The Los Angeles Rams had deliberate a celebration on Monday night time, however rookie go rusher Jared Verse did not get the memo. The Rams’ protection was distinctive, setting a playoff report by sacking Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold 9 instances and scoring a landing off one of many ensuing fumbles. Though he performed a key position within the Rams’ 27-9 win over the Vikings, Verse’s title was lacking from the sack tally.
He laughed it off after the sport, stating how all of his teammates obtained in on the motion aside from him. Kobie Turner had a number of sacks, Braden Fiske recorded one, Neville Gallimore completed with 1.5, Byron Younger added 1.5, and Ahkello Witherspoon chipped in with one, spreading the sack tally throughout the board.
Jared Verse’s humorous tackle the Rams’ sack social gathering
“To see Kobie go on the market and have two and a half, three sacks – no matter he had – go loopy,” the Rams defensive lineman stated. “You see Fiske go loopy. All people going loopy. Neville go loopy. BY going loopy. Ahkello on the market. I’m like, what the hell? It’s a sack social gathering and I’m not invited.”
It is shocking, contemplating that Verse led the group in pressures, but someway, he didn’t get in on the sack motion, whereas eight different Rams defenders recorded a minimum of half a sack.
Though Verse did not register a sack, he nonetheless made a major affect on the sport. He returned a fumble 57 yards for a landing, recorded six pressures, and made two tackles, usually dealing with double groups from the Vikings.
Defensive deal with Braden Fiske has been dominant all season. Within the common season, he totaled 44 tackles, 24 assists, 8.5 sacks, and two pressured fumbles with recoveries. In his playoff debut, Fiske contributed one deal with, one help, and a half-sack. He did not have to do a lot, as the remainder of the protection stepped as much as deal with the load.
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Verse is having an excellent rookie yr, arguably even higher than Fiske’s. Already named Professional Soccer Focus (PFF) Defensive Rookie of the Yr, Verse performed in all 17 regular-season video games, beginning 16. He tallied 77 pressures, 41 solo tackles, 16 assists, 56 hurries, 6 sacks, two go deflections, and compelled and recovered two fumbles.
Sam Darnold dooming the Vikings
Along with the Rams’ dominant sack efficiency, Sam Darnold’s lackluster play will probably be a significant storyline from the sport. Coming off a tough efficiency in a 31-9 loss to the Lions in Week 18, Darnold struggled once more towards L.A. He accomplished 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards, one landing, one interception, and a misplaced fumble.
Though the sack depend would not absolutely seize it, Sam Darnold’s efficiency performed a key position within the excessive sack whole. Preliminary PFF information exhibits that his common time to throw was 3.19 seconds, and he was sacked on 40.9 p.c of pressures. After back-to-back difficult outings, the offseason will probably deliver many questions on his viability as a beginning quarterback.
On the offensive aspect, the Rams earned their first playoff win since their 2021 Tremendous Bowl victory, due to a dominant defensive effort and some environment friendly drives led by Matthew Stafford (19-of-27, 209 yards, 2 TDs, no turnovers).
Stafford linked up with Kyren Williams early for a landing (19 touches, 92 whole yards, 1 TD), and the Rams took management after an important second-quarter evaluation that overturned what would have been a defensive landing for the Vikings.
The Rams will journey to Philadelphia to face the Eagles within the divisional spherical on Sunday afternoon. The matchup guarantees a tricky battle between two defenses that dominated within the wild-card spherical.