. But in the deciding period, he misfired on a third-down pass to Cooper Kupp, giving the Lions a chance to tie the game on Jake Bates’ 32-yard field goal with 17 seconds left.

“Yeah, I think it comes down to the last time we were here, similar circumstances, and the fact that we didn’t come away with enough points in the red zone,” Stafford said. “We had our chances, but we couldn’t capitalize. And yet, at the end of the game, if I can get that ball to Cooper … That’s part of the game. Humbling, but fun to compete.”

Stafford has felt his share of humiliations at Ford Field, but this was an admirable effort and in some ways the ideal opening test for the Lions. To maintain the success of last season’s run to the NFC Championship Game, well, it takes more. Their reloaded secondary was tested mightily and rookie Terrion Arnold came under fire, committing two pass-interference penalties. But he didn’t give up and the defense held up when it had to, somewhat containing Kupp, who finished with 14 receptions and 110 receiving yards.

Aidan Hutchinson and Alex Anzalone continued to tear through the Rams’ makeshift line, and Stafford continued to slip and shoot. The Rams were Super Bowl champions three years ago, and even at 36, Stafford appears capable of launching another run.

That goes for the Lions, too. In a telling sign, the Lions, coming off a prime-time victory in front of another roaring Ford Field crowd, were happy with the win but not so happy with their overall performance. Goff was 18 of 28 for 217 yards and relied heavily on Williams, while the Rams smothered Amon-Ra St. Brown (three catches, 13 yards) and Sam LaPorta (four catches, 45 yards).

“There were definitely things that were below our standards,” Goff said bluntly. “Good enough for a win, not good enough for our standards.”

The Lions know they’ll be measured and treated differently now. It’s almost as if the NFL said to them, “Good job, now do it again,” when they scheduled the Rams and Bucs (next week) as their first two opponents, the same two opponents they beat in the playoffs.

For the openers, the Lions showed their speed and power, and when Williams can break loose regularly, everything opens up for everyone. He showed the electric burst the Lions always crave, and it came at just the right time.

Then Montgomery took over in overtime and the Lions showed off their offensive line. The Montgomery-Jahmyr Gibbs backfield tandem is the perfect mix of power and speed, and when the Lions won the overtime coin toss, they knew who was getting the ball and where it was going.

After a smart 12-yard reverse from Kalif Raymond, Montgomery broke off runs of 21 and 9 yards. From the Rams’ 15, he closed it with consecutive hammerings of 6 and 8 yards, capped by a 1-yard winner. The Lions’ high-powered offense has a little bit of everything, but never underestimate the importance of Montgomery’s power. When he got going in overtime, he knew they wouldn’t stop him.

“Oh no, I was in the mode, I was already in it,” Montgomery said. “At that point I felt like I had to prove myself to myself, and I felt like this was the best opportunity to do that — to show what I’m capable of. But at the same time, to show how much grit this offense and this team has.”

It takes guts, sure, and it takes more. The Lions needed everything and more to beat the Rams again. With all the requisite noise and drama and the huge crowds downtown, the ride is back on. Jumping back on board is one thing. Staying on board will be the challenge for the Lions.

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@bobwojnowski