Matthew Stafford engineered a dominant comeback as the Los Angeles Rams erased a first-half deficit to defeat the Detroit Lions 41–34 on Sunday, securing another postseason appearance.

Stafford threw for 368 yards and connected twice with tight end Colby Parkinson for touchdowns, helping the Rams score 20 unanswered points spanning halftime. Los Angeles, now 11–3 and leading the NFC, has won eight of its last nine games and clinched a playoff spot for the third consecutive season and the seventh time under head coach Sean McVay.

Despite a shaky opening half that included his fifth interception of the year, Stafford was sharp after the break. His 11-yard touchdown pass to Parkinson late in the fourth quarter ignited chants of “MVP” from the SoFi Stadium crowd and sealed the win.

Kyren Williams powered the ground game with two rushing touchdowns, while rookie Blake Corum added another score. The Rams maintained control in the second half even after losing both star receivers temporarily. Davante Adams exited with a hamstring injury, and Puka Nacua—who finished with nine receptions for 181 yards—briefly left due to cramps before returning for the final drive.

Detroit (8–6) leaned heavily on Amon-Ra St. Brown, who torched his former hometown team with 163 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 338 yards and three scores, but the Lions’ ongoing pattern of alternating wins and losses since Week 5 continued, putting their playoff chances at risk.

The Lions controlled much of the first half, averaging 8.5 yards per play and building a 24–14 advantage. St. Brown scored once in the first quarter following a 58-yard interception return by Aidan Hutchinson and added another touchdown in the second quarter. Jameson Williams stretched the field with a 31-yard touchdown catch just before halftime.

Los Angeles began chipping away at the lead after halftime with field goals on consecutive possessions before Parkinson’s 26-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter pushed the Rams ahead. His second score in the fourth quarter marked his sixth touchdown in as many games, surpassing his total output from the first five-and-a-half seasons of his career.

The Rams then struck quickly again, covering 50 yards in two plays, highlighted by Nacua’s 39-yard reception that set up Corum’s touchdown run.

Detroit attempted to rally late when David Montgomery scored with under three minutes remaining, but Los Angeles converted a key first down to drain the Lions’ remaining timeouts and end any hopes of a final comeback.

Despite an early missed field goal by Detroit and Stafford’s interception that briefly swung momentum, the Rams’ second-half execution proved decisive, continuing their surge toward the postseason.