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Many thought the Los Angeles Rams would be in a rebuilding year in 2023. They defied expectations. Led by Matthew Stafford, the offense overperformed thanks to big performances from running back Kyren Williams and rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua. On defense, while they had many undrafted free agents, Aaron Donald is still a force in the middle. Here is the Los Angeles Rams playoff preview.
Los Angeles Rams Playoff Preview
The Rams are the sixth seed in the NFC thanks to their week 18 victory. They head to Detroit to take on the Lions in a matchup that features Stafford returning and Jared Goff taking on his old team. Offensively, the Rams have an elite quarterback, a top running back, as well as two elite receivers. This means that they are never out of a game as the offense can score points quickly. Defensively, they are young but head coach Sean McVay has coached them well. Any wild card team that has this kind of talent can be very dangerous, especially considering the championship pedigree still on the roster.
Los Angeles Rams Playoff Preview: Why They Will Win
The biggest threat in the NFC is the San Francisco 49ers. Sean McVay knows that team like the back of his hand. Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald have been here before and know what it takes to win a championship. Any wild card team is playing with house money meaning there is no pressure to win. This makes a team like the Rams very dangerous considering the talent they have. If Stafford can have a run like he had during their Super Bowl year, the Rams will be a tough out.
Los Angeles Rams Playoff Preview: Why They Won’t Win
There are a couple of things that will be roadblocks for Los Angeles. The first is their youth. The veterans can only carry a team so far. If the young players crack under the pressure of big games, Stafford will have to do too much to will the team to victory. The second is the special teams play. Field goal kicking has been an issue all season which could come back to bite the team. A lot of playoff games come down to needing a field goal to tie or win. If the Rams cannot trust their kicker, it could spell doom for their Super Bowl chances.
Playoff X-Factor
Los Angeles Rams playoff preview X-factor: The cornerbacks
I’m cheating and putting three players in here. Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, and Ahkello Witherspoon will have their hands full in all three rounds. They have to stop Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in round one. After that, it is most likely Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. After that, it could be CeeDee Lamb, Mike Evans, or AJ Brown. There are so many quality receivers in the NFC and the Rams’ relatively unknown corners will have to shut them down.
Check Out More Playoff Previews On The Forkball!
If you were to have told me that I would be writing a Los Angeles Rams playoff preview at the beginning of the season, I would have told you that you were crazy. I, and many others, underestimated the still elite play of Stafford. Nacua also came out of nowhere as a fifth-round rookie. This team is really fun to watch and if teams try and overlook them, they could get upset.
