The first Sunday Night Football game of the season features an exciting matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions. The game will take place at Ford Field in Detroit. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 PM EST.
NFL Week 1 Sunday Night Football Matchup
This game is a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s NFC Wild Card showdown, in which the Lions narrowly defeated the Rams 24-23, marking Detroit’s first playoff win in 32 years.
Adding to the intrigue, this game sees quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff facing their former teams, following their trade swap in 2021. Stafford, who helped the Rams win a Super Bowl in his first year in Los Angeles, will look to avenge last year’s playoff loss, while Goff aims to build on his success with the Lions.
The Detroit Lions had an impressive 2023 season, finishing with a 12-5 record and advancing to the NFC Championship Game, where they eventually lost to the San Francisco 49ers. Known for their explosive offense, the Lions ranked fifth in the NFL in points per game (27.4) last season. Under the guidance of head coach Dan Campbell, and with key contributors like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit will look to maintain their status as one of the league’s top offensive teams and take another step forward in their quest for a Super Bowl.
On the other side, the Los Angeles Rams finished the 2023 season with a 10-7 record, just sneaking into the playoffs. They ranked ninth in points scored per game (23.7). The Rams will rely on the talents of their dynamic trio of Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams, but they’ll also be bolstered by the return of a healthy Cooper Kupp and the addition of Blake Corum, whom they selected in the third round of the recent NFL draft. Both teams will look to capitalize on their offensive strengths, as neither defense ranked in the top 16 last season.
Fantasy Outlook
This game promises plenty of offense, with both teams boasting high-powered units that are set up for success. With favorable playing conditions (indoors), weak(ish) defenses, and plenty of offensive weapons, both Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff are positioned to rack up significant passing yards.
For the Lions, one intriguing storyline I’m interested in is the distribution of targets among their playmakers. Last season, Amon-Ra St. Brown was the dominating leader, leading the team with 164 targets. However, with the expected improvement of tight end Sam LaPorta and the (my) assumed improvement and emergence of wide receiver Jameson Williams, it’ll be interesting to see who will miss out on targets and get the short end of the stick. Additionally, the Lions have two capable receiving backs, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, which adds another layer of complexity to the target share.
For the Rams, the backfield situation will be interesting to watch, particularly the usage of Kyren Williams compared to rookie Blake Corum. Last season, Williams was used as a true workhorse, playing 82% of the offensive snaps. However, with Corum now in the mix and Williams also taking on punt return duties, his snap share could be impacted. How the Rams balance these two backs will be crucial in shaping their offensive game plan and could impact fantasy managers all season long.
Overall, this Sunday Night Football matchup between the Rams and Lions is set to be a thrilling affair with plenty of storylines and fantasy implications to keep an eye on as the NFL season kicks off.