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For the third time this season, the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will face off, as they are set to meet in the 2022 NFC Championship Game.
The Rams have so far met the hefty expectations that were placed on them following their midseason acquisitions of both Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. They cruised to a standout home win over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC wild-card round and followed it up with a dramatic victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC divisional round. As expected, their star-studded talents on both sides of the ball have risen to the occasion.
For more insight on the Rams' NFC Championship matchup against the 49ers, listen below:
The 49ers have played in win-or-go-home games for three straight weeks, which began with their road win over the Rams in the final week of the regular season. Upset road victories over both the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers now have them in the NFC Championship game for the 19th time in NFL history, which ranks as the all-time record.
A trip to Super Bowl 56 and plenty of bragging rights are on the line for both teams considering that this will be just the second time ever that they will meet in the playoffs. For the Rams to secure a second Super Bowl appearance in the Sean McVay era, they must achieve each of these four feats in the NFC title game.
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4. Cam Akers posts a redemption performance
Rams running back Cam Akers had quite the showing to forget in the team’s NFC divisional round win against the Buccaneers. From the lowly 2.0 yards per rush attempt average to the pair of fumbles lost, the Buccaneers front seven limited his production on the ground.
Akers is set to meet a familiar foe in the 49ers up next. He made his return to action from his Achilles injury in Week 18 against San Francisco, although he had quite a difficult time in getting going due to the 0.5 yards per rush attempt average posted in the contest.
Here are the Rams-49ers, courtesy of FanDuel.
If the Rams aspire to roll out a multidimensional offensive unit this week, then they sure will need Akers to emerge as a reliable threat on the ground. Whether it will be in sheer carries out of the backfield or possibly in screen pass plays out wide, he must exert a keen influence in the game when his number gets called on.
3. Jalen Ramsey slows down Deebo Samuel
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49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has continued to prove that he is among the more unique offensive threats in the NFL today. As was the case in the regular season, Samuel has emerged as the do-it-all offensive talent for the 49ers in the playoffs, which has included a combined 193 yards from scrimmage and one rushing touchdown in the team’s pair of playoff games this season.
Unless Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has any major scheme changes in store, cornerback Jalen Ramsey is expected to cover Samuel for much of the upcoming NFC Championship game. This was the case in the regular season, as the All-Pro cornerback shadowed Samuel on at least 75 percent of snaps in both meetings. Overall, Ramsey allowed a combined 88 yards to Samuel over the two contests.
Whether it will be in the slot or out wide, Ramsey sure will keep a close watch on the versatile Samuel for a bulk of snaps in the game. He simply must do what he can to contain Samuel's prowess as an all-around offensive threat in order to force 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to target his other notable wideouts on offense.
This duel between the two may end up deciding just which will team will celebrate a trip to the Super Bowl.
2. Rams front seven dominates the line of scrimmage of battle
The Rams defensive line has performed as advertised so far in the playoffs. For one, the unit combined for 11 quarterback hits and five sacks against both the Cardinals and Buccaneers.
The Rams have had multiple standout performers as of late, including outside linebacker Von Miller. The Rams acquired him from the Denver Broncos during the regular season in an effort to bolster their already stout front seven — and he has done just that. From the two sacks recorded to the 23.7 percent pass-rush win rate against the Buccaneers, the veteran linebacker sure has been an influential playmaker for the reigning NFC West champions.
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The Rams front seven has what it takes to maintain its keen pass rush success against the Garoppolo-led 49ers offense.
1. Rams advance to the Super Bowl
Even as much talk as of late has centered on the 49ers’ six-game winning streak over the Rams, McVay’s squad should pick up a long-awaited victory over San Francisco to advance to Super Bowl 56.
The Rams and 49ers should produce yet another thrilling contest in their rivalry.
