New York Giants - Los Angeles Rams Matchups to Watch
The New York Giants will face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17, aiming to lower the Rams' playoff chances.
This battle has several talented players matched against one another, making for some great entertainment. Still, these two particular matchups are among the key ones that could influence Sunday's outcome.
When the Giants Have the Ball
The New York Quarterback Exchange wasn't expected last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, but it raised a lot of questions about who will get the starting job against the Rams.
Before Tyrod Taylor went to the IR and Tommy DeVito took his place, the 34-year-old was receiving a lot of recognition as potentially the best quarterback in New York, including Daniel Jones.
The NFL world forgot about this once the "Tommy Cutlets" era began and when it abruptly ended against the New Orleans Saints. Then, after DeVito's benching at halftime against Philadelphia, Taylor led the Giants to within one-possession in the second half.
Taylor's efforts helped him earn the starting job over DeVito against the Rams this Sunday. His numbers weren't great against Philadelphia, but his ability to move the ball downfield is a trait he's accomplished more often than Jones and DeVito this season.
Running back Saquon Barkley, wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, and tight end Darren Waller, three of Taylor's biggest targets, were all on the injury report but fully practiced on Thursday. Taylor will need each of these players healthy, as he'll have to get rid of the ball quickly downfield due to the Giants' battered offensive line and the Rams' quick pass rush.
The Rams' pass rush is led by all-time-great defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who has 21 quarterback hits, 14 tackles for loss, and six sacks. These numbers aren't as spectacular as the 32-year-old's past seasons, but they're certainly respectable, considering the amount of times he's doubled each game.
But as previously stated, the Giants offensive line is one that Donald could easily go a couple of years back in time and run through, as they've allowed at least 14 more sacks than any other team this season. Not only will Taylor have to get rid of the ball before Donald reaches him, but the passing method won't work through check-downs.
Rams linebacker Ernest Jones' 132 tackles are by far the most for Los Angeles, and he is one shy of Donald's tackles for loss numbers for the team lead. If Taylor throws it within a couple of yards around the line of scrimmage, the ball won't advance far if Jones is nearby.
The Rams' defense has been relatively subpar in the secondary, meaning Taylor will have to target those areas if the Giants have any shot at winning. If he doesn't, Los Angeles' chances of clinching the playoffs on Sunday will skyrocket.
When the Rams Have the Ball
Many didn't predict the Rams' post-2021 Super Bowl downfall, so the NFL community generally placed the Rams toward the bottom of the league this offseason. This was partly due to many NFL analysts even saying they didn't recognize much of the team's roster during training camp, as fifth-round rookie receiver Puka Nacua and second-year backup running back Kyren Williams were making noise during the period.
However, the two of them have helped lead the rest of the team and have shocked the league week after week, as the 8-7 Rams now sit at the No. 6 spot in the NFC playoff picture.
Williams showed some flashes during the preseason, and when starter Cam Akers was traded before Week 3 of the regular season, the 2022 fifth-rounder earned the top spot.
Williams was an extremely quick fantasy football waiver wire pickup when the trade news broke, and fantasy managers haven't gotten rid of him since. He's currently second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,057) and tied for seventh in touchdowns (9) despite missing four games due to injury in the middle of the season. Not bad for a first-year starter.
Williams will certainly be in the Rams' gameplan against the Giants, as New York has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards (2,013), fourth-most yards per carry (4.7), and second-most rushing touchdowns (21) this season.
The Rams haven't clinched the playoffs just yet, as they'll need to win Sunday plus a Seattle Seahawks loss OR a Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings tie (with a Rams win).
The momentum of the Rams' expected playoff berth, plus the Giants' poor run defense, all point to Williams having a stellar outing. But New York has a couple of players capable of limiting him.
Giants 2022 Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has been nursing a hamstring injury for the past two weeks. He played in Week 16, but even if he starts on Sunday, he likely won't be 100 percent against a stout Rams offensive line. With that in mind, linebackers Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden must pick up the pace when Williams carries the ball.
Okereke leads the Giants in tackles (132) by a very large margin, but he hasn't recorded a tackle for loss since Week 9 against the Raiders. He'll likely be the primary defender tasked with tackling Williams when he reaches the second level.
McFadden is tied with edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux for the team's most tackles for loss (12). As previously stated, though, the Rams' offensive line may give Thibodeaux some trouble and limit him from reaching the backfield. When Williams runs toward the outside zone, that's where McFadden must come to play, even when the tight ends are part of the blocking scheme.
In other words, if Okereke can quickly stop Williams when he passes the trenches and McFadden can reach him while he sprints toward the sidelines, the Giants could cause some frustration.
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