The Detroit Lions got back in the win column in Week 14 with a big 44-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, but head coach Dan Campbell and his team still have a lot of work to do if they want to find their way into the postseason. That starts in Week 15, where a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Rams and old friend Matthew Stafford awaits them.
The Rams have emerged as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl this season, and that’s thanks in large part to some stellar play from Stafford under center. If there’s any team that knows what Stafford is capable of, it’s the Lions, and ahead of this game, Campbell made sure to let his defense know just how dangerous their opponent can be.
Dan Campbell Knows Lions Face Tough Challenge vs. Matthew Stafford, Rams
After getting selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Stafford spent the first 12 years of his career with the Lions. While he typically put up strong numbers, Detroit struggled to build a winner around him, and ahead of the 2021 campaign, he got flipped to the Rams in a blockbuster trade that landed the Lions their current starting quarterback, Jared Goff.
Stafford immediately led Los Angeles to a Super Bowl victory, and after a couple of tough years, the Rams have reemerged as a legitimate championship contender. That’s due in large part to Stafford’s play under center, as he’s putting together arguably the best season of his career. Through 13 games, Stafford had thrown for 3,354 yards and a league-leading 35 touchdowns, which has helped him emerge as the frontrunner in the MVP race.
Against his former team, Stafford will be looking to put up some more big numbers, and with the Lions’ defense dealing with several big injuries, this could end up being quite a tough day for Campbell’s crew. The popular head coach noted that his team is going to have to find a way to make Stafford’s life difficult, because if they can’t, he will pick them apart all game long.
“He’s playing at a high level,” Campbell said of Stafford. “If we don’t disrupt him, it’ll be a long day. We’ve got to shut down the run as usual, and we’ve got to find a way to disrupt this guy if we can, because he’s dangerous.”
Dan Campbell, Lions Could Use a Big Win in Week 15
GettyDan Campbell and the Detroit Lions have a high stakes game against the Los Angeles Rams, and they’re making moves for it.
While Detroit has an 8-5 record through 13 games, it wouldn’t qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today. The NFC wild-card race is packed with contenders, which means every game is going to be important for the Lions moving forward. If they can’t take down the Rams, their playoff hopes could be dealt a serious blow.
Campbell knows this is going to be a difficult game, especially since the Lions haven’t been great against the top teams in the league this year. Their familiarity with Stafford could give them an advantage, especially when it comes to generating pressure on him. If Detroit is successful in its quest to rattle Stafford, that will significantly increase its chances of walking away from this game with a win. If it can’t, though, Campbell’s squad could end up missing the postseason entirely.
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