The Detroit Lions head to SoFi Stadium on Sunday for what may be the most significant NFC matchup of Week 15, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. EST.
Detroit enters the contest at 8–5 after a crucial 44–30 win over the Cowboys, a victory that helped stabilize their season as they sit third in the NFC North with four games remaining.
They’ll meet a Los Angeles Rams squad that has been on a tear, winning seven of its last eight games and dismantling the Cardinals 45–17 last week. Former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford put on a clinic in that game, going 22-for-31 with 281 yards and three touchdowns, while the offense racked up a staggering 530 total yards. With a 10–3 record, the Rams currently hold the top seed in the NFC.
Detroit defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard faces one of his toughest assignments of the season. Through 13 games, the Rams are averaging 29.2 points and 373.2 yards per outing—both fourth-best in the league. Stafford has been central to that success and is firmly in the MVP race. He leads the NFL with 35 touchdown passes, ranks fourth in yards (3,354), and sits fifth in QBR (68.8). He’s also been sacked only 17 times, making consistent pressure difficult to achieve. The Lions’ front is coming off a five-sack day against Dak Prescott, but Stafford presents a different challenge.
Los Angeles surrounds its veteran quarterback with one of the league’s most dangerous supporting casts. Running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are each averaging nearly five yards per carry and have combined for 12 rushing scores. In the passing game, Puka Nacua continues to dominate the league, tying for the most receptions (93) and ranking second in receiving yards (1,186). It’s his second straight season surpassing 90 catches and 1,100 yards.
Newcomer Davante Adams adds another layer of difficulty for Detroit’s secondary. Despite managing a hamstring issue, he leads the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns and has combined for 20 touchdown grabs alongside Nacua.
This would be a tough assignment under normal circumstances, but Detroit may be severely short-handed on the back end. Safety Brian Branch is out for the season due to a torn Achilles, and Kerby Joseph—out the last seven games with a knee problem—has not yet returned to full practice, putting his availability in doubt.
The Rams’ defense has also held up its end of the bargain, surrendering just 17.5 points per game, the third-lowest mark in the league. Edge rushers Byron Young (11 sacks) and Jared Verse (six sacks) headline the pass rush, while corners Cobie Durant and Emmanuel Forbes each have three interceptions.
Right now, Los Angeles looks like the most complete team in football, and Detroit will need its best performance to come away with a win. At this point in the week, the Lions feel like roughly a 40 percent underdog to pull off the upset.
