Our podcast preview of Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles rams with Rams writer Blaine Grisak.
We’re a mere two days away from the first Detroit Lions home playoff game in 30 years, and boy is it a doozy. Not only are the Lions hosting one of the hottest teams in the NFL in the Los Angeles Rams , but that team just so happens to be headed by former Lions first overall pick—and the quarterback of this franchise for 12 years—Matthew Stafford.
We’ve largely avoided all the tired narratives surrounding Stafford’s return to Detroit and Jared Goff’s potential revenge on the franchise that drafted—and discarded of—him. We continue that trend on this week’s First Byte preview podcast, where we stick to the football game, the matchups, and predictions for Sunday’s Wild Card game.
Like all of our preview podcasts, we welcomed a guest from the other sideline. This week, Turf Show Times writer Blaine Grisak joined us to break down everything the Rams offer, and who he thinks has the advantage in all the key aspects of Sunday’s game.
Here’s a breakdown of all of this week’s topics, including timestamps where you can find those conversations:
- (3:00) — What was the key to the Rams’ second-half turnaround?
- (4:15) — Result of an easy schedule?
- (6:15) — Why did the Rams struggle so badly against the Giants?
- (7:40) — How has Matthew Stafford improved since the 2022 season?
- (9:55) — Puka Nacua + Cooper Kupp — their superpowers
- (12:15) — Rams’ pass protection numbers, can Lions pressure Stafford?
- (15:30) — Where the hell did Kyren Williams come from?
- (18:00) — Can Detroit’s stout run defense stop its biggest challenge?
- (19:20) — Biggest concern Rams offense should have about Lions defense
- (23:10) — Is Aaron Donald still Aaron Donald?
- (25:15) — Kobie Turner’s breakout party
- (27:30) — Rams vulnerabilities in pass defense
- (29:55) — Which Lions weapons will give the Rams the most problems?
- (31:00) — Ernest Jones is a freak
- (33:00) — Can Rams slow the Lions’ rushing attack?
- (36:00) — PREDICTIONS!