NFL
By George Lopez
The Los Angeles Rams are on the road this week as they travel back east to take on the New York Jets. The Rams are looking to make it 4 straight wins and their 8th win in their last 10 games following their 12-6 victory over NFC West rival San Francisco. The Jets will look to make it 2 straight wins following their 35-25 victory over Jacksonville. The Rams control their playoff destiny, and the Jets will look to play spoiler for the Rams playoff chances.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford had a pedestrian game against the 49ers, completing 16-27 passes for 160 yards and 0 touchdowns. Stafford hit key completions at the end the of the game that allowed offensive drives to continue. Though the Niners defense held him to 16 completions, Stafford stayed within the offense and did not force passes and took care of the football, not throwing an interception.
Puka Nacua led the Rams receivers with 7 receptions for 97 yards. No other receiver had more than 2 receptions for the Rams. Coming out of the game, the biggest surprise was the fact WR Cooper Kupp was held without a reception. Kupp was only targeted 3 times in the game, which is a credit to the job the 49ers secondary did in taking away Kupp as an option for Stafford in the Rams passing attack. Kupp was instrumental in other aspects of the Rams offensive attack, making key blocks in the Rams running game. The attention he received from the Niners secondary opened passing lanes for other Ram receivers in key situations during the game. In the game against the Jets, Stafford will need to make sure he doesn’t attempt to force things to Kupp to make sure he’s involved in the passing attack. The Rams have received to some good news as TE Tyler Higbee is expected to make his 2024 debut this week. Having Higbee back gives Stafford another trusted weapon in their passing game.
Kyren Williams led the Rams running attack with 108 tough yards on 29 carries. In the past few games, Head Coach Sean McVay has made a more concerted effort to use his running game. It continued against San Francisco, with 38 rushing attempts. Puka Nacua has gotten involved in the Rams running game via the jet sweep in the past couple of games. Look for McVay to continue to use the jet sweep with Nacua. Look for Kupp to be used in the jet sweep. Blake Corum had seen his production in the Rams in recent weeks. Against the Niners, Corum to 3 rushing attempts. Against the Jets, look for Corum to have more touches for the Rams.
The story of the Rams victory against San Francisco was the play of their defense. The defense kept the Niners out of the endzone and held them to 6 points. The pass rush was able to put pressure on Brock Purdy and sacked him 3 times, including a sack on the final play of the game to seal the victory. The Rams defense held the Niners to less than 200 yards of total offense and will look to put up a similar performance against the Jets offense.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has found his stride in the last 2 games, passing for combined 628 yards and 4 touchdowns with 0 interceptions. Rodgers has been sacked 4 times in the last 2 games. The Rams pass rush will look to bring pressure. Though not as mobile as he was earlier in his career, Rodgers still has the ability to move around the pocket to extend plays. The Rams edge rushers, led by Jared Verse and Byron Young will need to make sure they maintain outside containment to prevent Rodgers from escaping to the outside.
Davante Adams had his finest game as a Jet in the game against Jacksonville with 9 receptions for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns. Adams will be a focus in Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s scheme to slow down the Jets passing attack. The secondary cannot sleep on WR Garrett Wilson, who has 84 receptions for 933 yards on the season. With Adams acclimated to the Jets passing attack, Rodgers has a potent 1-2 punch in the passing game with Adams and Wilson. Look for the Rams to begin the game in nickel coverage.
Rodgers led the Jets with 45 rushing yards against Jacksonville, showing his ability to still be able to run with the opportunity presents itself. Breece Hall will be expected to get the bulk of the carries for the Jets. On the season, Hall has rushed for 722 yards with 5 touchdowns. The Rams defense will look to put solid hits on Hall, as arm tackles will not bring him down. The interior defensive line will look to close up the inside running lanes and the defensive pursuit led by the linebackers and safeties will look to force the Jets runners to the inside and prevent them from bouncing to the outside.
Since their 1-4 start, the Rams have gone 7-2 and have put the chances of winning the NFC West in their hands. The Rams will look to continue the run they are on as the Jets will look to play spoiler. Look for the Rams to go to Williams and company and establish their running game. With an established running game, the Rams will go their play-action passing game which should find the over routes and deep in-cuts open for their receivers. Look for the Rams to make 4 straight wins in this matchup.
