Looking for Detroit’s first playoff win since Jan. 5, 1992, the Lions as the No. 3 seed, will face Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in the first playoff game at Ford Field.
Take a deep breath. This could be a good one. Mark your calendar for 8 p.m. on Sunday.
“We’ll put in a good game plan, but as far as to get to this point, this team’s ready,’’ coach Dan Campbell said after the 30-20 win over the Vikings on Sunday. “They’ve been through it all, and they’re battle-tested, they’re scarred to perfection and we will be ready.”
In Dan Campbell’s first season (2021), the Lions lost to the Rams, 28-19, to drop to 0-7 for the season. That’s the only time the two teams have met since they swapped quarterbacks – Stafford for Jared Goff – prior to the 2021 season.
These Lions are much different two years ago with running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs replacing D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. Sam LaPorta (if he’s healthy to play) could add a spark as a rookie. Defensively, the Lions are much different with pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and rookies Jack Campbell and Brian Branch, along with a host of others who have developed. Veterans C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Alim McNeill returned to action Sunday which Campbell called perfect timing.
With the on Sunday, the Lions finished 12-5 and never lost back-to-back games. They’ve got flaws (hello, secondary) but the defense pressures quarterbacks, especially lately, and Goff has an arsenal of weapons with a high-powered offense that has set all kinds of franchise records.
The Rams (10-7) didn’t play their starters, including Stafford, on Sunday and beat the 49ers, 21-20. After a slow start to the season at 2-4, the Rams have won seven of their last eight and four straight games.
Stafford, who won a Super Bowl in his first season with the Rams, has thrown 24 touchdowns against 11 interceptions this season. They did not make the playoffs last season.
The Lions haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2016 season when, with Stafford as quarterback, they lost at Seattle in the wildcard game. They’ve lost nine straight playoff games. The Rams and Lions have never met in the postseason.
Lions Lowdown 