By Anas 
The NFL season opener between the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions offered a masterclass in how modern football works. Beneath the 26-20 overtime score lies a fascinating statistical story about efficiency versus volume.
This September 8th clash at Ford Field showcased why traditional stats often mislead casual observers. My analysis draws from the comprehensive player statistics compiled by the NFL analytics experts at Match Player Stats, who track everything from pre-snap motion to yards after contact.
Beyond The Scoreboard: The Real Story Behind Lions 26, Rams 20 (OT)
Football games rarely follow simple narratives, and this overtime thriller proved it. Despite controlling the ball for over 34 minutes and running 13 more plays, Los Angeles fell short where it mattered most.
Detroit built a 17-3 third-quarter lead before the Rams mounted their comeback. After tying with a last-minute field goal, the Lions sealed victory on their opening overtime possession through David Montgomery’s powerful running.
The raw numbers reveal something counterintuitive:
| Stat | Rams | Lions | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 387 | 363 | Lions gained fewer yards but won |
| Time of Possession | 34:56 | 29:45 | Rams held ball 5+ minutes longer |
| Total Plays | 74 | 61 | Lions ran 13 fewer plays |
| Yards Per Play | 5.2 | 6.0 | Lions gained 0.8 more yards per play |
| Rushing Yards | 83 | 163 | Lions dominated on the ground (+80) |
| Passing Yards | 304 | 200 | Rams air attack couldn’t overcome rushing deficit |
NFL analysts typically focus on efficiency metrics rather than volume stats. Detroit’s superior yards per play and rushing effectiveness ultimately mattered more than LA’s edge in total yards and possession time.
Quarterback Showdown: Stafford vs Goff Against Their Former Teams
Nothing adds spice to an NFL matchup like quarterbacks facing their former franchises. Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff’s performances mirrored each other statistically, but with crucial differences in timing:
Matthew Stafford (Rams)
- Completions: 34/49 (69.4%)
- Yards: 317
- TD INT: 1-1
- Passer Rating: 85.2
- Clutch Moment: Endzone interception proved costly
Jared Goff (Lions)
- Completions: 18/28 (64.3%)
- Yards: 217
- TD INT: 1-1
- Passer Rating: 85.0
- Clutch Moment: Orchestrated game-tying and winning drives
NFL games frequently come down to a handful of pivotal plays. Stafford’s red zone interception versus Goff’s late-game poise illustrates this perfectly.
Ground Game Strategy: Split Backfield vs Lead Back
The rushing attacks revealed contrasting coaching philosophies:
Lions’ Two-Back Rotation
- David Montgomery: 17 carries, 91 yards, 5.4 avg, 1 TD, 49% snaps
- Jahmyr Gibbs: 11 carries, 40 yards, 3.6 avg, 1 TD, 51% snaps
- Team Total: 28 carries, 131 yards, 4.7 avg, 2 TDs
Rams’ Single-Back Approach
- Kyren Williams: 18 carries, 50 yards, 2.8 avg, 1 TD, 91% snaps
- Ronnie Rivers: 2 carries, 16 yards, 8.0 avg, 0 TD, 9% snaps
- Team Total: 20 carries, 66 yards, 3.3 avg, 1 TD
Detroit’s balanced committee approach kept both backs fresh into overtime. The complete statistical breakdown at Match Player Stats highlights how Williams’ heavy workload may have limited his effectiveness compared to Detroit’s fresher runners.
Wide Receiver Contrast: High Volume vs Big Play Ability
Two receivers with starkly different styles shaped this contest:
Cooper Kupp (Rams)
- Receptions: 14 (tied career high)
- Targets: 21 (42.9% team total)
- Yards: 110
- TD: 1
- Pre-snap Motion: 42 snaps (NFL record since tracking began)
- Motion Touches: 12 (NFL record)
- Yards Per Catch: 7.9
Jameson Williams (Lions)
- Receptions: 5
- Targets: 9
- Yards: 121 (career high)
- TD: 1 (52-yarder)
- Top Speed: 21.5 mph
- PFF Grade: 83.4
- Yards Per Catch: 24.2
Kupp’s high-volume, pre-snap movement approach contrasted with Williams’ explosive, big-play capability. Both proved effective, but Williams’ career day provided more game-changing moments.
Defensive Playmakers: Game-Defining Moments
Several defenders delivered statistical performances that directly influenced the outcome:
Aidan Hutchinson (Lions)
- 5 tackles, 1.0 sack
- Game-saving sack as regulation expired
- 94.0 PFF grade (highest in the game)
- 37% pass rush win rate (elite NFL figure)
- Prevented potential game-winning FG attempt
Alex Anzalone (Lions)
- 13 tackles (team high)
- 3 TFLs (tied for NFL Week 1 high)
- 3 QB hits
- 79.0 PFF grade
Jared Verse (Rams rookie)
- 4 tackles, 1.0 sack
- 33% pass rush win rate (highest among Week 1 rookies)
- 6 QB pressures in NFL debut
- First-round pick showing immediate impact
Hutchinson’s perfectly timed sack as regulation expired prevented a potential game-winning field goal attempt—a statistical moment that fundamentally altered the game’s outcome.
Five Statistical Keys That Determined Victory
The advanced metrics reveal why Detroit prevailed despite statistical disadvantages:
- Rush Yard Differential: Lions outrushed Rams 163-83 (+80)
- Yards Per Carry: Lions 5.3 vs Rams 3.6 (+1.7)
- Red Zone TD%: Lions 66.7% (2/3) vs Rams 33.3% (1/3)
- Third Down Efficiency: Lions 46.2% vs Rams 41.7% (+4.5%)
- Net Punt Average: Lions 47.5 vs Rams 41.0 (+6.5)
These efficiency and situational metrics proved far more predictive than raw yardage totals or possession time.
Montgomery’s Overtime Masterclass
David Montgomery dominated the extra period:
- 4 carries, 38 yards in OT alone
- 21-yard highlight run through multiple tacklers
- Game-winning 1-yard TD plunge
- Accounted for 54% of Detroit’s OT drive yardage
- 86.6 PFF run grade in overtime
His bruising 21-yard run showcased why Detroit values his physical running style, particularly in high-leverage situations like overtime.
NFL Next Gen Stats: Record-Breaking Performance
This contest established several notable statistical benchmarks:
- 85.9% of plays (116 of 135) used pre-snap motion—highest percentage since Next Gen Stats began tracking in 2018
- Cooper Kupp set individual records with 42 motion snaps and 12 touches while in motion
- Jameson Williams hit 21.5 mph on his 36-yard reception (among Week 1’s fastest plays)
- Alex Anzalone became the first Lion with 10+ tackles and 3+ TFLs in a season opener
These advanced metrics highlight the evolving nature of NFL offenses and the increasing importance of pre-snap movement and speed.
Special Teams Impact: The Hidden Yardage Game
Special teams created a significant field position advantage for Detroit:
| Punter | Team | Punts | Avg | Net | In20 | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Fox | Lions | 4 | 57.5 | 47.5 | 2 | 67 |
| Ethan Evans | Rams | 3 | 47.0 | 41.0 | 0 | 53 |
Fox’s 10.5-yard advantage in net punting gave Detroit consistently better starting field position—a crucial edge in a game ultimately decided by six points.
FAQs: Los Angeles Rams vs Detroit Lions Match Player Stats Analysis
Which player statistically dominated this matchup?
Different metrics tell different stories. Cooper Kupp’s 14 receptions led all receivers, but Aidan Hutchinson earned the highest PFF grade (94.0). Jameson Williams delivered the most impact per touch (24.2 yards per reception). David Montgomery’s overtime performance (38 yards, game-winning TD) proved most decisive.
How did quarterbacks perform in this revenge game scenario?
Matthew Stafford produced more volume (34/49, 317 yards) while Jared Goff delivered greater efficiency (18/28, 217 yards). Both posted nearly identical passer ratings (85.2 vs 85.0) with matching TD-INT ratios (1-1). The critical difference came in situational football—Goff delivered in game-deciding moments while Stafford’s red zone interception proved costly.
What statistical edge most influenced the Lions’ victory?
Detroit’s rushing efficiency (5.3 YPC vs LA’s 3.6 YPC) provided their most significant advantage, particularly in overtime when David Montgomery gained 38 yards on just 4 carries to secure the winning touchdown. This efficiency overcame LA’s advantages in total yardage and time of possession.
Which NFL statistical records fell during this game?
This matchup set a Next Gen Stats record for pre-snap motion usage (85.9% of plays). Cooper Kupp established individual records with 42 motion snaps and 12 touches while in motion. These figures demonstrate the NFL’s evolution toward motion-heavy offensive schemes.
Which rookies showed promising statistical debuts?
Rams OLB Jared Verse impressed with 4 tackles, 1 sack, and a 33% pass rush win rate—highest among all Week 1 rookies. Lions CB Terrion Arnold contributed 8 solo tackles while playing 97% of defensive snaps. Both first-round selections delivered statistical performances justifying their draft positions.
The Statistical Narrative: Efficiency Trumps Volume
This NFL season opener demonstrated why box score statistics often tell an incomplete story. While Los Angeles dominated traditional metrics like time of possession and total plays, Detroit excelled in the efficiency and situational metrics that increasingly determine NFL outcomes.
Montgomery’s overtime heroics, Williams’ explosive receiving, and Hutchinson’s perfectly timed sack highlight how individual statistical performances in critical moments often decide closely contested games.
The Los Angeles Rams vs Detroit Lions match player stats reveal why football remains a game of inches and moments—where efficiency consistently trumps volume in determining who walks away victorious.