Residence-field benefit for the Tremendous Bowl.
Final season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers loved the uncommon luxurious and have become the primary crew in NFL historical past to win a Tremendous Bowl in its house stadium.
The Rams thereafter aimed, traded and spent to place themselves to repeat the feat in Tremendous Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium subsequent month.
So, it’s maybe becoming that for the Rams to take a step towards fulfilling that mandate, they have to defeat Tom Brady and the defending-champion Buccaneers in an NFC divisional-round playoff recreation Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
The winner will play the San Francisco 49ers, a 13-10 winner Saturday over the Inexperienced Bay Packers, within the NFC championship recreation subsequent Sunday for the possibility to advance to the Tremendous Bowl at Stan Kroenke’s $5-billion stadium.
The Rams can't afford to look forward — or again — once they play the Buccaneers for the second time this season.
The Rams defeated the Buccaneers, 34-24, Sept. 26 at SoFi Stadium.
However coaches and gamers for each groups decrease the significance of that recreation.
Due to accidents and different points, each rosters turned over through the longest season in NFL historical past.
The Rams, for instance, launched receiver DeSean Jackson — who caught a 75-yard landing go towards the Buccaneers — traded for linebacker Von Miller and signed receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Receiver Robert Woods was amongst a number of gamers misplaced due to season-ending accidents.
“Each groups have sort of navigated via numerous totally different guys having to step up,” Rams coach Sean McVay mentioned. “I feel the depth of each of our rosters has proven to be strengths.”
There's one other distinction, All-Professional cornerback Jalen Ramsey mentioned.
“Much more is on the road proper now,” he mentioned.
The Rams have been on this place earlier than underneath McVay.
In 2018, they defeated the Dallas Cowboys in a divisional-round recreation, after which beat the New Orleans Saints in additional time to advance to Tremendous Bowl LIII, the place they misplaced to Brady and the New England Patriots.
In 2020, their season ended with a divisional-round loss to the Packers at Lambeau Subject, a defeat that pushed McVay and normal supervisor Les Snead into overdrive to finish the period of quarterback Jared Goff.
Two weeks after the loss, they traded Goff, two first-round draft picks and a third-round decide to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Stafford led the Rams to a 12-5 document and the NFC West title.
However this recreation — and the NFC championship and Tremendous Bowl — are the rationale they acquired Stafford: to match up with elite, established quarterbacks similar to Brady and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.
Stafford, a Thirteenth-year professional, received his first playoff recreation Monday when he handed for 2 touchdowns and sneaked for one more in a 34-11 wild card victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Now he'll duel with Brady, a seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion who's 35-11 within the playoffs.
“You’re going to need to go on the market and rating factors — and sufficient to compete with a crew that’s led by Tom,” mentioned Stafford, who handed for 4 touchdowns towards the Buccaneers in September. “He’s proven yr in and yr out how succesful he's doing that, particularly this time of yr.”
The Buccaneers characteristic a gifted defensive entrance that features tackles Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh and outdoors linebacker Shaquil Barrett.
Stafford will function behind a line that might be with out beginning left deal with Andrew Whitworth, who suffered a knee harm towards the Cardinals. Joe Noteboom will begin in his place.
Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is thought for blitzing.
“It’s quite a bit on my plate — it’s quite a bit on the plate of our complete offense,” Stafford mentioned of dealing with the stress from all angles. “On the similar time, we’re excited concerning the alternative.
“Generally you play aggressive coordinators. You attempt to be aggressive proper again to them and see what occurs.”
The Rams protection will attempt to neutralize the 44-year-old Brady, who shouldn't be as cell as youthful, fleeter quarterbacks however stays a grasp at transferring within the pocket.
In September, the Rams took a 21-7 lead over the Buccaneers early within the third quarter, forcing Brady to go on practically each down. He accomplished 41 of 55 passes for 432 yards and a landing.
“Hopefully, we’re not sitting there throwing it each down like we needed to in that ballgame,” Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians mentioned.
Ramsey mentioned that whereas some components Sunday might be totally different from the primary recreation between the groups, others ought to be the identical.
“We executed our recreation plan fairly nicely,” he mentioned. “And we performed with like numerous vitality on the market. Even when issues weren’t going nicely.
“And I wish to level that out to my teammates to make it possible for we do these issues once more, after which all the brand new issues that we now have to do.”
Although stress might be on the quarterbacks to carry out, Miller cautioned that Stafford shouldn't play as if he's solely chargeable for carrying the Rams.
The go rush should rattle Brady, Miller mentioned.
“Tom Brady’s going to make performs,” he mentioned. “We received to make performs as nicely.
“And each time the time’s up, we received to ensure we those dancing. We received to ensure we’re those that come out on high.”
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