LA Rams are finding special teams play in NFL Playoffs

After a season of the LA Rams winning in spite of the special teams play, the team has excelled at special teams’ play in the NFL Playoffs

The LA Rams have been struggling at the special teams’ play all season. But in the last two games, there has been something special in the special team’s play. Nothing that will make headlines, yet. Just a different level of intensity. It’s a different mindset now.  The Rams special teams play has become something worth viewing, and no longer gives cause to close your eyes and hope that nothing horribly bad happens.

It’s just two games, and they have happened in week 16 and now round one of the NFL Playoffs.  But post-season football is about getting hot now. It’s the epitome of what-have-you-done-lately, and for good reason. Post-season football is about winning, surviving, and advancing.  To do that, NFL teams need to play well in all aspects of the game. The LA Rams, after a season of futility, are doing exactly that.

Returning to respectability

The Rams return teams have been a fright this season. Yes, downright horrible. Early in the season, even a fair catch was a huge risk, as we had to await sorting through the pile to determine if the Rams had lost the football due to a fumbled fair catch.  But in the last two games, things have changed. Against the Arizona Cardinals, the LA Rams returned three kickoffs a total of 63 yards. That is significant, as the team had struggled with the return game early in the season.

The Rams return game was even better in the playoffs, as Nsimba Webster averaged 31 yards per kickoff return and nine yards on his lone punt return.  Both were significantly better than the regular season averages. But the Rams have been getting good at other aspects as well. The Rams blocked a field goal against the Arizona Cardinals in a low scoring game. And the punt cover unit forced a fumble against the Seattle Seahawks that eventually led to a Rams touchdown.

Gay is the guy

Of course, the LA Rams have the benefit of a field goal kicker who is good at kicking field goals. Laugh if you must, but it’s taken the Rams sorting through five prospects and three starting kickers to finally land one who actually can make the kicks he is paid to make. In fact, Matt Gay is the LA Rams’ third starting kicker this season. He signed on to the Rams after Kai Forbath was injured against the first meeting with the Seattle Seahawks.  He has not missed a field goal since December 6 when he was one of two. Better still, he is a perfect 16 out of 16 on extra points as well.

The Rams are a far cry better now heading into round two of the NFL Playoffs than when they opened the 2020 NFL season. The kicking game is rock steady, coverage teams are playing well, and even the return game for the Rams is on an upward trend.  This is all good news for an LA Rams team heading to face the Green Bay Packers in a week’s time.  Go Rams!