4 Rams players to watch vs. Packers on Sunday

[theramswire.usatoday.com] 4 Rams players to watch vs. Packers on Sunday


Skyler Carlin
November 27, 2021 5:59 am PT
We have a pivotal NFC showdown in Week 12 on tap with the Los Angeles Rams hitting the road to take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Rams are coming off of their bye week following two straight dismal losses in prime-time games versus the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers.

With the Rams losing two consecutive games, they are now 7-3, positioning themselves as the current No. 5 seed in the NFC. One of the teams that are above them in the standings is Green Bay, who are coming off a narrow loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11.


The Rams are going to have their work cut out for them as they have the projected toughest schedule remaining among the NFC teams. Ahead of what could be a crucial game in the NFC playoff picture, here are four players to keep tabs on in Sunday’s anticipated contest between Los Angeles and Green Bay.

1
Matthew Stafford

(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

It has been a rough go of things in the last two games for Matthew Stafford and the offense. The Rams have combined to score only 26 points against the Titans and the 49ers, while Stafford has thrown just two touchdowns to four interceptions.

Whenever your quarterback is turning the ball over and spotting the opponent’s easy points, it’s tough to win games in the NFL. However, even though some people are starting to sour on Stafford in Los Angeles, this is a perfect week for him to bounce back.

Besides having a bye week to make adjustments, Stafford gets to face a familiar foe in the Packers, a team he faced twice a season when he was with the Detroit Lions. Also, Green Bay’s defense just allowed 341 passing yards and three touchdowns to Kirk Cousins.

These are the type of weeks where you would love to see your franchise quarterback step up and win a game that could have lasting effects on the rest of the season. Even in what is expected to be frigid weather, it should be a fun game to watch with Stafford and Aaron Rodgers dueling at quarterback.


2
Odell Beckham Jr.

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Odell Beckham Jr. made his debut for the Rams in Week 10 against the 49ers, logging only 15 snaps in a limited role. The three-time Pro Bowler did catch two passes for 18 yards on three targets in the blowout loss.

After getting a week to get him acclimated to the offense, Sean McVay iterated this week that Beckham should be heavily involved against the Packers this Sunday. With Robert Woods sidelined for the rest of the season for the Rams, Beckham could carve out a marquee role moving forward.

Injuries and other factors have caused Beckham’s production to dip in recent seasons. While he isn’t the same dynamic player he was with the New York Giants earlier in his career, Beckham could still excel alongside Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson at the wide receiver position.

This game could go plenty of different ways, with one of the outcomes being a shootout between the Rams and the Packers. If Los Angeles finds themselves in a position where they need to outscore Rodgers and Green Bay, then Beckham could very well be targeted by Stafford often on Sunday.


3
Von Miller

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The other recent notable addition for the Rams is Von Miller. After sitting out the matchup against the Titans in Week 9, Miller also made his debut in Week 10 against the 49ers, recording three combined tackles and a tackle for loss.

Whenever Los Angeles acquired Miller via trade from the Denver Broncos, they did so with the idea that he’d be a lethal pass-rushing partner alongside Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd. Seeing that the Packers are going to be sans David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins on their offensive line, this is a perfect week for the pass-rushing unit of the Rams to flourish.

Miller is another player that should see an uptick in snaps coming out of the bye week. And if the Rams can force the Packers to drop back often with Rodgers, then there’s a decent chance we see Miller pick up his first sack as a member of the organization on Sunday.


4
Jalen Ramsey

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Much has been made about the usage of Jalen Ramsey this season. Ramsey hasn’t been shadowing the opposing team’s No. 1 wideouts thus far, which was largely the case last season as well.

Some people believe fixing the defense of the Rams is as simple as having Ramsey follow the best pass-catching weapon from each team. On the contrary, it’s a bit more convoluted than that, as you could create an entirely different article on that topic.

Long story short, Los Angeles doesn’t have the personnel they had just a season ago on the backend of their defense. It also doesn’t help that Darious Williams and the other members of the secondary haven’t been consistent throughout the season.

With all of that being said, given the fact that Green Bay’s offense largely revolves around Davante Adams, it will be interesting to see if Ramsey is lined up across from the All-Pro wideout more often than not. At the very least, I expect we see tons of Ramsey matched up with Adams when/if the Packers get into the red zone.