The Rams clinched a playoff berth with a 41-34 victory over Detroit at SoFi Stadium on December 14, 2025. Puka Nacua torched the Lions secondary for 181 receiving yards on nine catches, while Matthew Stafford threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns against his former team. Amon-Ra St. Brown responded with 164 yards and two scores on 13 receptions, but Detroit’s defense couldn’t stop Los Angeles in the second half.
Table of Contents
Passing Statistics
| Player | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | QBR | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stafford | LAR | 24/38 | 368 | 2 | 1 | 2-8 | 72.6 | 101.6 |
| Jared Goff | DET | 25/41 | 338 | 3 | 0 | 1-12 | 90.5 | 111.6 |
Stafford picked apart Detroit’s defense in the second half. His two touchdowns both went to tight end Colby Parkinson, finding him for scores of 26 and 11 yards in tight coverage. Stafford absorbed six hits from Detroit’s aggressive front but maintained his poise through 38 attempts.
Goff completed passes to four different receivers and threw zero interceptions. His 111.6 passer rating marked his best output in a loss this season.
Ground Attack Production
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyren Williams | LAR | 15 | 78 | 5.2 | 2 | 19 |
| Blake Corum | LAR | 11 | 71 | 6.5 | 1 | 24 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 13 | 38 | 2.9 | 0 | 6 |
| David Montgomery | DET | 7 | 32 | 4.6 | 1 | 10 |
A 159-70 rushing advantage gave the Rams control of the trenches. Los Angeles averaged 5.5 yards per carry, with Williams punching in scores from four and one yard out. Corum ripped off a 24-yard burst in the third quarter that set up his own 11-yard touchdown.
Detroit managed just 70 rushing yards against a Rams front seven that focused on stopping the run. Gibbs averaged under three yards per attempt, finding little room to operate. Montgomery’s lone touchdown came late in the fourth quarter with Los Angeles leading 41-27.
Top Receiving Performances
| Player | Team | Targets | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puka Nacua | LAR | 11 | 9 | 181 | 20.1 | 0 | 39 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET | 18 | 13 | 164 | 12.6 | 2 | 52 |
| Jameson Williams | DET | 10 | 7 | 134 | 19.1 | 1 | 31 |
| Colby Parkinson | LAR | 7 | 5 | 75 | 15.0 | 2 | 26 |
| Davante Adams | LAR | 9 | 4 | 71 | 17.8 | 0 | 21 |
Nacua’s nine catches kept Los Angeles ahead of schedule on third downs. His 39-yard grab in the third quarter came where he outran the secondary to the Lions’ 11-yard line. The catch set up Corum’s back-breaking touchdown two plays later. Nacua left briefly with cramps but returned for the final possession.
Thirteen of 18 targets went to St. Brown, who caught everything thrown his way. Both touchdown grabs came in the red zone, including a 17-yarder off play action. St. Brown finished the first half with nine catches and 127 yards against his hometown team.
Williams beat coverage repeatedly on vertical routes, hauling in seven catches for 134 yards. His 31-yard touchdown strike just before halftime put the Lions up 24-14 and gave them momentum heading into the break.
Parkinson emerged as Stafford’s favorite red zone weapon with touchdown catches of 26 and 11 yards. Six scoring grabs over the past six games surpassed his entire total from the previous five and a half seasons. The 6-foot-7 tight end used his frame to box out smaller defenders in traffic, giving Stafford a reliable target when games tighten up.
Team Statistics Comparison
| Category | Rams | Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 519 | 396 |
| First Downs | 30 | 21 |
| Third Down Efficiency | 2/9 | 5/14 |
| Fourth Down Conversions | 3/3 | 2/2 |
| Time of Possession | 33:35 | 26:25 |
| Penalties | 2-8 | 4-25 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Per ESPN’s game tracker, Los Angeles outgained Detroit by 123 yards. The Rams converted all three fourth down attempts, sustaining drives when they needed conversions most. That aggressive approach by head coach Sean McVay paid dividends at critical junctures.
Detroit found more success on third down at 35.7% compared to Los Angeles’ 22.2%, keeping themselves within striking distance through three quarters. The penalties hurt the Lions more than the yardage suggests, with two coming at inopportune moments in the red zone.
The turnover battle proved decisive. Aidan Hutchinson’s first quarter interception return gave Detroit perfect field position, while his red zone pick of Stafford prevented an early Rams score. Neither team fumbled in the physical NFC matchup.
Defensive Statistics
| Player | Team | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Campbell | DET | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nate Landman | LAR | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Erick Hallett | DET | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Aidan Hutchinson | DET | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Kobie Turner | LAR | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A game-high 14 tackles came from Campbell, who flew around from his linebacker spot. Nine solo stops came on a mix of run fits and coverage assignments. The third-year pro logged his eighth game this season with double-digit tackles.
Hutchinson’s impact went beyond the box score. On the Rams’ second possession, he intercepted a Stafford pass intended for Parkinson and returned it 58 yards to the Los Angeles 17-yard line. One play later, Goff hit St. Brown for a 17-yard touchdown. The former Michigan star finished with three quarterback hits and a sack, constantly pressuring Stafford’s internal clock.
Turner sacked Goff for a 10-yard loss in the third quarter, forcing a punt when Detroit threatened to extend their lead. That stop shifted momentum completely. The second-year defensive tackle won his one-on-one battles against Detroit’s interior offensive line throughout, finishing with five tackles and two for loss.
First Half Action
Kyren Williams powered in from four yards out to give Los Angeles an early 7-0 lead. Detroit answered immediately after Hutchinson’s interception return when Goff found St. Brown for the 17-yard score that tied it.
Williams scored again from one yard out early in the second quarter to make it 14-10 Rams. St. Brown’s second touchdown catch from eight yards gave Detroit a 17-14 edge with 6:12 remaining in the half. Jameson Williams broke free for his 31-yard score with 36 seconds left, extending the Lions’ lead to 24-14 and giving them momentum heading into the break.
Los Angeles squeezed in a 37-yard field goal from Harrison Mevis as time expired, cutting the deficit to 24-17 at intermission. That drive started with just 30 seconds remaining after Stafford told his teammates, “Let’s go steal three,” before leading a quick-strike march downfield. He completed passes of 10 and 37 yards to Nacua to get within range.
Second Half Dominance
The Rams came out of halftime focused. Mevis connected on a 44-yard field goal to start the third quarter, making it 24-20. After forcing a three-and-out, Los Angeles took its first lead since early in the second quarter when Stafford found Parkinson for a 26-yard touchdown that made it 27-24.
Detroit’s offense stalled on three straight possessions in the third quarter. Turner sacked Goff on second down, pushing the Lions backward and forcing a punt. The Rams capitalized with a two-play scoring drive. Nacua’s 39-yard catch set up Corum’s 11-yard touchdown run that extended the lead to 34-24 heading into the final period.
“Third quarter was rough on us,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after the game. “They got a jump on us that we couldn’t overcome. Nacua had a huge day. We couldn’t slow him down. Stafford played at a really high level, which we knew he would if we couldn’t disrupt him, and more importantly, stop the run. We weren’t able to do that.”
The SoFi Stadium crowd of 74,701 erupted with “M-V-P! M-V-P!” chants after Parkinson’s second touchdown gave the Rams a 41-27 lead with 4:49 remaining. Stafford heard the recognition after hitting his tight end for an 11-yard score that essentially sealed the victory and clinched a playoff berth.
Fourth Quarter Finish
Jake Bates drilled a 48-yard field goal for Detroit to make it 34-27 with 7:54 remaining, giving the Lions a glimmer of hope. The defense needed a stop but couldn’t deliver. Stafford led a methodical six-play, 68-yard drive that ate up three minutes and ended with Parkinson’s second touchdown reception.
Montgomery answered with a 1-yard touchdown plunge with 2:42 left, cutting the margin to 41-34. Detroit’s defense forced a three-and-out, getting the ball back with 23 seconds remaining. Without any timeouts, the Lions couldn’t mount a serious threat. Goff’s lateral to St. Brown and back on the final play ended harmlessly near midfield.
Playoff Picture Impact
As of December 14, this victory clinched a postseason berth for the Rams, their seventh in nine seasons under McVay. At 11-3, Los Angeles sits atop the NFC with a one-game cushion over several teams. A division title would guarantee at least one home playoff game.
Detroit dropped to 8-6 and sits outside the playoff picture as the eighth seed. According to ESPN’s playoff projections, the Lions need to win their final three games and get help from other teams to reach the postseason. Their defense has allowed over 450 yards in three of the last five games, a troubling trend down the stretch.
The loss continued a frustrating pattern. Detroit hasn’t won consecutive games since early October, alternating victories and defeats for nearly three months. Head coach Dan Campbell’s team must fix defensive issues quickly or risk missing the playoffs entirely.
Critical Moments That Decided It
Mevis’ 37-yard field goal as time expired in the first half kept Los Angeles within striking distance. That drive started with just 30 seconds remaining, but Stafford’s quick strikes to Nacua got them in range.
The Rams converted a fourth down attempt in the third quarter, extending a crucial drive. Five plays later, Stafford found Parkinson for the 26-yard touchdown that gave Los Angeles a 27-24 lead they never surrendered.
Individual Standouts
Nacua’s 181 yards led all receivers in the game. His 39-yard grab in the third quarter set up the touchdown that pushed Los Angeles ahead by 10, a deficit Detroit never overcame.
Stafford picked apart Detroit’s defense over the final two quarters. At 37, he outdueled Goff in the second half.
St. Brown’s 13 catches came on 18 targets. His 8-yard touchdown off play action in the second quarter temporarily gave Detroit a 17-14 lead before the Rams took over in the third quarter.
Campbell racked up 14 tackles despite Detroit allowing 159 rushing yards. His nine solo stops came in run support where the Lions needed him most but couldn’t get help from the defensive line.
Hutchinson’s 58-yard interception return to the 17-yard line set up Detroit’s opening score. His sack of Stafford and three additional quarterback hits applied pressure throughout the game.
Turner’s sack of Goff on second down in the third quarter forced a punt when Detroit threatened to extend their lead.
Historical Context
This marked the second meeting between these teams in 2025. Detroit won the Week 1 matchup in overtime at Ford Field, 26-20, when Montgomery scored on a 1-yard plunge to open the extra period.
The all-time series now stands at 47-41-1 in favor of the Rams after this victory.
Stafford evened his record to 2-2 against Detroit since joining the Rams before the 2021 season. His 368 yards continued his strong performances against his former team. The quarterback clearly elevates his game when facing the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2009.
Rams head coach Sean McVay praised his former quarterback’s development when asked about facing Goff. “I see outstanding maturity. I see outstanding growth, ownership,” McVay said. “You can see they give him a lot of things at the line of scrimmage. Unbelievable accuracy and anticipation. Jared’s played really great.”
Statistical Deep Dives
Per Pro Football Reference’s official game log, the Rams’ 519 total yards demonstrated offensive dominance. Los Angeles put up 41 points against one of the league’s better defensive units.
Detroit’s third down efficiency kept them competitive despite being outgained by 123 yards. Converting 5 of 14 attempts prevented the game from becoming a blowout before halftime. The time of possession disadvantage of over seven minutes didn’t hurt them as much as the yardage gap suggested.
Parkinson’s two touchdowns gave him six in his last six games. The 6-foot-7 tight end found new life in Los Angeles after bouncing between Seattle and Pittsburgh earlier in his career.
Going 3-for-3 on fourth down showed the Rams’ aggressive mentality. McVay has never shied away from critical decisions, trusting his offense to convert when needed. That confidence pays dividends in close games where field position battles matter most.
What Comes Next
Los Angeles faces Seattle for a Thursday night showdown in Week 16. The Seahawks sit one game behind in the NFC West, making it a crucial divisional clash with playoff seeding implications. A Rams victory would essentially lock up the division title.
Detroit hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday, December 21, in a must-win game to keep playoff hopes alive. The Steelers bring a stout defense that ranks top five in points allowed. The Lions must rediscover their physical running game and generate more pressure on the quarterback.
Both teams showed their offensive firepower on December 14 at SoFi Stadium. The difference came down to execution in crucial moments and the Rams’ ability to dominate after halftime.
For complete box scores and detailed play-by-play coverage, the official game logs provide comprehensive breakdowns of every snap. This Rams victory over the Lions delivered the high-scoring affair that two playoff-caliber teams promised.
Sources: ESPN Game Center, Pro Football Reference, Detroit Lions Official Site, Los Angeles Rams Official Site
