The Rams started the season with impressive wins against Seattle and Arizona and were in the playoff equation a month ago. But things have fallen apart. St. Louis is mired in a five-game losing streak and coach Jeff Fisher is starting to show signs of cracking. There’s a good chance he doesn’t make the move to Los Angeles, which it looks like the Rams are already preparing for.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
St. Louis Rams -1.5
Detroit Lions +1.5
Over/Under 41.5
ODDS ANALYSIS
Early money jumped all over the Lions, who opened as a 1.5-point underdog. The line quickly dropped to a pick em. This line will likely move more in favor of the Lions, so now would be a good time to jump on it. St. Louis struggles to score leading to some play for totals bettors. The under is 7-1 in the Rams’ past eight and 9-3 on the season. The total dropped a half-point to 41 but still carries some value.
KEY INJURIES
Michael Ola – The Lions’ starting offensive tackle had to be helped off the field after sustaining a knee injury in last week’s loss to Green Bay. He’s questionable to play Sunday and could be replaced on the line by former starter LaAdrian Waddle.
Janoris Jenkins – Took a double whammy against the Cards last week. The Rams starting cornerback was hit by a teammate and had to leave to get tested for a concussion. He returned and took another hit from a teammate, leaving the contest for good the second time. His status is questionable for Sunday.
KEY MISMATCH
His nickname is “Big Play” and Darius Slay has lived up to it in recent weeks. Over the past five games, the Lions third-year cornerback has allowed just four catches for 35 yards. There were two games against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in that span, and Slay did not allow a catch. He is the fourth highest ranked cornerback in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. Slay has matured at the position, according to coach Jim Caldwell, and has all the tools that make for a great cornerback. He has the speed to stay with some of the faster receivers and is tenacious to stick with some of the bigger pass catchers in the league. More importantly, he has a short memory. Though teams are throwing away from him now, Slay knows each week presents a new set of challenges. But “Big Play” is ready and willing to accept what’s thrown his way.
KEY STAT
15.8 – St. Louis’s scoring average, which ranks next to last in the NFL. The offensively-challenged Rams managed just a field goal last week and have scored 10 points in their past two games. Detroit is 28th in the NFL giving up 26.2 points per game, but has allowed just 17.5 over the past four games.
BETTING ANGLE
Along with Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin, the Lions will have something new to worry about with the St. Louis offense. The Rams fired offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti on Monday and replaced him with assistant head coach Rob Boras. It’s unlikely that Boras will make any huge changes to the offense, in-season coordinator moves usually result in minor tweaks that often enhance a teams’ chances of winning their next game. Detroit lost its first game after firing Joe Lombardi, but the three other teams that have changed offensive play callers this season have won their next games.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Given how incompetent the Rams are it’s difficult to take them seriously. They will have a different look Sunday after firing their offensive coordinator and getting Case Keenum back under center after missing a pair of games with a concussion. With all the flack Eagles’ coach Chip Kelly has gotten over his personnel moves, he sure got the situation right on Nick Foles. Though all the problems aren’t Foles’ fault, he is the guy that takes the credit and the blame – it just goes with the territory. Detroit has looked like a different team after their bye week and should be riding a four-game winning streak, if not for the Hail Mary that likely saved the Packers season last Thursday. Losing is tough to swallow and too much of it can put coaches in the unemployment line. The Lions will bounce back from that devastating loss that all but knocked them out of the playoff picture and will take care of the Rams on the road.
Detroit 24, St. Louis 16
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