Odds Lions Beat Rams in Playoff Opener
A great opportunity awaits the Detroit Lions on Sunday night.
If the Lions handle their business and beat the L.A. Rams in the primetime wild-card playoff game, it'll mark Detroit's first postseason win since the 1991 season.
However, no one is saying it'll be easy for Jared Goff & Co.
They'll face a 10-win Rams team that won seven of its last eight games to close out the regular season. And the one loss in that stretch for Los Angeles was a six-point, overtime defeat at the hands of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Remember, the Ravens – the No. 1 seed in the AFC – won a league-high 13 games in 2023.
I've made it this far without mentioning that the Rams are quarterbacked by former Detroit franchise passer Matthew Stafford.
Stafford, who spent the first 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Lions, has continued to play at a high level in his 15th season.
The 35-year-old led L.A. to nine wins in his 15 starts in ‘23, and threw for 24 touchdowns and 3,965 yards while recording a 63.7 QBR. It was a solid season from the veteran signal-caller, and one in which he helped the Rams average the eighth-highest point total in the game (23.8).
Stafford couldn't have done any of the above without the aid of several weapons.
For starters, he's equipped with star wideouts Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, which have formed one of the best pass-catching duos in the league this season.
Nacua set the NFL rookie record for both receptions (105) and yards (1,486) in a season. Meanwhile, Kupp, who was an All-Pro and recorded 100-plus catches (145) and nearly 2,000 yards (1,947) in 2021, has been Stafford's most reliable target since the two joined forces that same season.
Los Angeles’ air attack could be in for a field day against Aaron Glenn's defense. During the ‘23 regular season, Glenn's unit permitted the sixth-most passing yards (4,205) and touchdowns through the air (28).
All this season, Stafford and the Rams’ passing game have been complemented by the efforts of running back Kyren Williams. The second-year pro rushed for a career-best 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 regular season games. He also totaled a career-high 5.0 yards per carry and an NFL-best 95.3 rushing yards per game.
Then on the other side of the ball, the Rams have been led by the defensive linemen tandem of Aaron Donald and Kobie Turner. Donald and Turner combined for 17 sacks and 39 QB hits during the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Sean McVay-led squad also received high-level production from linebacker Ernest Jones and defensive back Jordan Fuller. Jones produced 145 total tackles and 4.5 sacks in 15 games, while Fuller suited up for a full season's worth of games and recorded 94 total tackles, three interceptions, eight passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
The Rams might not be as loaded as they were two seasons ago when they made their Super Bowl run. However, they are still littered with playmakers across both sides of the ball, and will pose a serious threat to Detroit this weekend.
At this present juncture, I'll give the Lions a 52 percent chance to capture their first playoff win since the ‘91 campaign.
