For the fourth time since the infamous Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade before the 2021 season, the Los Angeles Rams will take on the Detroit Lions. After winning the first game at SoFi Stadium in 2021, the Rams have lost each of the last two meetings in Detroit. Needing a win to stay atop the NFC and a game against the Seattle Seahawks looming, this will be a big one. They will also knock the Lions’ playoff chances down to 32 percent. Here are five keys to victory for the Rams against the Lions.
1. Avoid a Panthers Situation on Defense
The way in which the Lions play offense is very similar to how the Panthers operate. In that game, the Rams defense had one of their worst games of the season as the Panthers were able to play ball control and finish drives in the end zone with explosive plays. One of the few ways the Lions can give themselves a chance in this game is by playing ball-control style, and they are more than capable.
Back in Week 13, the Panthers ran the ball 35 times between their two running backs for 141 yards. They didn’t necessarily get explosive runs, but they were able to beat the Rams with a ‘death by 1,000 paper cuts’ tactic. The small 3-4 yard gains set the Panthers up in 3rd-and-short consistently. The Lions have a running back duo that can do the same. This is a team that has one of the lowest early down passing rates in the NFL. Back in Week 9, the Minnesota Vikings held the Lions to 3.1 yards per rush, putting them in obvious passing downs.
It is worth noting that the Rams didn’t have a healthy Poona Ford in that game. With Ford on the field, the Rams have been very good at stopping the run. They’ve contained players like Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. However, this Lions team is different and doesn’t mind getting physical. The Rams simply can’t allow the Lions to dictate tempo and limit possessions while maximizing their own.
2. Win on 4th Down and Red Zone
Over the last two games that the Rams have played against the Lions, they have gone a combined 2-for-8 in the red zone while allowing a 2-for-2 success rate on fourth down. It sounds obvious, but touchdowns win this game. The Rams have been one of the best red zone teams this season, scoring a touchdown on 66.7 percent of their trips inside of the 20. Tied with them for the third-best rate in the NFL is the Lions. However, while the Lions rank 23rd in red zone defense, the Rams rank second. This is a game in which the Rams defense needs to lock in when the Lions enter the red zone.
A big part of that will be getting stops on fourth down. The Lions have gone for it on fourth down on 25 different occasions this season. That’s tied for the seventh-most in the NFL. It should be assumed that if the Lions get across their own 40-yard line, they are going to go for it on 4th-and-short. In the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Lions were 0-for-5 on fourth down, including twice in scoring range. Against the Packers on Thanksgiving, they were 0-for-2.
It’s typically critical for the Rams defense to win on second down to set up third-and-long. It’s going to be even more important in this game to win on third down to force the Lions in a kicking situation. If the Rams can force punts or field goals in this game, they will have a very good chance to come out on top.
3. Get to Goff with Interior Pressure
As is always the case with Jared Goff, the Rams need to be able to not just get pressure, but create interior pressure. The Rams were able to create this interior pressure with Sam Darnold against the Seahawks. They will need to do the same on Sunday.
Chris Shula does a great job mixing up his pressure plans. One of those twists is using Jared Verse as a stand-up linebacker on third down and rush him through the interior. This not only eliminates Jahmyr Gibbs as a receiver, but puts the Rams’ best pass rusher against the weak point of the Lions offensive line. The Vikings did this by blitzing Ivan Pace and Blake Cashman. However, the Packers lined up Micah Parsons as a stand-up linebacker to bring pressure and had similar success. The Rams can and should do that with Verse as well as bring a safety from the third level. This will also be a big game for Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske.
With no pressure, Jared Goff ranks third in the NFL in EPA per dropback at 0.43. Under pressure, he’s on the exact opposite side of zero at -0.43 EPA per dropback. The Rams pass rush has taken a step back recently, but the weak point of the Lions offensive line is in the middle. For the Rams to slow down the Lions offense, they have to be able to get Goff off of his spot and mess with his timing.
4. Contain Jahmyr Gibbs and Lions crossers
When it comes to tests that the Rams have faced at running back, they’ve risen to the occasion at every turn. Barkley had 2.6 yards per carry back in Week 2. Jonathan Taylor had his lowest success rate of the season against the Rams. Christian McCaffrey was held to 2.6 and 2.5 yards per carry. When the Rams have been tasked to stop the run, they’ve done it. It’s what they were built to do.
However, there may not be a more explosive running back than Gibbs. Gibbs ranks fifth in explosive run rate and is second in yards per carry. His 0.28 missed tackles forced per attempt also leads the NFL as do his yards before contact. This is a player with very good vision that can make players miss and take it the distance. That’s a player that the Rams haven’t faced this season at running back. When Gibbs has been held under 3.5 yards per carry, the Lions are 1-3. Their lone win came back in September against the Baltimore Ravens. David Montgomery rushed for 151 yards in that game.
This also applies to the passing game. Gibbs has 36.5 receiving yards per game which is the fourth-most for any running back. The Rams defense has allowed 34.3 receiving yards per game to running backs which is the 11th-most. This is also an offense that loves to hit crossing routes over the middle with their speed. Nate Landman needs to have a good game on Sunday. This is one where the Rams will likely miss Quentin Lake. Josh Wallace and Jaylen McCollough need to be able to come up and make the tackle in space.
5. Win With Matthew Stafford
It seems only right that the Rams should rely on Matthew Stafford to win this game. He’s in the heat of an MVP race with Drake Maye. If Stafford wins this in a nationally televised spot and plays well, he’ll take firm control of that conversation. This is Stafford’s old team that the Rams have lost to each of the last two times they’ve played. The last time the Rams beat the Lions, it came at SoFi Stadium in 2021. It only makes sense to lean on him for this game as well.
Matthew Stafford has thrown three or more touchdowns in seven games this season. The Lions are allowing two passing touchdowns per game, tied for the fourth-most in 2025. Since Week 10, the Lions have allowed an average of 254.8 passing yards per game, third most in the NFL. The Lions defense will be without Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. That doesn’t mention that Terrion Arnold is also out. Matthew Stafford should be able to go at the Lions secondary and should have time to do it. The Lions have the second-longest time to pressure in the NFL and don’t have the talent to hold up for that long.
