3 bold predictions for the LA Rams in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season

The Los Angeles Rams will face off against the Detroit Lions to open up the 2024 NFL Season. Let's make three bold predictions for the game. Arguably the toughest game of the season for the Rams, they travel to Detroit to face the Lions to open up the new season.

As we all know, Week 1 can be misleading, as some of the best teams in the NFL often find themselves in an 0-1 hole. The Rams should be seen as one of the best teams in the NFL heading into the 2024 season, and them starting 0-1 should not change that.

Let's dive into three bold predictions for their Week 1 game.

3 bold predictions for the LA Rams in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season

It's Week 1 and the first Sunday Night Football game of the 2024 NFL season. That is cause enough to go extra bold on these soothsaying predictions.

Matthew Stafford throws 4 touchdown passes

The Detroit Lions again re-made their secondary this offseason. The defensive backend has been a sore spot for the Lions, and if we're being honest, their defense has just not played all that well in the Dan Campbell era.

Lions General Manager Brad Holmes added all of Carlton Davis, Terrion Arnold, and Ennis Rakestraw, so the unit has a lot of new faces. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has to be on his last chance in the 2024 NFL Season. On paper, the Lions defense seems quite good, but Matthew Stafford is a top-15 QB all-time and knows what to expect when he walks into a hostile environment.

The newness of Detroit's secondary is going to allow Stafford and the Rams offense to have a field day, and it'll end with the veteran QB throwing four touchdown passes.

Puka Nacua leads Week 1 in receiving yards

There may be only three wide receivers in the NFL heading into the 2024 NFL Season who can truly hit the 2,000-yard mark. It's never been done before, but the two highest receiving seasons in NFL history had Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Well, year two of Puka Nacua could bring an even bigger season.

With the Lions secondary being a bit shaky as I just outlined, I see Nacua having himself quite the easy time getting open. The game is also in Detroit, so it'll be played in perfect conditions. Matthew Stafford quickly developed a strong chemistry with his receiver in the 2023 NFL Season, and with Cooper Kupp now healthy, the Rams may have a ton of success throwing the football this year.

Rams again cannot beat the Lions in Detroit

The Los Angeles Rams were not able to beat the Lions in Detroit during the 2023 NFC Wild Card Round. Heading into the 2024 NFL Season, I see the Rams as being right on par with the Lions at this point, but LA playing in this hostile Detroit environment will be enough for them to fall just short.

The Lions foundation is a bit more established than the Rams, but just because I believe the Lions win this game does not mean the Rams won't be better. In fact, with how much better each team got this offseason, I would not be shocked to see LA and Detroit meeting in the NFC Championship Game this season.

The Matthew Stafford/Jared Goff rivalry may just be starting, folks.