Pride of Detroit
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.
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...
