(Photo: Sports Illustrated)

Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams

Lions (8-5)

What a difference a year can make. Around this time in 2024, the Lions were on cruise control, in the midst of the best season in franchise history. Despite injuries, they still found ways to win. A year later, both coordinators are gone, and while the team remains strong, things feel different — not necessarily worse, just different. They have dominated the NFC North the past two years, finishing atop the division, but this season they’re chasing both the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. If the playoffs started today, the Lions would be on the outside looking in. After the Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay, I wondered what we’d see from them, especially against a Cowboys team that had seemed to find its rhythm. They returned to their brand of football — smashmouth and physical — and got back in the win column, a victory they desperately needed to stay in the hunt. This is a Lions team built to run the football, and they’ve been among the best in the league at it over the past few seasons. I’ve said it all year, and I’ll say it again: the offense is much better when it goes through Jahmyr Gibbs. What James Cook is to the Buffalo Bills, Gibbs is to the Lions. Imagine if a rushing attack of this caliber existed back when Calvin Johnson was still playing — it’s a scary thought. This Sunday, Detroit looks to stay on track against a tough Rams team in Inglewood.

Rams (10-3):

The game in Charlotte against the Panthers had “trap game” written all over it. Entering that matchup, the Rams hadn’t lost since Week 5 in October. Matthew Stafford had thrown only two interceptions all season — then threw two more in the upset loss. What was frustrating was that after dominating Tampa Bay the week prior, they laid an egg in Charlotte, snapping their winning streak. But this is the NFL — streaks end. The Rams bounced back with a blowout win against the Cardinals, and with a Bears loss in Green Bay, they sit atop the conference as the No. 1 seed. I still believe this is the most complete team in the league. They have stars everywhere, a balanced offense, one of the best coaches in Sean McVay, and a punishing defense that works together. Statistically, they rank fourth in offense and third in defense. Come January, this will be a tough challenge, and the road to Santa Clara likely goes through SoFi Stadium. This Sunday, the Rams return home for a huge showdown with the Lions, and a familiar face will face his former team for the first time since being traded.

Lions X-Factor: David Montgomery

“Sonic and Knuckles” are arguably the best running back tandem in the league, and Montgomery is just as crucial to this offense as Gibbs. The duo keeps defenses guessing. The Rams will focus on Gibbs, which opens opportunities for Montgomery to become dangerous. He is Detroit’s short-yardage hammer, clock-control back, and spark when the offense stalls. Against a prolific Rams offense, sustaining drives is crucial, and Montgomery can turn a 2nd-and-8 into a 3rd-and-2. Gibbs may be the highlight, but Montgomery is the tone-setter.

Rams X-Factor: Byron Young

The Rams have a deep pool of defensive talent, but Byron Young stands out. Detroit’s offense relies on rhythm — clean pockets, sustained drives, and play-action. Young is a rhythm disruptor. He doesn’t need three sacks to make an impact; a few hits, pressures, and hurries can throw off the Lions’ timing. If he establishes himself early, the Rams can dictate the flow of the game and it will force the Lions to chip and throw additional blockers at him wherever he lines up.

Final Thoughts:

These teams will always be linked due to the quarterback swap: Jared Goff to Detroit, Matthew Stafford to L.A. The Rams won the Super Bowl in Stafford’s first full season. Now, this key matchup looms for both teams trying to stay in playoff contention. They met in the playoffs a few years ago, and the Lions won both meetings to open the 2024 season. This time, they meet in Inglewood. I believe this game will come down to the run game. The Lions must establish Gibbs and Montgomery with purpose: Gibbs stresses defenses horizontally, Montgomery punishes them vertically. Keeping Goff protected is critical — chip blockers, play-action, and avoiding long passing downs are essential. Third-down efficiency is also key, to avoid long-yardage situations that allow the Rams to disguise coverages and blitzes. For the Rams, it starts with pressuring Goff early and forcing him to throw sooner rather than later. Limiting Detroit’s run game is crucial to making them one-dimensional. Stafford must get into rhythm quickly; a fast start prevents the Lions from establishing their pass rush, and the Rams thrive when Stafford plays with tempo. This promises to be a highly entertaining matchup.

Prediction:

Rams 31, Lions 24