The Los Angeles Rams take on the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday afternoon.
The last time these two teams met was in 2023, when a punt return touchdown won the game for the Ravens in an overtime classic.
Last week, the Rams lost a heartbreaker to their division rival, the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams faced a tough decision in overtime — kick the field goal to tie the game, or go for it and continue the drive. The Rams attempted to go for it. However, the attempt failed and the 49ers secured the victory.
On Baltimore’s end, it hasn’t been the start to the season that they envisioned. While they began the year as Super Bowl contenders, Baltimore is now just 1-4, and coming off of a Week 5 blowout loss to the Houston Texans.
To add insult to injury, the team will likely be without two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, as he is doubtful and expected to miss his second consecutive week. Jackson is coming off a hamstring injury he sustained in a Week 4 matchup versus the Kansas City Chiefs that sidelined him for last week’s matchup versus the Texans.
Last week, the team started veteran backup Cooper Rush in his stead, who struggled, throwing three interceptions vs. the Texans’ elite defense.
Now, the Ravens, whose defense has struggled to start the year, will have to go up against one of the most elite offenses in the entire NFL, captained by quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Stafford leads the league in passing yards and has thrown 11 touchdowns so far this season, the second-most in the entire NFL.
Nearly 40% of Stafford’s yards have gone to one man: Puka Nacua.
Nacua has started the year off in a historic manner, leading the league in both receptions and receiving yards through the first five weeks. His 52 catches through five weeks also marks the most by any player in NFL history in that timespan.
Nacua has seemingly been unguardable this season, and with the Ravens defense ranking second-worst in the entire NFL in passing yards allowed per game, look for Nacua to make a huge impact.
However, another member of the Rams offense has the opportunity to contribute in a big way on Sunday — running back Kyren Williams
Williams played a huge role last week in keeping the Rams in the game, as he had over 100 total yards and two receiving touchdowns.
The Ravens defense, along with their struggles in the passing game, have also had trouble stopping the run, as they rank fourth worst in the league in rushing yards allowed per game. If Williams is given the ball, he is a shifty and tough runner who can make a big play happen in an instant.
On the defensive side, the Rams have to contain the king, Derrick Henry. While Henry has not produced to his caliber so far this season, the two-time rushing champion is always threatening to break one loose.
With Jackson likely out, the Rams defensive line, which has the third most sacks in the entire NFL, can make life tricky for Rush. By forcing Rush to make quick decisions, the Rams can produce turnovers, giving their explosive offense more opportunity to put the game out of reach.
If the Rams can find a way to exploit these weaknesses in the Ravens, then they will set themselves up for great success this weekend.