6 things for Rams fans to know about the Detroit Lions
Here are six things for Rams fans to know about the Detroit Lions ahead of Sunday’s NFC wild-card playoff matchup:
Hello, old friend
Three years after he was traded from Los Angeles to Detroit, quarterback Jared Goff will lead the Lions into Sunday’s game against his former team. You probably know the basics: The Rams selected Goff with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He helped them to a Super Bowl appearance following the 2018 season, then had mixed success the next two years before the Rams traded him to Detroit for Matthew Stafford in 2021.
Three years later, Goff has blossomed as a Lion. This season, Goff set a career high with a 67.3% completion rate. He was second in the NFL with 4,575 passing yards and fourth with 30 passing touchdowns. It’s the first time he’s thrown 30 touchdowns since 2018.
In addition to playmakers like former USC standout Amon-Ra St. Brown and stud rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has given Goff a good opportunity to thrive with the kind of play-action looks he thrived at with the Rams, and his own brand of offensive creativity.
Starts at the top
Dan Campbell has earned quite the reputation since taking over as the Lions’ head coach in 2021. From his kneecap-biting remarks at his introductory press conference to their feisty near-miss at a playoff berth in Year 2 to this year winning their first NFC North title, Campbell has helped turn the franchise around.
And in the process, he has come to embody analytics-era aggression. If you have watched one Lions game during Campbell’s tenure, you have likely seen the coach opt to go for a fourth-down conversion or two that left you cocking your head to the side with a second guess. But the style fits Campbell and his Lions, and his team rewarded his faith with a 52% fourth-down conversion rate this year.
Monster on the edge
Even as a second-year player, former No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson has already proved to be the sun around which the Lions’ defense evolves. The defensive end is a force in pass rush situations.
According to Pro Football Focus, Hutchinson had 101 quarterback pressures this season while winning 21.3% of his battles against pass blockers. He’s long and strong and has a variety of moves to get off his man and into the backfield. His presence speeds up opposing offenses and helps Detroit’s defensive backs know they only have to cover for so long before the quarterback has to abandon a play.
Reinforcement
Speaking of the secondary, the Lions just got a significant reinforcement on the back end of their defense. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was one of the Lions’ big free-agent acquisitions this offseason after a six-interception season with the Philadelphia Eagles. But Gardner-Johnson was placed on injured reserve after tearing his pectoral muscle in Week 2.
The Lions feared that injury would be season-ending, but Gardner-Johnson returned in Week 18. He provides a veteran presence for a young secondary that has played well at stretches this year. Rookie Brian Branch led the team with 13 pass breakups this season, while second-year safety Kerby Johnson broke up 11 passes with four interceptions.
Home-run threats
The Lions have a couple of young playmakers capable of breaking off big plays. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs’ 5.2 yards per carry were fourth among running backs with at least 100 carries this season and he broke off runs of 20 or more yards in eight games this season. Receiver Jameson Williams is one of the faster players in the NFL and capable of taking the roof off a defense.
In doubt
The Lions could be down a key weapon on Sunday.
LaPorta, who caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, hyperextended his knee in Week 18, an injury that included a bone bruise. Campbell said Monday that LaPorta still has a chance to play against the Rams, but the reliable chain-mover’s status remains in doubt.