The Los Angeles Rams are going up agaisnt the NFL's best defense in the Seattle Seahawks. Going on the road, facing a raucous crowd and stingy defense won't be easy.
Matthew Stafford and the potent Rams offense should be able to manage despite the tough environment. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams will have the chance for a big game as well.
But neither Nacua nor Adams was ESPN's Matt Bowen's "X factor" for this Rams-Seahawks matchup. Instead, it's tight end Colby Parkinson, who will be a major part of the Rams' passing game against Seattle's defense in the NFC Championship game.
Rams 'X factor' vs. Seattle is TE Colby Parkinson
"Matchups X factor: Rams TE Colby Parkinson. In coach Sean McVay's system, the boot concepts are a major part of the offensive game plan," Bowen writes. "This season, quarterback Matthew Stafford had a league-high 74 attempts on designed rollouts, which opens the door for TEs to see volume in the pass game."
Having a dynamic tight end at their disposal is a huge advantage for the Rams against the Seahawks. Their passing defense is great, but the tight end position is one way to beat the stout defense.
Instead of going after the cornerbacks, who are some of the best in the NFL, the Rams offense will be better-off going after the linebackers and safeties in coverage.
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It's still not an easy matchup, but with Parkinson, it's a matchup that can be exploited. Through the two playoff wins for the Rams, Parkinson has 90 yards receiving and a touchdown, which was the game-winner against the Carolina Panthers.
In an offense with Nacua and Adams, the Rams' X factor on offense, per Bowen, is a tight end. Parkinson has 43 receptions for 408 yards this season, but his eight touchdowns show how much of an impact player he is in the red zone.
Getting touchdowns instead of field goals will be huge, and Parkinson will be a major catalyst for success for the Rams' offense in this tough matchup.
Adams and Nacua will have their roles, but the Rams are likely to utilize Parkinson like a top option in the offense against Seattle. He's not produced elite numbers yet against Seattle, but maybe the third time's the charm.
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