The long awaited contest on Sunday is within reach. As a part of the National Football League in London, the Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Giants. The contest is slated for a 6:00 A.M. PST start time, at the Twickenham Stadium in London.
The Rams are coming off tough back-to-back losses, while the Giants are rolling from a late, come-from-behind victory led by the offense.
Coming into the contest, the Rams are ranked 31st in the NFL with an average of just 301.3 offensive yards per game. To the contrary, the Giants and their high-powered offense is ranked 12th, with 364.2 yards per game.
On the defensive side of the ball, both the Giants and Rams reside amongst the league average. The Rams are ranked 17th this season, allowing 361.8 yards per game, while the Giants are 19th and are allowing 363.7 yards per game.
The Rams secondary will have quite the task in the early contest on Sunday, as they will be asked to cover Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard.
Quarterback Eli Manning also isn’t afraid of the dump off pass, which the Rams front seven needs to remain attentive to. The Giants 288.2 passing yards per game are third in the NFL.
Quarterback Case Keenum is coming off of his best game of the season, where he set a historical first for the Rams. His 20 consecutive passes completed in Week 6 were a franchise record, which he credited to his teammates.
Keenum has the offensive unit rolling, as the emergence of the receiving core is something to build off of. Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin have been carrying the load, while Brian Quick has emerged into their deep threat target when the defense plays it safe.
The international contest will surely draw a large crowd at Twickenham stadium, as two main market teams such as Los Angeles and New York get ready to boast their star players on the main stage.
The key matchup to pay attention to during the game is the defense of Gregg Williams versus the Giants offense. The Giants have allowed 10 sacks this season, with Manning taking some vicious hits. Williams’ defense is predicated by getting to the quarterback, led by pro-bowler Aaron Donald.
If the front seven can cause problems and find weak spots along the offensive line, the Rams should be able to create some turnovers. The pressure along the line will be aided by the return of Robert Quinn. While Donald has been receiving constant double teams all season, Quinn’s ability to get to the quarterback can cause Manning some problems.
The Giants have taken heat from the league regarding the Josh Brown scenario, which has fallen into London. Head coach Todd Bowles has been answering questions regarding the organization throughout the week, which has clearly turned into a distraction.
Both teams have a record of 3-3, with both having a bye week scheduled for Week 8. The winner goes into their bye on a high note, while the loss will provide a lot to work on for the other team.
