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The Los Angeles Rams are headed to Tremendous Bowl LVI — and hoping to change into simply the second one staff in historical past to win a Tremendous Bowl in their very own stadium after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed that feat final yr.
To get there, the Rams needed to rack up a lot of wins all over the common season and knock out postseason combatants in each segment of the playoffs, together with the reigning champion Bucs. The Rams will now take at the Cincinnati Bengals on Feb. 13, with LA heading into the sport as 4-point favorites in keeping with DraftKings Sportsbook.
That will help you get in a position for the large recreation on Sunday — and to be informed all you wish to have to grasp in regards to the Rams — we grew to become to the mavens at our staff communities to determine what they discovered when the groups they quilt performed LA this season.
Week 1: Rams 34, Bears 14
The Chicago Bears spread out the 2021 season in Los Angeles in opposition to the Rams on primetime, and the sport went about how maximum analysts predicted it will. The Rams gained 34-14 and it wasn’t even that shut. Matthew Stafford’s are compatible into Sean McVay’s offense was once glaring straight away and I knew after Week 1 that the Rams had been going to be an issue and a sound Tremendous Bowl contender. The Bears had no solution for LA’s offense and Cooper Kupp had his method all evening as he post seven catches, 108 yards, and a landing. Their operating recreation that evening featured Darell Henderson, however McVay can scheme up luck for any of his tailbacks. Week 1 was once additionally lengthy ahead of Odell Beckham Jr. landed at the staff, so I will be able to’t even believe how out of hand that recreation can have gotten!
The Bears held Aaron Donald to only 3 tackles and he was once sackless till the general mins of the sport, however his presence helped Justin Hollins select up two sacks. The LA protection additionally picked off Bears’ quarterback Andy Dalton, however additionally they allowed the primary speeding landing of Justin Fields’ profession.
In a unusual scheduling quirk, the Bears confronted the Rams in Week 1. Then in Week 2 they squared off in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals, and even if the ones two video games had been so early within the NFL season, you had a way of the possible each the ones groups had. Alternatively, I believe the Rams are the extra whole staff, and I see them successful a detailed one. – Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Windy Town Gridiron
Week 2: Rams 27, Colts 24
When the Los Angeles Rams added Matthew Stafford to the roster in unfastened company, Indianapolis Colts fanatics took understand. If the rest, fanatics in Indy have been hopeful that Stafford could be centered by way of Chris Ballard as successor to Philip Rivers. Although Ballard inquired, Indianapolis merely didn’t have the sources to provide what the Rams did. Consequently, Colts fanatics had been bracing for a troublesome recreation when the Rams got here to the town in Week 2 — and maximum anticipated an early loss to a Rams staff that boasts a ton of defensive skill, and one of the vital highest receiving teams within the NFL.
To Colts fanatics’ wonder, Indianapolis gave the Rams all they sought after with Carson Wentz beneath middle after an abbreviated offseason. The sport got here all the way down to a large play … and Cooper Kupp. The Colts’ secondary had no solution for Kupp and Wentz threw a select on a shovel move on the Rams’ 3-yard-line, disposing of a would-be rating.
Regardless of. This Rams staff is official. Stafford is without doubt one of the higher quarterbacks within the NFL, even if he struggled to turn that during Detroit with the Lions. Defensive names like Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey stand out as hassle for any opponent. The Rams’ receiving guns now come with Van Jefferson and Odell Beckham Jr., to move along side perhaps the inner most backfield within the NFL. If Sean McVay had a stud at tight finish, he may well be unstoppable.
Once in a while he’s anyway. – Brett Mock, Stampede Blue
Week 3: Rams 34, Buccaneers 24
The LA Rams are simply the second one staff in NFL historical past to play a Tremendous Bowl of their house stadium. Just like the Buccaneers final yr, they’re hoping to win of their house stadium. After gazing this staff move up in opposition to the Bucs two times this yr, there’s no query that may occur.
The addition of Matthew Stafford is the catalyst. He was once the type of quarterback Sean McVay had to take his offense to the following stage along with his deep shot accuracy, propensity to get the ball into the fingers of his playmakers when going through a blitz, and talent to transport round within the pocket or make performs along with his legs. This has additionally been a season wherein Cooper Kupp has emerged as one of the vital highest receivers within the league and a participant that understands what he’s up in opposition to in any given scenario. In brief, there’s no play wherein Kupp doesn’t have the higher hand.
Defensively, the Rams are a power not like many others within the league. Aaron Donald is searching for a championship to move along side a certain fireplace gold jacket, whilst Von Miller is taking a look so as to add to his jewellery assortment. With the intelligence and ball hawking skills of Jalen Ramsey, the Rams have issues coated from entrance to again to the perimeters.
However they aren’t invincible.
The important thing to beating the Rams is to generate force on Stafford with the entrance 4. Very similar to what the Bucs had been in a position to do with Patrick Mahomes in Tremendous Bowl LV, shedding 8 guys again can put the Bengals in an tremendous place to power Stafford into errors — one thing he nonetheless tends to do every now and then. With Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard, the Bengals have the skill to just do that and no longer go away their questionable secondary on an island in opposition to Kupp or Odell Beckham Jr. – James Yarcho, Bucs Country
Week 4: Cardinals 37, Rams 20
For the Los Angeles Rams, Tremendous Bowl LVI is the end result of in point of fact hanging all their playing cards at the desk. They noticed the issues of their staff and added Matthew Stafford, they noticed key items move down and added Sony Michel and Odell Beckham Jr.
The Rams had been constructed to win a Tremendous Bowl within the subsequent two seasons. They now have that chance and the dynamic offense and competitive protection to look it come to fruition. With Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Beckham and the go back of Cam Akers, the Rams offense is without doubt one of the maximum tough to shield within the league. They be capable to win with large performs or methodical, time-consuming drives. You may have so that you can capitalize at the errors they do make, as a result of they make so few and if you happen to give them further probabilities, they gained’t pass over them.
The Rams’ greatest energy remains to be their protection, regardless that. Jalen Ramsey may have the risk to hide Ja’Marr Chase and lend a hand prevent the Joe Burrow passing assault. Whilst you mix that protection with Aaron Donald, Von Miller and the Rams’ move rush, this Rams staff is hard to overcome.
What the Rams have achieved is create a staff with few flaws. They’ve an excellent offense, a really perfect protection and a distinct groups unit that generally wins the kicking combat. Marry that to their younger and leading edge training team of workers and you’ve got the most productive staff within the league. They’ll be difficult for the Bengals to overcome. – Seth Cox, Revenge of the Birds
Week 5: Rams 26, Seahawks 17
The Seattle Seahawks had been swept by way of the Los Angeles Rams, first by way of a rating of 26-17 in October after which 20-10 on a Tuesday evening in December after LA’s COVID-19 outbreak postponed the sport. Each matchups had been shut overdue within the fourth quarter however within the first one Russell Wilson suffered a finger damage in the second one part. Geno Smith attempted to steer the comeback, however was once picked off with two mins left. Wilson may just’ve led a comeback down in Inglewood if no longer for a horrendous non-call on a 4th down move interference.
Matthew Stafford threw for 361 yards in Seattle, with a lot of the wear and tear coming in the second one part. Within the rematch, he threw for 244 yards — with 136 of them going to Cooper Kupp — who additionally bagged two touchdowns. Odell Beckham Jr. was once held to only one catch for seven yards. Seattle’s move rush didn’t generate a lot warmth in opposition to Stafford within the first matchup, however he was once sacked 4 occasions within the rematch.
The protection performed smartly for essentially the most section over the 2 conferences; it was once the offense, which has traditionally struggled in opposition to the Rams protection, that did them in. Seattle’s speeding assault has been one in every of their highest guns in opposition to the Rams’ protection on higher days, nevertheless it was once slightly existent in those video games. Whilst the offensive line was once unusually no longer horrible in move blocking off, they in the long run allowed Aaron Donald to get his standard sacks.
This sounds cliche, however if you happen to’re gonna beat the Rams it’s important to win within the trenches. The 49ers and Titans confirmed the blueprint within the common season. Cincinnati has the entrance 4 (in point of fact simply Trey Hendrickson) to hassle the Rams’ OL, however can the Bengals’ much-criticized offensive line successfully neutralize Donald, Von Miller, and Leonard Floyd? That’s Challenge Inconceivable. – Mookie Alexander, Box Gulls
Week 6: Rams 38, Giants 11
Truthfully, the largest factor New York Giants’ fanatics discovered from the 38-11 beatdown the Giants suffered by the hands of the LA Rams in Week 6 on Oct. 17 was once simply how a ways the Giants needed to move with a view to be a just right staff.
This loss got here one week after the Giants had been routed by way of department competitors, the Dallas Cowboys, with a last rating of 44-20. So, the message was once beautiful transparent at that time that the Giants weren’t just right sufficient to compete with the easier groups within the league.
The Giants had been with out Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay, and misplaced Kadarius Toney after the primary sequence, however they had been obviously overmatched. Matthew Stafford threw 4 landing passes that day and made it transparent those weren’t the Jared Goff Rams any more. No less than Odell Beckham Jr. hadn’t proven up at the scene for LA but. – Ed Valentine, Giant Blue View
Week 7: Rams 28, Lions 19
The week after the Detroit Lions had been punched within the mouth by way of the Cincinnati Bengals for his or her 6th loss in as many weeks, they needed to head out west for a matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, and plenty of had been questioning how Dan Campbell’s staff would reply after this type of decisive loss.
I’m wondering how a lot it prices to haul a kitchen sink on a cross-country flight …
The Lions threw the entirety they might on the Rams. Detroit, main 7-0 after the sport’s opening power, stunned Los Angeles with an onside kick to in an instant regain ownership. And when the Lions confronted a fourth-and-7 close to midfield on that resulting ownership, punter Jack Fox threw for a primary down on a faux punt. The Lions would see their 10-point lead become a one-point deficit, trailing the Rams 17-16 at halftime, however Campbell and Co. had extra up their sleeves. At the Lions’ first ownership in the second one part, going through every other fourth-and-8, Fox threw for every other first down, this time from Detroit’s aspect of the sector.
Detroit would battle till the tip, managing to stick within the recreation till the general mins of the fourth quarter ahead of Jared Goff threw two expensive interceptions, however they went down throwing the entirety they might at Los Angeles–and Sean McVay and the Rams had been stuck off guard all recreation lengthy.
We’ve noticed groups get tough at the recreation’s greatest degree ahead of, possibly essentially the most memorable one being Sean Payton’s New Orleans Saints popping out of halftime, down 10-6, with an onside kick to take again ownership in Tremendous Bowl XLIV. If the Bengals in finding the fitting time to roll the cube with some trickeration of their very own, they might catch the Rams dozing because the Lions did again in Week 7. – Ryan Mathews, Delight of Detroit
Week 8: Rams 38, Texans 22
Until you’re keen on the Rams or Texans, there’s little probability you observed those two groups play each and every different at NRG Stadium on Halloween. Chances are you’ll, on the other hand, be accustomed to what took place if you happen to had been lucky sufficient to have Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, or Darrell Henderson for your delusion squad, as all 3 of the ones gents had monster video games in Houston. The Rams had been up 38-0 at the admittedly massively inferior Texans on the finish of 3 quarters; whilst the general rating mirrored just a 16-point loss, I will be able to guarantee you the sport was once under no circumstances that shut at any level. It was once, reasonably merely, a hospital.
So what did we be told from that one-sided affair? That the Rams are a whole staff, in a position to hanging up a flurry of issues whilst concurrently pitching a shutout. That they had some missteps all over the 2021 season to make certain, however there have been only a few rosters that might boast as a lot excessive finish skill because the Rams do. If Stafford isn’t turning the ball over (and he didn’t in opposition to the Texans), Sean McVay’s squad may be very, very difficult to overcome.
The Bengals perform on a far upper aircraft than the woeful Texans do, and it sort of feels not going Joe Burrow will in finding himself down 38 issues like Davis Generators did. However the Rams are an explosive staff, higher supplied to pile at the issues than most likely every other staff within the NFL. The ratings can are available in waves, and that’s difficult to come back again from, particularly when going through a protection that includes Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.
The Bengals need to power turnovers and get after Stafford. Get him off his recreation, and most likely he’ll do what he can to stay Cincinnati shut. – Tim McHale, Struggle Pink Weblog
Week 9: Titans 28, Rams 16
The Tennessee Titans traveled to Los Angeles to play the Rams on Sunday Night time Soccer the week once they misplaced Derrick Henry to a damaged foot. Everybody on the earth was once announcing the Titans season was once over. There have been some that even prompt the Titans will have to relaxation their starters for the Rams recreation since the Titans had no probability at successful. It gave the look of in that recreation the Rams would possibly have felt the similar method.
The Titans gained the Week 9 recreation at the energy in their protection. They sacked Matthew Stafford 5 occasions in that recreation. That was once the important thing to retaining that vaunted Rams’ offense off time table. This is one of the simplest ways to move about beating the Rams – make Matthew Stafford uncomfortable.
They had been additionally in a position to restrict the large performs to Cooper Kupp. In that recreation, Kupp did catch 11 passes however he simplest had 95 yards. It was once evident their plan was once to stay him from beating them excessive. It without a doubt is more straightforward to do this when the defensive entrance is getting after Stafford. The Titans’ offense was once no longer in a position to do a lot in opposition to the Rams’ protection. Whilst the Titans scored 28 issues, maximum of that was once arrange by way of the protection getting a turnover or preventing the Rams on fourth down. The Tennessee offense simplest had one lengthy power that ended in issues.
If the Rams are going to win this recreation, they will have to present Stafford time to push the ball down the sector. – Jimmy Morris, Tune Town Miracles
Week 10: Niners 31, Rams 10
Nobody has noticed extra of the Rams this season than the San Francisco 49ers, who swept two common season video games in opposition to LA ahead of falling within the NFC Championship. The Rams’ offense beneath Sean McVay has at all times been elite when his quarterbacks get a blank pocket, however has folded when opposing defenses generate force with their front-four. The Niners line of defense has at all times been an enormous energy, and it has led Rams quarterbacks to be in particular turnover susceptible in opposition to them.
McVay took a web page out of Shanahan’s playbook within the NFC Championship recreation. The Rams ran the ball down the Niners’ throats and regulated time of ownership. The 49ers had been not able to shutdown LA’s speeding offense and their move rushers had been gassed within the fourth quarter, when Stafford led a Rams comeback.
Defensively, the Rams have at all times had just right defenses constructed round a couple of nice gamers. Shanahan is a grasp at keeping apart a protection’s weakest hyperlink, and has normally succeeded doing that in opposition to Los Angeles. Surprisingly, the Niners didn’t take what the protection gave them within the NFC Championship, and their offense paid the cost. The Rams had been 14-3 this yr in opposition to everybody with the exception of the 49ers, who had the original mixture of skill and training flair to capitalize on Los Angeles’ few weaknesses. The Bengals lack the intensity (and almost certainly training acumen) of San Francisco, however additionally they have Joe Burrow at quarterback as an alternative of Jimmy Garoppolo. I be expecting the Rams to take a look at and regulate time of ownership early like they did within the NFC Championship recreation. In the event that they do, it will have to be so much more straightforward to stay Stafford in a blank pocket. If that’s the case, it is going to take a phenomenal efficiency from Burrow to stop McVay and the Rams from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. – Marc Delucchi, Niners Country
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: Packers 36, Rams 28
Two weeks ahead of the Los Angeles Rams and Inexperienced Bay Packers performed at Lambeau Box, Rams receiver Robert Woods tore his ACL in apply, finishing his season. At the identical day, the staff had made the verdict to signal Odell Beckham Jr., who was once additionally bearing in mind signing with the Packers on the time. Within the Rams’ first recreation with OBJ, Los Angeles misplaced 31-10 to the San Francisco 49ers with quarterback Matthew Stafford, then within the MVP dialog, throwing 41 passes for 243 yards, two interceptions and a QBR of 37.2 as just about part of the offense’s passing manufacturing ran via would-be First-Staff All-Professional Cooper Kupp.
The most important query that the Rams had to reply to at that time within the season was once what the offense would appear to be when groups started to concentrate on Kupp, when it comes to protection consideration. In opposition to the Packers, they had been in a position to reply to the ones questions, in spite of shedding by way of 8 issues.
The rapid Van Jefferson was once in a position to haul in a 79-yard bomb over number one slotback Chandon Sullivan whilst Beckham made his first vital contribution with the Rams, a 81-yard receiving mark that ended up being the excessive of his common season.
In overall, the Rams had been in a position to publish 302 passing yards in opposition to the Packers and had been in a position to sign in greater than 200 yards by way of non-Kupp gamers, a stark distinction to what they gave the impression of post-Woods in opposition to the 49ers the week ahead of. From that time on, the Rams gained 5 in their six last common season video games, by no means scoring fewer than 20 issues, because the Stafford-led offense persevered to roll with out Woods.
The ethical of the tale? For those who focal point an excessive amount of on Kupp, the Rams had different high-flying goals who may just gash you for giant performs. – Justis Mosqueda, Acme Packing Corporate
Week 13: Rams 37, Jaguars 7
It’s exhausting to glean an excessive amount of in regards to the Rams from gazing them play the Jacksonville Jaguars, because the Jaguars had been down 10 issues within the first quarter after simplest two offensive performs from Jacksonville. The Rams marched proper down the sector for a box objective, the Jaguars grew to become it over and the Rams scored and that was once just about the ball recreation.
Joking apart on the other hand, the Rams appear to be one of the whole groups within the NFL and that was once on complete show in opposition to the lowly Jaguars. The Rams had been obviously the significantly better staff around the board on paper, and prefer maximum smartly coached groups, they did precisely what they will have to have achieved at the box, which was once to fully dominate the opposite aspect.
The Rams’ protection suffocated the Jaguars’ offense and the addition of Matthew Stafford to the Rams offense in point of fact opened it up, including a lot wanted deep passing to a Rams offense that now become multi-dimensional. – Alfie Crow, Giant Cat Nation
Week 14: Rams 30, Cardinals 23
Week 15: Rams 20, Seahawks 10
Week 16: Rams 30, Vikings 23
The most important factor that the Minnesota Vikings and their fanatics discovered once they misplaced to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16 is that the Rams will provide you with alternatives, however you completely wish to money in on them. The Vikings controlled to power Matthew Stafford into 3 interceptions in that contest at U.S. Financial institution Stadium, with two of the ones interceptions environment them up throughout the Rams’ pink zone. Sadly, they just transformed the ones 3 interceptions into 10 issues, which was once beautiful large bearing in mind that the Vikings simplest misplaced by way of seven issues. The Vikings had noticed Stafford a lot of occasions all over his time with the Detroit Lions and knew that he was once at risk of turning the soccer over, and even if Stafford has been enjoying smartly this postseason, he’s nonetheless going to have a few throws a recreation {that a} protection can benefit from and become interceptions. Whilst you get the ones turnovers, you completely will have to take merit and switch them into issues, since the Rams are too just right on all sides of the soccer to squander the ones varieties of alternatives.
Additionally, don’t omit the Rams’ particular groups, as a result of they had been the variation of their victory over Minnesota. Johnny Hekker and Matt Homosexual have each been superb, and Brandon Powell returned a punt for a landing in that contest. When two groups which are as regards to equivalent are matched up, particular groups could make an amazing distinction, and the Rams virtually without a doubt should be some of the league’s highest in that division. – Christopher Gates, Day-to-day Norseman
Week 17: Rams 20, Ravens 19
When Baltimore hosted LA in Week 17, I noticed from the Rams a staff that in spite of their flaws, can persevere at the shoulders in their stars.
Whilst different groups got here into Baltimore and boasted robust resumes, I don’t assume many had been as involved in regards to the Rams. They had been suffering a bit of and Matthew Stafford had proven some indicators of being rattled. Additionally, touring from Los Angeles to Baltimore could be a difficult highway commute. Stafford threw a select six early (and would later be strip-sacked) and it felt just like the beaten-down Ravens had a possibility. That’s when the celebrities shined.
Rams protection Jordan Fuller intercepted a move with 1:42 last within the part after the Ravens had been up 10-0. Stafford answered, hitting large receiver Cooper Kupp for an 18-yard landing. Aaron Donald close down a fourth quarter redzone try with a 3rd down sack. Stafford would connect to Kupp once more to get the Rams into the redzone ahead of Sony Michel would stroll within the landing. Stafford additionally discovered large receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for a seven-yard rating. After which, when the Ravens had the risk to power down and make it a ball recreation, veteran move rusher Von Miller closed the door with an eight-yard sack with 19 seconds left and no timeouts.
The Ravens had been enjoying with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley, and prefer I mentioned, the Rams seemed wrong, however their stars shined brightest once they had to and that’s what they’ve been just right for all season. The Rams have mortgaged their long term for this chance. Buying and selling away first-round choices and kicking the cap can down the street. In sacrificing for that, they’ve constructed a squad of stars who can vault them right into a Tremendous Bowl championship. – Kyle Barber, Baltimore Beatdown
Week 18: Niners 27, Rams 24
Wildcard Spherical: Rams 34, Cardinals 11
Divisional Spherical: Rams 30, Buccaneers 27
NFC Championship: Rams 20, Niners 17
Consult with Turf Display Occasions for the entirety you wish to have to find out about Tremendous Bowl LVI.
