LA Rams (0-0) at Detroit (0-0)
When: Sunday, September 8th 2024
Where: Ford Field,
Detroit, MI
Time: 8:20 ET | TV: NBC
Opening Odds: Detroit -3/51
Open an account at Bovada to receive a $750 Deposit Bonus! (US Customers Only)
The first Sunday Night Football game of the season should be a good one. It’s a rematch of last year’s Wild Card game between the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions from Ford Field. Former Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford came back to Detroit for the first time since being traded to the Rams and came up just short, 24-23. The Lions would go on to the NFC Championship Game, only to lose to San Francisco in a close game. Detroit comes into Sunday’s contest as a 4.5-point favorite with a total pegged at 52.
Stafford threw for 367 yards and two scores in January’s playoff game at Detroit, while Jared Goff threw for 277 and a TD in the win. That was also the final NFL game for Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who retired. He is a sure Hall of Famer who won NFL Defensive Player of the Year a record three times. The last regular-season meeting between these teams was in 2021 in Los Angeles with the Rams winning 28-19. Stafford had 334 yards and three scores in his first game vs. Detroit. Goff threw for 268 with a TD and two interceptions.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Along with the loss of Donald on defense, the Rams traded 2023 starting linebacker Ernest Jones to Tennessee for a late-round draft pick. Jones led the Rams with 145 tackles and also had 4.5 sacks – both career highs – last season. The Rams also have some injury concerns on the offensive line for Week 1 and left tackle Alaric Jackson is suspended the first two games. He allowed just one sack in 968 snaps last season. Starting tight end Tyler Higbee is on the PUP list and will not play as well. Rising wideout Puka Nacau, who had a record-breaking rookie season in 2023, missed the preseason due to injury but is ready to go Sunday.
Los Angeles Rams Injury Report [Week 1]
| Player | Status/Updated | |
|---|---|---|
| Rob Havenstein | OL | Ques Sun - Ankle - 9/4/24 |
| KT Leveston | OL | Ques Sun - Ankle - 9/4/24 |
| Brennan Jackson | LB | Ques Sun - Undisclosed - 9/4/24 |
| Larrell Murchison | DT | Ques Sun - Arm - 9/4/24 |
| Stetson Bennett | QB | Ques Sun - Personal - 9/4/24 |
| Jonah Jackson | G | Ques Sun - Shoulder - 9/4/24 |
| Puka Nacua | WR | Ques Sun - Knee - 9/4/24 |
| Alaric Jackson | OL | Late Sep - Suspension - 8/23/24 |
| Darious Williams | DB | Late Oct - Hamstring - 9/5/24 |
| Tyler Higbee | TE | Mid October - Knee - 8/27/24 |
DETROIT LIONS
Detroit also has some injury issues with running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta both missing the preseason due to hamstring issues but are on track for the opener. Both were rookies last season and made the Pro Bowl. The core players are back to help Detroit become the final NFC team to ever appear in a Super Bowl. The Lions re-signed Goff, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive linemen Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker while keeping both coordinators – Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. Defensive tackle DJ Reader, one of the league’s top linemen, is dealing with a quad injury and is questionable.
Detroit Lions Injury Report [Week 1]
| Player | Status/Updated | |
|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs | RB | Prob Sun - Hamstring - 9/4/24 |
| Ifeatu Melifonwu | S | Ques Sun - Undisclosed - 9/4/24 |
| DJ Reader | DL | Ques Sun - Quadricep - 9/4/24 |
| Brodric Martin | DL | Ques Sun - Leg - 9/4/24 |
| Penei Sewell | OT | Ques Sun - Ankle - 9/4/24 |
| Sam LaPorta | TE | Ques Sun - Hamstring - 9/4/24 |
| Craig Reynolds | RB | Ques Sun - Leg - 9/4/24 |
| Emmanuel Moseley | CB | Early Oct - Pectoral - 8/27/24 |
| John Cominsky | DL | Mid Dec - Knee - 8/27/24 |
| Michael Badgley | K | out for season - Hamstring - 7/26/24 |
There’s a lot of hype with this Detroit team, and for good reason. I’m taking the points with the Rams, but this is not one of my stronger plays. L.A. is beat up on the O-line, but they still have some skill players that can keep this game close.
