Matthew Stafford (35) makes his return to Detroit wearing a Los Angeles Rams uniform. Jared Goff (29) faces the team that traded him away. The Lions are hosting their first playoff game in 30 years.

The buildup to Sunday night’s first-round playoff matchup feels like a scripted drama, but both teams are focused solely on the primetime wild-card game and the chance to advance to the conference semifinals.

The Rams are two years removed from winning the Super Bowl with Stafford, whom the Lions traded for Goff and multiple high draft picks.

Lions fans were largely thrilled to see Stafford reach the pinnacle of success, but now they’ll be cheering for his season to end.

“I understand what the people of Detroit, what the city of Detroit, meant to me in my time and my career. What they meant to my family. I hope they feel that back,” Stafford said. “But at the same time, I’m not a stranger to the situation and understanding I’m the bad guy coming to town.”

The “bad guys” have been on a strong run since their bye week.

The Rams (10-7) have won seven of their last eight games, with their only loss coming in overtime to AFC top seed Baltimore.

With a playoff spot secured, coach Sean McVay rested Stafford and several key players during the regular season finale. Stafford still finished with 3,965 passing yards and 24 touchdowns.

Rookie Puca Nucua (105 receptions, 1,486 yards, 6 touchdowns) and Cooper Kupp (59 receptions, 737 yards, 5 TDs in 12 games) are reliable targets for Stafford.

“He’s put our team in a position to go play a meaningful game,” McVay said.

Running back Kyren Williams adds balance to the offense, with 1,350 combined rushing and receiving yards and 15 touchdowns despite missing five games.

Goff racked up 4,575 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, leading the Lions (12-5) to an NFC North title. He has a top target in Amon-Ra St. Brown (119 receptions, 1,515 yards, 10 TDs) and a strong backfield with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Goff admits there were tensions with McVay during his final season with the Rams but is now focused on taking the Lions to new heights, including winning a playoff game that Stafford never achieved with Detroit.

“I so badly want to win a playoff game for this city, that hasn’t had one in so long,” Goff said. “That’s so much more important than anything personally for me.”

The Lions have performed well in primetime games this season, so coach Dan Campbell isn’t concerned about the team feeling the pressure.

“I’m not worried about that — the stage, all of those things, because we’ve dealt with that for a while now. I feel like we’re prepared for that,” Campbell said.

Campbell expects Goff to stay calm and composed.

“He’s wired the right way,” he said. “He’s been through this. He’s been to the Big One. He’s dealt with this a number of times.”

Campbell is more concerned that his players might try to do too much, rather than sticking to their assignments.

“You want to make a play so bad, you jump out of your gap,” he said. “All of a sudden, they hit you on a run.”

The main injury worry is Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, who suffered a hyperextended knee in the regular season finale against Minnesota.

C ampbell said LaPorta, who set an NFL rookie tight end record with 86 receptions, was “improving” but it’s unclear if he’ll play. Wide receiver and kick returner Kalif Raymond is also dealing with a knee injury.