The Los Angeles Rams will be looking to maintain their flawless start to the 2019 NFL season with a star-studded showdown against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3.
It is safe to say that there will be no shortage of notable names in this primetime matchup on Sunday Night Football.
Rams Offense vs. Browns Defense
The Rams offense has struggled to pick up where it left off last season as the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL. Of course, the slow start to the year can be attributed to the fact they opened the season against two formidable defenses in the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. Regardless, fans are still waiting for this group to enjoy a potential scoring outburst in the coming weeks.
This week’s matchup against the Browns’ defense could be just what they need to find their rhythm. Cleveland is coming off a short week after beating the New York Jets on Monday Night Football in Week 2. They have already ruled out two starters on this side of the ball with linebacker Christian Kirksey dealing with a chest injury and safety Damarious Randall still in concussion protocol. They also have six other players on defense that have been listed as questionable against Los Angeles.
Rams Defense vs. Browns Offense
The defense is coming off a stellar outing against a high-powered Saints offense in Week 2. Although the mere nine points can be somewhat attributed to the injury of quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints had not been able to get much going while he was under center. They are only giving up 293.5 total yards per game this season which is good for fifth-best in the NFL.
Los Angeles will have their hands full matching up with a Cleveland offense that certainly has no shortage of firepower. It is no secret that this group has fallen vastly short of expectations so far after generating plenty of hype with the acquisition of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason. Even with tight end David Njoku ruled out for this week after being placed on IR, quarterback Baker Mayfield will still have more than enough weapons at his disposal to keep the Rams on their toes.
Three Keys To Victory
1. Shadowing Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham was able to follow up his underwhelming Browns debut with a stellar performance on primetime in his return to MetLife Stadium by hauling in six receptions for 161 yards. He managed to put the stamp on the win against the Jets with an 89-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. Although he and Mayfield are still working to get on the same page, the Rams cannot afford to overlook the All-Pro wideout at any point in the game.
Fortunately, Beckham will likely see one of their trio of cornerbacks in Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and Nickell Robey-Coleman wherever he lines up. This group did a solid job of containing Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas last week after holding him to 10 receptions for 89 yards and zero touchdowns. They will need to find a way to do it again on Beckham this time around.
2. Monitor Quality Snaps For Aaron Donald
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald has gotten off to another slow start to the season after failing to register a sack through the first two games. Things nearly took a turn for the worst when he was forced to exit last week’s game with a back injury that has since drawn a questionable designation from him against the Browns.
Despite his limited participation, Donald is expected to be ready to go for gametime in Cleveland. The reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year is notorious for taking a few games to find his footing. This week’s matchup against a porous Browns offensive line is the perfect opportunity for him to pick up where he left off last season as the NFL’s sack leader.
Regardless, the onus will be on the coaching staff to ensure that Donald does not further aggravate the injury in an attempt to get his sack toll going.
3. Establish Identity On Offense
To no surprise, head coach Sean McVay has attributed the offense’s underwhelming performance thus far to his playcalling. While there may be some truth to this notion, the most glaring issue has been a lack of identity on offense.
McVay largely relied on running back Todd Gurley to serve as the focal point of this offense and it turned them into of the highest-scoring groups over the last two seasons. Unfortunately, things changed this offseason when he indicated that Gurley’s workload would be lightened in an attempt to avoid wear and tear for later in the season. As a result, the offense no longer has a certain recipe for success they have established.
The onus has now seemingly fallen on quarterback Jared Goff to prove he is more than capable of taking over as the driving force. Although Goff has struggled to find his rhythm through the first two games, this week’s primetime matchup against the Browns will give him a golden opportunity to provide a reminder of why the Rams were so willing to sign him to a four-year extension before the season.
