D.J. Reed has not been playing well since his return from a hamstring injury.

The Detroit Lions rushed for less than 100 times for the fifth time this season. And, go figure, they are now 0-5 in those games as their season reaches a critical point.

Through Week 15, the Lions are out of the playoffs. They sit eighth in the NFC, one spot out of the final wild card position. The Lions are 8-6. The three wild cards are held by the 11-3 Seahawks, 10-4 49ers and 9-4-1 Packers. ESPN gives the Lions a 34% chance of making the playoffs.

If Detroit Lions win the next 2 weeks, they could face a win-and-in playoff scenario in Week 18 season finale against Ben Johnson and Chicago Bears.

The Detroit Lions have not won back-to-back games since October, but they likely need to win three straight to make the playoffs.

Quarterbacks were key. Stafford found Parkinson for two touchdowns, including the score that put the Rams up for good late in the third quarter. At the same time, Jared Goff kept Detroit alive with several big throws, hitting Amon-Ra St. Brown repeatedly and finding Jameson Williams for a deep TD before halftime.

The Detroit Lions know what it takes to compete with the best in the loaded NFC after a 41-34 loss to the conference-leading Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The Lions (8-6) haven’t made the postseason in three consecutive campaigns since 1993-95,

The Detroit Lions finished game against LA Rams without their top 3 safeties and 2 of their top 3 cornerbacks, after Amik Robertson's hand injury.