The NFC Wild Card Playoffs continue Sunday night. Los Angeles Rams (10-7, 10-6-1 ATS) detroit lions (12-5, 12-5 ATS). After Matthew Stafford was traded for Jared Goff in 2021, each team’s starting quarterback will face his former team. The Rams were the No. 6 seed in the NFC, finishing second in the NFC West and were the only team to finish second in the NFC West. The NFC finished with 10 wins and 7 losses. The Lions won the NFC North and earned the 3 seed. The Lions had the same record as the 49ers and Cowboys, but the 49ers had a better winning percentage in NFC games, with the Cowboys defeating the Lions in Week 17. The Rams and Lions did not play each other in the regular season. Detroit is currently the favorite with three points at home. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 ET from Ford Field in Detroit and will be available to watch on NBC.
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A ram that exceeds expectations
The Rams’ win total over/under this season was listed between 6 and 7 games in the preseason and has since posted 10 wins. Head coach Sean McVay has a system in place to get the best out of his players and give them a chance to succeed. Cooper Kupp missed five games this season and battled injuries, but McVay was able to turn Puka Nacua into a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver. The Rams are peaking at the right time in the season, winning seven of their last eight games and have plenty of momentum heading into the playoffs.
A bigger stage. brighter lights. That’s what we’re here for. pic.twitter.com/viYPpe4pap
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 9, 2024
Matthew Stafford is returning to Detroit after a long career with the Lions. Stafford won a Super Bowl with the Rams and will look to defeat his former opponent in the wild card round. Stafford ranked 11th in the NFL in total passing yards, averaging 264.3 yards per game and a TD-to-INT ratio of 24-11. Running back Kyren Williams played in only 12 games this season, but still rushed for over 1,000 yards and finished the season with 1,144 yards. Williams averaged 95.3 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. Puka Nacua had a great rookie season with the Rams, ranking fourth in the league in total receiving yards, averaging 87.4 yards per game and six touchdowns. Nacua had 25 receptions of 20 yards or more. Cooper Kupp is currently healthy and averaging 61.4 yards and five touchdowns this season. Tyler Higbee was the top tight end with 33.0 yards per game and just two touchdowns.
The Rams finished eighth in the NFL in scoring with 23.8 points per game, and their defense finished 19th in the NFL with 22.2 points allowed per game. Linebacker Ernest Jones led the way in tackles with 145 sacks on the year and also added 4.5 sacks. Defensive end Coby Turner led the way in sacks with nine, with Aaron Donald not far behind with eight. Jordan Fuller and Ahkello Witherspoon both led the team with three interceptions from the secondary. The Rams’ defense forced 15 turnovers and their offense turned the ball over 18 times.
Reporting an injury:
Questionable: TE Tyler Higbee, T Joe Noteboom, G Kevin Dotson, LB Troy Reeder, S Jordan Fuller.
First NFC North title
The NFC North was founded in 2002 when the league needed to add new teams and rebalance the division. The Lions had never won the NFC North until this season. The Lions last won a division title in 1993 when they played in the NFC Central and had Barry Sanders on the team. The Lions have won three of their last four games and have home-field advantage in the first game, which is important considering how much better Jared Goff plays in the dome than outside. Jared Goff will also be playing against his former team, looking to prove them wrong by advancing the Lions to the next round.
“Just be real.” pic.twitter.com/UYjClxPJIT
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 10, 2024
Goff finished the season second in total passing yards, averaging 269.1 yards per game and a 30-to-12 TD-to-INT ratio. Goff had a strong performance down the stretch, throwing for 320 yards in the final game against Minnesota and five touchdown passes in the win over the Broncos. David Montgomery was the Lions’ top back, gaining 1,015 yards, averaging 72.5 yards per game and 13 touchdowns, and also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. Rookie Jahmil Gibbs had a strong debut, averaging 63.0 yards and 10 touchdowns per game. Their top receiver was Amon-Ra St. Brown, who ranked third in the league in total receiving yards, averaging 94.7 yards and 10 touchdowns per game. St. Brown was also a strong threat, with 24 catches of 20 yards or more. Sam LaPorta is battling a knee injury but hopes to play here, and the rookie tight end averaged 52.3 yards and 10 touchdowns per game this year.
The Lions finished the season in fifth place, scoring 27.1 points per game, and their defense finished 23rd in scoring, allowing 23.2 points per game. Linebacker Alex Anzalone led the team with 129 tackles and added three sacks. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson led the way with 11.5 sacks, and safety Kirby Joseph led the secondary with four interceptions. Detroit forced 23 turnovers on defense, but they also committed 23 turnovers on offense.
Reporting an injury:
Questionable: TE Sam LaPorta, TE James Mitchell, WR Kalife Raymond, CB Jerry Jacobs.
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Insider status:
evaluation:
Dan Campbell is a candidate for Coach of the Year, he’s a great motivator and his team plays hard for him, but for a playoff spot there are coaches who are better at game planning. I’m planning to hire him. The Lions were favorites to win the NFC North and did exactly what they expected, while the Rams were left for dead and overachieved. Sean McVay will provide an offense that the Lions aren’t ready for. McVay made Kyren Williams one of the best running backs in the league and made Puka Nacua feel like he should have been a top-20 pick instead of a fifth-round pick.
The Lions are 27th in the NFL in pass defense and the Rams are 10th in passing yards per game. Stafford will not disappoint in his return to Detroit and, along with Nacua and Kupp, will cut through this Lions pass defense. The Rams’ pass defense is stronger than Detroit’s, ranking 20th in pass defense and making them more likely to get stops. Although the Lions like the Dome, they don’t have the strongest home-field advantage and have lost at home to the Seahawks and Packers this season. In the playoffs, games are decided by the slimmest of margins, so I will use my coaching advantage and use the Rams’ passing attack as a key difference-maker against a weak Lions secondary.
Beat the Rams with points.
Prediction: Rams +3
full game total pick
Insider status:
evaluation:
Grab your popcorn and get ready for a gunfight. This is the highest set total for Wildcard Weekend, and there’s a reason for that. It has an advantage in the passing game when each team has the ball. The Rams rank 10th in passing offense and will face the 27th-ranked pass defense. The Lions are second in passing offense, but will play against the 20th ranked pass defense. Each quarterback says the right things to the media, downplays the importance of playing for his former team, and plays against players acquired in trades, but he hides the truth. Both of these quarterbacks are high-level competitors and will want to score five passing touchdowns against their former teams. The Lions have had the over in three of their last four games, while the Rams have had an even more convincing winning streak with the over in six of their last seven. The Lions were fifth in scoring and just 23rd in scoring defense, while the Rams were eighth in scoring and 19th in scoring defense. Expect big numbers from this Sunday night matchup.
Please take over.
Prediction: 52+
