The Los Angeles Rams will be returning to the Coliseum to try and keep their perfect start to the 2019 NFL season going against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4.
Rams Offense vs. Bucs Defense
It is no secret that the Rams are in the midst of a slow start to the year on the offensive side of the ball. This was extremely evident after they were largely held in check by a depleted Cleveland Browns defense in Week 3. Although they managed to do just enough to secure the win, fans are still waiting on a breakout performance.
Los Angeles will be welcoming defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh back to the Coliseum after he spent the 2018 campaign as an integral part of their defense before signing with Tamp Bay in the offseason.
While Suh continues to serve as a stalwart in the run game, this Bucs’ defense also features the league’s current sack leader in outside linebacker Shaquill Barrett. He is coming off a four-sack performance against the New York Giants to bring his total to eight on the year.
Rams Defense vs. Bucs Offense
The defense in Los Angeles has undoubtedly been the biggest reason for the team’s perfect start. Cleveland had multiple opportunities to potentially force overtime, however, this group continues to find ways to come through when it matters most.
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was finally able to get his first sack of the year which is a positive sign of things to come moving forward. Meanwhile, outside linebacker Clay Matthews has made quite the impression early on with a team-leading four sacks. The pressure they have generated up front has been supplemented by the secondary’s performance in pass coverage as they currently rank fourth in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (192.7).
Like the Rams, the Bucs’ offense has also been overshadowed by their defense through the first three games of the 2019 campaign. They were finally able to find their footing by engaging in a full-blown shootout with the Giants in Week 3. Despite their struggles early on, the connection between quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Mike Evans appears to be alive and well.
Keys to the Game
1. Get Goff Going
Quarterback Jared Goff still has yet to find his rhythm and is coming off another rough outing against the Browns. He has now thrown for 737 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions while completing just 62.9% of his passes thus far.
This could very well be the week where the Rams are forced to rely heavily on Goff’s arm to put points on the board. This Bucs’ defense has proven to be quite stout against the run this season giving up a mere 69.7 yards per game. They have had plenty of success in containing elite running backs in the past two weeks during their matchups with the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants which spells for a slow day from the Rams backfield 1-2 punch of Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown.
2. Pressure On Winston Leads To Slow Day For Evans
It had been a disastrous start to the year for both Winston and Evans before they were finally able to get on the same page against the Giants. The two connected eight times for 190 yards and three touchdowns with their bulk of their production coming in the first half.
The volatility of the offense appears to be largely reliant on the amount of pressure Winston faces on a weekly basis. Despite being more than capable of putting up big points, he is still prone to making costly turnovers. the onus will be on the defense to not allow him to find his rhythm early on.
If Winston is feeling uncomfortable, that means he cannot adequately get the ball to Evans on a consistent basis. Moreover, the All-Pro wideout should have his hands full against a Rams’ secondary that has been stingy against the pass this season, particularly top receivers like Michael Thomas and Odell Beckham Jr.
3. Shore Up Goff’s Protection
If the Rams hope to have Goff finally get on track against the Bucs, they will need to find a way to do a much better job of protecting him. He had been taken down twice against the Browns and three times the week before against the New Orleans Saints.
Barrett’s whopping 8.0 sacks through just three games is proof that he will be taking advantage of any miscues up front. Fortunately, Los Angeles is expected to have two key starters back in guard Austin Blythe and tight end Tyler Higbee.
Their return should go a long way in keeping Barrett off Goff’s back as the Rams look to go 4-0.
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