Lions Film Study: Rams’ game-sealing touchdown gives Detroit a glimpse at what’s to come in the final weeks of the season
The Lions saw a lot of multi-tight end sets against the Rams and it’s a preview of what’s to come over the last two weeks of the season.
It’s cliche, but the NFL is a copycat league and the Detroit Lions got a taste of what’s to come during Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams were able to pull away in the fourth quarter thanks to a personnel package the Lions hadn’t seen much at all until Week 15: 13 personnel, or the use of three tight ends. Rams tight end Colby Parkinson was the main beneficiary of the play thanks to a creative and well-timed call from Sean McVay and it proved to be the final nail in Detroit’s coffin.
A to Z NFL’s Kyle Crabbs joined me to help break down exactly what happened on Parkinson’s 11-yard touchdown catch that sealed the deal and kept the Rams atop the NFC for another week.
Rams use heavy personnel to deceive Lions in the final minutes
Kyle: The Lions defense is the latest team to get a sampling of why Sean McVay’s latest offensive vision is a nightmare to stop. Up a touchdown in the final five minutes, the Rams aligned in the mid-red zone in 13 personnel, with one back and three tight ends on the field. Los Angeles had success on the ground all day, so the presentation of another supersized formation rightfully had the Lions keying on stopping the run.
Detroit tried to play personnel, playing a 6-2 front with four down linemen and four linebackers on the field — only for the Rams to play action an outside zone run to the formational strength before booting QB Matthew Stafford back to his right. Stafford had two options available to him on the play, TE Colby Parkinson and WR Jordan Whittington. CB Amik Robertson, who aligned over Whittington on the perimeter at the snap, found himself in an unenviable situation: he was put in a high-low conflict by both players, as Parkinson sold a backside block well before releasing into the flat.
The rest of Detroit’s front flowed heavy with the run action and McVay, Stafford, and company had successfully found what they wanted. LB Derrick Barnes did, in vain, try to chase down Parkinson from underneath as Robertson sunk with Whittington to take away the throw going into the end zone. By the time Stafford got the ball down to Parkinson, the angles proved too much and the Rams seized a two score lead late.
Lions will see a lot of multi-tight end sets against the Bears and Steelers
Mike: This is not a look the Lions have seen a bunch of in 2025, but coming into the game, we knew this would be the first time they were tested with the three tight end sets. It worked on this play for the Rams, but it didn’t work all night. So the Lions at least have some ideas on how to stop it. Going up against the Steelers on Sunday with Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Darnell Washington, you know they’ll plan to have these looks.
Watching the tape on this touchdown and a few other plays can give the Lions and example of what they need to do to stop it. The good news is that they don’t have to worry about Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, and Puk Nacua taking so much attention away and the Steelers offenisve line is not as good as the Rams. The Bears, on the other hand, do have a solid offenisve line. So get your knowledge of how you’re going to stop this attack up against the Steeler before a potential do or die game agaisnt the Bears.
On a side note, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Lions have a heavy inventment at the tight end position this offseason so they can start running similar looks. It seems like something right up Dan Campbell’s alley.
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