NFL
By: George Lopez
The Los Angeles Rams travel to Maryland to take on the Baltimore Ravens. Both teams are looking to rebound and get back into the win column. The Rams are coming off a disappointing 26-23 overtime loss to their rival, San Francisco. The Ravens are coming off a shocking 44-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans that dropped their record to a surprising 1-4 this season.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 389 yards and 3 touchdowns against San Francisco while completing 30-47 passes. On the season, Stafford has thrown 11 touchdowns while taking care of the football, having thrown only 2 interceptions. Stafford continues not to force the ball into coverage and takes what the pass coverage gives him. The Rams’ offensive line did a better job at pass protection, allowing only 1 sack against the Niners’ pass rush. Look for the Ravens to test the Rams’ pass protection to try to put pressure on Stafford and get him out of his comfort zone.
Puca Nucua and Davante Adams give the Rams one of the top 1-2 WR duos in the NFL. Nucua is off to an All-Pro start to the season, with 52 receptions for 588 yards. Nucua can be used multiple ways in head coach Sean McVay’s offense, which makes it difficult for opposing defenses. Adams complements Nucua with 22 receptions for 357 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Rams got away from their balanced offensive attack against San Francisco, with only 16 rushing attempts compared to 47 pass attempts. RB Kyren Williams led the way with 65 rushing yards on 14 carries. Williams did have a costly fumble near the goal line as he was about to go in for the go-ahead score late in the game. Look for McVay to have more emphasis on the running game, with Williams to have at least 20 carries. RB Blake Corum was a non-factor in the running game, with only one carry. Look for Corum to be more involved in the running game this week to spell Williams.
In their loss to Tennessee, quarterback Lamar Jackson did not play due to a hamstring injury. Jackson did not participate in practice on Wednesday, and his availability for Sunday is uncertain. If Jackson is not able to play, expect Cooper Rush to play quarterback for the Ravens. In the loss to Tennessee, Rush passed for 179 yards while completing 14-20 passes. Turnovers were an issue as Rush threw 3 interceptions. The Ravens will look to test a Rams secondary that allowed 333 passing yards to a Niners team that did not have its two starting receivers and played their backup quarterback. If Jackson can play, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula will look to devise a pass rush scheme that will keep Jackson in the pocket. The Rams are well aware of Jackson’s ability to use his legs to extend plays. The edge rushers will need to be disciplined with their outside containment and not provide an avenue of escape for Jackson.
Ravens running back Derrick Henry is off to a slow start, having rushed for 317 yards this season. The Ravens will look to establish their running game and get Henry going early in the game. The Rams’ run defense has held their opponents to 94 rushing yards per game this season. Defensive tackle Poona Ford was signed in the offseason to be an interior run stopper. Ford and the rest of the Rams’ defensive line will look to get off their blocks to close up the inside running lanes. Rams linebacker Omar Speights is not expected to play as he deals with a high ankle sprain. If Speights is not able to play, look for Troy Reeder and Shaun Dolac to play in his place. Dolac, Reeder, and Nate Landman will be key in helping to stop Henry from running to the inside. The Rams’ edge defenders will look to take away the outside running ability of the Ravens’ running backs and force them back to the inside.
The Ravens are looking to turn around the slow start to their season in what is a must-win game. The Rams are coming into this game as a team with a chip on their shoulder and looking to move past the sting of losing to their bitter rivals. Look for the Rams to get back to the balanced offensive attack they started and keep the Ravens defense honest. In the end, look for the Rams to come away with the victory and drop the Ravens’ record to 1-5.
