The Detroit Lions will begin their 2024 campaign at home against the Los Angeles Rams, a game that has no shortage of revenge angles going into it.
Not only is Matthew Stafford returning to Ford Field for the second time as a member of a different team after being traded in 2021, the guy who was involved in the trade, Jared Goff, will also be squaring off against his former mates.
But the revenge game angle doesn't stop there. Former Lions starting guard, Jonah Jackson, will be facing Detroit for the first time, and the Lions were also responsible for knocking Los Angeles out of the playoffs last season.
Despite the game still being three-plus months away, experts from different media outlets have already begun making their picks. Here's a roundup of some of them:
Lions vs. Rams Week 1 picks
Bill Speros, Bookies.com: Lions
Buzz: Jared Goff hit Powerball this offseason as he and the Lions agreed to a 4-year $212 million contract extension, with $170 million guaranteed. Say what you will about Goff, but it wasn't his fault the Lions didn't kick that field goal against San Francisco in the NFC championship game. This game is a sneaky good playoff rematch from last season. The Lions have the best record on the line of any NFL team over the past three seasons at 37-17 ATS. That's whopping 68.5%. No reason to stop now.
Jeff Risdon, Lions Wire: Lions
Sunday Night Football in Ford Field. It’s a rematch of the Lions’ first postseason victory in over 30 years just a few short months ago.
Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire: Lions
Matthew Stafford would love nothing more than to get revenge on the Lions after losing in his return to Detroit this past January. He and the Rams will be back in Detroit for this matchup with the Lions and it’s sure to be another shootout between two high-powered offenses. The Lions are the complete package in the NFC, while the Rams are close to being a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but it’ll be Detroit winning this one at home against Stafford and the Rams again.
Jordan Dajani, CBS Sports: Lions (27-24)
Mike Moraitis, Sporting News: Lions
