The (8-7) Los Angeles Rams will travel to East Rutherford, NJ, to take on the (5-10) New York Giants Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The Rams come into this contest as one of the hottest teams in the NFL, having won five out of the last six games, and are currently the sixth seed in the NFC. The Giants, on the other hand, have lost two straight and have made a switch at quarterback, replacing Tommy DeVito in favor of Tyrod Taylor.
Los Angeles has won the last three games between these two NFC foes and is favored to win their fourth straight in the rivalry. But Brian Daboll and his team would like to put a dent into the Rams’ playoff chances.
Here are four bold predictions for Sunday’s game.
Puka Nacua will set two rookie single-season receiving records
Before the start of the season, no one could have envisioned that Rams fifth-round receiver Puka Nacua would be one of the favorites to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. But with two games remaining in the season, that’s where we stand as the 22-year-old wideout is on the brink of setting two single-season rookie receiving records.
Nacua is nine receptions away from breaking Jaylen Waddle’s rookie record for most receptions (104), which he set in 2021, and is 147 yards away from breaking Bill Groman’s record for most receiving yards (1,473), set in 1960.
With the way Nacua and quarterback Matthew Stafford are playing right now, they shouldn’t have any trouble moving the ball against New York’s 20th-ranked pass defense. Look for the star rookie receiver to set two new records on Sunday.
Related: Why is Matthew Stafford not in MVP conversation?
Tyrod Taylor will throw three touchdown passes
When Tyrod Taylor started the second half last week in place of DeVito in New York’s 33-25 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he did add another dynamic to the offense by taking chances downfield. This was evident in his 69-yard touchdown to Darius Slayton.
There’s a cloud of uncertainty over Taylor’s future as he’ll be a free agent at the end of the season and will turn 35 in August. So he’ll be highly motivated to try to get his team a win and showcase his talent so that he’s on an NFL roster next season.
The best way to attack the Los Angeles defense is through the air, as they have the 22nd-ranked pass defense. If the offensive line can protect him against Aaron Donald and the Rams’ front seven, expect Taylor to have his best game of the season, as he’ll throw for three touchdowns.
Related: Updated NFL QB Rankings
Kyren Williams will have a 60-yard touchdown run
One of the biggest surprises of the season has been the Rams second-year running back Kyren Williams. His 1,057 rushing yards is the second most in the NFL, and he’s averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
This week, he’ll face the Giants’ 29th-ranked run defense (134.2) yards per game, which allowed 170 yards on the ground last week to the Eagles. To make matters worse for New York, Dexter Lawrence has been limited in practice this week due to a hamstring injury.
Throughout this season, Williams has shown his ability to make a big play at any moment as a runner or pass catcher. He’ll have another explosive play on Sunday as he will score on a 60-yard touchdown run.
Related: Los Angeles Rams are scary good with Kyren Williams as their secret weapon
Kayvon Thibodeaux will have two strip sacks on Matthew Stafford
Kayvon Thibodeaux has made huge strides in his second season, increasing his sack total from four as a rookie to 11.5 this year. However, in the last two weeks, he’s been a virtual no-show as he hasn’t recorded a sack in the last two games and didn’t even record a tackle last week.
The Rams have done a good job of keeping Matthew Stafford upright this season, as he’s been sacked 26 times in the 14 games he’s played in. But Thibodeaux will be highly motivated to have a bounce-back performance. Look for the 23-year-old pass rusher to have two strip sacks of Stafford and show why he’s one of the best young pass rushers in the league.
Prediction: With the way Stafford and the Rams offense is playing, it’s hard to see a scenario where New York can keep up with them.
Rams 31, Giants 24
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