The Los Angeles Rams made a statement with a 34-11 Wild Card round victory over the Arizona Cardinals. An efficient performance from QB Matthew Stafford finally allowed him to get the first postseason win of his career and powered the team to the next round.
After an impressive outing, Sean McVay and his troops will now face a tough challenge as they head to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers in the NFC Divisional Round. With that said, here are three takeaways from the Rams' dominant performance over the Cardinals:
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3. Cam Akers is gradually gaining momentum in his return to the field.
Running back Cam Akers turned many heads as he made a comeback late in the season after tearing his Achilles shortly before training camp. His Week 18 stint against the San Francisco 49ers was merely a test run as he finished with three rushing yards on five carries.
Against the Cardinals, the FSU product was unleashed and had a big contribution as he ran 55 yards on 17 attempts. Though he didn't score a touchdown, he provided much-needed support for Sony Michel who has been leading the ground game for several weeks already.
Akers' performance in their Wild Card tilt showed that he is continuously making progress and gradually getting back to his old playing form before he was sidelined. Fans can expect him to play more snaps and get involved in the offense more in their upcoming games.
2. Odell Beckham Jr. continues to show that he isn't declining.
Looking back, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. received a ton of criticism during his days with the Cleveland Browns due to his subpar production. Many claimed that the three-time Pro Bowler was the root of the problem in his former team and that he was on his way to being an afterthought in the league.
Since landing in Los Angeles, Beckham Jr. has been silencing doubters as he has emerged as a vital contributor in a stacked Rams offense. In his return to the playoffs, the 29-year-old recorded 54 receiving yards on four catches and a TD against the Cardinals.
His performance wasn't a surprise as he is currently having a strong surge with six scored touchdowns in his last eight games. He surely wouldn't want to stop now as the Rams continue to set their sights on winning the Super Bowl this season.
1. The Rams' defensive efforts have been the key to this victory.
More than the scorching offense, the Rams' defense has done a solid job of limiting the offensive attack of the Cardinals. Veteran linebacker Von Miller was at the forefront of the unit as he compiled six solo tackles and a sack on Monday night.
Tackles Greg Gaines and Aaron Donald both had a half-sack each while David Long and Marquise Copeland both recorded an interception against Kyler Murray. Without a doubt, the disruption that they brought on the field paralyzed the Cardinals' offense as their QB evidently struggled to gain momentum in the pocket.
After a solid effort, the job is far from done for defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and his men as they will get their hands full against the defending champions next week. It will surely be a tough game for the Rams though their performance on the defensive end has shown that they can spell trouble for the other playoff contenders this season.
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