Los Angeles Rams: Three key match-ups in Week 16 against Arizona
The Los Angeles Rams are losers of two straight and are set to hit the road in Week 16 to take on the Arizona Cardinals.
The Los Angeles Rams head to Arizona to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16. Earlier this season, the Rams beat the Cardinals 34-0 in Week 2.
The Rams are coming in on a two-game losing streak after losing to the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles. With the playoffs around the corner, the Rams need to start playing better so they can enter the playoffs on a good note.
Here are the three biggest match-ups in what should be an easy Rams’ win.
Corey Littleton vs. David Johnson
David Johnson is not the receiving threat he was two years ago, where he caught 80 passes for 879 yards. Johnson still a capable playmaker, he has 46 catches for 408 yards this season.
Corey Littleton will be asked to cover Johnson in this game. He will need to cover him on screens and wheel routes and check-downs out the backfield.
Littleton will also need to be stable in the run game, in the last couple weeks he has struggled to get off blocks and go to the wrong gap in the running game. In this game that can not happen with a back like Johnson.
Nickell Robey-Coleman vs. Larry Fitzgerald
Nickell Robey-Coleman should see Larry Fitzgerald a lot on Sunday because Fitzgerald lines up mostly in the slot. Fitzgerald is the Cardinals only other offensive threat besides Johnson.
Robey-Coleman has been the Rams best corner so far this season. Josh Rosen will throw the ball to Fitzgerald a lot. Nickell Robey-Coleman and the Rams defense will need to take Fitzgerald out of the game and make Rosen throw to someone else.
Andrew Whitworth vs. Chandler Jones
Chandler Jones has 12 sacks this season and will face one of the best pass blockers in the league, Andrew Whitworth, who held Jones sackless in there game back in week two.
Since 2016, Chandler Jones has had 5.5 sacks against the Rams in six games. Over the last couple weeks, the Rams have been allowing a lot of pressure on Jared Goff, so keeping Jones off Goff is critical in this game.
The game against the Cardinals could be just what the Rams need to get back on track. Rams have not looked good the last two weeks; they need to turn that around and start playing better.
Next. Staff predictions for Rams-Cardinals. dark
Like I said with the playoffs around the corner it is time to crank up the energy and start playing some good football again. If not it could be an early exit for the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs.