Not only did the Los Angeles Rams keep their playoffs hope alive with a pivotal win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14, but outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. also managed to set a career-high mark in sacks.
Fowler registered four tackles and 1.5 sacks in the 28-12 victory over the Seahawks to give him nine so far in the 2019 NFL season. His previous career-high came during the 2017 campaign when he registered eight sacks with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It is safe to say that Fowler has experienced some significant changes since being traded to Los Angeles and signing another one-year deal to prove his status as a bonafide edge rusher. Fortunately, the transition has clearly paid huge dividends for his performance on the field.
Fowler admits he is proud of being able to take advantage of his integral role in the Rams defense, via Stu Jackson of the team’s official website:
“It means a lot, being able to accomplish something bigger than I did,” Fowler said Monday. “Especially with the last time I did it, I was coming off the bench. Me being a full-time starter and reaching that milestone makes me feel more confident in myself.”
Head coach Sean McVay also offered up some high praise for Fowler along with linebackers coach Chris Shula:
“I keep mentioning it, but I think Chris Shula’s done a great job with that outside linebacker group as a whole,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “But, Dante, you could just see – he’s always had the traits, the physicality, the explosiveness. You could see when he arrives on contact, you feel Dante’s presence when you’re just watching a game because of how explosive he is. I thought he did a great job of making some timely plays for us. He’s really done that throughout his season. I think that’s why you see with three games remaining, he’s had his best numbers to date.”
There is no question that Fowler has endured his fair share of struggles this season, however, he has also proven more than capable of producing big games on any given week.
The sacks that Fowler has registered have largely come in bunches throughout the year as evidenced by the fact that he had a five-game drought sandwiched between a two-sack performance in the season opener and a marvelous hat trick versus the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7.
Fowler will now be looking to put the finishing touches on a career year over the next three games that will determine whether or not the Rams make the playoffs.
