Los Angeles Rams: NFC Weekend playoffs preview, who wins and why

This is, without fail, the glamour matchup of the entire NFL playoffs weekend. The Dallas Cowboys will travel to some friendly confines to play the Los Angeles Rams in a game BOTH coaches need.

Yes, even Rams head coach Sean McVay needs this win in a big way, and probably a little more than the career underachiever Jason Garrett.

Los Angeles is making their second playoff appearance in as many years, having lost in a lackluster performance to the Atlanta Falcons last postseason. One year later, the Rams look to be better and more experienced at 13-3.

However, the Cowboys won’t be a team who goes away easily. Dallas owns a solid run game via Ezekiel Elliott, improved quarterback play with Dak Prescott, and a defense who is every bit as good as what the Rams saw in their loss at Chicago.

LA, who went 2-2 in the last quarter of the season, is hoping that a healthier Todd Gurley and a rejuvenated C.J. Anderson can provide some support for quarterback Jared Goff, who most NFL analysts agree lost a little something coming out of the bye week.

McVay himself has come under some scrutiny this week before having either lost or won this playoff game, with most making a compelling argument that getting his first playoff win is needed to validate a lot of the praise he’s earned in his second season in LA. Fair or not, going 0-2 would be beyond disappointing, especially given how the team played for the overwhelming part of the 2018 season.

McVay and the Rams need this game big time, plain and simple.

Los Angeles Rams-24
Dallas Cowboys-20