Getty
Sean McVay is in his ninth season coaching the LA Rams
The Week 15 game against the Detroit Lions might be one of the most important games for the Los Angeles Rams this season.
In a competitive NFC conference, the Rams need to win the game to stay in the lead for the number one seed in the conference. Excluding the Rams, 6 teams in the NFC have 8 wins or more, making each week-by-week in the league closer and closer.
Matthew Stafford will face his former team for the fourth time in his career in Week 15 and could level up the score as he is currently 1-2 against them.
The Lions are having a slightly subpar season from what was expected from them at the beginning of the season, but are still lethal as always. Detroit currently has the highest-scoring offense and averages the eighth-most total yards in the league.
Los Angeles will need to prepare well for Detroit’s offense and take out or limit one of their best players, who can be considered one of the best in his position.
Sean McVay On 48 Touchdown Weapon
Gregory Shamus/GettyThe Los Angeles Rams will have a big test in Week 15
The Detroit Lions’ offense is well-rounded across the board, but one position where they excel is in the running game.
Detroit is averaging 135.8 rushing yards per game, the fifth-highest in the league. The lead back in the Lions’ back room is Jahymr Gibbs, who has rushed for 1,062 yards (the fifth-highest of any running back) and 13 rushing touchdowns (the second-highest) through 13 games this season.
The Rams’ defense has been one of the best in the league, allowing 17.5 points and 103.5 yards per game this season.
Los Angeles will need to game plan a lot around Gibbs to make sure he has no major impact on the game and possibly spoil the Rams’ run for the bye in the playoffs.
“I see an explosive of a player as there is in this league,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said of the running back. “Every single time he touches [the ball], you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh. He might score.’ He’s unbelievable in both phases. You see him compete in protection… There’s a reason why he was so highly regarded coming out of Bama. He is a special, special player…”
McVay also credits the rest of the Lions offense, calling the team well-rounded all across the board. In hopes of securing the number one seed, LA’s defense will need to play perfectly and make Gibbs’ contribution to the Lions offense as minuscule as possible.
Rams Defensive Coordinator On Gibbs
GettyLA Rams DC Chris Shula
Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula shared the same sentiment as Sean McVay regarding the Detroit Lions’ top running back, calling Jahmyr Gibbs “explosive.”
“I don’t know if he gets enough credit for his vision, how he can run the stretch run game and cut it back…” Shula said.
The DC mentioned that the run game against Detroit will be tough, calling Gibbs and David Montgomery the premier running backs in the NFL.
Between Gibbs and Montgomery, the duo has logged over 1,600 rushing yards on the season and could be well on their way to rushing over 2,000.
To be the number one seed in the NFC, the Rams will need to get by the Lions first, which will be no easy feat.
Jason Garcia Jason Garcia is a sports contributor for Heavy Sports who joined the team in 2025, covering the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. More about Jason Garcia
More Heavy on Rams
Loading more stories