Jared Goff talks about Rams trade
Jared Goff said he doesn’t feel as emotionally charged playing the Rams as he once did earlier in his career with the Lions, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.
Fast Facts
Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET; Sunday, Dec. 14; SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California.
TV/radio: Fox; WXYT-FM (97.1).
Line: Rams by 6.
The coaches: Lions – Dan Campbell (52-40-1 overall, 47-33-1 with Lions); Rams – Sean McVay (90-55 overall, all with Rams).
Last meeting: Sept. 8, 2024; Lions won 26-20 (OT).
Lions vs Rams key matchups
QB Jared Goff vs QB Matthew Stafford
You knew this one was coming, right?
Arguably the biggest player trade in the history of both franchises nets another scintillating quarterback matchup, with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford having his best-ever season by passer rating (a league-leading 113.1) and Goff maintaining the quality that made him a top-five MVP finisher in 2024.
Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard called the 37-year-old Stafford a “Hall of Fame quarterback” while praising his creativity as a passer.
“He goes against all that, all that coaching that you do, all that guru stuff we talk in the offseason, you can throw that out the window this week,” he said.
And while Goff doesn’t have the league-leading 35 touchdown passes that Stafford has, he’s on his way to a third-straight 30-touchdown season, playing his best football into his 30s on his second team … much like Stafford.
Goff said earlier this week that he doesn’t get as amped up for this matchup as he did earlier in his Lions career, and based on how calm he has looked despite facing so much opposing pressure in 2025, there’s probably a lot of truth in that. But it’s hard to imagine he feels no animosity for how his old team treated him, and a fired-up Goff may be just what the Lions need to light up the scoreboard in Inglewood.
WR Puka Nacua vs Lions secondary
A big reason why Stafford has looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season is because he has one of the best receivers in the NFL to throw to.
Puka Nacua, already prolific in his first two seasons from 2023-24, has been phenomenal in 2025, averaging 98.8 receiving yards per game (second in the NFL only to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, at 109.8) and hauling in 19 catches of 20 yards or more (also second, to Smith-Njigba’s 23). Nacua is long, strong and basically a cheat code for a Rams offense that is third in the league in passing yards per game (249.2).
And with the Lions missing so many of their starters in the secondary – safety Brian Branch and cornerback Terrion Arnold are both out for the season – Nacua and the rest of the Rams receivers will likely be licking their chops against a hobbled Detroit defense.
To be fair to the Lions, they faced a similar situation against arguably an even better passing offense last Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys, but intercepted quarterback Dak Prescott twice on the way to a 44-30 victory in Detroit. Prescott still passed for 376 yards against the Lions that game, and if the Lions want to prevent the Rams from turning a performance like that from Stafford into a win, they might have to come up with turnovers just like they did against Dallas.
Lions vs Rams scouting report
Lions offense vs Rams defense
By yards per game (378.7 to 373.2) and points per game (30.3 vs 29.2), the Lions have been just as potent all season as the Rams, even if recent injuries to the offensive line made Detroit look closer to average throughout much of November.
But with the emergence of rookie offensive guard Miles Frazier and the potential return of guard Christian Mahogany, Detroit may be well-positioned to defend against interior pressure for the first time in a while. Unfortunately for Detroit, the Rams defense has a bit more quality to it than Dallas’.
The Rams are the only team in the NFL that boast both a top-five offense and defense in scoring, with Los Angeles allowing 17.5 points per game (third in the NFL) despite being more average in yards allowed per game (315, 13th). That’s because the Rams have the second-best red zone defense in the league, meaning the Lions are going to have to score touchdowns when the opportunities come.
That sounds like a job for Jahmyr Gibbs, who is second in the NFL with 16 total touchdowns behind only Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor. But Gibbs doesn’t need to be in the red zone to score touchdowns, as he’s a scoring threat in space from wherever he touches the football. Whether by handoff or checkdown pass, expect the Lions to aim for some big plays by giving the ball to one of the league’s most dynamic scoring threats. Edge: Lions.
Lions defense vs Rams offense
The Lions secondary will be hampered with the loss of safety Brian Branch, with much of “The Legion of Whom” being called upon to defend one of the best passing offenses in the NFL.
Luckily for the corners and safeties, they won’t be defending the Rams alone, as Detroit’s pass rush looks refreshed after a revamp against the Cowboys.
Edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad recorded a season-high three sacks against the Cowboys as Detroit’s defense got five sacks and 11 quarterback hits against Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. Earlier this week, Muhammad credited coach Dan Campbell for letting he and edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson loose in the pass rush, leaving run stoppage for the interior linemen and linebackers.
That’s a much easier strategy to implement when Jack Campbell is roaming in the middle of the field. Campbell leads all interior linebackers in the Pro Bowl vote, and deservedly so, as he leads Detroit in tackles and is providing key stops on the second level. If the Lions’ pass rush can repeat its performance from the Dallas game, and if Detroit’s interior can keep the Rams running game in check, they won’t need the secondary to do any more than it has to on Sunday.
Then again, there’s a reason Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looks like an MVP candidate, and there’s a reason receiver Puka Nacua is doing a pretty impressive Julio Jones imitation. The Lions defense may be able to hold the Rams down on a few drives, but don’t expect it to happen all game. Edge: Rams.
Lions vs Rams prediction, pick
It has been a while since the Lions were this much of an underdog with the sportsbooks, and just like Vegas knew something when it listed Detroit as a pregame favorite against the Cowboys, it seems to know something again before this Rams game.
Namely, that the Rams are better than the Lions – maybe a lot better. Maybe they’re the best team in football, and it’s really hard to beat the best team in football while travelling on the road three time zones away from Ford Field (though I’m sure the Lions players and staffers will enjoy the LA weather).
Lions quarterback Jared Goff will try his best to make this a shootout, but the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford won’t be looking ahead to a critical matchup against the Seattle Seahawks with such a dangerous Lions team coming to town. This might end up a high-scoring game with two high-powered offenses matching up, but unlike they did in last Thursday’s win against the Dallas Cowboys, the Lions won’t be able dictate the terms. The pick: Rams 34, Lions 24.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
