Detroit’s inability to establish the run once again proved costly, and the trend is becoming impossible to ignore. When the Lions fail to reach 100 rushing yards, they fail to win — and Sunday’s loss to the Rams was the fifth such example this season.

Detroit fell 41–34 to Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium after watching a promising first half unravel quickly. The Lions entered the break leading 24–17, having rushed the ball 12 times for 50 yards at a respectable clip. That balance disappeared after halftime.

In the final two quarters, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were largely neutralized, combining for just 20 yards on eight carries. Only one Detroit run reached double digits all afternoon, and it came before halftime. With no ground threat, the offense stalled, opening the second half with three straight three-and-outs.

As Detroit sputtered, the Rams surged. Los Angeles scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives, turning what had been a Lions advantage into a 10-point deficit in a matter of minutes.

Quarterback Jared Goff acknowledged the importance of the run game while noting the offense’s need to adapt. He explained that the team prefers to play through the ground attack but sometimes has to lean elsewhere depending on how the game unfolds. On Sunday, that meant putting the offense squarely on the passing game.

Goff delivered a strong performance, throwing for 338 yards and three touchdowns without committing a turnover. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams were dominant, accounting for nearly 300 receiving yards and all three scores. Still, it wasn’t enough to compensate for the lack of balance.

Los Angeles consistently forced Detroit into long-yardage situations after halftime, making sustained drives nearly impossible. Gibbs managed just 19 rushing yards in the second half, while Montgomery saw only one carry — a short touchdown run — as the Lions became increasingly pass-heavy while trying to catch up.

Head coach Dan Campbell pointed directly to the run game when asked about the team’s flat third quarter. Detroit moved the chains only three times on rushing attempts all game, a shortcoming Campbell said the team couldn’t overcome.

He noted that penalties and negative plays put the offense behind schedule, leading to difficult third downs and limiting play-calling options. Campbell also admitted he would review his own decisions, questioning whether different choices could have helped keep the offense on track.

Detroit’s offensive line, typically a strength, hasn’t consistently played to its usual level this season. Montgomery hasn’t reached double-digit carries in over a month, and Gibbs has been held under 70 rushing yards in four of the last five games, despite several standout performances.

Campbell credited the Rams for their discipline, saying their mistake-free approach made the Lions’ shortcomings even more costly. In the end, Detroit simply couldn’t do enough — and the absence of a productive run game once again told the story.