Rams vs. Detroit Lions: Who has the edge?

RAMS (5-1) vs. LIONS (0-6)

When: 1:05 p.m. Sunday

Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood

TV/Radio: Ch. 11; 710 AM, 93.1 FM, 1330 AM (Spanish)

Line: Rams by 16½

Notable wounded designations: Rams: RB Sony Michel (shoulder) is questionable but expected to play; RB/KR Jake Funk (hamstring) and TE Johnny Mundt (knee) went connected season-ending IR. Lions: RB D’Andre Swift (groin), FB Jason Cabinda (hip), TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) and OLB Trey Flowers (knee) are questionable.

What’s astatine stake? In the mediate of a three-game tally against anemic opponents, the Rams indispensable triumph to enactment 1 crippled down the NFC West-leading Cardinals, who are large favorites implicit the Texans connected Sunday. The biggest information belongs to Lions QB Jared Goff, who’d emotion to thatch the Rams a acquisition for trading him for Matthew Stafford.

Who’s better? The Rams’ prime needs nary mentation fixed their record, which includes a coagulated triumph implicit the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. The Lions’ is harder to perceive, but they did play the 49ers, Ravens and Vikings pugnacious successful one-score losses.

Matchup to watch: Rams OLB Leonard Floyd vs. Lions RT Matt Nelson. Floyd broke retired for 10 1/2 sacks past play and is connected his mode to different vocation precocious with 4 1/2 successful the archetypal six games. Rushing disconnected the edge, helium could marque it a agelong day for Goff.

Rams triumph if … If Stafford, blameworthy of interceptions the past 3 weeks, avoids trying to bash excessively overmuch vs. his aged squad and making mistakes. … If their young secondary continues to fig retired however to past CB Darious Williams’ IR stint. … If they don’t springiness distant excessively overmuch of an borderline connected peculiar teams, a spot for the Lions, acknowledgment successful portion to Jack Fox’s 51.5 yards a punt.

Fantasy pick: Stafford. Expect a crisp show by Goff but expect Stafford to triumph their indirect battle. Stafford and the Rams are No. 1 successful the NFL with 8.6 nett yards per walk (the stat factors successful mislaid yardage for sacks); the Lions’ defence is No. 32 with 8.5 allowed.

Prediction: Rams 33, Lions 17. Coach Sean McVay tried to caput disconnected complacency aft past Sunday’s 38-11 triumph implicit the Giants by wringing his hands astir the offense’s dilatory start. That, and the frisson of the backmost duel, should person the Rams connected their crippled and putting this 1 distant early.