The matchup
NFC West
(2-2 in preseason, 2-14 in 2011)
at
NFC North
Detroit Lions
(2-2 in preseason, 12-1 in 2011)
Fast facts: 1 p.m. today, Ford Field.
TV: Fox (Ch. 2 in Detroit).
Line: Lions by 7 1/2.
Scouting the Rams
Key additions
OLB Jo-Lonn Dunbar, CB Cortland Finnegan, OLB Mario Haggan, DE William Hayes, DT Kendall Langford, DT Trevor Laws, OT Barry Richardson, WR Steve Smith, C Scott Wells, DT Michael Brockers, WR Brian Quick, CB Janoris Jenkins, RB Isaiah Pead.
Key losses
DT Justin Bannan, G Jacob Bell, C Jason Brown, K Josh Brown, OLB Chris Chamberlain, DE James Hall, P Donnie Jones, CB Justin King, WR Brandon Lloyd, OLB Brady Poppinga, RB Cadillac Williams.
Three story lines for the Rams
A new leader: After spending more than 16 seasons as head coach of the Titans, Jeff Fisher takes over coaching duties in St. Louis. The Titans reached the postseason six times under Fisher. Although Fisher also had five 8-8 seasons, it's hard to believe many Rams fans would be disappointed if the franchise went .500, something the Rams haven't done since 2006.
Wait, how many rookies? Despite matching the Indianapolis Colts for the worst record last season, the Rams didn't draft until No. 14. That's because St. Louis was on a mission to acquire picks. The Rams traded back with Washington and with Dallas, also acquiring future picks. The Rams wanted to make changes and they've succeeded. Their current 53-man roster includes 17 rookies.
Big money corner: Of the 17 rookies, five of them play in the defensive backfield. Their leader wasn't a member of the Rams last year. CB Cortland Finnegan, who played with Fisher in Tennessee, signed a five-year, $50-million deal. Entering his seventh season, Finnegan's best years came in 2008 and 2009.
Last meeting
The Lions earned their first victory of 2010 and snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 44-6 win over the visiting Rams in Week 5. Shaun Hill led the Lions with touchdown passes to Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew and Nate Burleson. The 38-point spread was the Lions' largest in 15 years.
Overview
There's really nowhere to go but up from here. St. Louis has won just 15 games over the last five seasons. If Bradford can thrive under new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Fisher can duplicate the defensive success he had during those playoff seasons in Tennessee, then the Rams could improve greatly. San Francisco is still the class of the NFC West, but St. Louis might be able to compete with Arizona and Seattle for second place.
Join Free Press special writer Nick Meyer Sunday afternoon for alive blog of the Lions-Rams opener. And make your NFL picks here.
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