The LA Rams will encounter more Ravens-like teams in the playoffs

Strong running games and dominating defenses may not be common among the 32 teams that comprise the universe of the regular season schedule. But the LA Rams need to beat that particular type of NFL team because they dominate the NFL Playoffs. Of the Top-15 NFL defenses in the NFL right now, only that of the Miami Dolphins (7th-ranked) and the Denver Broncos (13th-ranked) are associated with teams unlikely to make the playoffs.

Of the top defenses in the NFL, rushing defense is perhaps the least appreciated. And yet, stopping the run appears to be one of the prerequisites to a playoff berth. Of all six NFL defenses that average under 100 yards rushing by their opponent, all but one has earned the right to compete in the NFL Playoffs. The lone outlier is the Baltimore Ravens.

While a strong running game no longer carries teams into the playoffs, the bias of strong rushing offenses remains. Of the Top-10 rushing offenses in the NFL, only the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears are teams that may not compete in post-season.

Ravens, Titans, 49ers, and more NFL teams check the same boxes

Another team that checks the same boxes as the Baltimore Ravens? The San Francisco 49ers.

Ultimately, the LA Rams will face a team with the same strategy as the Baltimore Ravens in the postseason. The LA Rams will face a physical team with an offensive game plan that relies on running the football to control the clock and move the chains. And then turn it over to the defense focused upon creating turnovers and protecting the lead.

So the question becomes, can the LA Rams beat that type of team?

So far in the 2021 NFL season, a physical ground-game offense has been the LA Rams Kryptonite. Even against teams that typically pass like the Green Bay Packers, opposing offenses of teams that have bested the Rams have leaned more than their average into the ground game. While the Rams defense is great on a per-carry basis, whenever the Rams face teams that commit to the run, they try to commit to the pass, with disastrous results.

Defeating the Baltimore Ravens today can do quite a bit for the LA Rams playoff strategy. A victory will position the Rams to benefit from the outcome of the Arizona Cardinals-Dallas Cowboys Week 17 contest, no matter who wins.  Winning will also prevent a playoff team from replicating the Ravens’ strategy to defeat the Rams in the post-season.

Perhaps the most important reason of all comes down to the fact that the LA Rams need to know going into the playoffs that they can defeat teams that are physical and ground-game focused. Knowledge like that can make the LA Rams a very dangerous playoff team, indeed.