Rams’ 13 Personnel Power Meets Lions’ Base Defense Grit in a Clash of NFL Heavyweights
If you’re looking for a throwback-style slugfest with modern wrinkles, circle this one. The Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions are set to square off in a game that’s less about finesse and more about physicality - a battle of big bodies and bold schemes, where trench play and tactical discipline could decide everything.
Let’s start with the Rams, who have quietly - or maybe not so quietly - become the NFL’s most complete team this season. At 10-3, they’re sitting atop the NFC, and they’ve earned it.
They’re one of just two teams that rank top five in both points scored and points allowed per game. That’s the kind of balance championship teams are built on.
The other team in that rare company? The Seattle Seahawks - the very team the Rams edged out in Week 11 with a gritty 21-19 win. That victory might end up being the tiebreaker that decides the NFC West, but for now, it’s just one more example of how battle-tested this Rams team has become.
Stafford, Nacua, and Adams: A Dangerous Trio
Matthew Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career, and he’s doing it with a dynamic duo on the outside: rookie sensation Puka Nacua and red-zone menace Davante Adams. Nacua leads the league in receptions (93) and is second in receiving yards (1,186), while Adams has racked up 14 touchdowns - the most in the NFL - on just 56 catches. That’s efficiency and explosiveness in one package.
And while the Rams’ passing game is humming, it’s the way Sean McVay is deploying his personnel that’s turning heads across the league.
The 13 Personnel Revolution
McVay has leaned heavily into 13 personnel - that’s one running back, three tight ends, and one wide receiver - and he’s doing it more than anyone else in the league. The Rams have used this grouping on 21.36% of their offensive snaps, far ahead of the next closest team (Pittsburgh at 16.57%) and well above the league average of 5.25%.
It’s not just a gimmick, either. The Rams have generated 34.39 estimated points added (EPA) out of 13 personnel - more than double the next-best team. That’s not just good; that’s game-changing.
This personnel package has allowed McVay to dictate terms. With three tight ends on the field, most defenses are forced to counter with heavier sets - more linebackers, more down linemen - which makes them more predictable. And when you’re predictable against Sean McVay, you’re in trouble.
Even without Tyler Higbee, who’s been on injured reserve since Week 12, the Rams have kept the pressure on with Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, and Terrance Ferguson. This trio has given L.A. the flexibility to run or pass out of heavy sets, keeping defenses guessing and often guessing wrong.
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum: The Ground Game Enforcers
The Rams’ commitment to this power look has also unlocked their run game. They’re tied for eighth in the league with 4.7 yards per carry, and that’s largely thanks to the hard-charging duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. Both backs thrive in tight spaces and bring the kind of downhill running style that complements the Rams’ under-center, play-action-heavy attack.
As Lions head coach Dan Campbell put it, “A lot of this under center run gives them a chance to really lean on you a little bit.” And that’s exactly what the Rams have done - lean, grind, and eventually break defenses down.
Detroit’s Answer: Base Defense and Linebacker Excellence
But if there’s a team built to handle this kind of offensive identity, it might just be the Detroit Lions.
Detroit runs base defense - either a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment with three linebackers instead of a third corner - more than any team in the NFL. They’ve stayed in base on 60.77% of their defensive snaps, which is practically unheard of in today’s pass-happy league. That tells you everything you need to know about their philosophy: we’re going to line up, play physical, and trust our guys to win.
And they’ve got the linebackers to do it.
Jack Campbell has emerged as one of the best middle linebackers in football - a sideline-to-sideline force who’s as comfortable diagnosing plays as he is blowing them up. Alex Anzalone brings veteran leadership and coverage chops, while Derrick Barnes is a Swiss Army knife, capable of rushing the passer, stuffing the run, and dropping into coverage with equal effectiveness.
This trio gives Detroit a fighting chance to handle the Rams’ tight end-heavy looks without having to sacrifice speed or versatility.
The Brian Branch Factor
But here’s the wrinkle - and it’s a big one. Detroit just lost do-it-all safety Brian Branch to an Achilles tear. That’s a brutal blow.
Branch was the ultimate chess piece for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard - someone who could play deep, cover tight ends, or step into the box like a linebacker. His absence makes it a lot tougher for Detroit to stay in base without getting exposed in the passing game.
With Kerby Joseph also likely out, the Lions will need cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Rock Ya-Sin to step up in a big way.
They’ll be asked to hold their own against one of the most dangerous receiving duos in football - and they’ll have to do it in a scheme that leans heavily on man coverage. Detroit leads the league in man coverage rate at 43.9%, a bold approach that demands elite execution.
A Game of Strength on Strength
This one’s shaping up to be a chess match played with sledgehammers. The Rams want to get heavy and force you to match. The Lions are more than willing to oblige - but doing so without Branch changes the equation.
Still, Detroit’s linebackers give them a real shot. If they can hold up against the run and not get burned by play-action, they can keep this game close. And if their corners can win some one-on-ones on the outside, they might just have a shot to pull off the upset.
But it won’t be easy. The Rams are firing on all cylinders.
They’re physical, creative, and confident. And they’re not just winning - they’re imposing their will.
As Campbell put it, “Very good team, playing at a very high level. So, we’ve got to play better.
We’ve got to play better to beat this team that we're getting ready to face. And we will.
We can do that.”
We’ll see. But one thing’s for sure - this is a heavyweight fight. And it’s going to be won at the line of scrimmage.