Los Angeles Rams vs Detroit Lions Sunday Night Football RECAP: Lions win 26-20 in OT on David Montgomery TD run

The very first Sunday Night Football game of 2024 went to overtime as the Detroit Lions secured the win at home against Matthew Stafford and the Rams. Stafford, playing against his former team in a rematch of last season’s Wild Card game (which the Lions won) finished the day 34/49 with 317 yards, a TD and an INT, but the Lions got the win in overtime on the backs of OT Penei Sewell and RB David Montgomery. Montgomery broke the Lions’ first series of OT open with a 21-yard gain, and capped the 70-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard TD run to finish things off for Detroit.

The game featured several must-see plays from Stafford, Rams WR Cooper Kupp, and Lions WR Jameson Williams. Read below to see all the must-see moments and in-game updates as they unfolded to kick off the 2024 Sunday Night Football slate.

David Montgomery for the Lions OT win on SNF!

The Lions defend home turf and are 1-0 to start 2024!

David Montgomery turning it on in overtime

A gain of 21 for the Lions RB.

Lions win the coin toss, elect to receive

A touchdown wins the game for Detroit.

NFL regular season overtime rules

Regular season NFL overtime rules are distinct from those in the postseason. Here’s a rundown from the NFL Football Operations team:

• At the end of regulation, the referee will toss a coin to determine which team will possess the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss.
• No more than one 10-minute period will follow a three-minute intermission. Each team must possess, or have the opportunity to possess, the ball. The exception: if the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession.
• Sudden death play — where the game ends on any score (safety, field goal or touchdown) — continues until a winner is determined.
• Each team gets two timeouts.
• The point after try is not attempted if the game ends on a touchdown.
• If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, the result of the game will be recorded as a tie.
• There are no instant replay coach’s challenges; all reviews will be initiated by the replay official.

Lions tie the game in the final seconds on Jake Bates field goal

We’re all tied up at 20-20 and headed to overtime on the first Sunday Night Football game of the season.

What a throw from Matthew Stafford!

Cris Collinsworth has this no-look pass tagged as an early contender for throw of the year - take a look:

ICYMI: Another look at this incredible catch from Cooper Kupp

Cooper Kupp is 10 toes behind you

Rams take lead in the fourth on TD catch for Cooper Kupp

The Rams have scored 17 unanswered points, and they’ve done it with a massively depleted offensive line. Los Angeles has the lead for the first time since the first quarter heading into the final minutes of the game

Rams intercept Goff for huge turnover in the fourth quarter

A huge play for Rams safety John Johnson, who picked off Goff at the Rams 20 yard line with Los Angeles down four points.

Rams hit with costly holding penalty

It initially looked like a touchdown for Rams rookie Jordan Whittington, but that was nullified by a holding call on OT A.J. Arcuri. After being on the Lions’ one yard line, the Rams settled for a field goal to cut the lead to four points.

MUST SEE: HUGE 63-yard run from Rams WR Tyler Johnson

The wide receiver showed off his speed and agility on this massive run to end the third quarter.

Rams score first TD of the year as Kyren Williams muscles it in

Los Angeles stays in contention, caps off 11-play, 70-yard drive with a two-yard TD run to make it a one-score game in the third quarter.

Jared Goff goes DEEP to Jameson Williams for the TD

Goff to Williams for the 52-yard TD early in the second half to put the Lions up 17-3 at Ford Field.

Rams WR Puka Macua ruled out with a knee injury

Read more here from ProFootballTalk

First half stats in Lions vs Rams

Some key numbers entering the second half of Sunday Night Football, thanks #NextGenStats powered by Amazon Web Services, including the fact that the Rams’ three points in the first half tied their fewest points in the first half of a regular season game under Sean McVay.

Dan Campbell says Lions are doing some “pretty good things” so far on SNF

The Lions HC told the Melissa Stark he’s happy with the interceptions Detroit had created in the first half, but was calling on his team to limit the penalties in the final two frames.

Kerby Joseph PICKS OFF Matthew Stafford in the end zone

A costly mistake for Stafford as the Rams see a scoring opportunity disappear on a pick for the third-year Lions safety at the end of the second half.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions awarded touchdown after official review

Officials took a careful look and determined Detroit RB Jahmyr Gibbs had gotten the ball across the line to put the Lions in the lead at the end of a 9-play, 77-yard drive near the close of the 2nd quarter.

Carlton Davis with the big pass breakup on fourth down

Lions DB Carlton Davis, who arrived in Detroit via a trade with Tampa Bay this offseason, comes up big in the second quarter, breaking up a Stafford pass intended for Cooper Kupp on fourth and four.

Lions even the score at 3-3 in the 2nd quarter

Jake Bates hits the 25-yarder to bring it all level in Detroit.

No touchdowns in first quarter of Sunday Night Football

Rams are up 3-0, but the Ford Field faithful are keeping the volume up.

First points of the season for the Rams

Los Angeles is on the board and in the lead thanks to a 41-yarder from rookie kicker Joshua Karty, a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Big sack for Lions Levi Onwuzurike

A potential Matthew Stafford touchdown look is denied as the DE comes up big.

Amon-Ra St. Brown shouts out the Lions faithful ahead of SNF

Full FNIA crew picks the Lions for the win on Sunday Night Football

This has never been an issue before, right?

Will the Rams finish over .500 this season?

With the Rams about minutes away from starting their season — will the Rams hit the over in 2024?

Kickoff minutes away on first SNF game of 2024

Jared Goff and the Lions are ready to protect home turf in their season opener.

Matthew Berry in on Kupp, Goff to St. Brown connection on SNF

Cooper Kupp is one of Berry’s favorite players in the NFL, and says that a healthy Kupp can definitely hit the over on 67.5 receiving yards.

Pre-game odds for Rams vs Lions on SNF

Quarterback matchup for LA vs. Detroit

• Rams: Matthew Stafford – In 2023, he threw for 3,965yds including 24 TDs
• Lions: Jared Goff – In 2023, he threw for 4,575yds and 30 TDs

Lions take the field in Detroit

Ford Field is buzzing for the Lions’ home opener in primetime.

Matthew Berry’s top players for Rams vs Lions

Los Angeles Rams inactives for Sunday Night Football

• RB Cody Schrader
• OLB Brennan Jackson
• ILB Elias Neal
• OL Rob Havenstein
• DE Desjuan Johnson

Detroit Lions inactives for Sunday Night Football

PFT: Lions “will pay close attention” to illegal formation rule

After the Ravens offensive tackles received four illegal formation penalties in Thursday night’s NFL kickoff game, Lions HC Dan Campbell said he made a point to address the topic with his team.

“I made that point this morning because I knew it had come up,” Campbell said on Friday. “They were gonna make a point of that, they’ll warn you once and then that’s it. There are no more. They’ll just start flagging them. So our guys know that and we’ll be ready for it.”

Read more here from PFT

Los Angeles vs. Detroit team stats, betting trends

• The Lions owned the NFL’s best record ATS at 14-6 (including the playoffs)
• The Rams were 11-6-1 ATS last season (including the playoffs)
• Rams are 13-5-2 ATS in their last 20 games in September
• Lions are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games overall

Fantasy: Lions WR Jameson Williams primed for a bigger role in 2024?

In his weekly “Optimal Flex Plays” article, Lawrence Jackson Jr. projects Lions WR Jameson Williams to get off to a great start in a potential high-scoring affair with the Rams on Sunday Night Football.

“Is this Williams’ year? That remains to be seen, but this could be his game and it’ll be right here on NBC (of course). With the highest game total in Week 1 at 51 points, this Wildcard Round rematch from a season ago is sure to set the stage on fire. While the Lions drafted some nice defensive backs, neither they nor the Rams return a top-tier passing defense. For the Rams, they brought in veterans like Tre’Davious White to help out, but can he or any of their defensive backs keep up with Williams? I don’t think so and they will certainly be put to the test. Dan Campbell has been singing Williams’ praises all off season and we should expect it to pay off starting in Week 1.”

Read Lawrence Jackson’s “Optimal Flex Plays” article here.

Matthew Stafford’s Previous Games vs Lions

Tonight is Matthew Stafford’s third time facing the Lions after his 2021 trade to the Rams. The Rams defeated the Lions at home in LA in the 2021 season, before the Lions bested the Rams in the Wild Card round last season.

In those previous two games against his former team, Stafford has 701 pass yards, 5 TD and 0 INT.

In August, Stafford was asked about the experience of being booed in Detroit during that Wild Card game. “It definitely was (difficult),” he said. “I would be not human if I wasn’t feeling some of those emotions. Even the week of practice thinking about it and talking to people that meant a lot to me in my life and in my career that still live in Detroit and are a big part of the community over there. It meant a lot, it was tough. Then when I walked into the stadium, I definitely felt it. But once the ball was set, it was time to go.”

Film Room with Rams Sean McVay on Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua (WATCH)

Ahead of Sunday Night’s matchup, Jason Garrett sat down with Rams head coach Sean McVay to break down film on some of the team’s biggest talent, including wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nakua, and also tested McVay’s famous memory for past plays.

Lions DT D.J. Reader not expected to play Sunday

Reports indicate that Reader, who signed with the Lions as a free agent in the offseason and who tore his quad playing for the Bengals last season, is not expected to play Week 1.

More here from ProFootballTalk

Fantasy: Matthew Berry likes Kupp to start bounceback in Week 1

Cooper Kupp struggled with injury last season, but Matthew Berry sees a healthy bounceback season in the offing, including a juicy Week 1 matchup against the Lions.

“During the games in which Cooper Kupp was healthy last season, he had a 27% target share. He was also top five among wide receivers in end zone targets per game. Kupp and Puka Nacua are very much a “Yes and” situation in that Rams offense. It’s not one or the other. A healthy Kupp is still going to put up numbers, and he has a very good chance to put up big numbers in Week 1 against a Detroit team that allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers last season. The Lions also allowed the fifth-most yards per reception to the slot, which is where Kupp does most of his work. He’s an easy top 15 WR in Week 1.”

Read Matthew Berry’s full “Love/Hate” column here.

NBC Sports Bet Best Bets for Rams vs Lions

“Amon-Ra St. Brown to score a TD (+100) is good value. The Lions’ WR1 scored a TD in the last 4 regular season games and in 7 of the last 9 games. He scored 10 TDs over the course of the 2023 season. With a Game Total of 52, TDs are expected.”

Click here for more insights from the team at NBC Sports Bet

Lions gameday hype video

Detroit is leaning into the heightened expectations for their 2024 season.

Latest Game Odds for Rams vs Lions on SNF

The latest odds as of Sunday morning via DraftKings:

• Moneyline: LA Rams (+170), Detroit Lions (-205)
• Spread: Lions -4.5
• Total: 52.5

The line has moved 1.5 points since Opening Detroit -3. The Total has ballooned up from the Opening of 50.5 as bettors obviously expect offense in this game.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NFL schedule!

Florio and Simms both pick the Lions for SNF win

This year, Mike Florio and Chris Simms will be picking every game of the NFL season, with the selections revealed in a joint #PFTPM/Chris Simms Unbuttoned picks podcast, delivered by Little Caesars.

Here’s their take on tonight’s Rams-Lions matchup:

“No Aaron Donald. No Raheem Morris. Preseason injury issues galore. Advantage, Lions.”

• Florio: Lions, 30-24.
• Simms: Lions, 30-20.