Who are the announcers and referees for Rams vs. Lions tonight?

It's game day for the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions. While the two teams compete in separate NFL Divisions, it always seems to be that the two teams' destinies are intertwined. Or so that has how it appears since the two teams swapped starting quarterbacks. If ever there was a win-win scenario, the LA Rams and Detroit Lions managed to pull that off.

LA Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, formerly the long-time starter for the Detroit Lions, led the Rams to a Super Bowl LVI victory in his first year with his new team. But veteran quarterback Jared Goff, who had led the Rams to Super Bowl LIII, led the Detroit Lions all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season.

But to get there, the Lions pulled of a victory over the Rams in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs by the thinnest of margins. A 24-23 victory.

During the game, the Lions fans were relentless in booing Matthew Stafford's wife and young daughters. The experience was so bad for the children that Kelly Stafford will not attend the Week 1 game with their children this year.

But you can bet Matthew Stafford will be there, and may have extra incentive for this game.

Announcers for Rams vs. Lions

• Lead Play-by-Play Announcer: Mike Tirico
• Color Commentator: Chris Collisworth
• Sideline Reporter: Melissa Stark

The trio of Mike Tirico, Chris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark will debut on Sunday Night Football's coverage in Week 1.

If this crew seems familiar to you, it could be because this same crew called the first game of the season, a Thursday Night Football special edition between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. Tirico is a beloved play-by-play announcer who typically gets to cover the choice NFL games each week. Well, choice games may be stretching the truth. His last NFL game in the 2024 NFL Playoffs was the frigid Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs game with a wind chill factor at kickoff of negative-27 degrees. Tirico called that game without his standard crew of Chris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark. Instead, he was joined in the broadcast booth by Jason Garrett, with Kaylee Hartung handling the sideline reporting for the game.

The game will be exclusively streamed on Peacock. While Peacock requires a subscription to live stream the game, it is compatible with almost every device.

Referees for Rams vs. Lions

Head Referee: Adrian Hill

The head referee for this first Sunday Night Football game is Adrian Hill, who is entering his 6th season as a referee. He was in charge of one Rams game last season, their 43-20 regular season loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7. Hill was also the referee of one Lions game, their 42-20 over the Carolina Panthers in Week 5.

Hill brings extensive NFL experience to the game and has been a referee in some big games, including the Wild Card Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs in which the Philadelphia Eagles faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Full Officiating Crew

• Referee: Adrian Hill
• Umpire: Roy Ellison
• Down Judge: David Oliver
• Line Judge: Greg Bradley
• Field Judge: Tra Boger
• Side Judge: Clay Raynard
• Back Judge: Greg Steed
• Replay Official: Kevin Stine
• Replay Assistant: Desiree Abrams

Time & Channel for Rams vs. Lions

• Date: Sunday, September 8
• Time: 5:20 pm PT
• Location: Ford Field } Detroit, Michigan
• Channel: NBC, Peacock

This one has all the makings of a 2024 NFL classic. Two teams, that share not only a bond over their quarterbacks, but also their front offices, clash once again. Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes was a former personnel executive with the Los Angeles Rams. And it is his positive and discerning style that has turned the Detroit Lions football organization around so quickly and completely.

The Lions have Super Bowl aspirations this year.

But so do the LA Rams. And after a 5-12 season, the team's 10-7 record was nothing short of miraculous. Now, with a fresh batch of very talented rookies, and some key veteran free agent additions, this team believes that another Super Bowl victory is within their grasp.

Week 1's contest may foreshadow the NFC Championship Game. Stay tuned.

And as always, thank you for reading.