David Montgomery punched in the game-winning touchdown from 1 yard out in overtime and capped Detroit’s rally from a 20-17 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Los Angeles 26-20 in their 2024 season opener on September 8. Montgomery finished with 91 rushing yards and two scores on 17 carries at Ford Field, while Cooper Kupp caught 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in the losing effort. Matthew Stafford completed 34 of 49 attempts for 317 yards in his second game against his former team, but Jared Goff engineered the game-winning drive after Jake Bates drilled a 32-yard field goal with 17 seconds left to force overtime.
Table of Contents
Complete Team Statistics
| Category | Rams | Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 387 | 363 |
| First Downs | 26 | 21 |
| Passing Yards | 304 | 200 |
| Rushing Yards | 83 | 163 |
| Completion/Attempts | 34/49 | 18/28 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.2 | 6.0 |
| Third Down Conversions | 5/12 (42%) | 6/13 (46%) |
| Fourth Down Conversions | 1/2 (50%) | 1/1 (100%) |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 2/5 (40%) | 2/4 (50%) |
| Time of Possession | 34:56 | 29:45 |
| Penalties | 6 for 50 yards | 6 for 56 yards |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Sacks Allowed | 2 for 13 yards | 2 for 17 yards |
Detroit’s ground attack outgained Los Angeles by 80 yards; the Lions finished sixth among all NFL teams in Week 1 of the 2024 season with 163 rushing yards. Detroit’s overtime possession was a 70-yard scoring drive.
Game Details
Date: September 8, 2024
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Broadcast: NBC Sunday Night Football (Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth)
Attendance: 66,530
Kickoff: 8:20 PM ET
Weather: Dome conditions
Duration: 3:14
Winner: Detroit Lions (26-20 in overtime)
Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season featured this primetime thriller between two playoff contenders.
Matthew Stafford vs Jared Goff Stats: Head-to-Head Comparison
| Quarterback | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Rating | Sacks | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stafford | LAR | 34/49 | 317 | 1 | 1 | 85.2 | 2 | 63 |
| Jared Goff | DET | 18/28 | 217 | 1 | 1 | 85.0 | 2 | 52 |
Passing Efficiency Breakdown
| Metric | Stafford | Goff |
|---|---|---|
| Completion % | 69.4% | 64.3% |
| Yards Per Attempt | 6.5 | 7.8 |
| Air Yards | 290 | 187 |
| Yards After Catch | 171 | 148 |
| Pressures Faced | 16 | 5 |
Stafford extended his streak to four consecutive 300-yard games dating back to the 2023 season. In his second game against Detroit since his 12-year tenure ended—the first came in a playoff loss eight months earlier—Stafford absorbed multiple hits. The Detroit Lions official site noted he took particularly hard contact on his right ankle but kept his poise and threw accurately all game.
Goff posted 7.8 yards per attempt compared to Stafford’s 6.5 for better efficiency on fewer opportunities. His fourth-quarter interception to John Johnson III at the Rams 20 proved costly but didn’t stop Detroit’s comeback.
Ground Game Decides the 2024 NFL Season Opener
Detroit and Los Angeles battled through the air with their veteran quarterbacks, but the Lions’ rushing attack proved decisive in this NFC matchup.
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | TD | Long | Targets | Catches | Rec Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Montgomery | DET | 17 | 91 | 5.4 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 11 | 40 | 3.6 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 34 |
| Kyren Williams | LAR | 18 | 50 | 2.8 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Ronnie Rivers | LAR | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Detroit averaged nearly 2 full yards more per carry at 5.3 compared to Los Angeles’ 3.6 and controlled the line of scrimmage all night. This ground game dominance kept Goff in favorable down-and-distance situations.
Montgomery dominated in overtime. His 21-yard burst on the second play put Detroit at the Rams 37. Montgomery continued to carry the load, eventually reaching the 1-yard line before punching it in for the game-winner.
Detroit’s backfield split duties effectively. Montgomery provided power between the tackles while Gibbs offered versatility as both a runner and receiver. His four catches for 34 yards gave Goff checkdown options when pressure arrived.
Jake Bates continued the strong form he showed during the preseason, including his 53-yard field goal against the Giants, proving his reliability in his regular season debut.
Receiving Stats and Passing Targets
| Player | Team | Catches | Targets | Yards | Average | TD | Long | Catch % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Kupp | LAR | 14 | 21 | 110 | 7.9 | 1 | 21 | 66.7% |
| Jameson Williams | DET | 5 | 9 | 121 | 24.2 | 1 | 52 | 55.6% |
| Tyler Johnson | LAR | 5 | 7 | 79 | 15.8 | 0 | 63 | 71.4% |
| Sam LaPorta | DET | 4 | 5 | 45 | 11.3 | 0 | 18 | 80.0% |
| Colby Parkinson | LAR | 4 | 5 | 47 | 11.8 | 0 | 20 | 80.0% |
| Demarcus Robinson | LAR | 4 | 7 | 42 | 10.5 | 0 | 14 | 57.1% |
| Puka Nacua | LAR | 4 | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 0 | 16 | 100.0% |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | 3 | 6 | 13 | 4.3 | 0 | 5 | 50.0% |
Kupp matched his career high with 14 receptions, according to Pro Football Reference. Los Angeles moved him constantly in pre-snap motion. Kupp traveled 436 yards across 42 snaps, forcing Detroit to adjust coverages on nearly every play. His 9-yard touchdown catch gave Los Angeles a 20-17 lead with 4:30 remaining.
Williams lived up to the offseason expectations. His 52-yard touchdown came on a double move the Lions practiced in training camp. He beat illegal contact from Tre’Davious White and burned past the entire secondary for the score that made it 17-3.
St. Brown had an unusually quiet opener with three catches for 13 yards on six targets. The All-Pro receiver dropped two passes and saw Goff’s fourth-quarter interception come on a forced throw in his direction.
Nacua left in the first half with a knee injury after catching all four targets for 35 yards. Los Angeles also lost left tackle Joe Noteboom (ankle) and left guard Steve Avila (knee). Injuries forced offensive line adjustments that affected protection.
Defensive Statistics and Pass Rush Production
Detroit and Los Angeles made crucial stops throughout this back-and-forth battle.
Tackle Leaders
| Player | Team | Total | Solo | Assists | TFL | QB Hits | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Anzalone | DET | 13 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlton Davis III | DET | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quentin Lake | LAR | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Christian Rozeboom | LAR | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terrion Arnold | DET | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Troy Reeder | LAR | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Branch | DET | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Anzalone led all tacklers with 13 total and opened the game with two tackles for loss on the Rams’ first possession. Rookie Arnold and veteran Davis anchored the secondary; Arnold drew two pass interference penalties in the end zone but remained aggressive in his NFL debut.
Pass Rush
| Player | Team | Sacks | QB Hits | Hurries | Total Pressures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan Hutchinson | DET | 1.0 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Jared Verse | LAR | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Byron Young | LAR | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Marcus Davenport | DET | 0.5 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Levi Onwuzurike | DET | 0.5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Hutchinson earned a 90-plus grade from PFF for his dominant Sunday Night Football performance. His sack of Stafford with 11 seconds left in regulation forced overtime. The third-year edge rusher recorded eight additional pass rush wins beyond his seven official pressures.
Verse made his professional debut count. He became the fourth rookie in Rams history to record a sack in his first NFL game. His 33% pass rush win rate ranked sixth among all Week 1 edge rushers against elite tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker.
Davenport posted four quarterback hits in his Lions debut—solid production opposite Hutchinson. Last season, John Cominsky led all Lions edge defenders not named Hutchinson with eight QB hits for the entire year.
Special Teams Impact
Kicking
| Kicker | Team | FG Made/Att | Long | XP Made/Att |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Bates | DET | 2/2 | 32 | 2/2 |
| Joshua Karty | LAR | 2/2 | 41 | 2/2 |
Punting
| Punter | Team | Punts | Average | Long | Inside 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Fox | DET | 4 | 57.5 | 67 | 2 |
| Ethan Evans | LAR | 3 | 47.0 | 50 | 0 |
Bates connected on both field goal attempts, including the pressure-packed 32-yarder with 17 seconds remaining that forced overtime. Fox averaged 57.5 yards per punt and pinned Los Angeles deep twice with a 67-yard boot in the first quarter.
Critical Moments That Decided the Game
Scoring Summary
| Quarter | Time | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 4:50 | LAR | Karty 41-yard FG | 3-0 LAR |
| Q2 | 12:17 | DET | Bates 25-yard FG | 3-3 |
| Q2 | 1:57 | DET | Gibbs 1-yard run | 10-3 DET |
| Q3 | 10:29 | DET | Williams 52-yard pass from Goff | 17-3 DET |
| Q3 | 3:33 | LAR | K. Williams 2-yard run | 17-10 DET |
| Q4 | 12:32 | LAR | Karty 26-yard FG | 17-13 DET |
| Q4 | 4:30 | LAR | Kupp 9-yard pass from Stafford | 20-17 LAR |
| Q4 | 0:17 | DET | Bates 32-yard FG | 20-20 |
| OT | 5:19 | DET | Montgomery 1-yard run | 26-20 DET |
Game-Changing Sequences
Kerby Joseph Halftime Interception (0:15 Q2)
Los Angeles drove inside the Lions 10-yard line late in the second quarter. Stafford threw off his back foot under pressure. Joseph jumped the route and picked off the pass in the end zone. Joseph’s interception kept Detroit ahead 10-3 at halftime.
Williams Burns Secondary on Double Move (10:29 Q3)
Detroit ran a route combination they worked on in training camp. Williams beat White’s illegal contact and torched the entire Rams secondary. Goff’s throw traveled 52 yards in the air for the touchdown that pushed Detroit’s lead to 17-3.
Johnson Interception Sets Up Go-Ahead Score (9:09 Q4)
Goff tried forcing a pass to St. Brown over the middle with Detroit in field goal range. Johnson read the route and intercepted at the Rams 20. The Rams capitalized, with Stafford finding Kupp for the touchdown that put Los Angeles ahead 20-17.
Lions Rally From Deficit (0:17 Q4)
Down 20-17 with under five minutes remaining, Detroit faced its biggest test. After a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Kamren Kinchens and an 18-yard grab by LaPorta, the Lions reached the Rams 14. Bates knocked through the 32-yarder to force overtime.
Hutchinson Sack Forces Extra Period (0:11 Q4)
Stafford dropped back for a potential game-winner with 11 seconds left. Hutchinson beat his blocker off the edge and brought down the quarterback. Hutchinson’s sack sent the game to overtime.
Overtime Victory Drive (5:19 OT)
Detroit won the coin toss and seized momentum. Kalif Raymond gained 12 on a reverse. Montgomery ripped off a 21-yard run. Gibbs hauled in a 10-yard pass. Montgomery added runs of 9 and 6 yards before scoring from the 1 to complete the comeback in front of 66,530 fans.
Coaching Decisions and Strategic Approaches
Dan Campbell’s aggressive approach paid dividends. His fourth down decision in the second quarter converted on fourth and two from the Rams 27, extending a 15-play drive that consumed 7:33 and resulted in Bates’ 25-yard field goal.
Sean McVay showed no regrets about his second quarter fourth down gamble. With the score tied 3-3, Los Angeles went for it on fourth and four from the Lions 23. Stafford’s incomplete pass to Kupp turned the ball over on downs, but McVay stated afterward:
“We came here to be aggressive and I wouldn’t take that decision back.”
Sean McVay, Rams Head Coach
Campbell praised his counterpart’s performance: “Give Matt Stafford a lot of credit he played lights out despite taking all those hits.”
Los Angeles used pre-snap motion on 69% of pass plays and created confusion for Detroit’s defense. Kupp alone traveled 436 yards in motion across 42 snaps; Detroit had to adjust coverages on nearly every play.
Injury Report and Roster Impact
Injuries altered strategies for both teams all game.
Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua departed in the first half with a knee injury after catching four passes for 35 yards. Joe Noteboom (ankle) was carted off in the second quarter after starting at left tackle. Steve Avila (knee) went down in the second half at left guard. The adjustments forced Jonah Jackson to slide from center to guard, with rookie Beaux Limmer taking over at center.
Detroit Lions
D.J. Reader (leg) remained inactive as he continues recovering from his quadriceps injury sustained last season. Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle) was also inactive. Jameson Williams and rookie Terrion Arnold both left briefly but returned. Carlton Davis exited with an undisclosed injury before coming back.
Week 1 Aftermath and Season Context
Detroit’s NFC North squad started 1-0 for the first time since 2017 as a legitimate playoff contender. The Lions hosted Tampa Bay in Week 2—a rematch of their divisional playoff victory from the previous postseason.
The NFC West’s Rams fell to 0-1 and traveled to Arizona for Week 2. Los Angeles faced significant roster uncertainty due to injuries at critical positions.
Montgomery and Gibbs combined for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in the 2024 NFL season opener. Williams’ 121 receiving yards ranked fourth in the league after Week 1. Only Green Bay’s Jayden Reed (138), Miami’s Tyreek Hill (130), and Indianapolis’ Alec Pierce (125) had more.
Stafford completed 69.4% of passes for 317 yards—his fourth consecutive game over 300 yards dating to the 2023 season. He faced consistent pressure from Detroit’s defensive front all night.
Detroit and Los Angeles each recorded one interception and two sacks. Joseph’s end zone pick stopped a potential Rams touchdown drive before halftime, while Johnson’s fourth quarter interception set up the go-ahead score.
According to ESPN’s game recap, this primetime battle between two playoff-caliber teams came down to execution in critical moments. Detroit made one more play when it counted, with Montgomery’s overtime touchdown completing the comeback at Ford Field in the Lions’ 2024 regular season debut.
