Sept. 9—David Montgomery scores on a 1-yard run in overtime to help the host Detroit Lions beat the Los Angeles Rams 26-20 on Sunday night.
Montgomery rushed five times for 45 yards on the game-winning drive. He also gained 91 yards on 17 carries.
Detroit’s Jared Goff threw for 217 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Jamison Williams caught five passes for 121 yards and a touchdown for the Lions (1-0), who beat the Rams 24-23 in last season’s playoff wild-card round.
Matthew Stafford threw for 317 yards and a touchdown and an interception for Los Angeles (0-1). Cooper Kupp caught 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Rams wide receiver Pukana Kua missed the second half with a knee injury.
Detroit was ahead 10-3 at halftime.
The Lions took the lead on Jahmir Gibbs’ 1-yard run with 1:57 left in the first half.
Detroit prevented the Rams from scoring when Kerby Joseph caught a pass from Stafford in the end zone with 15 seconds remaining in the half.
Early in the third quarter, Goff passed 52 yards to Williams for a score. Williams broke the one-and-one defense on the left side and the Lions scored to make the score 17–3.
The Rams responded with an 11-play, 70-yard drive capped by Kyren Williams’ 2-yard run into the end zone, cutting the deficit to 17–17 with 3:33 remaining in the third quarter 10. A defensive pass interference call near the goal line extended the shot clock.
On the final play of the third quarter, Tyler Johnson turned a short pass from Stafford into a 63-yard gain. After a defensive pass interference call set Los Angeles up at the Lions’ 1-yard line, a Rams holding penalty ended Jordan Whittington’s touchdown run. Los Angeles eventually scored on Joshua Carty’s 26-yard field goal.
John Johnson’s interception at the Rams 20 stopped Detroit’s next possession. The Rams then continued their 10-game winning streak and with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter, Stafford threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Kupp to increase the lead to 20–17.
The Lions forced a punt and got the ball back at the 31 with 2:11 remaining. An 18-yard reception by Sam LaPorta and a personal foul penalty by the Rams put Detroit in Los Angeles territory. Jake Bates’ 32-yard field goal with 17 seconds remaining sent the game into overtime.
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