The first half of the Week 15 NFC clash at SoFi Stadium looked like a Detroit Lions upset in the making — one that would keep their playoff hopes alive and prove they were still a contender worthy of respect.
With everything to lose, the Lions came out swinging, taking the fight to the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams early. They forced a early turnover, frustrated their “old friend” Matthew Stafford, and put points on the board against a very tough Rams defense.
However, by the end of the third quarter, everything unraveled.
The Lions surrendered 20 unanswered points, lost their edge on both sides of the ball, and the Rams — like sharks smelling blood in the water — completed a 41-34 comeback victory. The win pushed Los Angeles to 11-3 while dropping Detroit to 8-6 and significantly dimming its playoff chances.
Considering how the Lions opened the game, playing with their hair on fire, the second-half collapse was jarring. The attention to detail, in-game adjustments, and sense of urgency all disappeared, and by the time they returned, it was already too late.
Quarterback: With three touchdowns by halftime, Jared Goff played some of his best football while he was mostly protected during that time. With his blockers holding up, Goff had time to avoid a few sacks and keep plays with his legs – a common knock on him. However, that’s where the great performance stopped. In the second half, Goff’s blockers struggled a lot, as the Rams’ strong defensive line put a lot of pressure on the Lions’ quarterback for the rest of the game. Without time to look for open receivers, Goff had to throw quickly after getting the ball, making him inconsistent and completing only 61% of his passes, which is not normal for him. The 338 yards Goff finished with were nice, but didn’t matter in the end. Grade: A-
Running backs: The Rams defense did a sensational job of bottling up Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery for the entire afternoon, keeping the dynamic duo out of the endzone until “Knuckles” punched it in for a late fourth quarter score off a direct snap. The duo finished with 20 combined carries for 70 yards, averaging out to 3.5 yards per carry. Gibbs, who only had 38 yards on the ground, was also held in check in the passing game, catching four targets for 20 yards. The duo’s lack of production had more to do with the subpar performance of the offensive line than with their individual talents. Grade: C+
Wide receivers/tight ends: Aside from Kalif Raymond catching a 20-yard pass – his only reception of the game – from Goff early in the fourth quarter, a bulk of Goff’s production went to St. Brown and Williams. St. Brown caught 13 receptions for 164 yards – one of which was a highlight 52-yarder he slightly bobbled – and two touchdowns. “Waymo” – or “Jamo,” take your pick – caught seven receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He and Goff missed on one connection that could have paid great dividends for the Lions, but overall, he showed development as a player in one of his finest games. His 31-yard touchdown showcased how easily the speedy receiver can take the top off defenses. Grade: A-
Offensive line: The Lions’ blockers held their own early, but things unraveled fast. Trystan Colon’s missed assignments piled up in a disastrous third quarter, leading to a costly quarterback hit and a Kobie Turner sack. Even Penei Sewell was flagged for holding on the opening drive. In the end, it was a day the line would rather forget. Grade: D
Defensive line: Aidan Hutchinson got the party started for his unit with an early interception, taking it back 58 yards, putting the Lions offense in position for a quick score on the very next play. Hutchinson, along with Roy Lopez, each logged a sack as well. Aside from that, they did very little to make life uncomfortable for Matthew Stafford, who operated with a mostly clean pocket while passing for 368 yards and two touchdowns. The run defense was gashed repeatedly by Kyren Williams, and Blake Corum finished with 26 combined carries for 149 yards and three touchdowns, averaging out to 5.7 yards per carry. Grade: D
Linebackers: Shaun Dion Hamilton’s unit had a rough day in the office against the run. Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone shone in a few spots, but, like the offensive line, it was a rather bland performance. Two of Campbell’s 14 tackles were in stifling the Rams’ rushing attack. Derrick Barnes was not in a great position either on Corum’s 11-yard touchdown run after failing to set the edge. Grade: C
Secondary: The Lions face tough questions about D.J. Reed, who has looked a step slow since his hamstring injury. Stafford relentlessly picked on him, and Puka Nacua burned him for a 37-yard bomb before halftime, leaving Reed on the turf. Missing three starters and getting no help from the pass rush, the secondary was left exposed. For the third time in four games, they surrendered over 360 passing yards. Grade: F
Special teams: Dan Campbell did the “right thing” and tried to take the points by sending Jake Bates on the field after the first drive stalled, but he whiffed on the 43-yarder, which is unlike him indoors. However, he made his final two kicks from 24 and 48 yards, respectively. Jack Fox has three punts for 150 yards, with one being a 62-yarder and pinning the Rams inside their 20-yard line once. Raymond and Tom Kennedy were stifled in the kick and punt return game. Grade: C-
Coaching: With Gibbs suffering on the ground, the Lions could have used him more creatively in the passing game to get him out in space, where he’s his most lethal. That said, the playcalling, per se, wasn’t the issue for the offense; it was the interior offensive line play again. As for the defense, Kelvin Sheppard is going to have to figure something out. His defensive front rarely gets home on a consistent basis, and teams have tormented his secondary for 1,377 passing yards and 10 passing touchdowns over the last four games. Scheme-wise, they’re going to have to adjust from game to game. Man coverage without their starting horses, and appearing still hampered, Reed was a recipe for disaster. Grade: D