Fans cry tears of joy as Detroit Lions end three-decade NFL playoff drought

Jared Goff lifted his arms within the air, encouraging Ford Discipline followers to get even louder, earlier than taking the ultimate snap to finish his long-suffering franchise’s skid within the playoffs.

The gang delivered, approaching the decibel stage of a siren.

Goff got here by way of, too.

Goff threw for a landing and accomplished a cross for a victory-sealing first down in opposition to the workforce that solid him away, and the Detroit Lions gained a playoff recreation for the primary time in 32 years, beating Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 on Sunday evening and the group’s cheers turned to tears of pleasure. 

The Lions (13-5) ended a nine-game post-season shedding streak — the longest in NFL historical past — that dated to a victory over Dallas on January 5, 1992. They misplaced a house playoff recreation two years later and had not hosted one since.

“It means an entire lot to this metropolis,” Goff mentioned. “We knew what it meant when this season began to get into the playoffs after which to get this win. And, you understand, it is just the start for us. We have some run left.”

Detroit, the NFC’s No. 3 seed, could have two house playoff video games for the primary time in franchise historical past, internet hosting both Tampa Bay or Philadelphia within the divisional spherical subsequent Sunday. Second-seeded Dallas was routed by Inexperienced Bay.

The Rams (10-8) had an opportunity to take the lead late within the fourth quarter, however Detroit’s defence denied them. A holding penalty pushed Los Angeles out of subject objective vary, and Stafford — the Lions’ longtime quarterback who gained a Tremendous Bowl after he was traded to the Rams — threw incomplete on fourth down.

On the primary play after the two-minute warning, Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for 11 yards, permitting the Lions to expire the clock — a lot to the delight of long-suffering followers who witnessed the franchise’s second post-season victory since successful the 1957 NFL title.

“That is the most effective house environment I’ve ever performed in, and I anticipate subsequent week will high that,” Goff mentioned.

In opposition to the franchise he as soon as led to the Tremendous Bowl, Goff was 22 of 27 for 277 yards and threw a two-yard landing cross to rookie tight finish Sam LaPorta that put Detroit forward 21-10 halfway by way of the second quarter.

The Lions acquired Goff and a pair of first-round picks for Stafford three years in the past.

“Jared was actually environment friendly. You might see the command that he has,” mentioned Rams coach Sean McVay, whose relationship with Goff soured earlier than the commerce. “There’s rather a lot fabricated from it, however I am actually blissful for him. We wished to return away with a win, however he is completed a fantastic job.”

Stafford, who performed many of the recreation with a bandaged and bloody hand after he slammed it right into a defender’s helmet, completed 25 of 36 for 367 yards with two touchdowns.

“I would not need anybody else as our quarterback apart from Matthew Stafford,” McVay mentioned.

“He was excellent. He was gritty. He was gutsy and made powerful throw after powerful throw.

“The frenzy was barrelling down on him, and he stood in there and was dropping dimes all day.”

Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 general in 2009 and whereas he put up gaudy statistics, he did not win a playoff recreation in his 12 seasons. Stafford hugged dozens of Detroit’s gamers and employees members after the sport.

“I am blissful for the gamers,” he mentioned. “I am blissful for these guys.”

Report-breaking rookie Puka Nacua had 9 receptions for 181 yards and a landing for the Rams.

David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs every had a dashing TD for the Lions, and St. Brown had seven receptions for 110 yards.

After trailing by 11 factors, the Rams obtained inside 21-17 at half-time due to Stafford’s 50-yard landing cross to Nacua and his 38-yarder to Tutu Atwell.

Michael Badgley’s season-long, 54-yard subject objective — the longest of his post-season profession, and tied for the longest in Detroit’s playoff historical past — gave the Lions a seven-point lead halfway by way of the third quarter.

The Rams moved the ball at will for a lot of the sport, however needed to accept quick subject targets by Brett Maher to get inside 24-23 with 8:10 remaining.

“The distinction within the recreation was the purple space,” McVay mentioned.

Stafford has made a profession of fourth-quarter comebacks, a reality the followers at Ford Discipline have been nicely conscious of. With an opportunity to place the Rams forward for the primary time, he led a drive to the Detroit 34, however the Lions’ defence compelled him backwards from there.

Detroit took over with 4:07 to go, and Los Angeles had just one timeout left after calling two earlier within the half to deal with the group noise. That allowed Goff to take a knee after his throw to St. Brown.

The Lions began robust and seemed as fired up as their long-suffering followers, with rapper and Motor Metropolis native Eminem in the home together with Corridor of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.

“After we got here out for pre-game warm-ups, it was already buzzing,” Campbell mentioned.

The followers showered Stafford with boos when he ran onto the sphere, the place he posed for a pre-game picture together with his spouse and their daughters, and chanted “Jar-ed Goff! Jar-ed Goff” for the Lions’ quarterback.

“Going into this recreation, I had two issues I used to be enjoying for: I used to be enjoying for my teammates and I used to be enjoying for the town,” mentioned Hutchinson, who grew up in suburban Detroit and starred at Michigan.

“This metropolis has been so deserving of this for therefore lengthy, and we’ll stick with it.”

AP/ABC