The Los Angeles Rams eliminated the Chicago Bears in a closely fought NFC divisional round game. LA finished on top 20-17.
The effort required contributions from outside the usual suspects, and the Pro Football Focus (PFF) game grades and data support this. Let’s dive in.
Top five grades on offense
1 – Kevin Dotson, RG: 91.3
In his first game back from injury Dotson allowed only a single pressure in pass protection. He was by far LA’s highest graded player in run blocking at 93.5. The next closest was WR Konata Mumpfield at 77.0.
Dotson proved important in his first game back and gave the Rams a much needed boost on the ground.
2 – Tyler Higbee, TE: 79.2
Higbee played only eight snaps. He ran routes on every play and was not asked to stay in to block, interestingly enough. The veteran was targeted one time and converted into a 27-yard reception.
3 – Alaric Jackson, LT: 71.9
Jackson ranked second on the team in pass protection (77.5) to LG Steve Avila (81.6). Jackson fared better in the run game and thus finished better overall. Still, outside of Dotson and Coleman Shelton, there wasn’t much to like from the starting five in terms of run blocking.
4 – Kyren Williams, RB: 70.5
Kyren Williams gained 87 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. 54 of these yards came after contact and Williams forced three missed tackles. He earned two carries of over ten yards. As a receiver he added four receptions on five targets for 30 yards. It was one of the most productive receiving games that we’ve seen from Williams in a while, and the Rams’ passing production was mostly limited to the short game.
One complaint: Williams earned a pass blocking grade of just 48.0 compared to Blake Corum at 65.8. This could explain why Corum played on the final offensive possession in overtime over Williams.
5 – Puka Nacua, WR: 69.6
This was far from Nacua’s most productive game. He caught just five of 10 targets for 56 yards after only converting 10 of 16 opportunities a week ago. Defenses know that the Rams offense runs through Nacua and they are seemingly doing everything they can to take LA’s weapon away.
Other notes on offense
Matthew Stafford finished with the Rams’ lowest grade on offense at 42.2. He fumbled twice and earned a grade in this facet of 24.5. Stafford tossed the same number of big-time throws and turnover-worthy plays at three, meaning he was fortunate to finish the game without a turnover. The veteran finished with an adjusted completion rate of just 52.6%. Rams receivers were not credited with any dropped passes.
Top five grades on defense
1 – Kamren Curl, DB: 91.7
Curl was active as a pass rusher on two blitzes. He earned one pressure. The safety was active around the line of scrimmage and finished with 10 total tackles and only a single miss.
His coverage production was the most impressive. Curl allowed only three catches on five targets for 17 yards with an interception and a PBU. The interception stopped Chicago’s momentum in overtime and setup the Rams’ game-winning field goal by Harrison Mevis.
2 – Kamren Kinchens, DB: 90.4
LA’s other safety was also active. Kinchens finished with six tackles and did not miss an attempt. His coverage was also stellar with a grade of 87.9 (second to Curl) and allowed two receptions on four targets for 10 yards with a PBU.
3 – Omar Speights, MLB: 90.1
Maybe the highest impact defensive performance on the night belongs to second-year linebacker Omar Speights. Speights was active in coverage (third on defense) with two PBU’s. Caleb Williams made an amazing throw to score their first touchdown to DJ Moore. Speights was inches away from an interception or breakup.
Speights also could have caught a pick-six with Chicago on the goal line on fourth down, but the linebacker collided with Nate Landman.
4 – Desjuan Johnson, EDGE: 77.9
These were the EDGE snap counts for the game:
- Jared Verse: 61
- Byron Young: 35
- Josaiah Stewart: 45
- Desjuan Johnson: 20
- Nick Hampton: 10
It’s interesting that the Rams put Stewart, a rookie, on the field more often than Young. LA deployed a high number of five-men fronts to slow the Bears’ running game. Maybe the Rams felt Stewart is better in run defense.
Johnson excels in run defense and earned the highest grade for the Rams on Sunday night (82.2). Stewart was fourth at 73.8.
5 – Tyler Davis, DT: 77.2
Davis ranked just behind Stewart for fifth on the defense in run stopping at 73.2. He even surpassed Poona Ford in this facet. Ford leads the Rams most games.
Davis played 30 snaps with 21 coming against the run. That’s a man who knows his role.
Other notes on defense
Jared Verse finished with a grade of just 33.2. His best mark came as a pass rusher at 56.7 and five total pressures (led the defense and tied with Kobie Turner). Verse missed six tackles (!) which was good for two-thirds of his attempts. PFF gave him a tackling grade of 23.2. His run defense grade was also poor at 44.4 as he broke contain on multiple outside runs and scrambles.
