There’s no denying the Los Angeles Rams have a roster chock-full of talent. From an explosive offense to a swarming defense, they are one of the most well-rounded teams, and they’ve got playmakers at each level.
But the game of football is often decided by matchups. It’s not just about one side’s talents, but the specific players they’ll be up against. In a lot of ways, football is the culmination of 11 one-on-ones happening at the same time. So for the Detroit Lions, almost everyone will have their hands full when they face off against the Rams on Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday, we discussed which Lions players will be key to victory. Today, let’s talk about the other sideline. Our Question of the Day is:
Which Rams player poses the biggest threat to a Lions win?
My answer: I’m just going to skip over Matthew Stafford, because that’s the obvious answer. We’re talking about the leading MVP candidate right now, so that discussion is not all that interesting.
Digging a little deeper, I’m going to go with nose tackle Poona Ford.
If I’m the Lions, a major part of the game plan will be to get the running game going on offense. A successful running game would allow the Lions to stay in desirable down-and-distances, keep the Rams’ pass rush honest, and allow the Lions to build a successful play-action attack off the run. Most importantly, it will keep Stafford on the sideline and limit possessions for each team, keeping the score low and close.
But Ford is one of the best nose tackles in the game, especially against the run. He sports an 87.0 PFF run defense grade, ranking second among defensive tackles this year. His 22 run stops are tied for fifth, and his 13.8 run stop percentage is third. He’s helped the Rams produce one of the best run defenses in football, ranking third in DVOA, third in rush EPA, and sixth in success rate.
Against the Lions’ interior offensive line—which has continued to struggle with the roster shakeups this year—it’s a tough matchup for Detroit. But the Lions have faced some tough defensive lines in the past few weeks and performed better than expected. If they can continue that on Sunday against the Rams, not only will it give them a chance to win, but it’ll provide some serious optimism for Detroit’s playoff run.
Which Rams player are you most worried about? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!
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