For just the second time ever, the Rams and Lions will meet in the playoffs. It’s a rare matchup between these two NFC teams, but one that comes with a lot of storylines.
There are also plenty of key stats to know for this battle between the Rams and Lions, who are trying to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs. Each offense has been on fire in the second half of the season, and the defenses have their strengths, too.
Here are eight important stats to know for this wild-card matchup between Los Angeles and Detroit.
1
Longest gap between two teams meeting in playoffs in NFL history
The Rams and Lions have only met in the postseason once. It was way back in the 1952 playoffs, a game the Rams lost, 21-31. The 25,956-day gap between playoff meetings is the longest in NFL history, according to Andrew Siciliano.
These teams might be in the same conference, but their combined lack of success for several years prevented them from ever meeting in the playoffs aside from that one game in 1952.
2
Both teams have a top-5 red zone offense
The Rams and Lions both know how to put up a lot of points, which is why the over/under line is set at 51.5 points. They’re each very good at converting when getting inside the 20-yard line, too.
The Lions have the third-best red zone offense in the NFL, scoring touchdowns 64.1% of the time. The Rams aren’t far behind, ranking fourth with a touchdown rate of 63.6%. Don’t expect either team to settle for many field goals.
3
Lions allowed 3rd-fewest yards per carry, 2nd-fewest rushing yards
While the Lions are very susceptible to the pass, allowing the fourth-highest net yards per pass attempts and the sixth-most passing yards in the NFL, their run defense is quite good. They allow only 3.7 yards per carry and have given up just 1,509 rushing yards all season, ranking third and second, respectively.
The Rams’ rushing attack has been effective and efficient, ranking 12th in yards per carry (4.3), but it could be tough sledding against the Lions. Big plays will be hard to come by, too; Detroit has allowed only 27 carries of 10-plus yards this season, tied for the fewest in football.
4
Neither team forces many turnovers
The Rams didn’t take away the ball very much this season. They only forced 15 turnovers, which was the third-fewest in the NFL. The Lions were definitely better, forcing 23 turnovers, but even that only ranked 18th among all teams.
It’s partly because neither team recovered many fumbles. The Rams’ five fumble recoveries were the second-fewest and the Lions’ seven were the sixth-fewest in the league.
5
Rams are 2-0 vs. Lions under Sean McVay
The Rams have only played against the Lions twice in the last seven years, but they won both games. The first was in 2018, a 30-16 road victory over Detroit in McVay's second season. The Rams also beat the Lions in 2021, the first season after they swapped quarterbacks.
That one was slightly closer, with the Rams winning 28-19 at home, but Detroit was a 17-point underdog in that game.
6
Lions have lost 8 playoff games in a row, only 1-12 since 1970
Few teams in the NFL have had less playoff success than the Lions since the NFL-AFL merger. They've lost eight straight playoff games dating back to 1993 and since 1970, they're only 1-12 in the postseason.
The Rams had four wins alone during the 2021 playoffs and have gone 7-2 under McVay since 2017.
7
Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff both have 24 wins since 2021
Since the blockbuster Stafford-Goff trade in 2021, each quarterback has won exactly 24 regular-season games. Obviously, Stafford has four playoff wins and a Super Bowl ring in addition to those 24 regular-season wins, but it's an odd coincidence that they've won the exact same number of games since being traded for each other.
Stafford is 24-17 in the regular-season with the Rams, while Goff is 24-23-1 with the Lions in the last three years.
8
Rams are 3-1 in road playoff games under McVay
The Rams are no strangers to road playoff games. Since 2017, they've played four postseason games under McVay. They're 3-1 in those games, beating the Saints, Seahawks and Buccaneers on the road, while losing to the Packers in the 2020 divisional round.
The environment in Detroit should be extra raucous on Sunday night with this being the Lions' first home playoff game in 30 years.
