5 keys to victory: Can Rams learn from past mistakes to beat Lions?

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...