Overview
- Jared Goff said he no longer feels an emotional charge about facing his former team, calling the 2021 trade "a long time ago."
- The 2021 Stafford-for-Goff deal reshaped both franchises, delivering a Rams Super Bowl and supplying Detroit with draft capital used on core pieces such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta.
- Matthew Stafford leads the NFL in touchdown passes in an MVP-caliber season, while Goff enters with an elite completion rate and low interceptions.
- Detroit’s secondary is depleted by injuries to Brian Branch (Achilles, out for season), Terrion Arnold (IR) and Kerby Joseph (knee), with Thomas Harper in concussion protocol, prompting additions of Arthur Maulet and Damontae Kazee.
- This is the fourth Rams-Lions meeting in five seasons, and most expert picks favor Los Angeles, which can clinch a playoff berth as Detroit seeks a win to boost its postseason odds.