DETROIT— “We came here to try to win the game.”

That’s how Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay explained his aggressive play calling after a 26-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. With 6:36 left before halftime and the game tied at 3-3, the Rams faced 4th & 4 on Detroit’s 23-yard line.

Instead of sending rookie kicker Joshua Karty on a field goal attempt that could have given the Rams a three-point lead, McVay opted to try. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s pass to Cooper Kupp was misfired, thanks to pressure from Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport.

“I thought it was an opportunity to get the ball to one of our best players, a player we have a lot of confidence in, with the presence we wanted, and we just didn’t execute,” McVay said.

“We came here with an aggressive mindset and mentality. We didn’t feel like we could settle for field goals. That’s why we came up short last time. And ultimately, some of those decisions probably led to us not finishing tonight.”

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The season-opener loss marked the Rams’ second straight at Ford Field, with the previous defeat coming in last season’s wild-card game, where they lost 24-23. In that game, nine of their points came on three field goals by former kicker Brett Maher.

At several points in the game, the Rams offense found success against the Lions, particularly through the air. Despite being intercepted by Kerby Joseph, Stafford tore up the Lions’ revamped secondary for 317 yards and a touchdown—a nine-yard pass to Kupp with 4:30 left in regulation.

However, once they got into the red zone, the Rams failed to capitalize on multiple opportunities. From the start of the game through the beginning of the fourth quarter, their red zone trips resulted in a field goal, a turnover on downs, and an interception.

“I really think that one at the end of the half hurt us. We lost the ball against the clock in a two-minute situation,” McVay said. “They were doing a good job, and then the penalty happened. We had a walk-in touchdown, but that penalty cost us. That’s what kept us from scoring, but we eventually came back on the next drive. Matthew was perfect and Cooper made a run from about eight yards out, or wherever we were.”

“There were a lot of good things, but kudos to them — they made crucial plays when they had to. Ultimately, we didn’t finish 4th & 4 in the first half, and that was a big one too.”

The Rams converted 2 of 5 chances in the red zone.