NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview: Rams vs. Lions Odds and Best Bets

This Sunday is shaping up to be a day you’re going to want to stay on the couch and watch football. (You may not have a choice if you’re in some parts of the country that will be dealing with Arctic-like conditions!)

At 1 p.m., the Buffalo Bills will be hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers in a potential blizzard. At 4:30 p.m., Dallas kicks off its playoff run against upstart Green Bay. Mike McCarthy is potentially coaching for his Cowboys life against his former team.

Then in the Sunday night game, it’s Ford Field’s turn. It finally hosts an NFL playoff game in its 22nd year of being the home of the Detroit Lions. The Lions — division champions for the first time since theirs was called the NFC Central over 30 years ago — host old friend Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. The Lions have done things head coach Dan Campbell’s way. That’s led them to being one of the NFL’s best teams since midway through last season. Meanwhile, the Rams are finally healthy for what seems like the first time since they won the Super Bowl 23 months ago. And it’s shown: LA is 7-1 in its last eight games.

The storylines are in place. This should be a wildly fun game to watch — unless you’re a Lions fan. We’re sorry that you’ll probably be stress-eating throughout this one. But rest easy knowing that Megatron is still with you, people of Detroit.

For the rest of us, sit back and enjoy. Let’s look at the Rams vs. Lions odds and some best bets that present themselves.

Points may be at a premium Saturday night in frigid Kansas City and Sunday in snowy Buffalo. But the Ford Field track will be primed for a shootout. Yes, an over-under total in the 50s can be scary, but we encourage you to set aside your fear and look to the numbers.

Since Matthew Stafford returned from injury in Week 12, the Rams have scored 30 or more points in four his six games and had a low of 26. Detroit has done a nice job of keeping points to a minimum, holding teams to 20 points per game in the last four weeks. But the Lions’ secondary has gotten torched over the past few weeks, allowing Dak Prescott and Nick Mullens (twice) to go for well over 300 yards against the unit.

For Detroit offensively, Ford Field has been good to Jared Goff and friends. The Lions posted over 30 points in five of their eight home games and surpassed that total on four other occasions.

We like over the total of 51.5 (-110 at Caesars) despite the big number.

It’s a nice story when a team like the Lions turns its program around. They went from futility to a home playoff game in just a couple of years. But it’s another thing to win in the playoffs.

Granted, Goff led the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance five years ago. But there’s a lack of playoff experience overall on the home sideline Sunday night.

On the other side of the ball, you have the Rams. They are led by the crafty Sean McVay. In tow will be star players Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald, who were all key components on a championship team two seasons ago.

The other thing that worries us about Detroit is Campbell’s aggressiveness. Sure, that can win some games in September and October. But how will he respond in pressure situations in the playoffs?

Let’s look at the fateful two-point conversion play in Dallas a couple of weeks ago. Yes, the Lions were likely robbed when the officials announced the wrong lineman eligible on the play that would’ve given Detroit a 1-point lead with just over one minute remaining.

But after the penalty for illegal touching, the Lions went for two again from the 7-yard line.

After a Dallas penalty, the Lions got another chance from the 3-yard line. They again went for the win instead of the tie and did not convert.

Going for two from the 2-yard line instead of kicking the extra point to tie is gutsy. Doing it from the 7-yard line is ill-advised.

When the game is on the line, will Campbell go against his instincts and be rational, or will be take risks?

With the Rams, we know what we’re getting: a team with a playoff pedigree and a history of winning in the postseason. A Rams win at +140 (BetRivers)? Yep, there’s some value there.

While you get ready for the start of the NFL playoffs, Sidelines has you covered. Check out our top-five picks for Wild Card weekend along with key prop bets to consider.