This Sunday, the Rams will travel to Detroit to play in the much anticipated wild card game. Matthew Stafford will make his first trip back to Detroit since departing, and the Lions will host their first-ever playoff game at Ford Field. The Lions just defeated the Vikings, but in the process, they lost two key players: wide receiver Kalif Raymond and star rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. The Rams just defeated the 49ers, a game in which neither team used any starters. I anticipate it to be loud and exciting since the city of Detroit has been waiting for this for thirty years. I anticipate that this game will be tight and I could see it unfold in either direction.
Having been written off before the season, the 6th-seeded Rams come to Detroit prepared to show that they are a skilled and well-coached group. After winning seven of their last eight games and suffering one overtime loss against Baltimore, the Rams concluded the season with a 10-7 record. The Rams’ recent success in the draft has been largely attributed to this. This year’s fifth-round pick Puka Nacua has developed into a premier wide receiver, shattering the rookie record in catches and receiving yards. Along with Nacua, the Rams selected two outstanding d-linemen this year in Byron Young and Kobie Turner. This season, Turner and Young have been able to consistently apply pressure to the majority of quarterbacks, finishing first and second in sacks for rookies. Despite missing five games, Kyren Williams, last year’s fifth-round draft pick, finished third in running yards. This season, Stafford has also had an outstanding season and has guided this offense to become one of the finest in the NFL. The secondary is where the Rams are most struggling. They have been exposed a lot this season and give up 230 passing yards per game on average. Entering Ford Field, which will be packed with noise, will be a difficult challenge for the Rams. Stafford will head back home to Ford Field in hopes of winning his first playoff game there. The Rams need to play at a high level while playing on the road, but I believe they have the pieces to defeat Detroit.
The Lions, who finished with a 12-5 regular season record and their first division title since 1993, are the #3 seed heading into the playoffs. This weekend, Jared Goff, who helped guide this offense to their first-ever home playoff game, will try to win for the first time since 1991. The Lions’ success is largely due to their attack, particularly up front. Right tackle Penei Sewell leads one of the NFL’s top offensive lines for the Lions. In his third season, Sewell gave up only one sack and is on his way to earning his first-ever All-Pro selection. In addition, the run game has been among the best in the league, with 10 touchdowns and 1000 scrimmage yards for both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Amon-Ra St. Brown demonstrated why he is among the NFL’s top receivers by finishing the season with 1500 yards and 10 touchdowns. Like the Rams, the Lions have selected several excellent players in the previous few years, including tight end Sam LaPorta. Setting the rookie record for receptions and leading all tight ends in touchdowns with 10, LaPorta had one of the finest seasons for a rookie tight end. Brian Branch, the defensive back, was another outstanding player this season. Branch has been a superb slot corner and has had an amazing season, including returning an interception for a touchdown against Patrick Mahomes. Late in the season, Aidan Hutchinson took the next step as well, ending with 11.5 sacks and 101 pressures. The secondary is where Detroit struggles the most. Sutton and whoever they have next to him haven’t played well lately, allowing elite receivers to dominate in important games. The Lions may give up yet another significant game because I think they will have trouble stopping Stafford and Nacua in the air. The Lions’ secondary performance will need to improve if they hope to win this game. This will likely be a very tight game that may go either way. Although the Rams have a good chance of winning, Detroit has the advantage on paper and should prevail.
My Prediction: Lions 31 Rams 28
