As part of the usual NFC West schedule, the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals met twice in 2021, with each team winning on the other's home field. Besides the location change, one of the main differences between the first and second meetings between the two clubs has been the play of Rams running back Sony Michel.

In the first matchup, way back in Week Four, the Cardinals won in a blowout and Michel was a seldom-used back who cost the Rams dearly with a lost fumble early in the game. That fumble was the only one that Michel would have all year, however, and by the time the two teams met for a second time, he was rocking and rolling as the lead back.

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In that Week 14 Rams win, Michel ran for 79 yards on 20 carries, making it the second game in a current seven-game stretch that Michel has received 20 or more touches. Before the streak, Michel had hit the 20-touch mark just once on the year.

All of those games for the Rams were also wins–except for the last one against the San Francisco 49ers. In that game, Michel was held to his lowest yards per carry average of the entire season (2.0,) making it increasingly clear that this Rams team goes as Michel goes.

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Rams X-Factor vs. Cardinals in 2022 NFL Playoffs

While many expect that Rams superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp will be the “x-factor” in this game, that is not the case because he is always a constant. A factor is something that changes from time to time and is the determiner of the outcome in most instances.

As much as Kupp has meant to the Rams, he has still been able to put up good numbers in Rams losses. That shows that even though Kupp was on an MVP level in 2021, he was not “moving the needle” in terms of wins and losses as much as Michel was, and the stats back up those claims.

In Rams wins in 2021, Michel averages 61.5 yards per game on the ground. In Rams losses, Michel averages just 21 yards. All of Michel's rushing touchdowns this season have come in Rams wins and two of them were in the last three games, games in which the Rams running game and defense kept the team alive despite turnovers by quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Some people will be thrown off by Michel's terrible yards per carry stats from last week against the 49ers, but that has to be taken with a huge grain of salt because the 49ers were moving into the backfield faster than a toupee in a hurricane. Michel had no chance against that ferocious run defense that finished sixth in the league in yards per carry allowed in 2021 (4.0.)

The Cardinals, on the other hand, finished 22nd and are giving up 4.6 cards per rush, setting up Michel to do even more damage than he did in the Week 14 meeting. Look for the Rams to get Sony involved early and often in an attempt to set the Cardinals defense up against some play-action passes. With the way the Rams offensive line looked last week, it will be a needed morale boost for the team if they can come out of the gates on Sunday with a full head of steam.

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They need to prove not only that they can run-block for Michel, but they need to show that they can give Stafford more time in the pocket to throw the ball. It all starts with the running game, though, and that means that it all flows through Michel. If the Rams have realized that by now then expect a win on Sunday. If not, then this could end up being the last Rams X-factor article of the season.