Rams vs. Lions final score, results: David Montgomery leads Detroit's winning drive in Week 1 OT thriller

Sarah Effress

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Rams vs. Lions final score, results: David Montgomery leads Detroit's winning drive in Week 1 OT thriller image

Jared Goff and the Lions earned their first win of the 2024 regular season in a hard-fought overtime victory against the Rams. The 26-20 slugfest at Ford Field came after Detroit beat Los Angeles by one point in the NFC wild-card round in January, fueling discourse ahead of this year's Sunday night opener.

Dan Campbell's quarterback performed well enough to secure the win, completing 18-of-28 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Jameson Williams enjoyed an exceptional 2024 debut with 121 yards on five receptions and one touchdown for the Lions, as did David Montgomery with 91 yards on 17 carries and the game-winning score.

Despite the loss, Matthew Stafford played well against his former team, throwing for 317 yards and 34-of-49 passes with one touchdown and one interception. Cooper Kupp was a threat, too, pulling in 110 yards on 14 receptions and one touchdown. Unfortunately, receiver Puka Nacua left the game with a knee injury and his status for the week ahead is still undetermined.

The Sporting News had you covered with everything you need to know about the Rams vs. Lions Week 1 game on NFL "Sunday Night Football," including live scores, updates, and highlights.

MORE: Caleb Williams stats vs. Titans | Bo Nix stats vs. Seahawks | Jayden Daniels stats vs. Buccaneers

Rams vs. Lions score

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Rams vs. Lions results, highlights from Sunday night football

(All times Eastern)

Final: Lions 26, Rams 20

11:37 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN! LIONS WIN! Montgomery finishes this one off with a 1-yard score, giving Detroit its first win of the season in its first overtime victory in eight years. 

11:35 p.m. — Gibbs muscles his way to the 15 for a 3-yard gain before Montgomery drives up the middle for six more inside the 10-yard line. Montgomery repeats, rushing for eight yards all the way to the Rams one before Los Angeles takes a timeout with 5:24 remaining in OT.

11:33 p.m. — Montgomery tacks on nine more his next carry and Goff follows that up with a short pass to Gibbs who is pushed out at the 18-yard line for a 1st down. Reminder, a touchdown wins the game.

11:32 p.m. — Raymond takes the first handoff and runs it left for a 12-yard gain before Montgomery runs the opposite way for 21 more, setting up the Lions with a first down at the Rams 37.

11:30 p.m. — Evans kicks another touchback and Detroit will start on their own 30.

11:27 p.m. — Here's a quick overtime rules refresher. The Lions win the toss and elect to receive the kickoff. 

End of regulation: Rams 20, Lions 20

11:26 p.m. — Hutchinson breaks through the Rams line and deals a sack to Stafford as the clock winds down, ending the game in a 20-all tie. This one is set to be the 2024 regular season's first overtime game!

11:25 p.m. — Stafford nearly throws an interception to Davis on a pass intended for Kupp. Unfortunately, Davis is hurt on the play and the Lions take a timeout with 11 seconds on the clock.

11:23 p.m. — Bates kicks another touchback and the Rams will have 17 seconds to score from their own 30.

Rams 20, Lions 20

11:21 p.m. — Goff throws another incompletion, this time to Gibbs, so the Lions fall to 4th down. Bates appears to tie the game from 32 yards out, and he makes the kick to even the score at 20 with 17 seconds remaining. 

11:20 p.m. — Goff throws an incompletion to St. Brown that was nearly picked off by Lake, then the quarterback throws a 5-yard pass to Williams who is tackled in-bounds. Campbell takes a timeout with 24 seconds remaining and the Lions at 3rd & 5 on the Rams 14.

11:18 p.m. — The call was reviewed as it was initially called that Gibbs landed out of bounds, stopping the clock. However, it was overturned and he went down in-bounds, meaning a 10 second runoff was added to the clock. Detroit ended up with 52 seconds to finish the drive.

11:16 p.m. — Gibbs grabs an 8-yard pass from Goff to get to the Rams 23 before Goff throws an incompletion over Gibbs' head as he was heading toward the end zone. Nevertheless, the running back picks up a first down on the next play with a 4-yard run to the Rams 19 with 1:05 remaining.

11:14 p.m. — Goff comes back from the break with a bang and an 18-yard completion to LaPorta. Kinchens is called for unnecessary roughness on the tackle and Detroit gets 15 more yards from that as well to set up 1st down at the Rams 31. 

11:11 p.m. — Gibbs takes the first handoff for a 5-yard game as the clock ticks down to the two minute warning. Los Angeles has a three point lead to defend.

11:10 p.m. — Stafford slightly overthrows Kupp on the next play to end the drive and the quarterback walks off the field with his hands over his head. Evans punts it to the Lions 28 where it is returned by Raymond to the 31. Detroit has 2:11 remaining to come back from the three point deficit.

11:08 p.m. — The Rams are called for a false start on McClendon which sets them back five more yards. Williams only gains seven back on the next handoff to set up 3rd & 10 from their own 22.

11:06 p.m. — Stafford gets the first down with a 6-yard pass to Robinson as several defenders hound him during the throw. Williams is then taken down on the next handoff for a loss of two. The Lions take a timeout with 2:31 remaining and 2nd & 12 for the Rams from their own 20.

11:05 p.m. — Stafford darts a 5-yard pass to Kupp up the middle to the Rams 16 before throwing an incompletion to Johnson who is covered well by Onwuzurike, setting up 3rd & 5.

11:02 p.m. — Campbell elects to punt and Williams fair catches it at the Rams 11 with 4:10 to go in the game.

11:01 p.m. — Goff is hit as he throws his next pass for an incompletion to set up 3rd & 5 at the Lions own 35. The quarterback tries again for Williams along the left sideline, but it's nearly intercepted by Durant.

11 p.m. — Evans kicks another touchback and the Lions will have a chance to return the favor from their own 30. Goff starts things off with a short pass to St. Brown for five yards.

Rams 20, Lions 17

10:56 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN! The Lions take the lead as Stafford passes it to Kupp on the outside who runs it in for the score. Karty hits the extra point and Detroit goes up by three with 4:30 in the game remaining. 

10:56 p.m. — Williams gains five more yards on another run before Stafford fires it to Robinson at the Lions nine for a fresh set of downs.

10:54 p.m. — Robinson makes a 9-yard reception just short of the 1st down marker and Williams punches it over the line for a fresh set of downs at the Lions 47. Then, Stafford slings a pass deep to Kupp who makes a remarkable toe-tap pass on the sideline for a 20-yard gain.

10:52 p.m. — Stafford gets the first down with a 13-yard completion to Johnson up the middle. The quarterback then gets it to Kupp who goes out-of-bounds for no gain.

10:50 p.m. — With just over nine minutes to go in regulation, the Rams regain possession at their own 20 and Stafford starts things off with a 7-yard pass to Kupp. He follows that up with a 2-yard pass to Parkinson who gets it to 3rd & 1 at the Rams 29.

10:48 p.m. — INTERCEPTION! Ragnow is called for a false start to send Detroit back to the 30 on 2nd & 8, and then Goff fires one up the middle for St. Brown but is picked off by Johnson at the 20-yard line.

10:46 p.m. — Goff passes it off again, this time to Williams, who makes the catch and sprints upfield for to the Rams 32 for a 27-yard gain. Gibbs takes the next handoff for a 7-yard run to the 25.

10:45 p.m. — Goff helps to gain some ground, making a 9-yard pass to LaPorta. The quarterback follows that up with a 7-yard scramble for the first down.

10:43 p.m. — Evans kicks it off for a touchback and Gibbs gets the first handoff for no gain. Then, Glasgow false starts for the Lions, sending them back to 2nd & 15 on their own 25. 

Lions 17, Rams 13

10:40 p.m. — McVay sends out Karty for the 26-yard try and he nails it, inching the Rams closer to the Lions. Detroit still leads by four points with 12:32 remaining in the game.

10:38 p.m. — Williams runs it again for three yards and Stafford throws it away on the next play, but another holding is called on Arcuri and the Rams are forced to take a field goal on 4th & Goal.

10:35. p.m. — After Williams is stopped on a carry for no gain, Whittington runs it in for a 1-yard score. But, the touchdown is called back due to an offensive holding called on Arcuri. The Rams are relegated to 2nd & Goal at the Lions 11.

10:34 p.m. — Kupp picks up a 5-yard completion to the Lions 18. Then, Stafford tries to his Robinson in the deep left corner of the end zone but Arnold breaks it up. However, Arnold is called for defensive pass interference to set the Rams up at the one for 1st & Goal.

End of third quarter: Lions 17, Rams 10

10:30 p.m. — Stafford hands it off to Williams who is taken down in the backfield by Branch for a loss of two. Then, the quarterback passes one short to Johnson around the 20-yard line, and the receiver spins and runs for a 63-yard play all the way to the Lions 23 as the quarter winds down.

10:26 p.m. — Goff makes a short 4-yard pass to LaPorta who is stopped one yard short of the first down. Campbell chooses to punt it away from the Lions own 39 and Fox boots it to the Rams 16 where Los Angeles will get the ball back. 

10:25 p.m. — Evans kicks another touchback and the Lions take over at their own 30. Goff starts off the drive with a 2-yard completion to Gibbs before the running back takes the next carry for three more.

Lions 17, Rams 10

10:20 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN! Williams punches in the Rams first touchdown of the year on a 2-yard run to get Los Angeles within a score of the Lions. Karty nails the extra point and the Rams have 3:33 remaining in the quarter to get the ball back.

10:18 p.m. — Kupp makes a run up the right for one yard and Williams follows that up with three yards himself to set up 3rd & 6 at the 11. Then, Stafford floats one toward the right corner of the end zone to Kupp who is covered by Arnold, but Arnold is called for defensive pass interference and the Lions suddenly earn 1st & Goal.

10:15 p.m. — Campbell elects to go for it and Stafford responds with a 14 yard completion into the Lions red zone. Unfortunately, Arnold was injured during the play for Detroit.

10:13 p.m. — Williams takes the next handoff for six yards and tacks on another one after that to set up 4th & 3 at the Lions 29.

10:12 p.m. — Stafford finds Kupp open once again at the left sideline for a 21-yard reception to get the Rams into Detroit territory. The quarterback's next pass to Johnson is complete but goes for no gain to keep Los Angeles at the Detroit 36.

10:10 p.m. — Bates kicks it off for a touchback and Williams loses three yards and subsequently gains it back on 1st and 2nd down. Then, Kupp makes a reception for 13 yards and give the Rams a first down at their own 43.

Lions 17, Rams 3

10:04 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN! Williams streaks up the left sideline and makes a 52-yard reception for the score, extending the Lions lead to two touchdowns. White is called for illegal use of hands on the play for Los Angeles as well. Bates hits the extra point and Detroit is up 14 with 10:29 remaining in the third.

10:02 p.m. — Montgomery starts off the Lions drive with a five yard carry before making a 2-yard catch at their own 48 to set up 3rd & 3.

9:59 p.m. — Williams takes the first handoff from Stafford but goes down for a loss of one before Stafford passes to Johnson who gains one back. Then, the quarterback tries deep for Kupp but it is nearly intercepted by Branch. The Rams go three-and-out as well to start the half and Evans punts it away to the Lions, who will start with it at the 41.

9:56 p.m. — Goff throws an incompletion to Williams which is well covered by Reeder and the Lions go three-and-out in their first drive of the half. Fox punts it into the end zone and the Rams will receive the ball at their own 30.

9:55 p.m. — Evans kicks off the second half with a touchback and the Lions get the ball at their own 30. Montgomery gets the first handoff for a 2-yard run then tacks on another four the next play.

Halftime: Lions 10, Rams 3

9:40 p.m. — Starting with the ball on the Lions 20, Goff is sacked for an 8-yard loss as the clock winds down to halftime. The home team has a one score lead with two quarters of play to go. 

9:39 p.m. — INTERCEPTION! Stafford is picked off by Joseph in the end zone on a pass intended for Johnson. Joseph goes down for a touchback and the Lions regain possession with 15 seconds to go in the quarter and a seven point lead.

9:38 p.m. — Stafford completes a short pass to Kupp who runs four yards to the Lions eight, then the quarterback fires to the back of the end zone but misses Robinson, setting up 2nd & Goal from the eight.

9:36 p.m. — Parkinson makes a 20-yard completion to get into the red zone and Stafford escapes a sack before shoveling it to Williams, who runs for eight more yards to the Detroit 12. Nacua returns to the sidelines.

9:35 p.m. — Stafford passes a short one to Johnson for two yards, but Hutchinson hits the quarterback hard and is called for roughing the passed, giving the Rams 15 more yards at the end of the play. 

9:33 p.m. — Williams runs the next handoff for four yards and a first down before Stafford misses Kupp in the middle of the field with just under 50 seconds remaining. Nacua also returns to play.

9:31 p.m. — Bates kicks it off for a touchback and the Rams get the ball at their own 30. Williams takes the first handoff from Stafford for a 4-yard run and is then tackled for a loss of two on the next play, but Detroit is called offside and the Rams get the ball at 2nd & 1.

Lions 10, Rams 3

9:28 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN! The 1-yard run from Gibbs is ruled a score as the running back extended over the goal line before being ruled down. Bates hits the extra point and the Lions lead by a touchdown late in the first half with 1:57 remaining.

9:25 p.m. — Stafford once again hands it off to Gibbs who appears to stretch into the end zone before losing control of the ball. The play is under review. In other game-related news, it looks like Nacua is suffered a knee injury and is questionable to return.

9:21 p.m. — Williams re-enters the game as Gibbs gets another handoff for one yard to set up 3rd & 1 at the Rams five. Gibbs runs it around the outside again for two more yards and a first down before Goff passes it short to Wright for a 1-yard gain to set the Lions up at the 1-yard line as the clock winds down to the two minute warning.

9:20 p.m. — Williams walked off the field under his own power and is standing on the sidelines. Stafford returns from the injury timeout with a handoff to Gibbs, who takes it up the middle for an 8-yard run to get inside the Rams 10.

9:16 p.m. — Detroit creeps closer, with a 14-yard catch by Gibbs and a 13-yard run by Williams setting the team up at the Rams 14. However, Williams stays down after being tackled by Rozeboom on the first down run with an apparent injury.

9:14 p.m. — The Lions start off their drive with a bang thanks to a 36-yard reception by Williams to get Detroit to the Rams 41. Goff decides he's feeling it and takes a shot to Williams in the end zone on the next play but overthrows him.

9:10 p.m. — Stafford finds Nacua again for a 6-yard gain then, going for it on 4th & 4, he slings a pass to Kupp which is broken up at the last second by Onwuzurike to turn it over on downs. Detroit gets possession back at its own 23 with 6:31 remaining in the half.

9:08 p.m. — Williams takes a 4-yard carry for a first down and Stafford follows that up with an incompletion to Kupp that's swatted away by Branch. The quarterback then throws the ball away after being chased around the backfield to set up 3rd & 10 at the Lions 29.

9:06 p.m. — Stafford finds Nacua in the middle of the field for a 7-yard gain before Kupp makes a 9-yard run off a handoff for another first down. Nacua gets another reception the next play for six yards to the Lions 33.

9:04 p.m. — Stafford's next attempt goes for a short incompletion to Parkinson before Rivers picks up 12 yards and another fresh set of downs at their own 45. Then, McVay takes the Rams first time out of the half with 10:01 remaining.

9:02 p.m. — Nacua makes a reception before being pushed out of bounds at the 29 and Rivers follows that up with a 4-yard run for a first down. 

9 p.m. — Bates boots the kickoff 63 yards to the Rams two where Whittington returns it to the 22. 

Rams 3, Lions 3

8:58 p.m. — Unwilling to take the risk and go for it, Campbell sends out Bates for a 25-yard try. The kicker nails it and ties the score at three with 12:17 remaining in the half. 

8:57 p.m. — Goff hits St. Brown on the left sideline, who dodges a tackle and pushes to the six. Montgomery takes the next handoff and is tackled for a loss of one, however, and Goff throws an incompletion to LaPorta in the back of the end zone to set up 4th & Goal.

8:55 p.m. — Goff kicks off the second with an incompletion before Montgomery drives up the middle for a gain of three. The quarterback then completes a 14-yard effort to LaPorta, who is dropped at the Rams 10 yard line for 1st & Goal.

End of first quarter: Rams 3, Lions 0

8:49 p.m. — Montgomery takes it for two more carries, combining for 14 yards to set up first down at the Rams 35. The running back tacks on seven more yards and Williams makes a catch for one more to set up 3rd & 2 at the Rams 27 as the quarter winds down. Los Angeles ends the first 15 up three on Detroit with 45 more minutes of play to go.

8:48 p.m. — The Rams Young is called on illegal use of the hands after Montgomery catches a bubble pass and runs for five yards. Detroit moves forward five more to the Rams 49 with a fresh set of downs.

8:46 p.m. — Montgomery takes the first handoff for a 3-yard gain before Gibbs speeds toward the right sideline for six more. Montgomery gets the ball again on the next play and runs it two yards for a first down at the Lions own 41.

8:44 p.m. — Evans boots the kickoff all the way into the end zone, and the Lions get the ball at their own 30.

Rams 3, Lions 0

8:41 p.m. — Karty scores the Rams first points of the 2024 regular season with the first made field goal of his career, hitting a 41-yarder. Los Angeles leads in Detroit with 4:50 remaining in the quarter.

8:40 p.m. — Unfortunately, things continue to decline for the Rams as McClendon is called for a false start to push them back five more yards. Williams runs for nine on 3rd & 23 to get the ball to the Lions 32, within field goal range for Karty.

8:38 p.m. — The quarterback gets out of a jam and into the red zone with a 15-yard pass to Parkinson, who is tackled at the Lions 19. He then throws another incompletion to Allen before being engulfed by Lions defenders for an 8-yard loss, pushing back the line of scrimmage to the 27.

8:36 p.m. — Stafford hits Kupp again along the left sideline to push forward four yards before throwing one short to Robinson, setting up 3rd & 6 at the Detroit 34.

8:34 p.m. — Kupp snags another one for eight yards and Williams tacks on a two yard run for another fresh set of downs. Nacua then gets involved with a 16-yard reception, breaking a tackle and being pushed out of bounds by Anzalone at the Detroit 38.

8:32 p.m. — Stafford slings his first two passes of the drive to Kupp for a combined 16 yards and a first down. Then, he passes short right to Parkinson for another 10-yard gain.

8:29 p.m. — The play forces a Lions punt, which Fox sends 67 yards into the end zone for a touchback. The Rams are called for holding, pushing them back 10 yards to start the next drive.

8:28 p.m. — Goff hands it off to Montgomery for a 2-yard run up the middle before passing it to St. Brown for a 4-yard gain. However, Young comes up big for Los Angeles on the next play, sacking Goff for a loss of nine on 3rd & 4.

8:26 p.m. — The Rams elect to punt, and Evans boots it 48 to the Lions, who return it for 11 yards to their own 36.

8:25 p.m. — Stafford gets things started with a pass to Williams who is obliterated by Anzalone for a loss of one. The quarterback then slings an incompletion to Robinson, then Kupp catches one before he is stopped for yet another loss of two to set up 4th down. 

8:23 p.m. — First-year kicker Bates kicks it off for Detroit to Corum for the Rams, but it goes out for a touchback. Los Angeles will get the ball on their own 30.

8:20 p.m. — Here we go! It's time for the first Sunday night football game of the year. Catch the contest on NBC or Peacock, Fubo and DAZN NFL if you're in Canada.

Pregame

8:10 p.m. — With just about 10 minutes remaining until kickoff, don't be surprised if any clips coming out of tonight's game feature a crowd of glittering lights. Every attendee has been given a light-up bracelet, a-la Eras Tour, to create a blue light show inside Ford Field. 

7:40 p.m. — The Lions enter the field to rousing chants of "Jared Goff" while Stafford is lightly booed as he jogs on. 

7:30 p.m. — Inactives for both teams have been announced ahead of kickoff in just under an hour. Unfortunately, Detroit will miss out on veteran defensive lineman DJ Reader despite his return to practice last week after rehabbing a quad injury. James Houston is also out, which is a surprise considering he wasn't present on any injury report leading up to the opener.

The Rams will be without starting offensive tackles including Rob Havenstein, who has been dealing with an ankle injury. Here's a look at both teams sitters tonight. 

6:40 p.m. — The Lions and Rams have both arrived at Ford Field, and each team is showing out in the fashion department. Here's a look at what some players decided to wear ahead of the Sunday night matchup.

Rams vs. Lions start time

  • Date: Sunday, Sept. 8
  • Time: 8:20 p.m. ET

Sunday's game between the Rams and Lions is set to kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

2024 NFL RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | Defense

What channel is Rams vs. Lions on today?

The Lions vs. Rams Week 1 matchup will air nationally on NBC's "Sunday Night Football." It will also be available to live stream on Peacock, DAZN NFL (in Canada) and Fubo.

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      Sarah Effress

      Sarah Effress Photo

      Sarah Effress is an editorial intern for The Sporting News. She is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, and loves to talk soccer and women's college sports.