Three years after the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions pulled off a very rare quarterback trade, the two teams will face off in the NFL’s Wild Card weekend. The rare trade appears to be a win-win as Matthew Stafford and the Rams have made the playoffs twice in the three-year span. Meanwhile, Jared Goff led the Lions to their first division title in 30 years. This matchup seems to have been fate. Let’s preview the Rams and Lions.
Los Angeles Rams
Five quarterbacks have led the Rams to Super Bowl appearances, and two of them will face each other Sunday. Jared Goff led the Rams to Super Bowl 53 before the Patriots defense kept Los Angeles’ high-powered offense out of the end zone. Not long after that loss, the Rams decided they needed a change and found the perfect trade partner in Detroit who were struggling to get over the hump with Stafford despite him always playing at a high level.
After acquiring Stafford, the Rams sliced and diced their way to the Super Bowl 56 championship. However, the follow-up season was disastrous, and Stafford got hurt making matters worse. Despite a slow start to the season, a healthy Stafford was able to work well with a healthy Cooper Kupp and rookie WR Puca Nacua to get the Rams back to the playoffs.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are the very definition of long-suffering. The Lions last won the division title during the first year of the Clinton administration. Detroit last won a playoff game in 1991 and last won the NFL championship in 1957. They’ve long been the forgotten team in a division that has featured the Packers, Bears and Vikings.
Matthew Stafford gave them a consistent presence under center and some playoff appearances but wasn’t able to secure a victory for Detroit. Lions’ fans then watched Stafford win a Super Bowl with the Rams while Goff struggled in his first year in the Motor City. But Goff found his footing and the Lions are once again hosting a playoff game, fittingly against the quarterback that gave them their first real hope since the days of Barry Sanders.
Rams and Lions Predictions
Los Angeles finished the year 10-7 but 5-4 on the road. However, the Rams played eight games against teams that made the playoffs, going 2-6 in those games. One of those two wins was against San Francisco in the finale when the 49ers were resting their starters. Simply put, Los Angeles struggles against good teams.
The Detroit Lions finished the year 12-5 with exactly half of those wins coming at home. Detroit played six games against opponents who made the playoffs and finished those games 3-3. The Lions were slightly better, but still not overly impressive against winning teams.
The numbers favor Detroit, but until I see the Lions actually win a playoff game, I can’t pick them. I say Stafford breaks Detroit fans’ hearts. I’m picking the Rams to win.
Final score – Los Angeles Rams 24 | Detroit Lions 20
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