DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions are starting to turn around their season, finding ways to make enough plays on both sides of the ball in the final minutes to win.
Matt Prater made a tiebreaking, 34-yard field goal with 1:29 left and Rafael Bush followed with a victory-sealing interception two plays later, giving Detroit a 31-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
The Lions (3-3) have won two straight games with Prater making the winning kick and a defensive back following up with an interception on the ensuing possession. Last week, Prater’s kick and Darius Slay’s interception gave Detroit a win over previously unbeaten Philadelphia.
“We’ve gotten comfortable being uncomfortable,” Detroit coach Caldwell said. “They feel like that’s the norm.”
The Rams (3-3) have lost two straight since winning three in a row.
Case Keenum completed a Rams-record 19 straight passes, but couldn’t connect with Lance Kendricks on the long throw that Bush stepped in front of near midfield.
“I saw the quarterback staring and knew I just had to catch the ball,” Bush said.
Keenum finished 27 of 32 for 321 yards with three touchdowns — two to Kenny Britt, one to Kendricks — and an interception.
“We did some good things offensively, but unfortunately we were a couple plays short,” Keenum said.
Britt had season highs with seven receptions and 136 yards, 47 of which came on a highlight-reel catch .
Todd Gurley gained 15 yards on his first carry, but finished with just 58 yards on 14 rushes as another team figured out how to slow him down. At the end of the first half, Gurley was stopped for a loss of 1 on a fourth down from the Detroit 1 with the score tied at 14.
“I’d do it again,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “We’re inside the 1. Shoot, you’ve got to bang that in.”
Detroit’s Matthew Stafford was 23 of 31 for 270 yards, with a season-high four touchdowns.
Golden Tate had eight receptions for a career-high 165 yards and a touchdown. Marvin Jones, Anquan Boldin and Andre Roberts also caught TDs for the Lions.