By Sunday 
The opening point spread for Week 15 landed with a thud—and a little bit of spice. Two teams with tangled history and playoff ambitions are set to collide, and Vegas wasted no time telling us exactly what it thinks. Spoiler: it thinks this one is going to be a heavyweight swing-fest.
A Line That Sets the Tone
According to the early DraftKings number, the Detroit Lions open as +4.5 underdogs, with a moneyline of +170, while the Rams sit comfortably at –205. The over/under? A healthy 51.5 points, which tells you the oddsmakers expect the scoreboard to get a workout.
This spread doesn’t come out of thin air. Detroit is heading west—never easy—and they’re limping a bit after a tough, emotional 44–30 win over Dallas. They improved to 8–5, but lost much more than field position:
Brian Branch tore his Achilles, ending the All-Pro safety’s season on the spot. Brutal. Just brutal.
Detroit’s Offense Isn’t Done Yet
Still, here’s what Vegas does respect: Detroit’s ceiling.
This offense woke up again, and it didn’t tiptoe back to life—it stormed in like it had something to prove. Jared Goff is coming off a 309-yard day, Amon-Ra St. Brown gutted out 92 yards on a bad ankle, and Jameson Williams is finally breaking out with back-to-back seven-catch games.
And then there’s Jahmyr Gibbs.
The rookie didn’t just score; he detonated—three touchdowns and a reminder of why Detroit drafted him to be a mismatch nightmare.
Add on a pass rush featuring Al-Quadin Muhammad’s three sacks, and the Lions look a lot more like the explosive, balanced squad we saw early in the season.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles…
Matthew Stafford is heating up at exactly the wrong time for opposing teams. The Rams’ late-season surge has been powered by veteran swagger, a revitalized offense, and home-field comfort.
Two teams fighting for NFC playoff positioning. One quarterback facing his former franchise. Another trying to prove last season wasn’t a fluke.
This is what December football should feel like.
What Vegas Is Really Saying
A 4.5-point spread for a cross-country, injury-hit road team? Vegas is basically sending a wink and saying:
“We expect a one-score game with plenty of offensive fireworks.”
Translation: Detroit isn’t being written off—just challenged.
And honestly, that feels right. This matchup has all the makings of a cold-weather classic, even if the temperature in L.A. isn’t exactly intimidating.
Circle Your Calendar
Kickoff is set for Sunday, December 14th at 4:25 PM ET.
Two teams. Two storylines. One massive playoff pivot point.
Get your snacks ready. This one’s going to move.