Prediction: Rams over Cardinals, 27-23
Undermanned L.A. squad should lean on running game to move chains
Author:
Jan 1, 2021
The Los Angeles Rams (9-6) look for a season sweep over the Arizona Cardinals (8-7) on Sunday. It’s always hard to beat a team twice in a year, but the Rams will be properly motivated with a postseason berth at stake for both teams.
The Rams are 5-2 playing at home in their first year at SoFi Stadium.
Making the task more difficult is the Rams will be without starting quarterback Jared Goff (broken thumb on throwing hand), leading receiver Cooper Kupp (COVID), left tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee), inside linebacker Micah Kiser (knee), running back Darrell Henderson Jr. (ankle), defensive lineman Michael Brockers (COVID) and perhaps running back Cam Akers (ankle) and edge rusher Leonard Floyd (abdominal issue).
2020 stats: 14 games | 82 rec | 1,322 rec yds | 16.1 ypc | 9 rec TD
If you haven t been paying attention to the Dirty Birds this season, you ve probably missed the emergence of one of the young superstars at the position. The 26-year-old Ridley has not surpassed a healthy Julio Jones as the Falcons No. 1 playmaker in the passing game Jones injury-riddled campaign dropped him off this top five but he
has snagged a VIP pass into the club as a five-star receiver. The third-year pro is a spectacular route runner with a dazzling array of moves that makes him nearly impossible to defend on the perimeter. Ridley is one of the few receivers in the game capable of winning with speed, quickness or wiggle in routes. He sets up defenders with a series of moves off of the same stem, frequently leaving them guessing at the breakpoint. As a big-play machine (23 receptions of at least 20 yards) with a consistent game (eight 100-yard games), Ridley deserves a spot on this list, whether you
The one coordinator on Andy Reid’s staff who gets no run whatsoever, despite having a stellar pedigree. With the Giants hiring Pats special teams coach Joe Judge a year ago, maybe someone will give a serious look at Toub, who has more experience and a deeper knowledge of the game. Dudes are all about playing for him. Got a few sniffs a few years ago, but deserving of more.
2 - Patrick Mahomes
There are numbers to back up Mahomes’ case. He leads the NFL in total passing EPA with 164.9 (and ranks second in passing EPA per dropback at 0.27), a number that bodes well for his chances, as the leader in total passing EPA has won MVP in every season since the Next Gen Stats era began in 2016. His rushing EPA is also the sixth-most among QBs (superior to Rodgers) and his rushing EPA per rush is the ninth-most among quarterbacks. As we know too well by now, Mahomes is at his best as a runner when trying to get past the sticks, gaining 21 first downs (ninth-most among quarterbacks).
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