Rams (8-7) at Giants (5-10)
When: 10 a.m. PT Sunday
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ.
TV/Radio: Fox/New York (WFAN 660 AM)
Line: Rams by 6
Notable injury designation:
Rams: OUT: CB Tre Tomlinson (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: WR Puka Nacua (hip), OL Joe Noteboom (foot), OL Alaric Jackson (thigh), LB Ernest Jones (illness).
Giants: DOUBTFUL: TE Lawrence Cager (groin); QUESTIONABLE: CB Deonte Banks (shoulder), WR Wan’Dale Robinson (Quad) questionable.
What’s at stake? A win would strengthen the Rams’ playoff chances – and they can clinch a berth Sunday with a win and either a Seattle Seahawks loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers or a tie between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. As for the Giants, the only implication Sunday’s scoreline has is on where they’ll pick in April’s NFL draft.
Who’s better? Record-wise, the Rams, thanks to winning five of their past six games, hold a three-game advantage over the Giants. The Rams offense has scored at least 28 points five games in a row, while the Giants have done that only twice this season. The Giants are cycling through a quarterback carousel, landing on Tyrod Taylor this week, while Matthew Stafford has started 14 games this season, throwing for 3,648 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Matchup to watch? Rams offensive line vs. Giants pass rush. The Rams’ line has been the epitome of health this season, although Joe Noteboom and Alaric Jackson status are up in the air for Sunday. The Giants’ defensive line earned praise from head coach Sean McVay, Stafford and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. That unit is led by former Oregon and Oaks Christian High star defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Rams win if? They control the ball, limit turnovers and take care of business. McVay referred to the Giants as “opportunistic” on multiple occasions this week. It’s a fair point after former USC and Serra High star Adoree’ Jackson picked off Jalen Hurts last week and the Giants’ special teams unit recovered a fumble that set up an immediate red-zone possession. Stafford hasn’t thrown an interception in four weeks, but running back Kyren Williams fumbled twice against Washington. After building leads, the Rams allowed the Saints and the Commanders back into the games the past two weeks. They can’t afford to do that with the Giants, who are just waiting to spoil the Rams’ playoff odds.
Fantasy sleeper: WR Demarcus Robinson. He may not even be a sleeper anymore after scoring a touchdown in each of the past four weeks. The Rams have a consolidated target share between Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Robinson, so it’s not hard to trust his volume. Nacua is listed as questionable and if he’s limited in any fashion, Robinson’s role will expand.
Prediction: Rams 24, Giants 20