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Rams vs. Lions NFL Player Props, Odds: Predictions for Wild Card Weekend

C Jackson Cowart

Last Updated: January 14, 2024 4:14 PM EST • 4 min 25 sec read.

Former franchise QBs face familiar foes Sunday when the Detroit Lions host the visiting Los Angeles Rams over NFL Wild Card Weekend, and our top Rams vs. Lions NFL player props based on the best NFL odds expect a shootout at Ford Field.

Sunday's matchup between the Los Angeles Rams (10-7) and Detroit Lions (12-5) will deliver an all-time storyline clash between former No. 1 picks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff against their former teams, as part of a loaded slate of games over NFL Wild Card Weekend.

Stafford was the face of the Lions for over a decade before a blockbuster trade sent him to Los Angeles, where he won the first Lombardi Trophy in his first season with the Rams.

Sunday, he returns to Ford Field for the first time, where Goff hopes to spoil his homecoming in the first home playoff game for Detroit in over three decades.

In addition to our Rams vs. Lions prediction and our NFL player props and best bets for Wild Card Weekend, here are our best Rams vs. Lions NFL player props for Wild Card Weekend (odds via our best NFL betting sites; pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Rams vs. Lions NFL player props for Wild Card Weekend

Matthew Stafford Over 272.5 passing yards (-114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is my favorite prop bet of Wild Card Weekend, and I went into great detail in my Rams vs. Lions prediction on why Stafford vs. this Lions secondary might be the most significant mismatch of the wild-card round. That's also where I highlighted my favorite side bet of the week, so I'd recommend checking out that article before reading any further.

If you can't be bothered to open a new tab (no shame), here are the cold hard facts: Stafford is averaging 295.2 passing yards over his last five starts, clearing this total in four of those outings, and he ranks as PFF's top-graded passer during that stretch. Now he faces a Lions defense that sits dead last in air yards allowed (2,735) and 31st in opponent's yards per completion (12.3) and depth of target (9.3).

Detroit's defense has become even worse as the season has progressed, and it's particularly vulnerable to the deep shot, which is the crux of this entire Rams passing attack. I also bet a unit on the Over for Stafford's longest completion, which is trading as low as 38.5 yards via BetMGM. But Stafford's overall yardage prop is the best way to attack a seismic mismatch on Sunday.

See my NFL player props for Sunday for more on what can be expected of Stafford. Esten McLaren's anytime touchdown scorer predictions are targeting Stafford's top receiver.

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DeMarcus Robinson Over 19.5 yards longest reception (-115 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As laid out above, I'm expecting a big day for the Rams' passing attack in a plus-matchup for Stafford and Co. Instead of splitting hairs between Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, though, I'd rather take a shot on the veteran Robinson to make a splash play on Sunday.

After getting zero targets through the first eight weeks, Robinson has displaced Tutu Atwell as the clear third wide receiver for Los Angeles over the second half of the season. He ranks third in targets (39), receptions (26), and receiving yards (371) since Week 9. Robinson also sits third in yards per catch (14.3) and is tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (four) over that stretch.

The speedy Robinson has excelled in his role as a field stretcher for Los Angeles, hauling in at least one catch of 20-plus yards in five straight weeks before a quiet showing during Week 18. That should come as no surprise, as he ranks in the top 32 in average depth of target (12.3) among all receivers with as many looks.

The eight-year veteran is also no stranger to the postseason after making the playoffs in every campaign of his career for three different teams. He hauled in a 41-yarder during his last playoff appearance with the Baltimore Ravens a year ago, and I wouldn't be surprised if he clears this total before halftime of Sunday's contest.

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Jared Goff to throw an interception (+138 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have no doubts that Goff could put up significant numbers against a Rams secondary that hasn't exactly been clamping down on opposing passers. I also think he's prone to a mistake or two in his first postseason game for Detroit.

While Goff has been fairly turnover-averse over the second half of the season, he still ranks seventh in interceptions (12), with at least one pick in nearly half of his 17 starts this season. He's also thrown two picks in each of his team's last two losses, including a Week 17 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys during his team's biggest game to date.

I remain skeptical of Goff's midseason reversal of his interceptions issue. While he's thrown just four interceptions since Week 10, the veteran ranks 11th in turnover-worthy throws (eight) over that stretch, even as his average depth of target sits 22nd out of 33 QBs with at least 100 dropbacks over the second half of the season.

I'm expecting Goff to be far more aggressive against this Rams secondary on Sunday, especially if safety value Sam LaPorta (knee) isn't available or plays at less than 100%. That downfield approach could spell positive returns for Detroit's offense, but it also leaves him far more vulnerable to a turnover or two.

Notice that I haven't focused on Goff facing his former team, which is reason enough to anticipate a forced throw or two on such a massive stage. This also feels like a spot for Los Angeles defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to try to confuse Goff with unconventional coverages and prove why he's deserving of another head coaching gig during the 2024 cycle.

Truthfully, I'd bet this prop as low as +120, which is where it's trading at four of our five best sports betting sites. The fact that we're catching +138 odds at BetRivers makes it even easier to bank on an errant throw from Goff this weekend.

Rams-Lions player props made Thursday at 7:45 p.m. ET.

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Written By:
C Jackson Cowart
C Jackson Cowart is a publishing editor and lead writer for Sportsbook Review. An award-winning writer, reporter, and editor with a decade of sports media experience, "C-Jax" has worked with ESPN, Forbes, theScore, and various daily newspapers before joining the Sportsbook Review team. He's a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina, where he served as a beat writer for the Tar Heels' championship run through the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 2017. Jackson has spent the last five years covering sports betting as a predictive analyst, features writer, and industry reporter. Since joining the team in 2023, he's played a key role in Sportsbook Review's coverage of the Super Bowl, March Madness, and NBA playoffs while serving as the lead writer for the growing WNBA and NASCAR betting scenes. Though he's cashed some big bets over the years -- including Lamar Jackson to win MVP (twice) -- he's still haunted by enough second-place bet slips to wallpaper his home office. While Jackson is a committed "process over results" bettor with a keen eye for advanced stats and subtle bias in futures markets, he also embraces sports betting as a vehicle for entertainment and personal investment. He's written about everything from hot dogs to groundhogs and still hasn't forgiven his "inside source" for a sabotaged bet on the Gatorade color in Super Bowl LV.