Rams vs. Lions: 7 things to know for Week 7 matchup

The Rams are back at home this week after going on the road for their last two games, hosting the Detroit Lions in Week 7. It marks Jared Goff’s return to Los Angeles, as well as Michael Brockers’, facing their former teams at SoFi Stadium.

The Lions have limped to an 0-6 record in Dan Campbell’s first season as a head coach, while the Rams are flying high at 5-1 with Matthew Stafford at quarterback.

Here are seven facts and stats to know about Sunday’s Rams-Lions matchup.

Rams are 44-41-1 all-time against the Lions

The Rams and Lions used to be in the same division, which is a fact that some fans may not know because that was all the way back in 1937-1949. As a result, they’ve squared off 86 times, making the Lions the team that has faced the Rams more than all but three teams: the 49ers, Bears and Packers.

The Rams have beaten the Lions 44 times, including their last meeting in 2018 when they won 30-16. However, the series has been fairly split since 2001, with the Rams winning five games and the Lions four.

Lions have faced fewest pass attempts in NFL but allow most yards per attempt

Teams simply aren’t throwing the ball much against the Lions, and it’s not because they aren’t having success. They’ve faced the fewest pass attempts in the NFL, with opponents throwing it just 165 times in six games. Yet, they’re allowing 8.5 yards per attempt, the worst rate in the league.

This offers Matthew Stafford a great opportunity to put up big numbers, considering the Rams lead the league in net yards per pass attempt (8.6) this season. Stafford shouldn’t have any trouble throwing the ball on Sunday.

Jared Goff is 0-13 without Sean McVay

From 2017-2020, Goff went 42-20 as a starter in the regular season. He and the Rams had plenty of success, making the playoffs three times. But now that he’s in Detroit, folks have pointed out his unsightly record without McVay as his head coach.

In his rookie year in 2016, Goff went 0-7 as the Rams’ starter. This season with the Lions, Goff is 0-6, bringing his combined record with any coach not named Sean McVay to 0-13. Goff said he isn’t putting any stock in that record, but it’s hard to ignore.

Lions are the only NFL team Matthew Stafford has never faced

During Stafford’s 12 years in Detroit, he faced every team in the NFL at least twice – except for one, of course. The Lions are the only team he’s never played against, something that will change on Sunday afternoon.

Detroit is also one of just seven teams Stafford hasn’t beaten, another fact that should change this weekend, assuming Stafford and the Rams can handle the winless Lions. The teams Stafford has faced the most are the Bears and Vikings, going up against them 21 times each.

Cooper Kupp has more yards than Lions’ top three wide receivers combined

The Lions might have the weakest receiving corps in the NFL. That’s not an exaggeration, and it’s quite the change for Goff after having Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and others for years in L.A.

To put into perspective just how unproductive Detroit’s wideouts have been, consider this. Kupp has 653 yards in six games, which is more than Kalif Raymond (219), Amon-Ra St. Brown (204) and Quintez Cephus (204) combined.

The Lions’ top receivers this season are tight end T.J. Hockenson (311) and running back D’Andre Swift (295), who have also combined for fewer yards than Kupp.

Rams are tied for fewest sacks allowed in NFL

The Rams have done a fantastic job protecting Stafford this season, allowing him to be sacked just six times. That’s tied for the fewest in the NFL with Washington, as is the Rams’ sack rate of 2.9%.

Some of those sacks have been because of good coverage by the defense, too, forcing Stafford to hold the ball and putting the offensive line in a tough spot. For comparison, Goff has been sacked 15 times and the Lions have a sack rate of 5.9%, the highest of Goff’s career since 2016.

Lions have lost two games on last-second field goals this season

The Lions’ 0-6 record is not pretty. However, it’s also not completely representative of how their season has gone. They lost two games to the Ravens and Vikings, both 19-17, and both on last-second field goals as time expired.

Justin Tucker’s field goal to down Detroit was a record-long 66 yards, while Greg Joseph’s two weeks later was from 54 yards out after the Lions took a 17-16 lead just 37 seconds prior. It’s not unreasonable to think the Lions could be 2-4 with fairly impressive wins against the Ravens and Vikings.

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