Back To Back NFC West Champs
By Colin Dixon December 3rd, 2018
Picture Via @RamsNFL Twitter
On Sunday, December 2nd, the Los Angeles Rams clinched their second NFC West Division Title in the last two years by defeating the Detroit Lions in their 12th game of the year.
So far the Rams are 11-1 and have won three games in a row since their only loss to the New Orleans Saints. Right now the Rams are sitting in the 1st spot in the NFC Playoff Standings and if they win out for the rest of the season they will clinch home field advantage throughout the whole entire playoffs.
Their next four games are against the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, and the San Francisco 49ers. If the Rams can beat the Bears this upcoming Sunday they will clinch a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs.
The Rams have been riding one of the most high powered offenses the NFL has ever seen, with the second most yards per game and the second most points per game in the league.
Quarterback Jared Goff is 4th in the league in passing yards with 3,754 yards so far this year. Goff who is only in his third year in the league is proving to be one of this years MVP candidates and if he keeps playing well he could win the award. Goff as well has 27 passing touchdowns this year which is 6th in the league so far.
As well, at running back Todd Gurley is an MVP candidate with the league lead in touchdowns (19) and the league lead in rushing yards (1175). Gurley has carried a decent load for this offense but his versatility as a runner and a pass catcher has been why he leads the league in touchdowns. Gurley has scored a touchdown in every game except one game so far this year.
With a dominant offense comes a magnificent wide receiver corps highlighted by Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, and would be Cooper Kupp but he is out for the remainder of the season because of injury. Kupp leads the Rams receivers in touchdowns this year but on this team, it is Wide Receiver by committee and although they do not have one of the main targets they have not skipped a beat.
Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks are both in the top 14 in the league in receiving yards. Cooks has 1,026 so far and this is his third season in a row with 1,000 yards, while Robert Woods has 971 and hopes to reach 1,000 yards for his first time in his career. Aside from the Chiefs the Rams are the only team who has two receivers in the top 14 in yards this year.
With one of the most powerful offenses, the Rams defense who was supposed to be just as dominant has not necessarily lived up to the hype that surrounded them this offseason. They have the 20th ranked defense in the league so far. Their secondary has been exposed all year and their defensive line has been run all over all year. But when it matters the defense has made key stops and has kept every team besides the Saints from beating them.
Aaron Donald who as well could have his name in the MVP consideration this year leads the league in forced fumbles (4), and sacks (16.5). With 16.5 sacks that are already a career high and he looks to win back to back Defensive Player of The Year. Donald has made such an impact on the pass rush for the Rams since he is double teamed a majority of the time and that opens up lanes for his fellow defensive lineman to get to the quarterback.
Donald is not alone on the defensive line, he is joined by fellow 1st round pick Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh, and Dante Fowler and these four have dominated offensive lines when it comes to rushing the quarterback. This defensive line has been exposed by various rushing attacks since their main focus under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, is to rush the quarterback first and stop the run second.
With four games to go the Rams will look to go into the playoffs on a roll and keep the offense flying high and try to keep opponents offense at a minimum. The defense has the capability to shut down any offense in the league when they are healthy and they are finally back to full health with Aqib Talib back from ankle surgery.
Speaking of injuries the Rams running back's are all nursing injuries besides Todd Gurley. Gurley carried all of the load on Sunday against the Lions after Malcolm Brown exited with a shoulder injury. It will be interesting to see how coach Sean McVay will handle having one healthy running back in the future and see how he uses Gurley in the offense as a 3 down back every series. Hopefully, for the Rams, one of their backup running backs will be healthy for the Bears game this coming Sunday but if not the playoffs.
With the NFC locked up the Rams will look to lock up a first-round bye with a victory over the Bears this Sunday. If they fail to beat the Bears, the Rams will have to win one more game or have the Bears lose one more game to lock up the first round bye. If the Rams win out which is very likely given they have one of the easiest remaining schedules they could clinch home-field advantage all playoffs.
With four games remaining it will be interesting to see if and when the Rams clinch the 1 or 2 seed in the NFC and when they start to lessen the load off of Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, and company.
On Sunday, December 2nd, the Los Angeles Rams clinched their second NFC West Division Title in the last two years by defeating the Detroit Lions in their 12th game of the year.
So far the Rams are 11-1 and have won three games in a row since their only loss to the New Orleans Saints. Right now the Rams are sitting in the 1st spot in the NFC Playoff Standings and if they win out for the rest of the season they will clinch home field advantage throughout the whole entire playoffs.
Their next four games are against the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, and the San Francisco 49ers. If the Rams can beat the Bears this upcoming Sunday they will clinch a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs.
The Rams have been riding one of the most high powered offenses the NFL has ever seen, with the second most yards per game and the second most points per game in the league.
Quarterback Jared Goff is 4th in the league in passing yards with 3,754 yards so far this year. Goff who is only in his third year in the league is proving to be one of this years MVP candidates and if he keeps playing well he could win the award. Goff as well has 27 passing touchdowns this year which is 6th in the league so far.
As well, at running back Todd Gurley is an MVP candidate with the league lead in touchdowns (19) and the league lead in rushing yards (1175). Gurley has carried a decent load for this offense but his versatility as a runner and a pass catcher has been why he leads the league in touchdowns. Gurley has scored a touchdown in every game except one game so far this year.
With a dominant offense comes a magnificent wide receiver corps highlighted by Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, and would be Cooper Kupp but he is out for the remainder of the season because of injury. Kupp leads the Rams receivers in touchdowns this year but on this team, it is Wide Receiver by committee and although they do not have one of the main targets they have not skipped a beat.
Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks are both in the top 14 in the league in receiving yards. Cooks has 1,026 so far and this is his third season in a row with 1,000 yards, while Robert Woods has 971 and hopes to reach 1,000 yards for his first time in his career. Aside from the Chiefs the Rams are the only team who has two receivers in the top 14 in yards this year.
With one of the most powerful offenses, the Rams defense who was supposed to be just as dominant has not necessarily lived up to the hype that surrounded them this offseason. They have the 20th ranked defense in the league so far. Their secondary has been exposed all year and their defensive line has been run all over all year. But when it matters the defense has made key stops and has kept every team besides the Saints from beating them.
Aaron Donald who as well could have his name in the MVP consideration this year leads the league in forced fumbles (4), and sacks (16.5). With 16.5 sacks that are already a career high and he looks to win back to back Defensive Player of The Year. Donald has made such an impact on the pass rush for the Rams since he is double teamed a majority of the time and that opens up lanes for his fellow defensive lineman to get to the quarterback.
Donald is not alone on the defensive line, he is joined by fellow 1st round pick Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh, and Dante Fowler and these four have dominated offensive lines when it comes to rushing the quarterback. This defensive line has been exposed by various rushing attacks since their main focus under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, is to rush the quarterback first and stop the run second.
With four games to go the Rams will look to go into the playoffs on a roll and keep the offense flying high and try to keep opponents offense at a minimum. The defense has the capability to shut down any offense in the league when they are healthy and they are finally back to full health with Aqib Talib back from ankle surgery.
Speaking of injuries the Rams running back's are all nursing injuries besides Todd Gurley. Gurley carried all of the load on Sunday against the Lions after Malcolm Brown exited with a shoulder injury. It will be interesting to see how coach Sean McVay will handle having one healthy running back in the future and see how he uses Gurley in the offense as a 3 down back every series. Hopefully, for the Rams, one of their backup running backs will be healthy for the Bears game this coming Sunday but if not the playoffs.
With the NFC locked up the Rams will look to lock up a first-round bye with a victory over the Bears this Sunday. If they fail to beat the Bears, the Rams will have to win one more game or have the Bears lose one more game to lock up the first round bye. If the Rams win out which is very likely given they have one of the easiest remaining schedules they could clinch home-field advantage all playoffs.
With four games remaining it will be interesting to see if and when the Rams clinch the 1 or 2 seed in the NFC and when they start to lessen the load off of Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, and company.
