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The Rams are regarded as a Super Bowl contender — but first they have to make the playoffs.
Coach Sean McVay’s team can clinch a playoff spot if they defeat the Detroit Lions on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams are 10-3, lead the NFC West and hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC. A win over the Lions would guarantee a playoff spot for the seventh time in McVay’s nine seasons.
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Gary Klein breaks down what to watch for when the Rams take on the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions (8-5) are fighting for a playoff spot out of the NFC North. The Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) are the No. 2 seed and the Chicago Bears (9-4) are No. 7.
The Rams are coming off a 45-17 rout of the Arizona Cardinals, a game in which they rolled up 530 yards. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has passed for a league-best 35 touchdowns, bounced back from a three-turnover performance in a loss against the Carolina Panthers and returned to the form that has made him one of the front-runners for the NFL most valuable player award.
Byron Young has 11 sacks for a defense that is giving up 17.5 points per game, third fewest in the NFL.
The Rams will attempt to neutralize a Lions’ offense that averages a league-best 30.3 points per game. Quarterback Jared Goff leads a unit that features running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery and receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson has 8½ sacks for a defense that gives up 23.4 points per game.