The Detroit Lions have experienced a strong resurgence under head coach Dan Campbell, highlighted by their run to the NFC Championship Game in the 2023–24 season and a first-place NFC finish the year after. Yet even with their recent momentum, the franchise is still searching for its first-ever Super Bowl appearance—a familiar frustration for long-suffering Lions fans who keep hoping this will finally be the year.

Meanwhile, former Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford already reached the mountaintop with the Los Angeles Rams, guiding them to a championship in the 2021–22 season. His immediate success after leaving Detroit was bittersweet back home; some fans were thrilled for him, while others felt stung watching him achieve what he never could with the Lions.

After that title run, the Rams slipped from contention for a while—until now. This season, Stafford’s squad is starting to look like a legitimate threat to return to the big stage.

Following their November 16 win over the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams climbed to the No. 1 spot in numerous Week 12 NFL power rankings. Their surge has fueled real speculation that Stafford could be steering his team toward another Super Bowl appearance.

ESPN placed Los Angeles at the very top of its league-wide rankings but noted that special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn is facing mounting pressure. Reporter Sarah Barshop explained that early issues with protection and missed kicks forced Los Angeles to switch both its kicker and long-snapper before Week 10.

Since moving from Alex Ward to Jake McQuaide at long-snapper and from Joshua Karty to Harrison Mevis at kicker, the Rams haven’t even attempted a field goal. Mevis, however, has connected on all nine extra-point tries across two games. Barshop added that if special teams miscues resurface, head coach Sean McVay may consider replacing Blackburn after the season.

Over at the NFL’s official site, Eric Edholm also ranked the Rams No. 1, pointing out that their dramatic win over Seattle put them in a strong position in the NFC West and within reach of the conference’s top seed. Danielle Flowers of Alternative Fix echoed that enthusiasm, suggesting the Rams may actually be the “real deal.”

Meanwhile, the State of the Detroit Lions

As for Detroit, the Lions slipped from sixth to eighth in ESPN’s rankings following their 16–9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN identified offensive coordinator John Morton as the member of the Lions staff under the most scrutiny. According to Eric Woodyard, Morton lost his play-calling responsibilities after a Week 9 defeat to the Vikings and now faces an uphill battle to secure his long-term role. In 2024, Detroit led the entire league with 33.2 points per game under former coordinator Ben Johnson, now the head coach of the Chicago Bears, leaving Morton with the difficult task of living up to that standard.

Detroit still has time to regroup before the season winds down. And who knows—Lions fans may yet see their team push toward the postseason, potentially setting up a dramatic matchup against Stafford and the Rams.

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