***SWAMP WILD CARD WEEKEND - ATL @ LAR***
***ATLANTA FALCONS @ LOS ANGELES RAMS***
Game two of Wild Card Weekend features the Atlanta Falcons looking to avenge their epic Super Bowl collapse of last season. They've been viewed as a joke and demoralized after blowing the infamous 28-3 lead against the Patriots, and deservingly so. They've had a rough season to follow it up and work through the usual SB hangover as there were many ups and many downs, more so downs. They've struggled to adjust to their new Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian after the departure of Kyle Shanahan during the offseason. I've also noticed they've battled in a couple weird weathered games like the thick fog in New England where they were torched on a SNF rematch, or the monsoon in MetLife Stadium as they nearly lossed to the lowly Jets. Well, they can put all of that behind them now because despite all the adversity, they've made it. They get a chance to make another SB run and right the wrong, but first- they must face an extremely dangerous Rams team who is capable of running the table themselves.
I think it is safe to say that the Rams hired the right Head Coach when they made the bold decision to give the job to a 31 year old first timer in Sean McVay. The guy has not disappointed and in fact the Rams have been stellar all season long as a result. Sophomore QB Jared Goff has done a complete 180 from his Rookie season. When we caught a glimpse of this organization on HBO's Hardknocks show two summers ago, I thought Goff might be potential bust material or at least a long-term project due to him seeming so unprepared to be able to mentally handle the grown man's NFL game and all the complex concepts and schemes that come along with it at the QB position. He appeared to me to be unable to come into a huddle and lead a bunch of guys older than him at that time and I don't know what McVay did but the kid has officially turned the corner...also I should mention that the MVP caliber RB Todd Gurley probably also has a lot to do with Goff's success, heheh. Gurley has been the real reason for this offense to be so explosive this season and has looked to be unstoppable at times. His dominance in the run game allows Goff to relax and just manage the game and make the necessary throws when needed. Rookie WR Cooper Kupp has also proven to be a great selection to help Goff acclimate and act as a security blanket for him in the short passing game. Other than that though, who really is a defense scared of on the Rams offense? Nobody really. I mean who do we have here Sammy Watkins? Tavon Austin? These gadget-gimmicky type, injury prone, deep threat but not really type of guys are fun and all, but this is the playoffs we're talking about here. That being said, I like the Atlanta Head Coach Dann Quinn to stack the box with his defense in an attempt to slow Gurley down and force Goff to beat them through the air, in which case I like ATL's chances. The Falcons defense has sneakily better than it was last season in my opinion and now these guys have some hard earned playoff experience where the Rams do not. The Falcons will find that last year's postseason run will be very useful for them in these playoff games. Whereas the Rams are a young team and the thing that is bothering me most about them tonight is the fact that McVay sat his starters for the most part last week. While I completely understand it, I don't agree and feel like it can disrupt a team heading into the postseason, especially a young team that hasn't been there before and a QB making his first appearance. I think the playoff jitters can be real and could definitely be in play tonight for Goff. I love these Falcon LBs and believe they will do a great job of limiting Gurley and when the pressure falls on Goff to make a play, I like LB Vic Beasley coming off the edge to get in his face and make things difficult.
On the other side of the field I do love the Rams defense and that's because I love their Coordinator Wade Phillips. In my opinion, he is the best DC there is, and this won't be his first rodeo. I'm sure he will be well prepared to take on this Falcons offense and I fully expect guys like DT Aaron Donald and Quinn to be in the backfield at times as they hunt for QB Matt Ryan. I know LB Alec Ogletree is a beast and along with converted Safety Mark Barron, will be looking to lay the boom on RB DeVonta Freeman in the run game, but I like the Falcons to be able to take advantage of throwing downfield against the Rams CBs. WRs Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu will have to step up here and exploit the match ups and I believe they will. What scares me is Freeman's recent fumbling issue but I think tonight will be more about Matty Ice redeeming himself as a playoff QB and when going toe to toe with a young QB like Goff, I'll take Ryan in this spot every time. The X factor is that the Rams are also without their reliable Kicker Greg Zeurlein and undrafted Rookie Kicker Sam Ficken will be called on if the situation arises for a FG and in what I feel should be a close playoff game between two good teams, it will. Can we count on Ficken to come through with all the pressure in the world at the end of Hollywood's first playoff game in ages? I'm not so sure. I'm taking the points and think the Falcons are well equipped to win outright here. Long story short, I expect Matt Ryan and the Falcons to get the better of the young and inexperienced Goff and the Rams here. This might be the best game of the weekend and I think ends in a FG result either way. FALCONS+6
