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2024 NFL Opener: Lions and Rams Renew Rivalry in Wild Card Rematch
@JeffSkverskyYouTube
The 2024 NFL season begins with a bang as the Detroit Lions host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. This game is a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 NFC Wild Card thriller, where the Lions edged out the Rams 24-23, marking Detroit’s first playoff victory since 1991.
Quarterback Duel: Goff vs. Stafford
The game features two quarterbacks with deep ties to their opponents. Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Rams in 2016, is coming off a stellar 2023 season where he passed for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns, earning a 97.9 passer rating. Goff is one of only four quarterbacks (alongside Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, and Patrick Mahomes) to pass for over 3,000 yards and maintain a passer rating of 90 or higher in each of the past four seasons. In last year’s Wild Card game against the Rams, Goff threw for 277 yards and a touchdown with a 121.8 rating.
On the other side, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Lions in 2009, ranks 11th all-time in passing yards (56,047) and touchdowns (357). Stafford has a history of strong season openers, with eight games of 300+ passing yards, tied for second-most all-time. He remains the Lions’ all-time leader in passing yards (45,109), touchdowns (282), and completions (3,898). In last year’s Wild Card matchup against Detroit, Stafford threw for 367 yards and two touchdowns with a 120.9 rating.
Lions’ Explosive Offense
The Lions’ offense is loaded with talent, starting with their dynamic running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Gibbs led all rookies in 2023 with 11 scrimmage touchdowns and amassed 1,261 scrimmage yards. Montgomery, who rushed for 1,015 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns, and Gibbs became the first pair of teammates in NFL history to each record over 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in the same season.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is coming off a career year, ranking second in the NFL with 119 receptions, third with 1,515 receiving yards, and tied for fourth with 10 receiving touchdowns. He could become just the third player in NFL history to record 100 or more receptions in three of his first four seasons. St. Brown had a strong showing in last year’s Wild Card game, catching seven passes for 110 yards.
Tight end Sam LaPorta, who set an NFL rookie record with 86 receptions in 2023, also made history alongside Gibbs as the first pair of rookie teammates to each score 10 or more scrimmage touchdowns in a season.
Rams’ Offensive Weapons
The Rams counter with their own offensive firepower, starting with running back Kyren Williams, who set career highs in scrimmage yards (1,350) and touchdowns (15) last season. Williams was especially potent on the road, scoring two or more touchdowns in four of his six away games.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who had 59 receptions for 737 yards and five touchdowns in an injury-shortened 2023 season, is on the brink of making history. With 567 career receptions in 92 games, Kupp could become just the fifth player ever to reach 600 catches within his first 100 games. Kupp last faced the Lions in the 2021 regular season, where he recorded 10 catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
Rookie sensation Puka Nacua, who set NFL rookie records with 105 receptions and 1,486 receiving yards last year, will look to build on his breakout season. Nacua made history in the Wild Card game against Detroit with 181 receiving yards, the most by a rookie in a playoff game.
Defensive Standouts
Both teams feature emerging defensive stars. For the Rams, rookie defenders Kobie Turner and Byron Young combined for 17 sacks in 2023, making them the second pair of rookie teammates to each record eight or more sacks since 1982. The Rams also made key offseason additions to their secondary, including Darious Williams, who ranked second in the NFL with a career-high 19 passes defended last season, Tre’Davious White, who has 68 career passes defended and 18 interceptions, and Kamren Curl, who posted a career-high 115 tackles in 2023.
The Lions’ defense is anchored by Aidan Hutchinson, who became the first player in NFL history to record over 20 sacks and three interceptions in his first two seasons. Hutchinson had two sacks in last year’s Wild Card game. The Lions also feature linebacker Alex Anzalone, who led the team with 129 tackles last season, and rookie linebacker Jack Campbell, who ranked second among rookies with 89 tackles.
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