(Photo: Sports Illustrated)
NFC Wild Card
(6) Los Angeles Rams at (3) Detroit Lions
Rams: Yesterday, I mentioned that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were arguably the biggest surprise as far as teams to make the playoffs. You could make a strong argument for who I’m about to talk about. Almost three seasons ago, they were one of the best teams in the league with a stacked roster on both sides of the football. They gave up so much to add those big-name pieces. Von Miller, Odell Beckham Jr and of course Matthew Stafford. After making those moves, they joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and became only the second team to play in the Super Bowl in their own home stadium and win the big game. The year following, it was a tough season for the Rams. They were injured and failed to qualify for the playoffs. I still remember my first episode of Monday Evening Quarterback for the season and what my producer said as we were recording. He made a bold prediction that the Rams would blow it all up if they had a losing record at the midway point of the season. Their offense is still strong and a rookie Wide Receiver named Puka Nacua has made a nice name for himself. If a certain somebody in Houston didn’t put together the regular season he did, we would be talking about this young receiver as the front-runner to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. This isn’t the star studded team we saw a few years back. Instead, it’s a combination of youth mixed with veterans on both sides of the ball and they still have one of the best coaches in the league in Sean McVay who many thought would be out of a job soon. Tonight, they begin their playoff run on the road against the champions of the NFC North.
Lions: I’m so happy for this organization and this city. There’s been many down years for this fanbase. They’ve made history and not in a good way in 2008 when they went 0-16. They’ve always played hard, but would always come out on the losing side of things and would lose games in ways that made you say, “only this team loses in that fashion”. During the 2022 season, I noticed them playing harder and I saw a much improved team. I remember saying to myself that if they end that season on a high note which they did, that would roll over into the next season and look where we are now. The Lions have won their first NFC North division title and this is the first time they’ve won the division of any sorts since the NFC Central. I really took it back there. Dan Campbell is the perfect coach for this football team and I say that because he’s a true players coach that knows the ins and outs along with the ups and downs of playing this sport. This offense can light the scoreboard up at any time and who I enjoy is how they want to run the football and don’t hesitate on doing it as they have no issue whatsoever in playing downhill. At one point this season, they were 5-1 and taking the league by storm. I can’t wait to see what this group does for years to come. The NFC North is theirs to lose for maybe the next two or three seasons as far as I’m concerned. They are young and will continue to stack talent in the foreseeable future. Tonight, this fan base and city will be buzzing. They are hosting a playoff game and I’d be excited too if I were a fan as well. They will welcome a familiar face and the Los Angeles Rams to town for some Sunday Night Football.
Rams X-Factor: Byron Young– Aaron Donald will forever command attention. He still gets triple teamed today as we speak. Rookie Kobie Turner also commands a lot of attention from the interior of the defensive line. Here’s the thing: You can’t double or put that much emphasis on everyone and that allows Byron to get his. He’s recorded 19 Quarterback hits and eight sacks in 17 games this year. Byron provides that pressure off the edge of the defense and plays with exceptional burst and good first step quickness.
Lions X-Factor: Jahmyr Gibbs– I was excited when the Lions drafted him. I see some Alvin Kamara in his game and he’s a home run threat with the football in his hands. Jahmyr along with David Montgomery form a strong 1-2 punch out the backfield. Jahmyr averages 5.2 yards per carry and can change the dynamic of any football game with just one touch. He poses as that threat out the backfield and as a receiver along with giving Jared Goff a weapon to check the football down too when necessary. I can’t wait to see what Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson does to get him the ball.
Final Thoughts: This is the game I’ve been looking forward to the most on Super Wild Card weekend! Matthew Stafford spent the first 12 seasons of his career in Detroit before being traded to the Rams for Jared Goff. He returns to Ford Field for the first time since and I know the emotions will be flowing. Jared will be playing with a chip on his shoulder as well. I compared this trade to the Kawhi Leonard deal to the Raptors for Demar Derozan in 2018. The Raptors won a championship after they made that move. When the Rams acquired Stafford, they won a Super Bowl. Both of these defenses tonight have been vulnerable at times during the season and I anticipate this being a shootout. Matthew Stafford and record setting receivers go hand in hand with one another. Calvin Johnson set the single season receiving yards record in 2012, Cooper Kupp won the triple crown in 2021 and Nacua set many rookie receiving records this year. Matthew was the Quarterback for all those receivers. The Rams must neutralize Aidan Hutchinson tonight and not allow him to get home to the passer. On the Lions side, how healthy will Sam LaPorta be? He’s become a key piece to this passing attack for Goff and the Detroit offense. I see this coming down to the fourth quarter. I’m picking the Rams in this one. If there’s any coach who knows how to rattle Jared Goff, it’s Sean McVay.
Prediction: Rams 30, Lions 27.
