Rams coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford discuss Week 1 in Detroit

McVay has previously said the atmosphere at Ford Field during last year’s NFC Wildcard game was the most intense he’s experienced since the 2019 NFC Championship in New Orleans, which is why he emphasized the importance of nonverbal communication and getting everyone on the same page, regardless of the impact of the atmosphere.

The Rams lost 24-23 last January to end their season, while the Lions went on to the NFC Championship. The stadium may not be as noisy as it is during the playoffs, but the season opener on Sunday Night Football is sure to draw a raucous crowd.

“It’s amazing because they’re passionate about their football team,” McVay said of the fans. “And they said some things that you better have thick skin to deal with, but I hope they don’t mean them personally.”

Jared Goff spent the first five seasons of his career in Los Angeles, leading the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance in 2019. After being traded in a package that included Stafford, Goff has blossomed in Detroit over the past three seasons. He threw for 4,575 yards, the third most of his career, and 30 touchdowns last year and threw for 277 yards and a touchdown in the first round of the playoffs.

Now he’ll face the team that drafted him first overall in 2016 in a prime-time opener for the 2024 season.

There’s been a lot of change for the Rams this offseason, so when Stafford was asked if the “vibes” have transferred, he said, “I don’t know if they have.” Half of the Rams’ 2023 captains are no longer with the team, and last year’s defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, is now the Falcons’ head coach. The team also moved its facility from Thousand Oaks to Woodland Hills.

Stafford sees this year as a fresh start, a new opportunity to build on some of his past successes and flush out the things that need improvement. He plans to build those new vibes by winning.

When Stafford steps into Ford Field without headphones on Sunday, the sights, sounds and smells will be familiar. After spending the first 12 years of his career with the Lions, this will be only the second time Stafford has stepped into their stadium as a guest. He acknowledged that each game is its own event, but this time at least he will have some level of familiarity with the opposing locker room.

Stafford said starting the season in a “hostile environment” will be a challenge, but one he is looking forward to.