setting up the Lions game + broadcast map

from Nate Atkins: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6881140/2025/12/11/rams-offensive-balance-13-personnel/?source=emp_shared_article

[Note: this point has to do with the fact that 3-TE sets ie. 13-personnel sets force defenses to play base setsd instead of nickel, but in different ways the Lions and Seattle defenses challenge that.]

“I think it’s helped to give us an identity,” McVay said of the 13-personnel sets….

Defenses will adjust to what a team shows on film, and the tests are coming in different ways. The Lions live almost exclusively in base defense to keep two of their best defenders on the field together, linebackers Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks often live in nickel and dime personnel to confuse quarterbacks behind a potent pass rush, and they can afford to do so with a run defense that has not allowed a 100-yard rusher all season.

With two games in five days that could decide a loaded NFC West race, the Rams have to lean into their most multiple and personnel-diverse ways to keep their best players at peak form.

from Stu Jackson: https://www.therams.com/news/top-rams-news-previews-and-predictions-for-rams-vs-lions-in-week-15-2025

Experts make their predictions for Week 15
Here’s a collection of analysts’ predictions and previews for Rams-Lions:

All five of NFL.com’s analysts picked the Rams to beat the Lions on Sunday.
Five of six Sports Illustrated staffers picked the Rams to win against the Lions. https://www.si.com/nfl/2025-nfl-week-15-staff-expert-picks
Six of 11 ESPN experts chose the Rams to come out on top on Sunday. https://www.espn.com/nfl/picks/_/seasontype/2/week/15

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from https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-picks-week-15-2025-nfl-season

Detroit Lions AT Los Angeles Rams
MONEYLINE: Lions +210 | Rams -258
SPREAD: Rams -6 | O/U: 54.5

Why Ali Bhanpuri picked the Rams: When I took Dallas over Detroit last week, I did so with the expectation Amon-Ra St. Brown wouldn’t be suiting up. So when the Lions announced their inactives shortly before kickoff, and No. 14 wasn’t one of them, I was immediately filled with regret. With St. Brown on the field, I figured the Lions’ quick passing attack would carve up the Cowboys’ zone. And did it ever. Fast-forward one week, and Detroit, still in the thick of the NFC playoff race, now faces another zone-heavy defense that, as the Next Gen data reveals, actually runs zone at the exact same rate as Dallas (80.6%). But unlike the Cowboys, who struggled to move Jared Goff off his spot, the Rams have one of the best pressure groups in the league. Can Jared Verse and Byron Young get to Goff quickly enough, and frequently enough, to disrupt the veteran’s ability to pick apart their defense? I’m not sure, which is why I’m still predicting a solid offensive outing from Detroit. (Well, that and Jahmyr Gibbs, obviously.) What gives me pause about the Lions, then, is how their defensive tendencies match up with the Rams’ hyper-efficient offense. No team has run man coverage at a higher rate this year than Detroit, and no QB has a better TD-to-INT ratio against man looks than Matthew Stafford (21-1). Unless the Lions’ pass rush can consistently win up front, their aggressiveness on the perimeter (despite multiple injuries in their secondary) could come back to bite them. Just as a second straight pick against the Lions could come back to bite me. With this win, L.A. becomes the first NFC team to clinch a playoff berth this season.

wv wrote:

A rather large game, today. Imagine if they lose it. They will be underdogs in Seattle, I’m sure. If they lost that one, too, they’d be 10-5 and probably behind Detroit for the last playoff spot. And even if they squeak in as a 7th seed they’d end up having to play in Lambeau or Seattle, etc.

Big game.

w

But if they win, the earth will regenerate and all people will live in peace, and there will be no want–all will have the food, shelter, medicine, and companionship they need.

It won’t be completely universal–there will still be some who, even after all these year, remain unable to get over the Bettis trade.

But mostly things would be pretty good.

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