The Los Angeles Rams enter Week 15 as the only NFC team that can clinch a playoff spot. A victory at Sofi Stadium on Sunday over Jared Goff’s Detroit Lions will send Los Angeles to the postseason for the third consecutive year.
The Rams are aware Sunday’s game holds serious playoff implications. However, they are approaching everything on a day-to-day basis. Head Coach Sean McVay is simply trying to win a football game.
“We try to do everything in terms of being totally present,” McVay said. Our focus and concentration are doing everything that we can to try to be able to win this game.”
If Los Angeles wants to punch their ticket to the postseason this week, it will require execution in all three phrases.
The Lions are coming off a 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys and sit just one game back of the No. 7 seed San Fransisco 49ers with just four weeks remaining. Detroit’s No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL has been prolific, scoring 34 or more points in seven of its eight wins this season. Third-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs has backed up his breakout Sophomore season in 2024 with over 1500 total yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 games this season, proving to be one of the most feared playmakers in the NFL.
Sean McVay knows the effect Gibbs can have on a game.
“I see as an explosive of a player as there is in this league,” McVay said. “Every single time he touches it, you’re like, Oh my gosh, he might score.”
While they own the league’s best 30.3 points per game, Detroit’s offense hasn’t been perfect.
Head Coach Dan Campbell took the play-calling duties away from Offensive Coordinator John Morton after a home loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9. Since taking over on the headset, Detroit has erupted for 44 points on two separate occasions but also produced its worst offensive output of the season in a 16–9 loss on Sunday Night Football in Philadelphia.
Despite the change of play callers, McVay recognizes the dynamic ability the Detroit offense possesses.
“Still an unbelievable offense, McVay said. “There’s a certain style of play that really comes to life when they’re at their best. It’s a real credit to their players and coaches.”
McVay credits his former quarterback Jared Goff on his ability to run the offense and control the game from the pocket.
“You can see they give him a lot of things at the line of scrimmage like Mike point IDs, calling multiple plays and getting in and out of the right looks whether that be in the run game or in the pass game, unbelievable accuracy and anticipation.”
While the Rams 3rd-ranked scoring defense will be tasked with limited Goff, Gibbs and company, Detroit will have to try to stop MVP-frontrunner Matthew Stafford.
The 37-year-old quarterback has been nearly impossible to stop in 2025. Stafford has completed 66.7% of his passes this year to go along with 3,354 yards and a league-high 35 passing touchdowns. Those statistics have him primed to secure his first MVP award in year 17. Stafford is grateful to just be in those discussions.
“Just to be in the conversation is something that’s humbling to me, Stafford said.”
His next step in bringing home the MVP award will be taking down his former team, which he spent the first 12 years of his career with.
“It’s a really good, complete football team, Stafford said. “It’ll be another challenge for us.”
His former squad will be without star defensive back Brian Branch, who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in last week against Dallas. Stafford says his absence will be something Detroit will have to account for.
“He’s a huge difference maker for them on the back end with his ability to cover receivers, cover tight ends, make plays in the run game and he’s great in zone coverage, Stafford said. “I know that’ll be something they’ll have to adjust to and figure out.”
A major contributor to Stafford’s success this season has been Devante Adams, who signed a two-year, 46 million contract with Los Angeles in March 2025.
The two-time First-Team All-Pro wide receiver has been exactly what Stafford and Los Angeles hoped for when they inked him to the multi-year deal. Adams’ 14 receiving touchdowns lead the NFL by a five-touchdown margin, with three receivers behind him tied at nine.
Adams expressed how Los Angeles has been everything he thought it would be.
“It’s honestly been exactly what I hoped it’d be, Adams said. “I was just another piece to the puzzle and it’s been fun being a part of a fun operation.”
Sunday’s matchup will have the feeling of a playoff atmosphere with two teams looking to make a statement as the playoffs inch closer by the week.
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