Each weekday, theRams.com will be taking a look around the internet for the top Rams headlines of the day. Here's a look at what's out there for Thursday, December 27th about your Los Angeles Rams.
DONALD EARLY DPOY
ESPN's Bill Barnwell has defensive tackle Aaron Donald as his end-of-the-season candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
Here's what Barnwell said about the NFL's leader in sacks:
"While Donald's MVP candidacy fell by the wayside after a pair of quiet games in Weeks 14 and 15, he's still comfortably the best pass-rusher in football. His 19.5 sacks are four more than any other defender in the league, and his 38 knockdowns are seven ahead of second-placed Fletcher Cox. Kawann Short is the only defensive tackle in the league with more tackles for loss against the run, but I don't see a reason to overthink this. This is the easiest pick on my ballot."
For all of Barnwell's early regular-season awards, click here.
O-LINE STRENGTH
NFL.com's Shaun O'Hara named the Rams offensive line as one the best in Week 16. O'Hara says L.A.'s 269 yards rushing and running back C.J. Anderson's 167-yard performance should be credited to a strong performance by the O-line.
"The fact that he had 167 rushing yards (8.4 yards per carry) speaks volumes about the Rams' offensive line, which was PFF's top-ranked run-blocking unit this week. Right tackle Rob Havenstein had his best performance of the year in the ground game, and the group didn't allow a sack. In fact, it gave up just four total pressures in the pass game. The outstanding effort was led by left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who didn't allow a pressure, and right guard Austin Blythe, who has yet to give up a sack this season."
For more on the top offensive lines of Week 16, click here.
WEEK 17 PREDICTION
Bleacher Report's NFL staff sees the Rams taking care of the 49ers in the season's final game and effectively sweeping the NFC West on Sunday. The Rams beat the 49ers 39-10 in their previous matchup and analysts are predicting a lopsided score once again.
"That latest blowout came in Week 16, when they trounced the Cards 31-9 despite the absence of star running back Todd Gurley.
That may or may not be the case again in Week 17, but the Rams still look like a safe bet laying 10 points at home against a team they crushed 39-10 on the road earlier this season.
'You have to establish the run in order to neutralize the Rams' pass rush,' [BR's Brad] Gagnon said, 'but the 49ers running game has thesecond-worst DVOAin the NFL. And you have to find a way to turn over Jared Goff in order to get the Rams flustered on offense, but the 49ers defense ranks dead last in the NFL with seven takeaways. It's just not a good matchup.'"
Score Prediction: Los Angeles 31, San Francisco 17
For all Week 17 picks, click here.
