Lions vs. Rams Preview:
Nearly five years after the blockbuster quarterback trade that reshaped two franchises, the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams meet again with playoff stakes and star power on display. Matthew Stafford’s Rams host Jared Goff’s Lions on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, a matchup that has become a recurring feature of the NFC race and a measuring stick for two of the league’s top offenses.
Detroit Lions
Detroit’s resurgence is deeply tied to the haul it received in the Stafford trade, with Goff providing steady quarterback play and the draft picks turning into foundational weapons. The Lions enter the matchup leading the NFL in scoring, powered by a balanced attack and one of the league’s most dynamic young cores.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has become the centerpiece, hurting defenses both on the ground and through the air. He is coming off multiple high-impact receiving performances and has already crossed significant historical benchmarks for dual-threat production this season. Jameson Williams adds explosiveness outside, while tight end Sam LaPorta remains a reliable mismatch.
The biggest concern for Detroit is on defense, particularly in the secondary. Injuries have thinned the unit considerably, forcing the Lions to rely on newly signed veterans and depth players against one of the league’s most efficient passing attacks.
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles has ridden elite quarterback play to the top tier of the NFC. Stafford, now 37, is in the middle of an MVP-caliber season, thriving in Sean McVay’s offense with a lethal combination of timing, aggressiveness and experience. The Rams have scored more than 20 points in 11 of their last 12 games, and their passing game has been among the NFL’s most productive.
Wide receiver Puka Nacua continues to be a matchup nightmare, while Davante Adams has added another layer to an already dangerous aerial attack. The Rams’ offense is built to stress defenses vertically and horizontally, a challenge amplified by Detroit’s injury issues on the back end.
At 10-3, Los Angeles is positioning itself for a deep postseason run, and this matchup serves as both a statement opportunity and a potential playoff preview against a familiar foe.
Stats to know (Sunday slate)
Lions
- 3rd in total offense / 5th in passing offense (242.8 ypg) / 5th in rushing offense (135.8 ypg)
- 15th in total defense / 19th in passing defense (221.2 ypg) / 10th in rushing defense (102.7 ypg)
- 30.3 points per game / 23.4 points allowed to opponents per game
- 392.5 yards per game / 343.5 yards allowed to opponents per game
- 7-6 ATS / 3-3 SU on the road / 3-3 ATS as away team
- 3-4 ATS after a win / 1-3 ATS as an underdog / 1-3 ATS as a road underdog
- Lions are 4-4 SU in their last eight games
- Dan Campbell is 6-4 SU vs West Coast teams
- Jared Goff is 2-1 SU vs the Rams in his career
Rams
- 4th in total offense / 3rd in passing offense (249.2 ypg) / 11th in rushing offense (123.9 ypg)
- 13th in total defense / 16th in passing defense (211.5 ypg) / 11th in rushing defense (103.5 ypg)
- 29.2 points per game / 17.5 points allowed per game
- 381.9 yards per game / 332.9 yards allowed per game
- 9-4 ATS / 5-1 SU at home / 4-2 ATS as home team
- 5-4 ATS after a win / 9-3 ATS as the favorite / 4-2 ATS as the home favorite
- Rams are 7-1 SU in their last eight games
- Davante Adams has scored 11 touchdowns in his last eight games
Odds per DraftKings Sportsbook: Rams -6 / Total O/U 54.5 / Lions ML +205
Best Bets
- Lions/Rams over 54.5 total points (-120)
- I love the over in this game, given how good both of these teams' offenses are. Jared Goff is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL, and Matt Stafford has been playing at an MVP level all season. This game has points written all over i,t and with guys like Jahmyr Gibbs and Puka Nacua on the field, points should not be hard to come by. I also love the over due to this game being played during the afternoon slate and not primetime. It sounds weird, but it always seems like when matchups like these take place in the second half of the season in the afternoon, the points always come in bunches. This game should be an absolute barn burner, and the over will clear.
- Jared Goff 2+ passing touchdowns (-132)
- Jared Goff is a steady presence under center for the Lions and is normally steady in big-time games like this one. Goff is good for two passing touchdowns almost every game, and I think this trend will continue on Sunday afternoon. The Lions are going to need a big game out of Goff if they are going to increase their chances of making the playoffs, and that is why Goff throwing two touchdowns might be the lock bet of this game. The Rams' pass rush is solid, and when Goff is under constant pressure, he tends to have down games, but I think the Lions' offensive line can hold on long enough to give Goff time to find his electric pass catchers. Goff will clear this number whether the Lions win or lose, and I think this is one of the safest bets of the entire Week 15 slate.
Injury report:
This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 63.6
Last 4 weeks’ BUS:
Week 11: 67.1
Week 12: 67.7
Week 13: 64.1
Week 14: 64.6
#DETvsLAR injury report presented by Henry Ford Health pic.twitter.com/gb0LUjJXd8
The Lions are coming off a dominant offensive performance in Week 14, where they put up 44 points on the Cowboys and managed to walk out without new injuries, making a big dent in the offense. While not much is new, they will continue to miss OL Christian Mahogany, who’s been on IR since week 9 with a fractured fibula (lower leg) and is not quite ready to return yet. WR Kalif Raymond is in a similar boat, where he’s been sidelined with a neck injury for a few weeks and is back at practice but still a game-time decision. The Lions’ defense didn’t come out as unscathed last week, with DB Brian Branch ending his season with a torn Achilles tendon. S Thomas Harper also sustained a concussion last week and won’t clear the protocol before the week 15 game. To make matters worse for the defensive backfield, S Kerby Harper remains out with a lingering knee injury that has sidelined him since week 6, and the Lions announced he has had a setback that may land him on IR. Look for the Rams' passing attack led by Puka Nacua to take advantage of the injury-ridden defense.
Rams
This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 82.8
Last 4 weeks’ BUS:
Week 11: 67.1
Week 12: 67.7
Week 13: 64.1
Week 14: 64.6
Davante Adams questionable but expected to play Week 15. Full Injury Report » https://t.co/v0kiJ3gbDr pic.twitter.com/CBA73taOqp
The LA Rams BUS is running smoothly, with the only position group with issues being the receiving corps. WRs Devonte Adams and Tutu Atwell are both dealing with hamstring injuries, which have a significant impact on acceleration, deceleration, and sprint speed. Atwell logged full practices all week and has no designation, so the likelihood is he plays near full capacity. Adams missed 2 practices and was limited in the third, which makes it less likely that he performs at his best, if he plays at all. Safety Jaylen McCollough is also questionable with an illness that only landed him on the injury report on Saturday, so it’ll be a game-day decision if he’s well enough to play.
Vikings vs. Cowboys Preview
Two teams heading in different recent directions meet under the lights Sunday night as the Minnesota Vikings visit the Dallas Cowboys. Minnesota is coming off its most complete performance of the season, while Dallas looks to rebound after a defensive setback with playoff positioning still very much in play in the NFC.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings enter at 5-8 after a dominant shutout of Washington, a game that marked the first time this season they fielded their expected starting lineups on both sides of the ball. Defense remains Minnesota’s calling card, ranking among the league’s best overall and against the pass, while consistently tightening up in the red zone.
Offensively, the focus is on continued growth from quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who delivered his best outing of the season last week with three touchdown passes and no turnovers. He now faces a major test on the road in prime time, where Minnesota has struggled historically. The running game has been steadied by Jordan Mason, who leads the team in rushing and has averaged more than six yards per carry over the last five games.
Despite the defensive strengths, turnovers and road performance remain major concerns, with the Vikings carrying a minus-12 turnover differential and a 1-7 road record.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas sits at 6-6-1 and remains firmly in the NFC East race despite last week’s loss to Detroit snapping a three-game winning streak. The Cowboys boast the league’s top-ranked offense, fueled by a prolific passing attack and consistent scoring output.
Quarterback Dak Prescott is coming off another big yardage performance and can set a franchise record with a fourth straight 300-yard passing game. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is expected to play after a concussion scare, while George Pickens remains a key downfield threat and one of the NFL’s leading receivers by yardage.
Defense has been the weak point for Dallas, particularly in the secondary, where the Cowboys rank near the bottom of the league against the pass. Injuries along the offensive line and at tight end could also factor in. Even so, Dallas has been strong at home in recent meetings with Minnesota and will look to leverage its offensive firepower to keep pace in the division race on Sunday night.
Stats to know (Sunday Night Football)
Vikings
- 28th in total offense / 30th in passing offense (171.5 ypg) / 24th in rush offense (104.2 ypg)
- 8th in total defense / 4th in passing defense (172.3 ypg) / 22nd in rushing defense (126.8 ypg)
- 19.6 points per game / 21.6 points allowed to opponents per game
- 297.2 yards per game / 316.2 yards allowed to opponents per game
- 5-8 ATS / 3-4 SU on the road / 2-3 ATS as the away team
- 0-4 ATS after a win / 1-5 ATS as underdog / 1-3 ATS as away underdog
- Vikings are 2-6 SU in their last eight games
- Kevin O’Connell is 5-10 SU in primetime games
- Kevin O’Connell is 3-7 ATS on primetime
- Justin Jefferson hasn’t scored a touchdown in 5–straight games
Cowboys
- 1st in total offense / 1st in passing offense (275.5 ypg) / 16th in rushing offense (119.5 ypg)
- 20th in total defense / 32nd in passing defense (255.2 ypg) / 20th in rushing defense (123.5 ypg)
- 29.3 points per game / 29.7 points allowed to opponents per game
- 405.5 yards per game / 396 yards allowed to opponents per game
- 7-6 ATS / 4-1-1 SU at home / 4-2 ATS as home team
- 3-2 ATS after a loss / 2-4 ATS as a favorite / 1-2 ATS as a home favorite
- Cowboys are 4-4 SU in their last eight games
- Dak Prescott is 12-8 SU on Sunday Night Football
- Dak Prescott is 4-1 SU in his last five Sunday Night Football games
Odds per DraftKings Sportsbook: Cowboys -5.5 / Total O/U 48.5 / Vikings ML +225
Best Bets
- Cowboys -5.5
- Sunday night will be a great contest between two teams that are eliminated from the playoffs but still are trying to prove that their play is better than what their record shows. The Cowboys have one of, if not the best, offenses in the NFL, and I think that will be the defining factor in this primetime game. The Vikings' defense is solid in the passing game, but their defense has underperformed compared to how dominant they have been in past seasons. Dak Prescott is coming off a tough loss to the Lions, and I think Prescott and that offense will regain their footing at home in a game that will test their pride. JJ McCarthy has been too inconsistent for me to believe he will keep this game close, especially on the road in AT&T Stadium. The Cowboys' offense will be too much for the Vikings, and Dallas will cover the spread.
- Dak Prescott 3+ passing touchdowns (+173)
- After a tough loss last week to the Lions were Prescott threw for 376 yards but only one touchdown. Dallas is now with its back against the wall, with its playoff chances becoming smaller. Due to these circumstances, I think Prescott will have a major bounce-back game against a Vikings team that is just trying to get to the end of the season. While Minnesota has a good secondary, I think Dak and the offense will be hungry to prove that last week's two-touchdown loss will not be a regular occurrence. The Cowboys are due for a big win, and Prescott will be the key reason on Sunday night.
Injury Report:
Vikings
This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 87.3
Last 4 weeks’ BUS:
Week 11: 82.5
Week 12: 85.0
Week 13: 77.2
Week 14: 82.2
Final #MINvsDAL injury report
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 12, 2025
QUESTIONABLE: Ty Chandler* and Christian Darrisaw
*Currently in 21-day return to practice window pic.twitter.com/O6Sga4gVSt
The majority of the Vikings’ injury report for the week is rest days for load management. In terms of actual injuries, the Vikings are looking pretty solid, with just a few exceptions. LT Christian Darrisaw is in his first season back from ACL and MCL surgery on his knee, which has given him some lingering issues impacting his playing time. Considering the Vikings have given up 34 sacks this season and have had injury issues with multiple QBs, having Darrisaw out could give the Cowboys’ defense an easier path to the QB. Additionally, RB Ty Chandler, who sustained a knee injury in week 1 and is nearing a return, was not cleared to play, so RBs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason will continue to split the vast majority of the load.
Cowboys
This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 83.2
Last 4 weeks’ BUS:
Week 11: 81.1
Week 12: 83.0
Week 13: 82.4
Week 14: 83.2
#Cowboys final injury report vs Vikings:
— Patrik \[No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 12, 2025
🔑 Tyler Guyton, as expected, is ruled out.
🔑 Jake Ferguson upgraded, did practice and has a chance to play — as does Jadeveon Clowney.
🔑 a decision on Trevon Diggs will be made tomorrow, per the front office.
Full report: pic.twitter.com/j9TzrtRYFt
Big news for Cowboys fans and fantasy owners is that Cowboys’ star WR Ceedee Lamb enters the game with no injury designation after clearing the concussion protocol. The offense still has some question marks on the line with OT Tyler Guyton out with an ankle injury and TE Jake Ferguson questionable with a calf injury, but having Lamb on the field is a major boost. On the defense, CB Trevon Diggs will remain out despite practicing this week as he makes his way back to game readiness. Diggs has been on IR since mid-October after a non-football-related concussion, and to give time to deal with ongoing knee issues. Pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney missed the week 14 loss to the Lions with a hamstring injury, and without him, the Cowboys struggled to consistently get pressure on Lions’ QB Jared Goff. Clowney strung together 2 limited and 1 full practice this week, so although he’s listed as questionable, he’s trending towards playing in Week 15.
