Week 2, September 11th, 1988, Detroit Lions (0-1) @ Los Angeles Rams (1-0)

Sunday, September 11th, 1988 4:00PM
Detroit Lions (0-1) @ Los Angeles Rams (1-0)
Anaheim Stadium
Weather: 64 degrees, relative humidity 78%, wind 9 mph
Line: Los Angeles -10 (detroit), O/U 43 (over)

Attendance:  46,262 (69,008)

Detroit 23, Los Angeles Rams 28

The Rams were looking to jump to 2-0 and playing their 2nd straight NFC Central Opponent, the Lions, playing their 2nd straight NFC West opponent.  A beautiful day at Anaheim Stadium greeted the teams.

The Lions opened the scoring on the 2nd possession of the game behind 2 Chuck Long pass completions to WR Jeff Chadwick (15) and Gary Lee (25).  Eddie Murray made a challenging 43 yard field goal with the breeze to take an early 3-0 lead.

The rest of the 1st quarter was fairly uneventful.  In the final minute, Greg Bell ripped off a 44 yard run, and Pete Holohan a 13 yard reception from Jim Everett, but a sack by RE Keith Ferguson made the field goal try much more challenging and Mike Lansford, coming off a 5 Field Goal performance vs Green Bay missed the 48 yard attempt.

The very next play, the 3rd of the 2nd quarter was a 56 yard bomb, connected from Chuck Long to Pete Mandley to the Rams' 13 yard line, where they would score a touchdown on an 11 yard pass from Long to WR Carl Bland to take a 10-0 lead.

Chuck Long came out firing early

The Rams had an answer, assisted by a very undisciplined Lions squad.  Holohan caught another 13 yard pass from the Tight End slot.  2 plays later, the Lions took a 15 yard roughing penalty.  The Lions defense forced a 4th and 3 from their 33, however couldnt stop Pete Holohan who caught a button hook pas for 4 yards and the 1st down.  The Lions were flagged again for holding for 13 yads (half the distance) to the 13.  They held the Rams on 3rd down, however were called for defensive pass interference, which extended the drive that resulted in a 3 yard run by Robert Delpino to cut their lead to 10-7.

On Detroit's next possession, Kevin Greene sacked Chuck Long with a brutal hit that may have rung his bell.  2 plays later, he threw an interception to Mike Wilcher to give the Rams the ball in Lions territory.

Driving towards paydirt, Jim Everett threw an ill-advised pass.  CB Jerry Holmes cut it off at the 6 and ran it all the way back 94 yards for the touchdown and a 17-7 Lions lead.

Kevin Greene registers a brutal sack in the 2nd quarter

The Rams were not done though, Jim Everett executed a drive in the final 2 minutes of the half, thanks to 2 catches by Aaron Cox for 26 yards and another 15 yard roughing penalty on Detroit.  Henry Ellard caught a 24 yard touchdown pass with :37 remaining to make it a 17-14 game heading into halftime.

Aaron Cox catches a pass in the final 2 minutes of the first half on a touchdown drive

After a quick stop of Detroit's offense to start the 2nd half, Jim Everett and the Rams drove 74 yards for a touchdown to take the lead.  The drive was 16 plays, took 6:36 off the clock, and highlighted by 2 4th down conversions by the Rams' running attack of Greg Bell and Buford McGee.  The scoring play was an avoided sack by Jim Evertt, throwing it to Tight End Damone Johnson for 9 yards and the 21-17 lead.  That was the offense for the 3rd quarter.

Carl Painter gets stuffed up on a kickoff return in the 3rd quarter

The defensive struggle continued into the 4th quarter.  The Rams were finally in position to score with 7:01 remaining, but faced with a 4th and 1 from the Lions' 39.  The Buford McGee attempt up the middle was stuffed by NT Jerry Ball and Detroit took over.  The Lions took advantage of the swing.  Chuck Long brought the Lions down the field thanks to a huge 2nd and 20 completion to James R Jones for 14 yards, 9 yard catch by Pat Carter for a first down, and a 13 yard pass to Flanker Gary Lee.  At the 2 Minute warning, James R Jones caught a 4 yard touchdown pass from Long to take a 23-21 lead with 1:45 to play.  Kicker Eddie Murray missed the extra point.

On the short Murray Kickoff to the 15, Ron Brown returned the ball to the 41 for 26 yards to give the Rams a very good chance at getting into scoring range.  Jim Everett went to work, hitting tight end Damone Johnson on a button hook for 7, then Henry Ellard in the flat for 6 to break into Lions territory still with 1:22 to play.  Faced with a 3rd and 10, Everett hit Pete Holohan across the middle for 12, then Aaron Cox for 12 more and Buford McGee for 8 yards to the 14 with :52 left.  The next play, Jim Everett checked down and dumped it off to McGee for a 14 yard touchdown and a 28-23 lead.  The second time in 2 weeks the Rams lost a lead in the last minute only to pull out a last minute win.

Player of the Game:
Jim Everett - Rams

Jim Everett had a big day, leading his Rams to their second straight last-minute victory with 36-54 for 323 Yards, 3 TD, 1 Int (93.6 rating).. Including 6 for 8 for 59 yards and a touchdown on the game-winning drive

1988 Detroit 23, 1988 Los Angeles NFC 28
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Total
1988 Detroit	3	14	0	6	0	23
1988 Los Angeles NFC	0	14	7	7	0	28

Scoring Plays
Qtr	Clock	Poss	Scoring Description(Extra Point)	Score
1	8:28	1988 Detroit	E.Murray 43 yd. field goal	3-0 DEN
2	12:31	1988 Detroit	C.Bland 11 yd. pass from C.Long (E.Murray kick)	10-0 DEN
2	6:39	1988 Los Angeles NFC	R.Delpino 3 yd. run (M.Lansford kick)	10-7 DEN
2	2:00	1988 Detroit	J.Holmes 94 yd. intercept (E.Murray kick)	17-7 DEN
2	0:37	1988 Los Angeles NFC	H.Ellard 24 yd. pass from J.Everett (M.Lansford kick)	17-14 DEN
3	6:20	1988 Los Angeles NFC	D.Johnson 9 yd. pass from J.Everett (M.Lansford kick)	21-17 LAN
4	1:45	1988 Detroit	J.Jones 4 yd. pass from C.Long (kick failed)	23-21 DEN
4	0:30	1988 Los Angeles NFC	B.McGee 14 yd. pass from J.Everett (M.Lansford kick)	28-23 LAN

Other Highlights
Qtr	Clock	Poss	Event	Player	Yards
1	0:47	1988 Los Angeles NFC	Run	Greg Bell	44
1	0:30	1988 Los Angeles NFC	QBSack	Keith Ferguson	-7
2	14:26	1988 Los Angeles NFC	Missed Field Goal	Mike Lansford	48
2	13:47	1988 Detroit	Pass	Pete Mandley	56
2	6:00	1988 Detroit	QBSack	Kevin Greene	-8
2	5:06	1988 Los Angeles NFC	Intercept	Mike Wilcher	11
3	4:12	1988 Detroit	QBSack	Mike Wilcher	-5
3	3:24	1988 Los Angeles NFC	QBSack	Dennis Gibson	-7
4	0:15	1988 Detroit	QBSack	Mike Wilcher	-2

Team Statistics
	1988 Detroit	1988 Los Angeles NFC
First Downs by Rush-Pass-Pen-Total	2-11-1-14	9-17-5-31
Third Down Efficiency	3-10-30%	5-14-36%
Fourth Down Efficiency	0-1-0%	3-4-75%
Red Zone Efficiency (pts-poss-pct)	14-14-100%	21-28-75%
Total Offense-Plays-Avg Yards Per Play	284-51-5.6	464-86-5.4
Total Net Yards Rushing	47	155
Total Rushes	14	30
Average Per Rush	3.4	5.2
Passes Completed/Attempted	16/34 (47.1%)	36/54 (66.7%)
Net Yards Passing	237	309
Avg Yards Per Pass	7.4	6.0
Sacked/Yards Lost	3/15	2/14
Punts/Average	5/40.0	4/36.0
Punts Received/Return Yardage	2/15	2/8
Kickoffs/Returns	5/94	5/99
Interceptions/Returns	1/94	1/11
Penalties/Yards	8/84	8/55
Total Fumbles/Fumbles Lost	0/0	1/0
Time of Possession	24 mins 42 secs	35 mins 18 secs
Average Drive Start	DEN 30	LAN 24

Passing Stats
	Att	Comp	Yds	Comp %	Yds/Att	TD	TD %	INT	INT %	Long	Sack	Rating
1988 Detroit
Chuck Long	34	16	252	47.1	7.4	2	5.9	1	2.9	56	3/15	79.5
1988 Los Angeles NFC
Jim Everett	54	36	323	66.7	6.0	3	5.6	1	1.9	29	2/14	93.4

Rushing Stats
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD	2 Pt Conv	Fumbles/Lost
1988 Detroit
Garry James	7	21	3.0	5	0	0	0/0
Tony Paige	4	13	3.3	6	0	0	0/0
James R. Jones	3	13	4.3	8	0	0	0/0
1988 Los Angeles NFC
Greg Bell	17	115	6.8	44	0	0	0/0
Charles White	7	23	3.3	8	0	0	0/0
Robert Delpino	2	3	1.5	3	1	0	0/0
Buford McGee	2	7	3.5	7	0	0	0/0
Gaston Green	1	6	6.0	6	0	0	0/0
Jim Everett	1	1	1.0	1	0	0	0/0

Receiving Stats
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD	2 Pt Conv
1988 Detroit
James R. Jones	3	25	8.3	16	1	0
Pete Mandley	3	65	21.7	56	0	0
Jeff Chadwick	3	61	20.3	28	0	0
Garry James	2	14	7.0	7	0	0
Gary Lee	2	38	19.0	25	0	0
Pat Carter	1	9	9.0	9	0	0
Stephen Starring	1	29	29.0	29	0	0
Carl Bland	1	11	11.0	11	1	0
1988 Los Angeles NFC
Pete Holohan	8	85	10.6	29	0	0
Damone Johnson	7	57	8.1	12	1	0
Henry Ellard	6	62	10.3	24	1	0
Aaron Cox	5	51	10.2	14	0	0
Robert Delpino	3	11	3.7	7	0	0
Buford McGee	2	22	11.0	14	1	0
Flipper Anderson	2	20	10.0	13	0	0
Charles White	2	9	4.5	5	0	0
Greg Bell	1	6	6.0	6	0	0

Field Goals
	1-19	20-29	30-39	40-49	50+	Totals	% Made
1988 Detroit
Eddie Murray	0/0	0/0	0/0	1/1	0/0	1/1	100
1988 Los Angeles NFC
Mike Lansford	0/0	0/0	0/0	0/1	0/0	0/1	0.0

Punting
	No	Avg	Net	Tb	Inside 20	Long	Blocked
1988 Detroit
Jim Arnold	5	40.0	34.4	1	2	50	0
1988 Los Angeles NFC
Dale Hatcher	4	36.0	27.3	1	1	47	0

Kickoff Returns
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
1988 Detroit
Carl Painter	3	56	18.7	20	0
Gary Lee	2	38	19.0	24	0
1988 Los Angeles NFC
Ron Brown	3	63	21.0	26	0
Gaston Green	2	36	18.0	22	0

Punt Returns
	Ret	FC	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
1988 Detroit
Pete Mandley	2	1	15	7.5	15	0
1988 Los Angeles NFC
Clifford Hicks	2	0	8	4.0	4	0

Individual Defense
	Tackles	Sacks	Fum Rec
1988 Detroit
Dennis Gibson	13	1	0
Mike L. Cofer	8	0	0
Chris Spielman	7	0	0
Bruce McNorton	6	0	0
Jerry Holmes	5	0	0
Bennie Blades	5	0	0
Devon Mitchell	5	0	0
Jerry Ball	5	0	0
George Jamison	5	0	0
Keith Ferguson	3	1	0
Bobby L. Watkins	1	0	0
William White	1	0	0
1988 Los Angeles NFC
Mike Wilcher	6	2	0
Carl Ekern	4	0	0
Kevin Greene	3	1	0
Mark Jerue	3	0	0
Jerry Gray	3	0	0
Johnnie Johnson	3	0	0
LeRoy Irvin	2	0	0
Michael Stewart	2	0	0
Fred Stokes	1	0	0
Gary Jeter	1	0	0
Mickey Sutton	1	0	0
Fred Strickland	1	0	0
Alvin Wright	1	0	0
Ron Brown	0	0	1

Interceptions
	No	Yds	Avg	Long	TD
1988 Detroit
Jerry Holmes	1	94	94.0	94	1
1988 Los Angeles NFC
Mike Wilcher	1	11	11.0	11	0

Game Story

Jim Everett had a huge day as Los Angeles NFC beat Detroit by the score of 28 to 23. Everett passed for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns. Greg Bell carried the ball 17 times for 115 yards. Los Angeles NFC controlled the action both on the ground and in the air. They out-ran Detroit 155 to 47 yards, and out-passed them 323 to 252 yards. They had the advantage in time of possession, having the ball for 35:18. Detroit led at halftime 17 to 14. Los Angeles NFC led after three quarters 21 to 17. A hightlight for Detroit was a pass to Pete Mandley that covered 56 yards with 13:47 left in the 2nd quarter. But it was not enough to bring his team a victory..