NFC Divisional Preview: LA Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Los Angeles Rams travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers Sunday in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. The winner will advance to the NFC championship to battle either the San Francisco 49ers or the Green Bay Packers. The Packers host the 49ers Saturday night.
Wild Card round: Cardinals at Rams
The Los Angeles Rams hosted the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2022 NFL playoffs. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 34-11. Arizona’s 11 points came in the second half after being outscored 21-0 in the first half. The Rams’ defense did not flinch much while the Rams’ offense held up on its end of the bargain.
The Rams outscored the Cardinals 13-11 in the second half as well. The Cardinals ended their season with an 11-7 overall record while the Rams improved to 13-5 overall.
Wild Card round: Eagles at Buccaneers
The Philadelphia Eagles traveled from the Pennsylvania cold to the Florida warmth, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spoiled the trip. The Buccaneers beat the Eagles 31-15 and sent the Eagles home unhappy.
The Buccaneers were up 31-0 until the fourth quarter when the Eagles mustered 15 points. The fourth quarter effort was not enough and the Buccaneers advanced to the divisional round of the 2022 NFL playoffs.
Divisional round: Rams at Buccaneers
The Los Angeles Rams are the weaker team by record in comparison to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but not by much. The Rams finished the regular season with a 12-5 overall record while the Buccaneers finished with a 13-4 overall record. The Rams average 27.1 points per game and the Buccaneers average 30.1 points. The Rams allow 11.0 points per game on average and the Buccaneers allow 15.0 points.
Tampa Bay scores more points, but also allows more points. The Rams gain 386.8 yards per game and allow 198.0 yards on average. The Buccaneers accumulate 415.0 yards per game and allow 353.0 yards on average. None of these numbers catch much attention except for one. The Buccaneers’ defense might have a challenging day. The Rams should have no issue scoring points.
The Buccaneers tend to give up what the Rams gain. The Buccaneers will need to keep up with the Rams offensively, which is doable given their success. The only thing standing in the Buccaneers’ way is the Rams’ defense. The Rams give up less than 200 yards a game on average, which explains why they give up fewer points than the Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers’ offense versus the Rams’ defense will be the game within the game to watch. This will be the area of the game that includes the greatest amount of competition, the lowest margin for error and greatest impact on the contest.
Brief season history: Rams versus Buccaneers
The Rams defeated the Buccaneers early in the 2022 NFL season. The Rams hosted and won the relatively close battle 34-24. Neither squad dominated the other at any point in the contest as it was mostly evenly matched throughout. Tampa Bay now has home-field advantage due to finishing the regular season with a better overall record. The game should be close in the end and a winner might not be crowned until the very end.
Neil Conley is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email nzc5252@psu.edu.
