Rams (0-0) AT Lions (0-0)
When: Sunday, 5:20 p.m.
Where: Ford Field at Mile High
TV: KNBC-4 (Los Angeles), KNSD-39 (San Diego), KSNV-3 (Las Vegas), KMIR-39 (Palm Springs), KHNL-13 (Honolulu); Peacock (streaming).
Radio: KSPN-AM (710 Los Angeles).
Line: Lions by 3.5 points; over/under 50.5
Notable injury designations: Rams: WR Puka Nacua (knee), G Jonah Jackson (Shoulder), OT Rob Havenstein (Ankle), DB Cobie Duant (Hamstring) IR: DB Derion Kendrick (Knee), and Tre Tomlinson (Undisclosed); IR-R: KT Leveston (Ankle), DT Larrell Murchison (Arm), OT Conor McDermott (Undisclosed) DB Darious Williams (Hamstring) PUP: TE Tyler Higbee (Knee-ACL/MCL) SUS: QB Jimmy Garroppolo (PEDs)
Lions: S Ifeatu Melifonwu (Ankle), DE D.J. Reader (Quad), S Loren Strickland (Thumb) IR: OG Netane Muti (Shoulder), K Mike Badgley (Hamstring), DE John Cominsky (Knee-MCL), DE Nate Lynn (Shoulder), and WR Tre'Quan Smith (Undisclosed) IR-R: DB Emmanuel Mosley (Pectoral) and DT Brodric Martin (Leg)
What is at stake? The Rams seek to avenge their playoff loss and send a message to the league that they should be included in the discussion to represent the NFC as Super Bowl contenders. Led by veteran QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp, the Rams' offense surprised everyone with their young, dynamic playmakers in WR Puka Nacua and RB Kyren Williams. Questions abound on the defense for the Rams. After training camp, they traded their leading tackler, Ernest Jones IV, and will be without future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald. Kobie Turner, Byron Young, and Quentin Lake lead an unheralded and young defense. The Rams are banking on contributions from rookies OLB/DE Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske to offset the production of Donald's retirement.
Who's better? The Lions are no longer the feel-good story of the NFL but one expected to contend for a Lombardi trophy. A quarter away from representing the NFC in the Super Bowl, Detroit will not surprise anyone this year. Shaped in the image of their head coach, Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions imposed their will against the Rams in the playoffs as the game wore on.
In this matchup, the Lions have the clear advantage where games are won and lost–in the trenches. Led by All-Pros RT Penei Sewell and C Frank Ragnow, the Lions will seek to neutralize Kobie Durant by allocating constant double teams generally reserved for future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald, his way, and Byron Young will have a tall task going against Sewell. Rookies Braden Fiske and Jared Verse will be baptized by fire against the Lions, who will again seek to impose their will on the Rams at the line of scrimmage and win the time of possession battle.
Matchup to watch: If Ragnow can pass off Rams NT Bobby Brown III, climb up to the second level of the Rams defense, and suffocate Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom, Lions running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will have big days, and the Lions will dominate the time of possession.
Rams win if: The Rams will entrust LT Rob Havenstein with corralling Aiden Hutchinson and keeping Matthew Stafford upright. The Lions had an abysmal pass defense last year. Although they made moves and acquisitions to bolster their secondary, Rams WRs, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are master technicians at route running. They will have a field day if Havenstein and the offensive line keep Stafford clean.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) celebrates his touchdown against the New York Giants with offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium.
Prediction: Los Angeles beats Detroit in a foreshadowing playoff matchup. Last year, when Rams RB Kyren Williams started to find his stride in the game, he exited their playoff game with a hand injury. Now healthy, Williams, Kupp and Nacua present a nightmare for an atrocious pass defense. Stafford throws for 300 yards and a game-winning drive. Josh Karty kicks the game-winning field goal in a 27-24 victory over Detroit.