Matthew Stafford threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Smith with 10 seconds left, lifting the Detroit Lions to a 27-23 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. He led an 80-yard, nine-play, game-winning drive that included three passes of at least 18 yards.
Sam Bradford directed a go-ahead drive that set up Greg Zuerlein’s 46-yard field goal and put the Rams ahead 23-20 with 1:55 left. But coach Jeff Fisher’s debut ended with a loss because the Rams could not shut down Stafford in the end after slowing him down for much of the game.
Stafford had three interceptions before halftime for the first time in his four seasons. The Rams scored 13 points off Stafford’s turnovers, including Cortland Finnegan’s 31-yard return for a TD that gave them a 13-7 lead late in the first half.
Stafford finished 32 of 48 for 355 yards. One of his interceptions was made at the goal line by rookie Janoris Jenkins.
Bradford was 17 of 25 for 198 yards with a TD, a 23-yard pass to Brandon Gibson early in the fourth quarter. Danny Amendola caught five passes for 70 yards.
St. Louis lost two starting offensive linemen during the game. Offensive tackle Rodger Saffold was carted off the field with a neck injury in the fourth quarter and center Scott Wells had a foot injury during the game.
Information from Espn.com and The Associated Press contributed to this report.