The New York Jets will host the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium Sunday. To help preview the matchup, Stu Jackson of TheRams.com and John Pullano of NYJets.com discussed the game.
The Rams are 7-2 since their Week 6 bye after a 1-4 start. What has been the catalyst for the Rams recent surge to first place in the NFC West?
SJ: Improved health, especially on the offensive line. Injuries heavily impacted continuity for most of the season but having the same starting five since Week 13 has helped quarterback Matthew Stafford, and the offense overall, play to its potential.
The Jets' offense has found its groove surpassing 400 total yards in the last 2 games. How do Aaron Rodgers & Co. sustain that success?
JP: By keeping QB Aaron Rodgers upright and healthy. Rodgers showed up on the injury report for the first time in Week 5 and spent 6 weeks battling hamstring, knee and ankle injuries. Since he was deemed healthy in Week 11, Rodgers has thrown 8 touchdowns and 1 interception, and the Jets have averaged 26.5 points per game over that span. Against the Jaguars in Week 15, Rodgers was pressured on 11.1% of his drop backs, the lowest rate this season, and he played his best game throwing 3 touchdowns and helping the Jets score 30-plus points for the first time since Week 16 of the 2023 season. In addition, Rodgers ran for a team-high 45 yards on 6 carries, 3 of which went for first downs.
Los Angeles has the youngest defensive line in the NFL (average age 24.3 years old). What have the Rams seen from rookie DE Jared Verse, second-year DT Kobie Turner and this young D-line this season?
SJ: Greater ownership over each pass rusher's role. There were some growing pains earlier in the season, but that understanding of how to play off one another was what really allowed this group to find its stride. As general manager Les Snead said, you can't replace Aaron Donald with just one player, but as a collective group this defensive line as done as well as anyone could ask for.
What should be the Jets' most favorable matchup against the Rams?
JP: The Jets' talented group of pass catchers vs. the Rams' inexperienced secondary. The Rams have been starting 3 players 26 years old or younger in their secondary this season – S Cobie Durant (26), CB Kamren Curl (25) and CB Quentin Lake (25) – and rank 20th in passing yards allowed and 21st in passing scores surrendered. That young group against the Jets standout WR duo of Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams should work in the Jets' favor. Wilson and Adams have combined for 28 receptions, 477 yards and 4 touchdowns in the last 2 games – including 307 yards from Adams alone – as Wilson continues to build chemistry with Rodgers and Adams rekindles the old flame.
Wideouts Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua have missed a combined 9 games. Since each returned in Week 8, the Rams are averaging 24.5 points per game. How does the offense change with Kupp and Nacua in the lineup?
SJ: It gives the offense two complete receivers, in terms of being reliable targets for Stafford and also physical and knowledgeable blockers in the run game. Kupp has a very high football IQ, with a strong understanding of how to use leverage against defensive backs and find voids in coverages. Nacua's physicality is one of his best traits because of how he uses it not only as a run-blocker, but to gain yards after the catch. And of course, when both are on the field, defenses can't just focus on one without the possibility of surrendering a big play to the other.
After getting a one-score win vs. the Jags, how do the Jets play "spoiler" against the Rams as they try and make a surge toward the postseason?
JP: For the Jets to come away with their third home win of the season, they will need to bottle up the Rams' rush attack. Establishing the run early, has been a key ingredient in Los Angeles's recipe for success this season. The Rams starting running back Kyren Williams is fourth it the NFL in rushing yards (1,121) and second in attempts (280), and during the Rams 3-game win streak they are averaging 145 yards on the ground. In addition, the Rams 3 highest single-game rushing totals this season have come in the past 3 weeks.
