Rams rookie OLB Jared Verse leads Rams defense in a wild Wild Card Round

If you look up the cost of all defenses in the NFL, you might be shocked to discover that the LA Rams defense is the cheapest defense in the NFL. That's right, of 32 NFL defenses in the 2024 NFL season, the Rams payroll for this season has spent less than 31 other NFL teams. With that fact in mind, you might expect the Rams defense to be the underperforming phase of this Rams defense.

The Rams have ridden the coattails of the opportunistic defense this season, with the team allowing just 24 points over the final three games of the season (with starters). The Rams defense has threatened NFL quarterbacks all season, but the team has failed to tally up the number of quarterback sacks that this young pass rush hoped for.

But it is not this day.

I have talked quite a bit about how the Los Angeles Rams community needed heroes to rally around, Well, you don't have to look far in the Wild Card Round pitting the Minnesota Vikings against the LA Rams. The Rams arrived with their game faces on, and are turning this one into a route.

I'm not surprised in the least. Days earlier, I cited how rookie outside linebacker Jared Verse is built perfectly for the NFL Playoffs. At halftime, he has one tackle. But he has made a huge impact on this one. You see, Verse scooped up a fumble and rumbled in for a touchdown.

That has been the trademark of the Rams defense this year. They have scored on fumble recovers, pick sixes, blocked kicks, and even put up a safety. The Rams defense has terrorized Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, as defensive back Cobie Durant slyly picks off one of his passes in the first half:

The Rams have sacked Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold a phenomenal six times in the first half. And with a halftime score of Rams 24 and Vikings 3, the Rams pass rush can expect to pin their ears back and flush Darnold out of the pocket throughout the second half.

The Rams' defense scored their third fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first half. It's a new twist on the Rams' stout defense and was the goal of the Rams front office in constructing the defense to suit the specifications of DC Chris Shula.

The Rams have to be proud of their relentless pass rush in this one. NT Kobie Turner has 2.0 quarterback sacks. OLB Byron Young has 1.5 quarterback sacks. NT Neville Gallimore has 0.5 sacks. Finally, DBs Ahkello Witherspoon and Cobie Durant each have 1.0 quarterback sacks.

Cobie Durant has an interception, a quarterback sack, a tackle for a loss, and has broken up a pass. That's about a good of a half as he could be expected to put up.

The LA Rams are at the 10:00 minute mark of the third quarter with a pretty significant lead.

10:00 in the third quarter

Minnesota Vikings 3
Los Angeles Rams 24

There is a lot of football to play in this one. But for the Wild Card Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, the Rams appear to be taking on the burden of stepping up for the city of Los Angeles, California. So far, the offense, defense, and special teams all appear to be locked in. Only the officials have tarnished the Rams performance in this one, flagging Rams players on iffy penalties.

Matthew Stafford has completed 17 of 24 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns. With a three-score lead, I expect the offense to gear down and try to run the football more. Hopefully, the offense can continue to move the chains and keep the defense fresh.

As always, thank you so much for reading.

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