NFL highlights on Jan. 14: Lions secure first playoff win in 32 years

The Detroit Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 in the National Football League (NFL) National Football Conference (NFC) Wild Card Game at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, securing their first postseason win in 32 years and advancing to the NFC Divisional round.

The last time the Lions won a playoff game was in the 1991 season, their current quarterback (QB) Jared Goff was not born. The Rams' QB Matthew Stafford was only three years old. The two were traded for each other by the two teams in March 2021. Stafford helped the Rams won Super Bowl LVI in the following season while Goff continued with the Lions' playoff drought.

Things changed in the 2023 season as the Pistons finished as the No. 3 seed of the NFC to host the No. 6 seed, the Rams, at home. The first half of Sunday's game was filled with excellent offensive work on both sides. The two teams completed seven drives in total in the first two quarters. Six of them ended with scoring plays. The Lions had three touchdowns and the Rams got two touchdowns and one field goal.

Goff completed 14 of his 15 passes in the first half and connected with tight end Sam LaPorta at the beginning of the second period to score their third touchdown, extending their lead to 11 points (21-10). The other two touchdowns were contributed by running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs via rushing. Goff completed a 33-yard connection with wide receiver Josh Reynolds in the second drive.

Stafford's passing completion percentage wasn't as high as Goff's, but Stafford generated more passing yards (367-277) in total and more touchdowns (2-1). The first one happened in the team's second drive in the second quarter when wide receiver Puka Nacua caught his pass from 50 yards to score. The second touchdown also came from a deep connection between Stafford and wide receiver Tutu Atwell at 38 yards.

Both the Rams and the Lions cooled down quickly in the second half of Sunday's game as they combined to score three field goals, two by the Rams. Kicker Brett Maher's shot from 29 yards cut the Rams' deficit to one point (24-23). The team then neutralized the Lions' next offense that lasted for only 52 seconds with three plays.

However, the following drive by the Rams didn't go well as they progressed only 48 yards in six plays to the opponents' 44 yards, too far to even shoot a field goal. They had to punt and gave the ball back to the Lions, who took all the time they needed with seven plays to seal the deal.

In the other NFC Wild Card Game on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys 48-32 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. QB Jordan Love completed 16 of his 21 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns with no interception. Running back Aaron Jones rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns with 21 carries.

The Cowboys' QB Dak Prescott threw 41-of-60 for 403 yards and three touchdowns, but with two interceptions The second one took place at the end of the second quarter when free safety Darnell Savage intercepted a short pass for wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on a 2nd & 2. He returned for 64 yards to score a touchdown for the Packers to lead 27-0.