Sunday night's NFC wild card matchup between the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Rams (10-7) and third-seeded Lions (12-5) in Detroit is filled with intrigue, as a pair of quarterbacks who were traded for each other before the 2021 season tangle at Ford Field.
Last Sunday night, when betting lines were first posted for this game, Detroit was listed as a 3-point favorite. Live Rams vs. Lions odds have Detroit favored by on the point spread (Rams ), while the best moneylines have Los Angeles and Detroit . The OVER/UNDER is .
LA's Matthew Stafford, who starred for the Lions from 2009 to 2020 and never had a home playoff appearance, will vie in his former home against Detroit's Jared Goff, who was the first overall draft choice by LA in 2016, before heading east in a jarring swap in which the Lions acquired two first-round draft choices, too.
This also is the only wild card game in which both quarterbacks have championship game experience as a starter -- Stafford for the Super Bowl-winning Rams in the 2021 season and Goff for the Super Bowl-losing Rams three years earlier.
Against the spread this year, Detroit finished the season with a 12-5 record in coach Dan Campbell's third year in charge. In his tenure, the Lions' ATS mark is a league-best 35-16. The Rams went 10-6-1, capping the season with a 6-1 run.
With regard to OVER/UNDER results, 11 of Detroit's 17 games have gone OVER. LA participated in nine OVERS. During the regular season, the UNDER has come through 55.5% of the time.
Rams vs. Lions odds: Point spread, moneyline, total for NFC wild card matchup
Here's the latest NFL betting odds for Rams vs. Lions:
Over the past six seasons, NFC teams seeded third not only have gone 0-6 against the spread vs. No. 6 seeds but also lost all six of those home games as a favorite. Included was Seattle's 30-20 loss to LA as a 6-point choice in 2017 and the Rams' 26-13 defeat vs. Atlanta in 2020 as a 6-point pick.
The last time a No. 3 seed in the conference prevailed was seven years ago when Seattle was a 26-6 winner over Detroit as an 8.5-point favorite. That was Stafford's third and final postseason appearance with the Lions.
If the Lions do end that stretch of futility by No. 3 seeds, it also will end their NFL record streak of nine straight playoff defeats dating to the 1991 season.
This also will be the second meeting between Stafford and Goff since the trade. In 2021, the Rams were 28-19 winners in LA as a 16.5-point favorite.
Rams vs. Lions injury report
Here is the current injury report for the Rams vs. Lions:
Detroit has to be most concerned about the knee injury suffered last week by star rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. He leads the league's TEs with 10 TD receptions.
Tight end also is an issue for LA as Tyler Higbee is dealing with a foot injury.
Rams betting news and trends
When it comes to battles with playoff teams this year, LA has the worst record in the NFC bracket. The Rams were 2-6, with one of the victories coming in the season finale against San Francisco when both teams rested much of their top talent.
It was much the same for LA in its 2021 Super season, when it was 2-5 in the regular season against teams that made the playoffs but then went on a 4-0 run to the title.
Triggering LA's late-season charge this season after starting 3-6 was the return of RB Kyren Williams, who missed three games at midseason (ankle) in which the Rams went 1-3 (0-4 ATS). Since returning, he's averaged 114.6 yards a game and 5.3 yards a carry. The rest of the team has a 3.6 norm.
Also, WR Puka Nacua set rookie records with the most catches (105) and receiving yards (1,486).
Lions betting news
Detroit's defense deserves a chunk of credit for helping the team to its first division title in 30 years.
In 2022, Detroit yielded a league-worst 392.4 yards per game but this season improved by 56.3 yards a game and finished 19th overall -- just ahead of the 20th-ranked Rams.
On the ground, unlike the Rams, the Lions have a 1-2 running back punch of bulldozing David Montgomery, the team's rushing leader, and mega-fast rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, who's second in the league with 10 runs of 20-plus yards.
Rams vs. Lions props
Let's look at some prop bets for the Rams vs. Lions at top-rated sportsbook apps nationwide.
Anytime TD Scorer (DraftKings)
- Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs: -145
- Lions RB David Montgomery: -135
- Rams RB Kyren Williams: -180
- Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: +110
- Rams WR Puka Nacua: +110
- Rams WR Cooper Kupp: +120
- Rams defense/special teams:+ 475
- Lions defense/special teams: +500
Alternate Point Spreads (FanDuel)
- Lions +14.5: -2500
- Rams -14.5: +900
- Lions +7.5: -720
- Rams -7.5: +450
- Lions -7.5: +190
- Rams +7.5: -250
- Lions -14.5: +400
- Rams +14.5: -670
Rams vs. Lions predictions
Not only does Detroit have home field for this matchup, but it's playing a team making its third trip east across three time zones in the past six weeks.
On the Rams' last such trip two weeks ago, they barely topped the woebegone NY Giants 26-25 as a 6-point choice. It was the only time in LA's final seven games it didn't beat the spread.
With Lions fans' throats well-rested after years and years of losing seasons, they'll surely make life miserable for Stafford trying to call signals.
As an example of how disruptive they can be, back in 2011, a noisy throng was largely responsible for Chicago being flagged nine times for false starts.
Prediction: Lions and UNDER
How to Watch Rams vs. Lions
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 14
- Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Ford Field -- Detroit, MI
- Where to Watch: NBC
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