OK.....I cant remember the last time that I have worked harder on a game in a LONG time. This game intrigued me though.....
First let me state the obvious.....The Rams have played very poorly in these conditions.....colder weather, on the road, on grass. They are a completely different team. Most know this already. The Browns have played terrible this year....they have no identity. The running game has not been good only a few teams worse. The run defense has been bad....only about 6 teams worse. (However, I will expand on that point later, but it has to do with how the number is inflated due to a few elite running backs) The pass defense has been very decent this year. Will it be good enough to contain the Rams wide open attack? We will get to that.
Now that we have stated the obvious....lets break this sucker down. Offensively and defensively both teams have been quite similar rushing the ball. Both teams are tied for 26th in the league running the ball TIED for 25th in the league per attempt. The Browns clearly do not have the ability to break a long run....only twice have they had runs of over 20 yards. The Rams only 5 times, so the idea of someone breaking a long one from the line of scrimmage is not too likely tonight, even though both team have been susceptible to giving up the long run...I do not look for that to be a big part of tonights game.
The Rams are the 30th ranked team in the NFL defensively against the run. Giving up a whopping 4.8 yards per rush. The Browns are not a whole lot better....giving up 4.5 per rush and TIED for 25th in the league. So we have a matchup of two teams that have trouble stopping the run and two teams that have trouble running it.
There is one difference here. The Browns have managed to stop other poor rushing teams on their schedule. They managed to keep New England, Pittsburgh and Arizona in check. As I said before....the main damage was done as Jamal Lewis, Shaun Alexander, Priest Holmes, and LaDainian Tomlinson really racked up yards. Now Marshall Faulk is certainly in the class of those backs, but the offensive line of the Rams has not cooperated to lead to huge numbers this year. Both teams will find running room, and should be able to move the chains, but will not be the sole factor in this game.
I also think it is quite evident that the Rams will be able to move the ball through the air. The sole thing that has caused the Rams drives to stall is turnovers. The Rams lead the league in giveaways, as their offensive line has always been a bit suspect and sometimes forces Bulger into some poor decisions. If the Browns can do that tonight they WILL win this game. On the other hand....the Rams lead the league in takeaways, which has offset some of that poor offensive line play. I look for the Browns to try and control the clock for the majority of this game IF, and that is a BIG IF they can score the first points in this game. If they do not score first and fall behind....the game plan will go to chit and the scoring will begin.
I believe that both teams have the ability to move the ball in this game. If this is a FOR THE MOST part a clean game. This game should go over the total. There have been VERY few games this season that the Rams have been held in check offensively....even on the road. The Rams will score at least 24 points in this game. No doubt in my mind. BUT I also look for the Browns to hang in there for the majority of this game giving them a chance to win it late. Whether they do that or not, I do not know, but I fully look for them to cover the 6 points that I am now getting.
Final Score: Rams 27 Clowns 24
GOOD LUCK!
First let me state the obvious.....The Rams have played very poorly in these conditions.....colder weather, on the road, on grass. They are a completely different team. Most know this already. The Browns have played terrible this year....they have no identity. The running game has not been good only a few teams worse. The run defense has been bad....only about 6 teams worse. (However, I will expand on that point later, but it has to do with how the number is inflated due to a few elite running backs) The pass defense has been very decent this year. Will it be good enough to contain the Rams wide open attack? We will get to that.
Now that we have stated the obvious....lets break this sucker down. Offensively and defensively both teams have been quite similar rushing the ball. Both teams are tied for 26th in the league running the ball TIED for 25th in the league per attempt. The Browns clearly do not have the ability to break a long run....only twice have they had runs of over 20 yards. The Rams only 5 times, so the idea of someone breaking a long one from the line of scrimmage is not too likely tonight, even though both team have been susceptible to giving up the long run...I do not look for that to be a big part of tonights game.
The Rams are the 30th ranked team in the NFL defensively against the run. Giving up a whopping 4.8 yards per rush. The Browns are not a whole lot better....giving up 4.5 per rush and TIED for 25th in the league. So we have a matchup of two teams that have trouble stopping the run and two teams that have trouble running it.
There is one difference here. The Browns have managed to stop other poor rushing teams on their schedule. They managed to keep New England, Pittsburgh and Arizona in check. As I said before....the main damage was done as Jamal Lewis, Shaun Alexander, Priest Holmes, and LaDainian Tomlinson really racked up yards. Now Marshall Faulk is certainly in the class of those backs, but the offensive line of the Rams has not cooperated to lead to huge numbers this year. Both teams will find running room, and should be able to move the chains, but will not be the sole factor in this game.
I also think it is quite evident that the Rams will be able to move the ball through the air. The sole thing that has caused the Rams drives to stall is turnovers. The Rams lead the league in giveaways, as their offensive line has always been a bit suspect and sometimes forces Bulger into some poor decisions. If the Browns can do that tonight they WILL win this game. On the other hand....the Rams lead the league in takeaways, which has offset some of that poor offensive line play. I look for the Browns to try and control the clock for the majority of this game IF, and that is a BIG IF they can score the first points in this game. If they do not score first and fall behind....the game plan will go to chit and the scoring will begin.
I believe that both teams have the ability to move the ball in this game. If this is a FOR THE MOST part a clean game. This game should go over the total. There have been VERY few games this season that the Rams have been held in check offensively....even on the road. The Rams will score at least 24 points in this game. No doubt in my mind. BUT I also look for the Browns to hang in there for the majority of this game giving them a chance to win it late. Whether they do that or not, I do not know, but I fully look for them to cover the 6 points that I am now getting.
Final Score: Rams 27 Clowns 24
GOOD LUCK!
