This Rams defense is grading out like a nightmare

RC Nazemi

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This Rams defense is grading out like a nightmare image

For fans of the Los Angeles Rams, this isn’t quite the high point of the season by any means. After losing the 1-seed in the NFC after a loss to the Carolina Panthers, this team has seen better days this season. 

Luckily, it’s just a regular-season game, and the Rams are still very much poised not just to make the playoffs but to cause problems once they get there. 

From the top down, this team is a train coming down the tracks. Sean McVay is one of the best coaches in the league, Matthew Stafford is playing like an MVP, and their offensive weapons have looked like just that. 

More: Matthew Stafford breaks TD record held by Tom Brady

Despite this team’s offensive prowess, it might just be their defense that sets them apart. After Pro Football Focus released its grades through Week 13, it’s undeniable. 

Rams' defense is head and shoulders above the league

When you look at the stats, the Rams’ defense looks fairly unassuming. They rank 12th in total yards allowed and 13th in both rushing and passing yards allowed. The raw numbers are all in the top half of the league, but nothing to write home about.

When you look at the PFF grades, however, it’s a different story. Pro Football Focus uses much more context. Their grades are adjusted based on factors such as game situation, down-and-distance, or the quality of coverage. 

When PFF took a look at the Rams' defense through Week 13, the numbers flew off the page. 

The rankings listed in the tweet above should strike fear into any opponent that has to face this team the rest of the way out. 

Kam Curl is 3rd in the NFL in solo tackles (63), and Nate Landman is 8th in total tackles (106), but nobody on this defense will likely be a Pro Bowl selection. That just goes to show how impressive they’ve been as a cohesive unit. 

They may have had a rough week against Carolina, but I pity the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14. 

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Senior Editor