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Lions vs. Rams live score, updates, highlights from NFL wild-card playoff game
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Lions vs. Rams live score, updates, highlights from NFL wild-card playoff game

Lions vs. Rams live score, updates, highlights from NFL wild-card playoff game

The Lions have waited three decades to host a playoff game. For narrative purposes, there might not be a better opponent than the one they are getting on Sunday night as playoff football returns to Detroit.

Also returning to Detroit is Matthew Stafford, who brought respectability back to a Lions franchise that drafted him at its lowest moment. Stafford spent 12 years as the Lions’ quarterback before a 2021 trade to Los Angeles that felt more like a show of mercy to a franchise pillar.

The Rams will never have any reason to regret that deal. Stafford led the team to a Super Bowl win in his first season, and he’s bounced back from an injury-riddled 2022 to cement himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable quarterbacks again this season.

The Lions, though, have come out better than most expected. Jared Goff, thrown into the deal as a potential bridge quarterback for the Lions, has instead turned into their franchise signal-caller, and GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell have built up a talented roster around him.

MORE: SN experts make their Super Bowl 58 predictions

No one could blame Stafford or Goff for going through some emotions on Sunday night, but they will have to quickly shift their focus to football. The Lions are holding onto legitimate Super Bowl hopes in the NFC after a 12-win season, while the Rams were among the NFL’s hottest teams to close out the year and boast a dynamic receiving corps led by Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.

The circumstances are wildly different for each franchise, however. The Rams are two years removed from a championship, while the Lions are facing the pressure of a 32-year playoff win drought.

MORE: Watch Lions vs. Rams live with Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Lions vs. Rams in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs. Follow along with the latest updates below.

Lions vs. Rams score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Rams 3 14 3    
Lions 14 7 3    

Lions vs. Rams live updates, results from NFL wild-card playoffs

(All times Eastern)

10:15 p.m. — The Rams bottle up the Lions’ running game, and Goff gets tripped up on third down to bring a quick end to their drive. 

10:14 p.m. — Stafford is out of the tent and throwing on the sideline. Meanwhile, Puka Nacua is in the tent.

10:12 p.m. — A concussion specialist is reportedly in the tent with Stafford. He was also holding his rib cage area. 

Lions 24, Rams 20

10:10 p.m. FIELD GOAL — The Lions hold strong and force a field goal by Maher. The Rams trail by four.

10:09 p.m. — Stafford takes two hard hits and is in the medical tent as well…that’s a major cause for concern for the Rams. 

10:08 p.m. — Kyren Williams is in the injury tent, which could be a major blow to the Rams’ offense. 

10:06 p.m. — A terrific job by Stafford to find Davis Allen for a 22-yard gain, and the Lions are suddenly in the red zone looking to tie this game. 

10:05 p.m. — The Rams pick up a couple first down thanks to Ronnie Rivers, who has gotten involved in the offense with two touches here. 

Lions 24, Rams 17

9:58 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Badgley drills it from 54 yards out, so the Lions salvage that drive and extend their lead to seven.

9:57 p.m. — The drive blows up rapidly, with Goff taking a sack from Ernest Jones one play after Jahmyr Gibbs is dropped for a 5-yard loss. It’s 3rd & 21, and a short play to get back into field goal range might in the cards now.

9:55 p.m. — Amon-Ra St. Brown is scorching hot right now, with receptions of 30 yards and 17 yards to take the Lions well into Rams territory. He’s up to 89 yards on five catches.

9:50 p.m. — After Hutchinson gets his second sack of Stafford, the Rams QB throws incomplete on third down and LA is forced to punt. Aaron Glenn’s defense seems to be finding a little something. 

9:47 p.m. — The Rams start the half quickly with a 14-yard completion to Demarcus Robinson.

End of first half: Lions 21, Rams 17

9:32 p.m. — The Lions’ defense responds, and the Rams just don’t have enough time to get anywhere on their final drive. That’s the end of a fun first half. Lions still in front.

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9:28 p.m. — It sure looks like Ernest Jones was the one who jumped here…

9:27 p.m. — The Lions tried to get the Rams to jump and believed they did, but it’s called a false start by Taylor Decker. That’s a questionable call. Detroit will punt. 

9:26 p.m. — Goff gets hit on 3rd & 5, which forces a wobbly pass. Will the Lions go for it? Looks like it…

9:24 p.m. — 3rd & 15? No problem. Goff finds Amon-Ra St. Brown for 23 yards, keeping the drive alive and preventing the Lions from getting the ball right back. 

9:20 p.m. — The Rams bring pressure, and Goff loses a live ball that gets recovered 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The Lions will have 2nd & 25…

Lions 21, Rams 17

9:15 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Woah, Stafford tosses a beauty to Tutu Atwell, who breaks free and walks into the end zone with nobody near him. These are two high-flying offenses at Ford Field. It’s 21-17, Lions.

9:14 p.m. — Sean McVay draws up a great fourth down play as Stafford finds Cooper Kupp near the sideline to convert. That’s a huge moment. A turnover on downs would’ve set up the Lions with great field position. 

9:13 p.m. — Stafford’s downfield shot to Demarcus Robinson just misses, and it looks like the Rams are keeping their offense on the field on 4th & 5. 

9:10 p.m. — A casual 20 more yards for Nacua as the Lions have a hard time bringing him down. Cameras keep showing the cut on Stafford’s throwing hand, but his throws have been on the money. 

Lions 21, Rams 10

9:06 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Goff throws on 4th & 1 and finds LaPorta in the back of the end zone! Another beautiful play drawn up by Ben Johnson, and it has the Lions back in front by 11. Every Lions drive has resulted in a touchdown.

9:05 p.m. — The Rams finally slow the Lions’ running game, setting up 4th & 1…and Detroit will go for it.

9:02 p.m. — Jahmyr Gibbs cannot be tackled! The Rams are struggling to bring guys down, and Detroit is now set up with 1st & 5 from the LA 6 with the help of a neutral zone infraction by Aaron Donald. 

9:00 p.m. — More than 18 minutes into the game, Goff throws his first incompletion. 

8:59 p.m. — Now Jameson Williams gets in on the action with a great grab over the middle to take the Lions into Rams territory.

8:58 p.m. — Another big run for Mongtomery, who bursts forward for 11 yards to kickstart the Lions’ drive.

Lions 14, Rams 10

8:55 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Stafford sure is feeling fine! He hits a wide open Nacua downfield for a massive touchdown. What a play. The Rams steal the momentum right back.

8:53 p.m. — Stafford appears to be dealing with a cut on his hand after he collided with the helmet of Alim McNeill, but he seems to be fine.

End of first quarter: Lions 14, Rams 3

8:49 p.m. — Wow, what a job by Stafford to fire a pass to Demarcus Robinson on 3rd & 16. That’s one way to quiet the crowd.

8:47 p.m. — Aidan Hutchinson sacks Stafford on first down, firing up an already energized Ford Field crowd.

Lions 14, Rams 3

8:44 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — The Lions’ offensive line opens up a huge hole, and Jahmyr Gibbs runs right through it for the touchdown! Detroit has just carved up this Rams defense so far. It’s 14-3.

8:43 p.m. — Josh Reynolds is a star tonight! He goes for 33 yards all the way to set up 1st & Goal for the Lions. Reynolds is up to 75 yards already. 

8:40 p.m. — The Lions are moving the ball well again, this time with the help of a big catch-and-run by Jahmyr Gibbs. The Rams’ tackling was an issue on that play. Detroit is well into Rams territory. 

Lions 7, Rams 3

8:36 p.m. FIELD GOAL — It’s not what they wanted, but the Rams are on the board with a field goal by Brett Maher. 7-3, Lions.

8:35 p.m. — The Lions brought heavy pressure to force a third consecutive Stafford incompletion. That was nearly an interception on a ball Stafford just had to heave into the air. A field goal try is coming.

8:34 p.m. — Stafford throws his first two incompletions of the night, and it’s now 3rd & Goal for the Rams. 

8:32 p.m. — The Rams are moving quickly down the field after a sneaky catch-and-run by Puka Nacua. LA is into the red zone. 

8:30 p.m. — Kyren Williams will be a huge part of what the Rams do tonight, and he already has 14 yards on two carries as LA moves into Lions territory.

8:29 p.m. — Stafford throws incomplete downfield on 3rd & 1, but the Lions are called for pass interference to give the Rams some life.

Lions 7, Rams 0

8:23 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — David Montgomery runs it into the end zone to give the Lions the lead! What a drive for Detroit, and that’s why Ben Johnson is such a hot head coaching candidate this cycle.

8:22 p.m. — 1st & Goal from the 2 after another nice play by Reynolds…

8:21 p.m. — Sam LaPorta looks pretty healthy as he takes the Lions down to the 11. Ben Johnson has whipped up a terrific drive to this point. 

8:19 p.m. — Former Rams WR Josh Reynolds hauls in a great pass from Goff to take the Lions down to the LA 30-yard line.

8:17 p.m. — David Montgomery runs right up the gut for a first down on the first snap. Nice start for this all-important Lions running game. 

8:16 p.m. — The Lions will start the night with the ball, looking to build some early momentum. 

8:10 p.m. — We are minutes away from kickoff in the city of Detroit’s first playoff game in three decades. Now that the Cowboys lost, they can earn one more next weekend. 

7:40 p.m. — Boos for Matthew Stafford at Ford Field. Lions fans appreciate what he did for the franchise, but all bets are off in a playoff atmosphere.

7:20 p.m. — With the Cowboys’ loss all but sealed, the Lions would host another playoff game if they advance. The Rams, meanwhile, would avoid the 49ers with a win and face the winner of tomorrow night’s game between the Buccaneers and Eagles.

6:55 p.m. — The Lions might have Barry Sanders, but the Rams have Bryan Cranston on hand at Ford Field.

6:25 p.m. — Some perspective from Barry Sanders…

5:45 p.m. — Matthew Stafford is in the building, back where he spent the first 12 years of his career.

5:15 p.m. — Lions brass might be enjoying what they’re seeing early in Dallas, where the Packers have a lead on the Cowboys. A Dallas loss and a Lions would allow Ford Field to host another playoff game next week. 

4:15 p.m. — The winner of this game will know its opponent the second the final whistle blows if the Cowboys win. In that scenario, the Lions would go to Dallas with a win while the Rams would go to San Francisco with a win. If the Cowboys lose, the winner tonight will face the Eagles-Buccaneers winner.

4:00 p.m. — It’s a nice day to have a dome. The temperatures is currently 8 degrees in Detroit, with a feels like temperature of -9. 

Lions vs. Rams start time

  • Date: Sunday, Jan. 14
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET 

The NFL playoffs continue with Lions vs. Rams from Ford Field at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 14.

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What channel is Lions vs. Rams on today?

  • National TV: NBC (U.S.) | TSN+ (Canada) 
  • Live stream: Peacock, Fubo (U.S.) | DAZN (in Canada)

Lions vs. Rams will be broadcast by NBC, representing the network’s second game of the weekend and third when including Saturday’s exclusive Peacock broadcast. Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (color analyst) will be on the call from Ford Field.

For those who prefer streaming, the game can be found on Peacock and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

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