The Detroit Lions are preparing for one of their most important games of the year as they get ready to face Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, December 14. Sitting at 8–5, Detroit essentially has no room for error if they want to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Based on league projections, the Lions currently hold a 52% chance of reaching the playoffs. A win over the Rams would push that number to 72%, while a loss would drag it down to 42%. In short, Sunday’s result could drastically alter Detroit’s postseason path.

The Rams, meanwhile, are having one of the strongest campaigns in the NFC. They enter the matchup at 10–3, leading the NFC West, and already own a 97% probability of securing a postseason berth. A victory would raise that to nearly a lock at 99%.

With those stakes in mind, Detroit received a notable announcement from the NFL just days before the showdown.

Al-Quadin Muhammad Earns NFC Defensive Player of the Week

On Wednesday, December 10, the league revealed that Lions defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad has been selected as the NFC Defensive Player of the Week following his dominant performance against the Dallas Cowboys. Muhammad recorded three sacks in the win—his best outing of the season—and now leads the entire Lions roster with nine sacks. He joins fellow Detroit award winners Jared Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs, who previously earned weekly honors.

The Lions’ victory over Dallas not only revived their playoff hopes but also tightened the NFC North race. Detroit remains third in the division but is now only one game behind the second-place Chicago Bears. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers extended their lead in the division after defeating Chicago.

Despite their momentum, the Lions enter the Rams matchup as 5.5-point underdogs—an all-too-familiar position for this team. They’ve pulled off upsets before, and another one could shake up both the NFC North and NFC West. A Lions win would especially help the Seattle Seahawks, who share the same 10–3 record as the Rams and sit right behind them in the West.

Dan Campbell Applauds Team’s Effort After Cowboys Win

Head coach Dan Campbell praised his players for their complete-team performance against Dallas.
“That was awesome,” Campbell said. “That game was one of the few where we truly played complementary football—really, really did.”

He highlighted the momentum swing late in the second quarter: “Scoring before halftime, coming out with a takeaway from Derrick Barnes, and converting it into points—those moments were huge. Everything fed into everything else. The guys stepped up. That’s what good teams do.”

With renewed confidence, a Player of the Week honoree, and major playoff implications on the line, the Lions head into Sunday knowing the stakes—and believing they can meet the moment.