Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams: Scouting report, prediction

Free Press sportswriter Dave Birkett analyzes the Detroit Lions' game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night at Ford Field in Detroit in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

Here's a scouting report and prediction for the regular-season opener on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m., NBC, Peacock).

The trainers: Lions – Dan Campbell (29-33-1 overall, 24-26-1 with Lions); Rams – Sean McVay (70-45 overall, 70-45 with Rams).

Last game: The Lions lost to the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in the NFC Championship game. The Rams lost to the Lions 24-23 in the NFC Wildcard game.

Last meeting: January 14, 2024: Lions won 24–23.

Important encounters

Rams DT Kobie Turner vs. Lions RG Kevin Zeitler: The Rams have a new face on defense from the team that lost to the Lions in the playoffs last January. Chris Shula is a first-time defensive coordinator and has been part of McVay's staff since 2017, and future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald is no longer the centerpiece of the defense.

Turner shined as a rookie with nine sacks in 17 games and takes over as the Rams' top pass rusher as Donald enjoys retirement. A rugged run defender with a relentless drive, he will face Zeitler and the Lions' veteran interior line on Sunday.

Zeitler missed most of training camp due to a shoulder injury but said he is healthy and looking forward to making his debut with the Lions. “Obviously it will be a little different (without Donald), but he was still there, so I'm sure he's coaching all the young players,” Zeitler said. “They played hard. So it's going to be a very tough game and a big challenge for everybody.”

More: 5 questions for Kevin Zeitler: New Lions OG loves dogs and a good steak

Rams WR Puka Nacua vs Lions CB Carlton Davis: The Lions signed Davis for games like this one as part of a restructuring of their secondary during the offseason.

Nacua had a historic rookie season with 105 catches for 1,486 yards in the regular season and dominated the Lions' secondary in their playoff game, catching nine passes on 10 attempts for 181 yards and a 50-yard touchdown. He's a big receiver who runs crisp routes, attacks the ball when it's in the air and plays physical in the run game.

Davis is also big and physical. He's at his best when blocking receivers at the line of scrimmage, and the Lions are counting on him to mess up the Rams' timing offense. Davis may not shadow Nacua; he played mostly left cornerback last year in Tampa, and rookie Terrion Arnold could also spend some time on Nacua. But whatever the recipe, the Lions will need to perform better against Matthew Stafford's favorite target than they did in January.

Scouting report

Lions running attack vs Rams running defense

The Lions were the only team in the NFL with two 900-yard running backs last season, and they should be just as influential on the ground in 2024. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs work well together, and Zeitler, a Pro Bowler with the Baltimore Ravens last season, is the only new face on one of the league's best offensive lines.

Montgomery outscored Gibbs 30-19 in the Lions' victory over the Rams in January. He's a hammer who has the most touches at the goal line, and if the Lions are leading in the fourth quarter, they'll use him to put the game away. Gibbs missed much of training camp with a hamstring injury, but practiced without restrictions this week. He had a quiet running game against the Rams, but had one of his best days as a pass receiver with 43 yards and a touchdown.

The Rams in 12th place^th against the run and had one of the best defenses in the league in the second half of the year. Donald retired and the Rams traded leading tackler Earnest Jones, so there could be some initial difficulties with rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in the starting positions. Border: Lions

Lions pass attack vs Rams pass defense

Part of Jared Goff's development as a quarterback, he says, was understanding “that if the ball was going to go for a checkdown, the next play was still going to be a good play. So you check it in, keep going, get to the second and fifth and make the next play.”

Goff has done that well throughout his career with the Lions, although his interceptions increased to 12 last season, the most in his three years in Detroit. Goff completed a career-best 67.3% of his passes in 2023 and returns his top three targets in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and Gibbs. The safe St. Brown is coming off an All-Pro season, but the Lions are thin on the ground at the wide receiver position and need more from Jameson Williams.

More: From boos to cheers: Jared Goff was “so much more” than the Detroit Lions expected

The Rams played primarily Cover 3 defense last year and that is unlikely to change under their new coordinator. They have two good pass rushers up front in Turner and Byron Young (eight sacks last season) and have added veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White to the secondary. Cobie Durant will start at the second cornerback position after the Rams placed Darious Williams (hamstring) on the injured list this week. Border: Lions

Rams running attack vs Lions running defense

The Rams changed their offensive approach midway through last season and became more of a downhill rushing team. Kyren Williams finished third in the NFL with 1,144 rushing yards despite missing five games due to injury, and the team drafted former Michigan star Blake Corum.

Williams was expected to take on the lead back role. Last season he averaged 5 yards per attempt and nearly 2 yards after contact per carry, but the Rams value Corum so much that they held him out of preseason games. LA improved its offensive line in the offseason, signing Jonah Jackson as a free agent, but will be without left tackle Alaric Jackson because he is suspended.

The Lions were stingy in the running game last season, limiting opponents to 88.8 yards and not allowing any running back more than 69 yards all season. They could be even better up front this year with the addition of DJ Reader, although he will only count as one appearance if he plays his first game back from a torn quadriceps tendon. Jack Campbell will play full-time at middle linebacker this season and looks poised for a big year. Border: Lions

Rams pass attack vs Lions pass defense

Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said the genius of McVay's offense is in its simplicity. “I think he's the epitome of 'Man, listen, make everything look complicated, but we're just making simple plays,'” Glenn said. “And I think that's great for an offense, and that's what he does. So what we have to do well is, 'Don't get blinded by all the eye candy, but understand exactly who they are and how they make their plays, and make those plays.'”

The Rams use a lot of pre-snap movement to get Nacua and the dangerous Cooper Kupp off the line with easy free throws. Nacua is a difficult cover who runs his routes with precision, and Stafford was brilliant in the playoffs against the Lions, throwing for 367 yards and two touchdowns.

The Lions will unveil their revamped secondary on Sunday with new starters at the outside cornerback positions (Davis and Arnold) and in the slot (Amik Robertson). However, Aidan Hutchinson is the engine of the defense. He was the NFL leader in quarterback pressure last season and gives the Lions a good 1-2 pass-rushing force in Alim McNeill. Edge: Ramming

Special teams

Both the Lions and Rams are training new kickers. Jake Bates is the Lions' field goal player after previously playing for the UFL's Michigan Panthers. Joshua Karty fills that position as a sixth-round pick of the Rams. Bates has one of the strongest legs in the league but remains inconsistent. Karty missed his only 50-yard kick in the preseason.

Jack Fox has long been one of the league's most reliable punters and the Lions have invested heavily in their coverage units, with Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Sione Vaki and Khalil Dorsey among those expected to play important roles.

The Rams finished last in Rick Gosselin's special teams rankings last year, when they allowed two return touchdowns and punter Ethan Evans averaged just 38.5 yards per punt. Kalif Raymond will handle return duties for the Lions in this new world of kickoffs. Border: Lions

forecast

The Lions have one of the best rosters in the NFL and an incredible home-court advantage that they should put on full display on Sunday, but it's still a tricky draw. The Rams pressured the Lions to the max last year and have a dangerous offense that will challenge a secondary that hasn't played many snaps together even in practice. Stafford will be out for blood after losing to his old team last year, so it's imperative that the Lions get off the field when they get the chance on third down. They should be able to apply pressure against LA's undermanned offensive line and score points with all of their healthy playmakers on offense. I think this will be another exciting game, but I expect St. Brown to have a big day and the Lions to start the season off right. Selection: Lions 28, Rams 23.

Dave Birkett is the author of the new book “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Pre-order now from Reedy Press.

Contact him at [email protected]Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

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Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams: Scouting report, prediction

Important encounters

Scouting report

Lions running attack vs Rams running defense

Lions pass attack vs Rams pass defense

Rams running attack vs Lions running defense

Rams pass attack vs Lions pass defense

Special teams

forecast

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Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams: Scouting report, prediction

Important encounters

Scouting report

Lions running attack vs Rams running defense

Lions pass attack vs Rams pass defense

Rams running attack vs Lions running defense

Rams pass attack vs Lions pass defense

Special teams

forecast

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