Another bold prediction not coming true. While it wasn’t the biggest whiff I’ve had this year, only missing it by six points, it’s still a miss. This week, I am going with a simple prediction that might not seem bold, but given the circumstances, it isn’t something people expect.
This week the Detroit Lions go on the road to take on the top team in the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams. Led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, this team has been explosive for most of the season. At 10-3, they are in a similar
boat the Lions were last year when the NFC North divisional race was close, and almost every team was in the race until the final month. With this game having playoff implications—more so for the Lions than the Rams—it’s going to be another classic in the battle between these two franchises that have several connections.
Bold prediction of the week: Detroit wins the game
Yep, I am considering it bold to think the Lions can win this game. It’s not that the Lions can’t, but with how good the Rams have looked this season, it’s certainly the toughest game they’ve had this year. The Rams are good at almost every spot on their team and they’re entering the game with only a few players missing due to injury, unlike the Lions. With a more healthy roster, a better record, home field advantage, and an easier path to make the playoffs, everything is favoring the Rams.
But, just because you have things favoring you, doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed.
The Lions have had the Rams’ number the past two seasons, defeating them in the 2023 NFC Wild Card round and in the 2024 season opener, both at Ford Field. The last time the Rams played the Lions in LA was in 2021, the first year under head coach Dan Campbell and the year the Rams won the Super Bowl. The Rams won 28-19, but the game was closer than the score looked.
At the time, the Lions were 0-7 while the Rams were 6-1, yet the score was 17-16 Rams at halftime. Detroit did take the lead to make it 19-17 in the third quarter, but they couldn’t close it out in the fourth. At Detroit’s worst under Campbell, they still took the Rams to the brink. Since the Lions have improved, the Rams haven’t figured out how to beat them.
In the 2023 playoff matchup, the Lions took the early lead and made the Rams play from behind the entire game, and the defense came up huge in slowing down the Rams’ offense in the end. In 2024, it was a back-and-forth battle with teams trading scores. It had to be settled in overtime (before the rule change where each team got a possession) where the Lions pounded the rock with running back David Montgomery and won the game on the opening drive.
This time around, the Rams’ roster has improved, which is shocking to say after losing future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald, but the team has added some good weapons on offense and defense. Wide receiver Davante Adams is on pace for a career-high touchdowns in a season, currently at 14 and just needing five the rest of the way to jump it. Edge defenders Byron Young and Jared Verse are menaces for opposing offensive lines, combining for 17 sacks.
Los Angeles has some flaws though, despite looking strong. Their special teams is the biggest weakness, rated 24th according to DVOA. They’ve allowed multiple kicks to get blocked, so if Detroit can get a paw on one of them, it could change the game like it has for them this season against the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers. In two of the three losses, the Rams had blunders with the kicking unit. While those issues date back to early October and the team has replaced its kicker, those kinds of problems could still appear if they aren’t cleaned up.
Also the home field advantage doesn’t give the Rams much when it comes to SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles isn’t a big football town. With how Lions fans travel, I got a feeling it will be a similar sound to Ford Field come Sunday.
Now, the Lions’ roster health was better in their last two wins over LA. Despite being down a few key starters, Detroit has seen multiple key players return from injuries to give them a better chance at winning this game. What also can give Detroit some motivation for this game is being the underdog. They thrive on that mentality that people overlook them and count them out. That’s why the 2021 team, despite their record of 3-13-1, were a tough out.
That mantra is still in Detroit, but with the team improving, they have become favorites and expected to win more games. Now with the team regressing from its 15-2 season—currently in third place in the NFC North and eighth place in the NFC standings—people are back to questioning if this team can win.
Detroit has been on a roller coaster after their four-game winning streak ended earlier this year, bouncing back between winning and losing each week. But this team has to win at least three of its next four games to have a realistic shot at making the postseason. Many people don’t think it is possible this week, but what if it happens? This team would get a huge boost of morale and have less pressure on them in the remaining three games.
If the Lions pull off this victory, they can slip up at any point within the next three weeks, and they aren’t dead in the water. Losing this game, though, forces them to make every game a must-win, and while the team thrives in pressure, I’m sure they’d like things to be a bit easier as the season closes out. Overall, Detroit can win this game, and I believe it’s possible despite all the hoops the team has to jump through.
