Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
Rams: 13.5, 9-9 ATS
Buccaneers: 14-4, 10-8 ATS
According to the stats collected by Cold, Hard Football Facts, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the most complete team in the NFL. With 22 stats collected, they rank in the top-10 in all 22. In 11 of those, they rank in the top five.
The Rams can hold their own, ranking in the 1op-10 in 14 of 22 statistical categories and in the top-five in six of them. But when it comes to running the ball and stopping the run, the Buccaneers have a huge advantage.
But do they really?
None of the Rams' rushing stats include Cam Akers, who missed the entire regular season with a blown Achilles. But amazingly, he is back and good. He had 17 carries for 55 yards rushing and added another 40 yards receiving against the Cardinals in the Wild Card, and Akers, paired with Sony Michel, give this offense a dimension we haven't seen all year.
When it comes to wide receiver depth, the Rams also have the edge. Mike Evans is fantastic, but then we go to Tyler Johnson, Breshad Perriman, and Scotty Miller. Cooper Kupp has been the best wide receiver in all of football, and he's followed on the depth chart by Odell Beckham, Jr.
But of course, none of that considers the presence of Tom Brady, who just won his 35th postseason game. He is 35-11 in the playoffs, meaning that he has played nearly three full regular seasons extra in just the playoffs. Matthew Stafford just won the first postseason game of his career.
Is Brady enough to cover for the missing players on offense and get Tampa Bay back to the Super Bowl? If anyone is, it's him.
| Los Angeles Rams | Analysis | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Rank | Quality Stat | Value | Rank |
| 10.52 | 6 | Quality Stats Power Rankings | 5.38 | 1 |
| 38% | 14 | Quality Standings | 67% | 3 |
| 13.75 | 7 | Scoreability | 13.50 | 6 |
| 15.76 | 12 | Bendability | 15.96 | 9 |
| 2.01 | 9 | Intelligence Index | 2.46 | 8 |
| 7.28 | 2 | Real Passing Yds/Attempt | 6.94 | 5 |
| 6.09 | 13 | Defensive Real Passing Yds/Attempt | 5.59 | 4 |
| 91.90 | 4 | Real Quarterback Rating | 96.40 | 2 |
| 72.86 | 4 | Defensive Real Quarterback Rating | 76.31 | 8 |
| 19.04 | 5 | Real Quarterback Rating Differential | 20.09 | 2 |
| 101.66 | 6 | Offensive Passer Rating | 101.35 | 7 |
| 84.15 | 5 | Defensive Passer Rating | 85.20 | 7 |
| 17.51 | 5 | Passer Rating Differential | 16.15 | 6 |
| 9.67 | 14 | Offensive Hog Index | 5.00 | 6 |
| 5.00 | 6 | Defensive Hog Index | 7.33 | 9 |
| 4.35 | 8 | Relativity Index | 9.53 | 3 |
| 7,426 | 11 | Total Team Yards | 7,945 | 3 |
| 6,756 | 10 | Total Team Yards Allowed | 6,694 | 7 |
| 670 | 7 | Total Team Yards Differential | 1,251 | 3 |
| 89.98 | 26 | Offensive Rusher Rating | 108.94 | 8 |
| 103.70 | 27 | Defensive Rusher Rating | 87.08 | 3 |
| -13.72 | 26 | Rusher Rating Differential | 21.86 | 4 |