INGLEWOOD — At first, the Rams offense assumed its job was done for the moment. Fourth-and-4 from the Detroit Lions 45, it seemed logical that the punt team would jog out.
But head coach Sean McVay sent the offense back onto the field, calling a timeout to make sure they got a play off. Then on fourth-and-8, he did it again. Both do-or-die plays ended in conversions to receiver Puka Nacua.
The Rams’ aggression on that 13-play drive was rewarded with a touchdown. And their aggression throughout the game was rewarded with a 41-34, playoff-clinching win over the Lions.
At first, it seemed those decisions and two first-half Kyren Williams touchdowns would be for naught. An interception by Aidan Hutchinson on a tight end screen set the Lions up for an easy touchdown. Then the Rams defense gave up three chunk plays through the air; those completions alone to Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown moved the Lions 99 yards.
Touchdowns by the two receivers put Detroit up 24-14 with 30 seconds left in the first half.
The Rams were guaranteed to go into the locker room trailing at halftime for the first time since Week 5. But McVay did not settle for a kneel-down, due to receive the second-half kickoff. Instead, quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with Kyren Williams for a 10-yard gain, then hit Nacua for 37 yards as the receiver lost his man with a jab step on his go route.
Harrison Mevis’ 37-yard field goal made it a one-possession game at the half. He hit again from 44 on the opening drive of the third quarter, with McVay again going for it on fourth-and-1 with a Blake Corum run to keep the drive alive.
Back within four, and the Rams defense delivered three straight three-and-outs. Corner Cobie Durant, struggling earlier in the day, made a nice open-field tackle of St. Brown on a third down to force a punt.
That was the opening the Rams needed to rip off consecutive touchdowns and go on a 20-0 run to retake a 10-point lead of their own.
Davante Adams emerged with two catches for 41 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury. Parkinson scored his fifth touchdown in six weeks, falling into the end zone and completing the catch despite a bobble. Nacua, who finished with nine catches for 181 yards, ripped off a 37-yard gain. Then Corum bounced outside for an 11-yard touchdown and a two-possession lead.
The Rams were sobered as they put the finishing touches on the win. Adams pulled up short on a go route and landed on his chest, laying on the turf with a re-aggravated hamstring strain. A drive later, Nacua was helped off the field after a 12-yard gain. The worst-case scenario was dispelled when it was announced Nacua was simply cramping, but it put some fear into the Rams.
Still, they carried on. One play after Nacua walked to the locker room, Stafford rolled out and found Parkinson in the flat for his second touchdown of the day. It was the insurance the Rams needed. The Lions would cut the 14-point lead in half with 2:42 to play, but the Rams held on to finish and clinch another trip to the playoffs.