Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams are gearing up for their biggest test of the season when they head to Lambeau Field to take on the No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers in the divisional round. The Rams have already taken on the underdog role by beating the Seattle Seahawks with relative ease, and they’ll look to do the same against the Packers.
The Packers have been by far the best team in the NFC for almost the entire season. Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are perhaps the best quarterback/wide receiver combo in the entire league, and their defense has shown improvement towards stopping the run in recent weeks, especially in their win against the Tennessee Titans. However, McVay believes that the Rams match up well with the Packers.
McVay spoke about Saturday’s game, saying he has respect for the Packers organization and is looking forward to a great matchup, according to Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“It’s a great matchup,” McVay said during a video conference Sunday night. “Our defense has done a great job, but I have tremendous respect for these coaches, these players and what they’ve done for the Packers. This is what you love. These are the type of matchups and opportunities that as a competitor, you can’t wait for. We have to take it a day at a time and have a great week of prep.”
While the Packers are rightfully the favorites heading into the divisional round, the Rams should absolutely not be taken lightly. Their defense has proven to be perhaps the best in the league, and if Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Donald and company can repeat their performance from the Seahawks win, they can absolutely sneak out of Lambeau with a win.
Ramsey will likely face off against Adams every chance he gets, and while Adams is certainly better than DK Metcalf, Ramsey has had no problems shutting down elite receivers this season.
McVay is working hard on a game plan that allows his defense to do what they do while ensuring Jared Goff and the offense can string together enough good drives to be competitive. The fact that he has a close relationship with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator, should help L.A. understand Green Bay’s offensive tendencies this weekend.
Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp likely to play against Packers
Both Donald and Cooper Kupp suffered injuries against the Seahawks that appeared to be major at the time. However, further testing and practices have revealed them both to be manageable, meaning both will likely be able to go against the Packers.
Donald and Kupp are two of the Rams’ most important players, so simply having them on the field, even if not at full strength, can be a game-changer.
