Matthew Stafford went over the top of cornerback Ron Bartell and connected with a 36-yard completion to the Rams 5.

Stafford ran the ball in himself, scrambling out of the pocket and into the end zone. Then the Lions needed to attempt a rare two-point conversion — and they nailed it, with Stafford throwing to Maurice Morris to tie the game 10-10.

Across Ram Nation, fans got a sinking feeling.

With Mark Setterstrom replacing Jacob Bell (pinched neck nerve) at left guard, the Rams tried to counter that score. Steven Jackson pounded the Lions on the ground and through the air.

The Rams got one first down. Then another. But on third and 3, the Rams tried another quick “out” pass and the Lions batted it away at the line of scrimmage.

Across Ram Nation, the sinking feeling got worse.

The Lions felt it now. Maurice Morris pounded the Rams again and again, nearly breaking loose for the go-ahead TD.

But Leonard Little dumped Morris for a 5-yard loss in the backfield, putting the Lions in the tough down-and-distance situations they can’t handle.

The Lions had to punt, but they were able to pin the Rams on their own 2-yard line. They tried to trap Jackson in the end zone, but he broke tackle after tackle to push the ball out to the 13.

Brandon Gibson entered the game for Danny Amendola, who got rocked on his last kickoff return. He contributed a dropped pass right away, getting into the spirit of things.

Jackson plowed for another first down, converting a second-and-10 play.

Then Bulger dialed up his new BFF, Billy Bajema, to move the ball out to midfield.

Jackson plowed to the Lions 45, moving the Rams closer to scoring range. On third-and-5 Bulger fired a pass off the chest of Keenan Burton, who is supposed to be a possession receiver.

So the Rams had to punt the ball away. Donnie Jones managed to pin the Lions on their 5-yard line. And the Rams scored a three-and-out stop, with Leonard Little hauling down Stafford on third down.

With Amendola out, Quincy Butler returned the punt. And he ran backward, for whatever reason, so the Rams got the ball on the 38.

A completion to Burton moved the ball to the Rams 46. The two-minute warning gave the Rams brain trust to think long and hard about its call for third-and-2.

Bulger went for Randy McMichael and missed, but got bailed out by a pass interference call.

The Rams then wised up and fed the ball to Steven Jackson. He bowled for another first down, blowing he Rams (and an official) to reach the 25. He got the ball on the next play, too, and this time he ran ALL THE WAY TO THE END ZONE and actually SCORED A TOUCHDOWN FOR THE RAMS.

Is there anybody out there still wanting to rip Jackson for not running hard enough?