Previewing Detroit Lions Wild Card playoff contest against Los Angele Rams at Ford Field.
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00:00 The Detroit Lions prepare for the playoffs this weekend as they get ready to face Matthew Stafford
00:04 and the Los Angeles Rams. Here today to give his analysis for the game is SIL Lions' John
00:10 Mackren. John, give me your thoughts and predictions on how the Lions will fare against their former
00:14 signal caller Matthew Stafford. Yeah Cameron, this is it. The Detroit Lions are hosting a home
00:21 playoff game. After a 12-win season, they draw the Los Angeles Rams. Now many people think it's not
00:28 the best matchup and I think the injury to Sam Laporta really has put a lot of supporters on
00:33 edge. Look, he was a full participant in Friday's practice and I think that the opportunity that he
00:39 will have to potentially impact this game really is going to bode well for the Lions. Even if it's
00:44 in a limited role, when you look at the Detroit Lions offense, they do have a plethora of weapons
00:50 outside of Sam Laporta. It'd be great if he's able to contribute and extend drives and be the force
00:56 that he was his rookie season. Second team All-Pro in year one for Sam Laporta. Really a security
01:03 blanket for Jared Goff. But I think Cameron, like a lot of football games that are tight,
01:09 they're one in the trenches. I think if the offensive line can keep Jared Goff upright,
01:14 then he can survey the field and operate and really be the quarterback that he was this year.
01:19 A quarterback that led the Detroit Lions to 12 wins in 17 games. And you look at the defensive
01:26 line, if they're able to pressure Matthew Stafford, you realize these two quarterbacks
01:31 aren't the most mobile in the National Football League. I think the biggest concern that the
01:37 biggest challenge that the Rams offense presents is Puka Nakua and Cooper Cup. Two wideouts that
01:43 are playing at an extremely high level that are going to test the Lions secondary that has been
01:48 prone to give up yards to opposing wideouts. You've seen Nick Mullins throw for over 800 yards
01:55 in two games against the Lions, even though Aaron Glenn's defense was working all week to try and
02:00 stop the production of the Vikings. But you realize, Cameron, look, in the end, these tight
02:06 football games, they definitely come down to small plays here or there, mistakes, maybe special teams
02:11 contributions, field position, and of course, the decisions that are made by the coaches. And I feel
02:18 that Dan Campbell, even though Sean McVay has more experience, has won a Super Bowl, I think Dan
02:23 Campbell will dial up exactly what's needed for this football team. It's not going to be easy.
02:29 I see this contest being very close. It's going to be down to the wire. Fans are going to be
02:34 nervous. There's going to be huge momentum swings back and forth, huge explosive plays back and
02:39 forth. The quarterbacks are literally identical in their statistical production, the way in which
02:45 they approach the game. It's very much an evenly matched contest. But in the end, in those contests,
02:51 I think the blessing is that this game is taking place at Ford Field in front of a crowd that has
02:56 been starving to cheer on a football team. The first time, Cameron, in history that this Ford
03:03 Field, that Ford Field is going to open and a playoff game is going to take place inside.
03:07 I think that Dan Campbell said it. He envisioned what it would be like. He envisioned three years
03:12 ago that, hey, when the Lions show up in the postseason, the fans are going to show out,
03:18 cheer, be a true factor, a real home field advantage, probably one of the most supportive
03:25 environments you're going to hear all weekend long in the postseason. So it's Sunday night,
03:30 primetime, who makes the plays? And I'm hoping that in the end, it's the Detroit Lions, because
03:36 it's a football team that has only had one playoff win in decades. And for this football team to take
03:42 the next step in their culture and their organization, a playoff win is a must. And I
03:46 think it's going to happen. It's not going to be easy. It's going to be back and forth. But in the
03:51 end, the Lions will be victorious in this contest. John, I think I speak for all of the Detroit fans
03:56 and supporters when I say Ford Field will be rowdy on Sunday night. Thanks for all the insight.