Sports
Rams roundtable: Is shootout with Lions a bad idea for L.A. in wild-card game?
The Rams clinched the No. 6 seed with a win over the San Francisco 49ers and an NFC wild-card matchup at the No. 3 Detroit Lions. That also pits the Rams’ Matthew Stafford against the Lions’ Jared Goff, both quarterbacks playing against their former teams. Los Angeles Times Rams beat writer Gary Klein, NFL columnist Sam Farmer and columnist Dylan Hernández discuss what lies ahead:
What would you consider the No. 1 priority in game-planning against the Detroit Lions’ high-powered and versatile offense?
Hernández: The Rams sent Jared Goff to Detroit for a reason, and they have to force him to make the kinds of throws they didn’t think he could make. That starts with shutting down the Lions’ running game.
Klein: The Rams do know all of Jared Goff’s strengths and weaknesses. You can be sure that defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is going to attempt to bring immense pressure. In 2021, Goff and the Lions did a pretty good job offsetting the rush with effective screen passes. The Lions sustained a loss on Sunday when rookie tight end Sam LaPorta suffered a knee injury that could sideline him against the Rams.
Farmer: The Rams certainly need to put the clamps on Detroit’s running game and contain Jahmyr Gibbs, because that’s what sets up the Lions’ play-action passing attack. Dan Campbell wants to run that ball down your throat. Selling out to stop the run can leave opponents one-on-one with receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and that’s a huge challenge. As Gary mentioned, that injury to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta really hurts the Lions.
Even on the road, is Matthew Stafford and his receiver corps a better group than Jared Goff and his corps? How do they differ?
Hernández: Dan Campbell pulled a Brandon Staley, and now the Lions are without their record-setting rookie tight end in Sam LaPorta. The advantage here has to go to Stafford, who is the better quarterback with the better weapons.
Klein: Amon Ra-St. Brown is terrific and the Rams know all about Josh Reynolds but, yeah, if LaPorta can’t play the Lions’ passing game takes a hit. Regardless, the Rams feature playoff-tested Cooper Kupp, record-setting Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson along with tight end Tyler Higbee. The Rams have the edge.
Farmer: Rams receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are what longtime quarterback Jim Everett likes to call “sporks.” They’re both spoons and forks who can be used in all different ways — short, medium and long routes, jet sweeps as well as blocking. The Lions don’t ask quite as much from their receivers. As for Goff, he’s more of a see-it, throw-it quarterback, whereas the exceptional Stafford is more of a manipulator, moving defenses with his eyes.
The Rams need to know where the Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson (97) lines up on every play. The defensive end is disruptive against the run and pass and had 11.5 sacks this season.
(Rick Osentoski / Associated Press)
What will be the Rams’ key to attack the Lions’ defense, which has a scary front?
Hernández: This is where the game has the potential to get ugly for the Rams. They can’t let Stafford get too beat up. Establishing Kyren Williams early would be a massive help.
Klein: The Rams will no doubt attempt to establish the rushing attack with Kyren Williams, who has been a key to the offense and has rushed for more than 100 yards six times this season. That would enable Stafford to effectively run play-action.
Farmer: The Rams need to treat Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson the way opponents treat Aaron Donald; they need to know where Hutchinson is at all times. Detroit linebackers are super active, so that’s a problem too. That’s where Rams running back Kyren Williams doesn’t get enough credit. He’s an excellent runner, yes, but also an outstanding pass blocker. But if there’s a primary key, it’s neutralizing Hutchinson.
One Detroit newspaper already predicted both teams would score 30-something points in this NFC wild-card game. Do you see that happening?
Klein: Not necessarily. It’s the playoffs. Defenses should be better.
Farmer: Certainly could happen. The Lions have scored at least 30 points in six of their last nine games, winning all of those high-scoring affairs. The Rams had a run late in the season when they scored 37, 36, 31, 28 and 30. These teams can make the scoreboard look like a slot machine. Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris definitely doesn’t want that; he wants another chance to be a head coach.
Hernández: Agree, it’s certainly possible. The most critical points for the Rams might be the ones that are most taken for granted. After they let go of kicker Lucas Havrisik, they turned back to Brett Maher in their regular-season finale, and Maher promptly missed an extra point.
Do you think the Rams would fare best against the Lions in a shootout or what kind of game?
Klein: The Rams want the ball in Matthew Stafford’s hands as much as possible. Given his experience and his record for engineering comebacks, the Rams would do well in a shootout. But the Rams would fare best if Kyren Williams is running the ball effectively and McVay is creating play-action opportunities for Stafford.
Sports
Olympic medalist suffers serious injuries after ‘death-defying’ skateboarding stunt
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An Olympic medalist and 13-time X Games winner suffered serious head injuries after a stunt went wrong.
Nyjah Huston, who won bronze in Paris in 2024, said he suffered a fractured skull and eye socket.
“A harsh reminder how death-defying skating massive rails can be…” Huston wrote in an Instagram post which included a photo of himself in a hospital bed. “Taking it one day at a time. I hope yall had a better new years then me. We live to fight another day.”
Nyjah Huston of the United States competes in the men’s street prelims during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at La Concorde 3. (Jack Gruber/USA TODAY Sports)
The post also featured Huston being treated by first responders and friends, along with another photo showing a large black-and-blue mark on Huston’s eye.
Numerous skating legends showed their support for Huston, who is considered one of the best skateboarders in the United States today.
Nyjah Huston of Team USA reacts at the Skateboarding Men’s Street Prelims on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Urban Sports Park on July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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“Been watching @nyjah grow up into one of the best skaters to ever do it and it amazes me the amount of grit this kid has,” Shaun White shared on his Instagram story, via Pro Football Network. “You got this brother. Heal quick!”
Even Tony Hawk shared well-wishes on Huston’s Instagram post.
“Heavy. Stay strong; we know you’ll be back,” the skateboarding legend wrote.
“Man.. prayers for healing brother!” added Ryan Sheckler.
It is unknown whether Huston was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
Nyjah Huston, of the United States, celebrates during the men’s skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Huston has seven gold medals and five silvers in world championships. He has not competed since the 2024 Olympics, but the California native has his eyes set on the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
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Sports
Prep talk: JuJu Watkins returns to Sierra Canyon on Friday
JuJu Watkins is returning to Sierra Canyon High on Friday, the place where she was a high school basketball All-American.
The school will hold a ceremony retiring her jersey at halftime of the boys’ basketball game between Sierra Canyon and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
She will be presented with a framed jersey.
Watkins is sitting out this season at USC while recovering from a knee injury.
Sierra Canyon girls’ basketball coach Alicia Komaki said, “She raised our standards, which was hard to do because we had won four state championships. She was an incredibly talented player.”
Watkins was also making a huge impact in the college game until her injury last season during the NCAA playoffs.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sports
Miami beats Ole Miss behind Carson Beck’s game-winning touchdown to reach CFP National Championship Game
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The Miami Hurricanes are heading to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, coming away with a narrow victory over Ole Miss, 31-27, in an all-time postseason contest.
The Hurricanes will now await the winner of the other semifinal between the Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks to see who they will play on Jan. 19. But Miami will do so on their home turf, with the National Championship Game being played at Hard Rock Stadium – the site of their home games.
The game began slowly for both teams, with only Miami getting on the scoreboard in the first quarter with a field goal on their 13-play opening drive. But the fireworks came out from there for the Rebels thanks to the speed of running back Kewan Lacy.
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Charmar Brown of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes celebrates a run in the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos)
On just the second play of the second quarter, Lacy was off to the race, finding a seam and busting out a 73-yard touchdown run to go up 7-3 after the extra point.
But this game was back and forth for quite some time, including the ensuing Hurricanes drive as quarterback Carson Beck led the way on a 15-play touchdown series with a CharMar Brown rushing score from four yards out.
The game was deadlocked at 10 apiece when Beck decided to air it out to Keelan Marion, and it was worth the risk. Marion made the grab for a 52-yard touchdown to help Miami go up 17-13 at halftime.
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The third quarter was an odd one for both squads, as their opening drives resulted in a missed field goal apiece. Then, after Beck threw an interception, the Rebels were able to cut the lead to 17-16 in favor of the Hurricanes heading into the fourth quarter for the ages.
There was no absence of electric plays when it mattered most in the final 15 minutes, as Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss got his team downfield enough to take a 19-17 lead with a field goal.
But the speed of Malachi Toney changed the scoreboard for Miami in the best way possible, as he took a screen 36 yards to the house, capping a four-play, 75-yard answer drive for the Hurricanes right after Ole Miss took the lead.
Trinidad Chambliss of the Ole Miss Rebels celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
With a 24-19 lead and five minutes left to play in the game, Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense had quite enough time to retake the lead. He did just that, finding trusty tight end Dae’Quan Wright for 24 yards to send the Rebels faithful ballistic.
Ole Miss wanted to go for two in hopes of making it a three-point lead, and Chambliss came through again, finding a wide open Caleb Odom for the key score.
It was up to Beck and the Miami offense to keep the game alive with at least tying the game at 27 apiece. On a crucial third-and-10 just inside field goal range, Beck was confident with his pass to Marion to get well within range. Another pass to Marion made it first-and-goal, and it was clear Miami wasn’t trying to force overtime. They wanted to win it all.
How fitting was it that Beck, scanning the field, found a seam to his left and just sprinted for the colored paint to score the game-winner with 18 seconds left.
But things got fascinating at the end, with Ole Miss going 40 yards in just a few seconds to set up a Hail Mary for the win. Chambliss had the space to loft a pass to the end zone, and though it hit off the hand of a teammate, it landed incomplete for the Miami victory.
Carson Beck of the Miami Hurricanes passes the ball against the Ole Miss Rebels in the first quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
In the box score, Beck was 23-of-37 for 268 yards with his two passing touchdowns and an interception. Marion was a key player in the victory with seven catches for 114 yards, while Mark Fletcher Jr. set the tone in the ground game with 133 yards rushing on 22 carries. Toney also tallied 81 receiving yards for Miami.
For Ole Miss, Chambliss also went 23-of-37 for 277 yards with his touchdown to Wright, who finished with 64 yards on three grabs. De’Zhaun Stribling was five for 77 through the air, while Lacy rushed for 103 yards on 11 carries.
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