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- Detroit (12-5) is a 3-point home favorite over the Rams (10-7) on Super Wild Card Weekend
- Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff will go head-to-head against their former teams
- Sunday’s prime time NFC playoff showdown kicks off from Ford Field in Detroit, MI at 8:15pm ET
The juiciest storyline of wild-card weekend will unfold in the Motor City on Sunday night as Matthew Stafford returns home to Detroit for the first time since his trade to Los Angeles in 2021. It will also be a revenge game for Jared Goff, who was shipped out of town by Sean McVay and the Rams after a disappointing season.
Before we check the odds on this NFC wild-card matchup and make our picks, here’s where you can find the best tips for betting on the 2024 NFL playoffs and the top betting sites for NFL football.
Lions vs Rams
 | Spread | Money Line | Total Points |
| Los Angeles Rams | +3.0 (+100) | +155 | Ov 51.5 (-110) |
| Detroit Lions | -3.0 (-120) | -175 | Un 51.5 (-110) |
Detroit’s explosive attack
Detroit is hosting its first playoff game since 1993 and making their first postseason appearance since 2016. Unfortunately, it looks like Sam LaPorta will miss Sunday’s contest after suffering a knee injury in week 18. The superstar rookie tight end had 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
LaPorta was only one of four Lions to register 10-plus scrimmage TDs in 2023 – the second-most by any team in NFL history. Fellow rookie Jahmyr Gibbs scored 11 while his backfield mate David Montgomery notched 13. Amon-Ra St. Brown also snagged 10, finishing with the third-most receiving yards (1,515) in the league.
The first pair of rookies with 10+ touchdowns each in NFL history:
Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta 🦁 pic.twitter.com/THv8thBr5H
— PFF (@PFF) January 7, 2024
Rams can outscore Lions
The Rams have the NFL’s top-scoring offense (29.9 points per game) since their week 10 bye. Puka Nacua broke a 60+ year rookie record in Sunday’s 21-20 victory over the 49ers, finishing with 1,486 receiving yards. The fifth-round draft steal also set the NFL record for the most receptions by a rookie (105), passing Jaylen Waddle (104).
Cooper Kupp has taken a backseat to Nacua in recent weeks, but the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year is healthy and ready to roll. Kyren Williams has been a revelation in the backfield, averaging over 95 rushing yards with 15 combined TDs in 12 games this season.
Detroit vs Los Angeles
Detroit is a 3-point home favorite at Ford Field on Sunday, and the 51.5-point over-under is the highest total on the Super Wild-Card Weekend slate. Both teams have top-ten scoring offenses that are plenty capable of passing and running the ball.
Aaron Glenn’s Lions defense has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (88.8), but has been obliterated through the air, permitting the sixth-most passing yards (247.4) per week.
“NICE! Now get him out of here” 😂
Sean McVay wanted Puka Nacua out of the game as soon as he clinched the record 😂
pic.twitter.com/syfvrGdYlt— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) January 7, 2024
Quarterback matchup
Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford have enjoyed excellent years for their respective teams. Goff finished with the second-most passing yards (4,575) in the league while throwing 30 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. Meanwhile, Stafford almost hit the 4,000-yard mark for the tenth time in his career, with 24 TDs and 11 INTs in 15 games.
Both quarterbacks have two of the brightest minds in the NFL calling the plays. Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean McVay and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is rumored to be in the mix for multiple HC vacancies around the league.
Best Bet
While this should be a high-scoring back-and-forth affair, Los Angeles has the coaching edge and quarterback advantage. We’ll take the Rams to cover (+3) and win outright (+155) with the OVER 51.5 points.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
