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Detroit Lions survive overtime, beat LA Rams 26-20 in season opener

Vaseline September 9, 2024

David Montgomery is the closer for the Detroit Lions.

Dan Campbell said as much on Friday, praising Montgomery’s ability to set the tone in games and finish strong when others tire. On Sunday, the running back made good on those words, collecting 45 of his 91 yards on five attempts in overtime as the Lions beat the Los Angeles Rams 26-20 in the season opener at Ford Field.

Montgomery had a big gain of 21 yards on the second play of overtime, after the Lions had nearly blown a 17-3 second-half lead but tied it with a field goal with 17 seconds left. Runs of 9, 9 and 8 yards followed before reaching the end zone on a 1-yard run.

Montgomery is sometimes overlooked in the Lions’ weapon-laden offense, but he’s a big reason the team is 1-0 one week into the 2024 season.

Here are three more quick thoughts about the Lions’ win over the Rams on Sunday Night Football.

Jameson Williams comes out on top

Everyone within the Lions organization has been very positive about Jameson Williams this offseason, and the third-year receiver played perhaps the best game of his career on Sunday.

Williams caught five passes for 121 yards and scored a 52-yard touchdown in the third quarter. He was the catalyst for virtually everything good the Lions did offensively.

With the Rams determined to take Amon-Ra St. Brown (three catches, 13 yards) out of the game, Williams emerged as Goff’s favorite target. He helped the Lions take a 10-3 lead in the first half with a 36-yard catch on an over route, running away from safety Quentin Lake, and had a 13-yard gain on an end-around later in the series.

Williams scored on a double-take, faked a stutter and was assessed a pass interference penalty passing cornerback Tre’Davious White. He won’t get 100 yards every week, but his speed is a nuclear weapon.

Hands off

First-round pick Terrion Arnold was assessed two pass interference penalties in the second half, both times near the goal line, preventing the Rams from scoring.

None of Arnold’s penalties were excessive. He grabbed Cooper Kupp by the shoulder pads in the first and connected with Demarcus Robinson in the end zone early in the second. But Arnold was known as a crafty player in college and will have to learn when and where he can get away with extra contact in the pros.

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I thought the Lions’ new-look secondary performed well overall on Sunday, though Brian Branch and Carlton Davis III dropped interceptions in addition to Arnold’s penalties. Branch and Davis had pass breakups four plays apart midway through the second quarter, with Davis’ stop coming on fourth-and-3 to force a turnover on downs, and Kerby Joseph had an interception in the end zone.

It’s clear that the Lions saw the improvement they had hoped for in their defense with their new players in the off-season.

Hutchinson comes out on top

Aidan Hutchinson is having a great year.

Hutchinson had five tackles, four quarterback hits and a sack on the final play of regulation Sunday. Those stats don’t even begin to describe what he meant to the Lions’ defense.

Hutchinson also picked up two holding penalties when the Lions limited the Rams to a field goal after L.A. reached Detroit’s 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter. His ability to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks is something only a handful of pass rushers in the NFL can match: T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons and Maxx Crosby.

The third-year defensive end did receive a penalty for roughing the passer, but he easily could have had three sacks had he not been called for a holding penalty and let Matthew Stafford slip through his fingers again.

Dave Birkett is the author of the new book “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Pre-order now from Reedy Press.

Contact him via [email protected]Follow him on X and Instagram via @davebirkett.