Lions' Grades: Offense Starts Fast, Delivers in Clutch

Grading the Lions' win over the Rams.

The Detroit Lions got a fast start from their offense in what was looking to be a shootout Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams. 

However, the second half saw both offense slow down as the teams combined for just nine points out of the break. In the end, it was the Lions who emerged victorious by a single point, 24-23. 

With the win, the Lions extend their season by at least a week and will host either Philadelphia or Tampa Bay in the Divisional Round Sunday. 

Here are grades for each position group in the Lions' win over the Rams. 

Quarterback: A

The matchup between Goff and Stafford was as hotly anticipated as any matchup this weekend, if not more. It delivered fully, as both passers were dealing. In particular, Goff came out blazing by completing each of his first 11 passes. 

By halftime, he had racked up 194 yards and a touchdown on the strength of 16-of-18 passing. The offense slowed down in the second half, but the veteran passer still delivered when it mattered most. 

Taking over with just over four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Goff delivered first down throws to David Montgomery and Amon-Ra St. Brown before taking the clinching kneel-downs. 

With his exceptional performance, to the tune of 22-for-27 passing for 277 yards and a score, he became one of just five quarterbacks to throw for over 275 yards on 80 percent completions and a passer rating of above 120.0. 

Running backs: B+

The Lions' run game was kept quiet for much of the night, as the offense leaned on Goff's arm throughout its fast start. Montgomery was solid, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and scoring the game's first touchdown. 

Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs also reached the end zone, but his production was limited to just 25 yards on eight rushes. However, he was an impact player in the passing game by hauling in four passes for 43 yards. 

The shifty rookie made several defenders miss in the open field. Montgomery, meanwhile, delivered a clutch first down reception late in the game when he took a short pass 11 yards to move the chains. 

Wide receivers: A

Early on in the game, Josh Reynolds sparked the offense with a pair of long catches. On the first drive, he had one reception for 24 yards and another that put the offense on the doorstep of their first score. 

Reynolds would finish with five catches for 80 yards. While he did some of the heavy lifting in the first half, the second half belonged to All-Pro wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. 

The third-year wideout finished with 68 yards after halftime and a total of 110 on seven catches. He had two big catches on Detroit's lone scoring drive after halftime, and had the game-clinching 11-yard snag to seal the win. 

Jameson Williams was the only other wideout to record a catch, finishing with two receptions for 19 yards. 

Tight ends: A

Despite suffering a hyperextended knee last week, Sam LaPorta took the field and contributed for the Lions on Sunday. He finished with three catches for 14 yards, including a clutch touchdown catch. 

His first reception of the game was greeted with a pop of approval from the fans, and his touchdown came on a fourth-and-1 from the Rams' 2-yard line to put the team up 21-10 in the second quarter. 

Brock Wright contributed in the run game as a blocker. With James Mitchell on injured reserve, Anthony Firkser got snaps in a reserve role. 

Offensive line: B

The Lions established control over the line of scrimmage early. Montgomery had big running lanes on the opening possession, and Goff was throwing from clean pockets. 

This became a key to their success, as the Lions marched for touchdowns on each of their first three possessions. However, the Rams were able to generate more pressure on Goff in the second half, which in turn disjointed their momentum. 

Ernest Jones recorded two sacks for the Rams, while Michael Hoecht and Kobie Turner split the other takedown. Goff also fumbled once, though the Lions were able to recover it.

The Lions were able to contain Aaron Donald's game-breaking presence, as he was held to just three tackles. 

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Defensive line: A

Coming into the game, it was known that the Lions would have to generate pressure on Stafford quickly in order to make an impact. While they struggled at times to do so, Aidan Hutchinson's efforts helped make Stafford uncomfortable in the pocket. 

Hutchinson had a huge game in his playoff debut, recording two sacks and five quarterback hits in addition to numerous pressures. 

The Rams' normally potent run game was slowed as the Lions continued their success against the run. Kyren Williams was held to 67 yards but was also banged up throughout the second half. His replacement, Ronnie Rivers, rushed three times for nine yards. 

Linebackers: B

Alex Anzalone notched a team-high eight tackles with two for loss, while Jack Campbell added five. It was a solid showing for each against the run, while they struggled to contain the middle of the field in the passing game. 

Jalen Reeves-Maybin nearly recorded a red zone interception on the Rams' first drive. A well-timed blitz forced a quick throw from Stafford, and Reeves-Maybin nearly hauled in the diving pick. 

Secondary: D

The Lions' defensive backs once again struggled to contain a marquee receiver. While Cooper Kupp is the headliner of the Rams' receiving corps, Puka Nacua announced his legitimacy to a national audience. 

After setting multiple rookie receiving records in the regular season, Nacua notched 181 yards on nine catches. Both Cam Sutton and Kindle Vildor were tasked with covering him at times, and neither were able to contain him. 

Sutton was beaten on Nacua's 50-yard touchdown catch, while Vildor surrendered a touchdown when he dove and missed on a pass from Stafford to TuTu Atwell. 

Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch were both penalized on the opening drive. Branch's pass interference came on third down and extended the drive, while Joseph was hit with an unnecessary roughness call after pulling a player off the pile. 

Branch, Sutton and Joseph were all credited with passes defensed while C.J. Gardner-Johnson played good coverage on Kupp in the red zone to force an incompletion in the fourth quarter. 

Special teams: A

With questions persisting around the Lions' kicking game, Michael Badgley delivered a clutch 54-yard field goal that wound up being the difference in the game. It was one of several instances in which the team's special teams came up big. 

Jack Fox averaged 49.3 yards on his three punts, including one that traveled 61 yards. 

Donovan Peoples-Jones took over punt return duties with Kalif Raymond out injured. His only punt return attempt was a short one, as he fielded it to avoid the ball being downed near the goal line. 

Coaching: A

Dan Campbell made two big decisions that both paid off in big ways. The first came in the second quarter when he elected to go for it on a fourth-and-1 from L.A's 2-yard line that ended in a touchdown from Goff to LaPorta. 

The second decision came at a critical juncture in the fourth quarter with Detroit up one. With the Rams facing a third-and-4, holding was called on a play that would've given them a fourth-and-1 from Detroit's 34-yard line. 

Rather than take his chances with either a fourth down attempt or long field goal, Campbell accepted the penalty to force a third-and-14. Though it was risky to give the Rams another chance to convert, the ensuing incomplete pass would be the final play their offense would run. 

Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson had an excellent opening script and had the Lions rolling before halftime. 

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn's group was gashed for several explosive plays. However, an impressive aspect of the game was how the unit handled their plays in the red zone. 

Los Angeles went 0-for-3 on red zone attempts, having to settle for field goals on all three trips. In a one-point game, that was as important as any other factor. 

Now the Lions are tasked with continuing their ascent in a Divisional Round game that they will likely be favored in.