3 bold predictions for the LA Rams in Super Bowl LVI

Cam the Ram

After a few sub-par games, many are prepared to consider LA Rams RB Cam Akers a non-factor in Super Bowl LVI. But he ran against the Arizona Cardinals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the San Francisco 49ers. In all those games, Akers was either limited in his carries due to workload management (Arizona Cardinals) or he faced some of the best run defenses in the NFL.

Neither will be the case in this one. You see, the Cincinnati Bengals have graciously allowed their opponents to average more than 5.0 yards per rush.  If Akers hits the minimum of 5.0 yards as an average in this game his totals in the playoffs would be 85 yards, 120 yards, and 65 yards. That would be 270 yards rushing so far, instead of his actual 151 yards total.

I predict that Cam Akers will have a breakout game, likely putting up more than 100 yards and a touchdown in this one. Why? Well for two reasons actually.

For starters, Akers has been showing signs of improvement. Against the San Francisco 49ers, he rushed for an average of 3.7 yards per rush, nearly twice the average of the previous week’s outing against the Buccaneers. Akers is getting the feel of running with the football in the NFL once more.

But the other reason is that the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense simply does not defend the run as well as either the Bucs or the 49ers. That means that the LA Rams can and should commit to running the football early and often in this one. By doing so, the offense will commit the Bengals to put eight defenders in the box.  When that happens, the Rams can open up the passing game.