The Detroit Lions (8-5) and Los Angeles Rams (10-3) will meet in Week 15 of the NFL season on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The game will broadcast live on FOX.
The Rams are 6-point favorites over the Lions on the spread (Rams -6), with the over/under set at 54.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -270 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Detroit is +210 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Lions vs Rams predictions and my NFL picks for Sunday, December 14.
Lions vs Rams Prediction, Picks
- Lions vs Rams pick: Rams -6 (-110)
My Rams vs. Lions best bet is on Los Angeles to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at bet365. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Lions vs Rams Odds for NFL Week 15
| Lions Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 54.5 -110o / -110u | +210 |
| Rams Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 54.5 -110o / -110u | -270 |
Detroit Lions vs Los Angeles Rams NFL Preview
At first glance, backing the Lions as substantial underdogs is enticing. The duo of Dan Campbell and Jared Goff has covered the spread at a 77% rate when they have been listed as an underdog of more than a field goal during their time in Detroit.
However, injuries are starting to catch up to this Lions team, but most importantly, it is their secondary that is in shambles. The injury to Brian Branch was the cherry on top of a terrible run of luck that has seen Terrion Arnold and Kerby Joseph also exit the lineup.
Three straight teams have scored 27 points against Detroit, and that feels like the absolute floor here for the Rams.
Over the last three games, Detroit has allowed a league-high 8.8 yards per pass attempt. The Lions have also surrendered 44 first downs just through the air during that time as teams are attacking them downfield with little resistance.
Jameis Winston, Jordan Love and Dak Prescott have combined for an average depth of target 11.4 yards down the field — that is the highest mark for any defense since Week 12.
The matchup with Matthew Stafford is even more daunting since the Rams operate much of their passing attack from under center.
Per Sharp Football Analysis, the Lions are 27th in the NFL in defending play-action in yards per attempt and last in the league when facing passing plays from under center. Stafford leads the league in both play-action percentage and the percentage of passes from under center.
The Lions also deploy man coverage at the second-highest rate in the league. Stafford has shredded man coverage for 21 touchdowns without throwing a single interception.
With the Lions only allowing a modest 4.3 yards per rush, it is all but a certainty Rams head coach Sean McVay unleashes his MVP-leading quarterback by attacking this defense through the air.
The Lions put up another 40-point performance at Ford Field last week, but there are a few reasons for concern.
The interior offensive line has been an issue for the Lions. They rotated players at left guard last week and that position alone allowed seven pressures to the Cowboys.
The task for this offensive line will be even taller this week against Byron Young and Jared Verse. That duo leads the league in pressures that have resulted in turnovers since the start of the 2024 regular season, and they will get their chances to cause havoc as the Lions try to keep pace with the Rams.
On the other side of the pitch, Sean McVay boasts a cover rate of 84% during the month of December since 2021, and his Rams squad is in good position to continue their late-season success in this specific matchup.
This game's total opened at one of the highest we have seen in the NFL this season — points will not be at a premium and they undoubtedly will come in waves in the perfect conditions at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Detroit may also struggle to get an interior push in the running game. The Rams boast the third-best DVOA rush defense this year, largely due to Poona Ford controlling the line of scrimmage.
Ford carries the third-highest rush defense grade out of all interior defensive linemen, per Pro Football Focus.
Ford's running mate, Kobie Turner, is a rising star, ranking 10th in PFF grade out of 128 qualifying interior defenders. Turner has been excellent versus both the run and in pass-rush situations this season.
Lions vs Rams Betting Predictions, Analysis
The Rams offense will score early and often, putting the Lions behind the eight-ball and eventually causing them to adopt a pass-first mentality.
The Rams' loaded defensive line will get home in obvious passing situations and cause a Goff turnover late in the game that will tip the scales and allow the Rams to win this game with margin.
Lions vs Rams Best Bet
- Rams -6 (-110)
Lions vs Rams Betting Trends
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