The Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions capped off their regular season with wins last week, and they’ll each try to keep the momentum going in the wild-card round of the playoffs on Sunday night in a marquee matchup at Ford Field. Lions fans are excited to see their team play their first home playoff game in 30 years, while the Rams are hoping Matthew Stafford can take down his former team this weekend.
To preview this fun battle, we caught up with Lions Wire editor Jeff Risdon and asked him six key questions, from Jared Goff’s time in Detroit thus far to an underrated player on the Lions to keep an eye on.
1
What's been the clearest area of improvement for Jared Goff in the last 3 years?
Jeff Risdon: It might sound like a cop-out but honestly, the supporting cast getting better around him has helped him get more confident. In his first season in Detroit, the receiving corps had guys like Quintez Cephus, Trinity Benson and KhaDarel Hodge all getting significant reps. Kalif Raymond was WR2 most of that season behind a rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown; Raymond is now WR5 when he’s healthy (he’s out Sunday). The offensive line got better too.
For Goff himself, he has found a nice balance between protecting the ball and taking chances down the field. His decision-making and mastery of Ben Johnson’s creative offense have become huge strengths.
2
How much was Matthew Stafford to blame for the Lions' overall success during his 12 years?
Risdon: There is a very long answer here with a lot of nuance, but I’ll do the abridged version.
When the team around him was good enough to thrive (roughly 2011-2015), Stafford himself wasn’t quite ready or mature enough football-wise. When he finally got ready (around 2016 and beyond) the team around him wasn’t there anymore. They had a massive gulf from the top of the roster to the bottom, and then Matt Patricia sucked all life and hope from every pore of the organization, from ownership down to the grounds crew.
3
Is there a weakness of this Lions defense that the Rams can exploit?
Risdon: Detroit’s outside cornerbacks can’t cover the deep sideline throws, and the safeties are unreliable in helping out. If you’re doing a “team needs” list for Detroit, outside corner is No. 1 and No. 3 on the list on defense, sandwiching a legit starting DT to play with Alim McNeill.
4
Who's an underrated player for Rams fans to know?
Risdon: I brought up Alim McNeill above, and he’s better than anyone outside of Detroit knows. Josh Reynolds is typically an answer here but Rams fans know him. So I’ll go with Josh Paschal. The second-year DL has battled injuries, but the past few weeks he’s been healthy and very effective in a role that sees him line up everywhere from Wide-9 on the right to 3T inside Aidan Hutchinson on the left. Not a stat machine, but Paschal is a really smart, quick, effective role player who makes everyone around him better.
5
Does the offensive line have the talent to slow down Aaron Donald and Kobie Turner?
Risdon: The two All-Pros up front in center Frank Ragnow and right tackle Penei Sewell are about as good as a team can have to foil them. If there's a weakness, it's left guard Jonah Jackson in pass protection. He has not followed up his Pro Bowl 2022 campaign all that well, though a wrist injury that prevents him from holding is a legit excuse. Everyone holds, but he physically cannot and that's a problem. Detroit does a lot of power, inside zone, gap–it's variable and that can keep DL off-balance. Have to add in RB David Montgomery, one of the absolute best in the business in pass protection. It should be a very good battle of strength on strength.
6
Who wins on Sunday night and why?
Risdon: I think the Lions have enough ways to win to overcome the fun Rams offense. Detroit has a massive edge on special teams and a poise to the overall team that belies the lack of playoff experience. If the Rams can make the Lions offense one-dimensional–and it can be either run or pass–they can win. Other than the Baltimore game, the Lions have played consistently well against other playoff teams even in losses. Can't say that about the Rams other than last week. Lions 32, Rams 28
