In order to beat the Los Angeles Rams, the Detroit Lions will need to be at their best. By most measures—and the eye test—the Rams are one of the best teams in the NFL, and they’re the current Vegas favorite to win the Super Bowl. For a Lions team that has been a little too inconsistent week-to-week, everyone will have to be playing their A-game in Los Angeles.
But like any other week, there are certain players and positions that the Lions will lean on in their weekly game plan. Players that present matchup issues for the Rams or will be one of the “firefighters” who extinguish some of the bigger problems that the Rams pose.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Which Lions players are key to a victory over the Rams?
My answer: Like always, I want to give answers on each side of the ball.
On offense, I’m going to predict that this is a David Montgomery game. The Rams do not give up explosive plays on the ground. The longest run from a running back this year against the Rams’ defense is just 25 yards. So, relying on explosive plays from Jahmyr Gibbs in the run game could be a poor strategy. But with a defensive line that ranks just 19th in adjusted line yards, there is some yardage to be had in the middle, despite nose tackle Poona Ford having a fantastic year. They won’t be easy yards to gain, but Montgomery thrives on gritty, tough runs.
On defense, the Lions will need to find ways to pressure Matthew Stafford. Lions coach Dan Campbell put it better than I could.
“If we don’t disrupt him, it’ll be a long day. It’ll be a long day,” Campbell said. “So, we have to shut down the run, as usual, and we’ve got to find a way to disrupt this guy if we can, because he’s dangerous.”
The entire defensive line is going to be critical this week to help out the secondary as much as they can—especially considering Puka Nacua and Davante Adams seem to catch everything thrown in their vicinity. And while the Rams have one of the best offensive lines in football, Detroit has a few ballers on their defensive front.
This is the week the Lions need their best from their superstars. Alim McNeill and Aidan Hutchinson need huge games on Sunday, or Detroit will get caught in a shootout they may not be able to keep pace with.
Which players do you view as key vs. the Rams? Scroll down to the comment section at the bottom of the page and discuss!
See More:
