Playoff Bound: Stafford and Nacua Power Rams to Comeback Win Over Lions

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INGLEWOOD, CA — In a high-octane offensive showdown against the backdrop of an emotional quarterback reunion, the Los Angeles Rams (11-3) staged a dominant second-half rally to defeat the Detroit Lions (8-6) 41-34 on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

The victory, the Rams’ eighth in their last nine games, was monumental: it made Los Angeles the first team in the NFC to officially clinch a playoff berth this season, confirming their status as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

The Duel of Former Teammates

The game was a matchup featuring former franchise quarterbacks Matthew Stafford (Rams) and Jared Goff (Lions), and both signal-callers delivered a classic shootout in the first half.

Lions Strike First: Detroit’s offense was electric early, with Goff throwing three first-half touchdowns, including two to receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and a 31-yard strike to Jameson Williams. The Lions rode this success to a commanding 24-14 lead late in the second quarter.
Stafford Keeps Pace: Stafford, however, found his rhythm as the half closed. After the Lions scored to go up by 10, Stafford quickly led a crisp drive in the final 30 seconds to set up a field goal, cutting the deficit to 24-17 at halftime and grabbing precious momentum.

The Second-Half Avalanche

The momentum the Rams seized just before the break became a full-blown avalanche in the third quarter. The Rams’ defense found an answer for Goff’s passing attack, and the offense became unstoppable.

20 Unanswered Points: The Rams scored 20 consecutive points across the third and fourth quarters while shutting down the Lions’ offense.
The Receivers Dominate: Wide receiver Puka Nacua put on a masterclass, finishing with nine receptions for 181 yards—a new regular-season career-high. Stafford also connected with tight end Colby Parkinson for two touchdowns, capitalizing on Detroit’s defensive struggles. Stafford finished the day with 368 passing yards.
Dual-Threat Backfield: The Rams’ rushing attack was potent, with Kyren Williams punching in two rushing touchdowns and rookie Blake Corum adding another score late in the third quarter to give the Rams a decisive 34-24 lead.

Clinching the Postseason Ticket

The Rams’ second-half surge created a lead that the Lions, despite a late rushing touchdown from David Montgomery that cut the lead to $41-34$ , could not overcome. The victory improves the Rams’ record to 11-3 and seals their postseason spot.

“It’s great to be able to punch a ticket to the playoffs,” said Rams Head Coach Sean McVay. “That’s obviously always a goal… Great accomplishment.”

The win not only clinches the playoff berth but also keeps the Rams firmly in the NFC No. 1 seed conversation, setting up a massive Thursday Night Football showdown next week against the Seattle Seahawks. For the Lions (8-6), the loss is a painful blow, dropping them out of playoff position in the tight NFC wild-card race.