Rams Can Clinch Playoff Berth as Stafford and Goff Meet Again at SoFi
The 2021 swap still defines the Rams–Lions arc, linking a Los Angeles title to Detroit’s rebuilt offense.
Overview
- The Rams (10-3) hold the NFC’s No. 1 seed and can secure a postseason spot with a win over the Lions (8-5) in their fourth meeting since the 2021 quarterback trade.
- Matthew Stafford has 3,354 passing yards with a league-best 35 touchdowns and four interceptions, while Jared Goff has 3,334 yards with 26 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
- Jared Goff says he no longer feels an emotional charge about facing the Rams, and Sean McVay has acknowledged mishandling Goff’s exit as something he has grown from.
- Detroit parlayed the trade’s picks into core pieces including Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta, with Gibbs producing a standout 2025 and LaPorta sidelined since mid-November after back surgery.
- Detroit’s secondary is thinned by injuries, prompting the signings of Arthur Maulet and Damontae Kazee as the Lions seek depth for SoFi Stadium.