The Detroit Lions are heading into a crucial Week 15 matchup against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, December 14, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. At 8-5, Detroit must keep winning to stay alive in the NFC playoff race.
According to NFL Research, the Lions currently have a 52% chance to reach the postseason. A win over the Rams boosts that number to 72%, but a loss drops it to 42%, making Sunday a must-win scenario.
Meanwhile, the Rams enter the matchup red-hot. Stafford and Los Angeles have a 97% playoff probability and a 10-3 record, sitting atop the NFC West. A victory bumps their postseason odds to 99%, adding even more tension to Sunday’s game.
NFL Announces Lions Star as NFC Defensive Player of the Week
Just days before kickoff, the NFL and Detroit Lions announced that defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad has been named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 14. Muhammad earned the honor after a dominant three-sack performance against the Dallas Cowboys.
He now leads the Lions with nine sacks, joining recent Detroit award winners Jahmyr Gibbs and Jared Goff.
Playoff Picture Tightens for Detroit
The Lions’ win over the Cowboys not only revived their playoff hopes but also brought them closer to the Chicago Bears in the NFC North standings. Detroit sits at No. 3 in the division, just one game behind Chicago, while the Green Bay Packers extended their lead with a win over the Bears.
Despite being 5.5-point underdogs against the Rams, Detroit is no stranger to upsetting expectations. A Lions victory would shake up the NFC North, the NFC playoff picture, and even impact the NFC West, where the Seattle Seahawks sit at 10-3 and could benefit from a Rams loss.
Dan Campbell Applauds Lions’ Momentum
Following Detroit’s win over Dallas, head coach Dan Campbell praised the team for their complete, team-wide effort.
“That game was one of the few where we really played complementary football,” Campbell said. “Scoring before halftime, getting the takeaway to start the third quarter, and turning it into points — that entire sequence was huge. The guys stepped up, and that’s what good teams do.”
