By Sunday 
Sunday’s matchup isn’t just another chapter of Rams vs. Lions. It’s the yearly reminder that the Stafford–Goff trade never actually ended. No matter how much Jared Goff wants reporters to stop talking about it, the league won’t let it die—and honestly, neither will the football itself.
Because the truth is simple:
Matthew Stafford keeps showing why he was the difference-maker.
And Detroit keeps showing why they still feel the ripple effects.
The Quarterback Gap: It’s Still a Thing
Quarterbacks carry a ridiculous amount of weight in this league, and the numbers say it all.
Stafford has turned the trade into “3 playoff trips, 1 Super Bowl win, and potentially a regular season MVP award.” The guy has become everything the Rams hoped for and more.
Goff, meanwhile, has improved. He’s steadier. He’s safer. But playoff Goff? That’s been Detroit’s heartbreak:
“Goff’s lack of stardom in the playoffs has ultimately let the Lions down when it matters most.”
Just look at the 17-game playoff averages:
Stafford:
- 66.5% completion
- 5093 yards
- 32 TDs
- 10 INTs
Goff:
- 61.2% completion
- 4165 yards
- 15 TDs
- 9 INTs
It’s not close. Stafford’s in a different class.
The Rams know it.
Detroit knows it.
And deep down—even if he won’t say it—Goff knows it too.
Weapons Everywhere, But the QBs Steer the Ship
Both teams are loaded in fun ways.
The Rams’ offense feels reborn. Puka Nacua just posted the highest PFF score ever for a WR. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are blowing holes through defenses with fresh legs and a mean offensive line. Even Tutu Atwell might return to sprinkle in some chaos-speed.
Detroit? Oh, Detroit is talented.
Jahmyr Gibbs is the best running back in football—and it’s not lip service. His stop-start explosion is a cheat code. Amon-Ra St. Brown is going to get his catches no matter what. And the Lions’ O-line, led by the unstoppable Penei Sewell, has been elite for three years straight.
But again… the QB decides if all of that matters.
Trenches and Chaos: Where the Game Might Actually Be Won
This game is a trench lover’s dream.
On the Rams’ side, Poona Ford, Kobie Turner, and Braden Fiske are finally forming that nasty interior pocket collapse LA envisioned. On the edges, Jared Verse and Byron Young are hunting everything that moves.
Detroit counters with Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad, who are matching LA’s pressure numbers almost exactly. Inside, they don’t have pass-rushers—but they do have pocket-collapsers whose only job is to make Stafford uncomfortable.
Whichever duo gets home more often might tilt the field.
And whichever QB handles the chaos better?
Well… we already know who thrives in chaos.
Secondary Struggles: Who Survives the Air Attack?
Neither secondary comes into this week feeling great.
Detroit’s defensive backs have been penalized more than almost anyone in the league, racking up 9 DPIs and 7 holds. They’ll cling to receivers the moment panic sets in—and Stafford is the best in football at baiting defensive backs into panic.
The Rams, meanwhile, are missing Quentin Lake, who would’ve drawn Amon-Ra. Without him, LA will have to trust younger players in a matchup that is anything but forgiving.
Coaches: Aggression vs. Smarts
Both teams love aggression on 4th down, but Sean McVay has added a new edge. He’s more daring, more unpredictable, and far more likely to trust Stafford in critical moments.
Dan Campbell is aggressive too—but without Ben Johnson, the offense doesn’t feel as sharp, as tricky, or as confident. And the Rams’ Chris Shula is already studying that Philadelphia blueprint that rattled Goff a month ago.
If Detroit falls behind early, this could get uncomfortable fast.
So… Who Wins? And What About That Trade Narrative?
The truth is, even if Detroit builds the perfect roster around Goff, the comparison won’t go away until:
- Goff wins playoff games because of him, not despite him.
- The Lions make their first-ever Super Bowl.
- Stafford retires.
Until then, the narrative lives on.
And Sunday?
Sunday is another chance for Stafford to remind everyone why the Rams “won the deal” and why he’s still “the best quarterback in the NFL and in a class by himself this year.”
If Stafford walks out with a win over his former team, the trade discourse resets for another year.
If Goff wins, Detroit finally gets to breathe.
Either way, it’s must-watch TV.