Rams take the conservative route in 19-9 win over Jets

Week 16 snap count review. Who played well?

After a slow start, the 8-6 Los Angeles Rams eventually choked off the home team 4-10 New York Jets this Sunday past. L.A.’s 19-9 win came via conservative gameplans on both sides of the ball, while the Jets played like they had nothing to lose.

New York went for it on five fourth down attempts and converted only two. One of the failures came at their own 33 yard line and led to a Rams touchdown. Another came with the Jets leading 9-6 in the third quarter, they eschewed a short field goal to extend the lead and then missed on a pass into the end zone.

In a sunny, well-below freezing weather, the Rams kept pounding away with the run game, while New York decided to throw the ball 42 times. Early in the game, the Jets had some success running the ball, but abandoned it quickly for the pass. You have to wonder if Aaron Rodgers wasn’t the quarterback, New York might have stayed with the run. As the game progressed, L.A. kept constricting until the Jets had no oxygen. They did what 4-10 team’s do, all the little things that work in combination to lose.

Here’s a look at the Rams snap counts from Week 16. Who played? And more importantly, who played well? Players, their snaps, and percentage in bold.

Quarterback

Again, Matthew Stafford (52, 100) started slowly, but did just enough to win a tough road game in inclement weather.

Running back

Kyren Willians (44, 83%) juked a few guys, ran over others, and quickly reacted to open lanes on the way to his best game of the year. Talk about a bellcow, after 303 carries and 86% of snaps, he still looks quick and strong. Poor Blake Corum (9, 17%) just gets a little mop up work, although he did have a long gainer called back. I don’t care much for Corum as a kick returner. I’m sure the Rams want to keep him involved, but it doesn’t suit his skillset and Xavier Smith would make things more dynamic.

Wide receiver

If strong work on special teams earns you more reps, Jordan Whittington (12, 23%) should cash in. He really stood out and anybody who scouted his college game are not surprised. Although his offensive snaps were in line with the past few weeks, there aren’t many to go around after Puka Nacua (42, 81%) and Cooper Kupp (41, 77%) get fed. You can put Tutu Atwell (11, 21%) in the grouping with Whit, there just aren’t enough balls to go around, particularly with the Rams running it 30+ times.

Under the same heading, targets for Demarcus Robinson (38, 73%) have plummeted. While his on-field percentage has remained steady since the return of Nacua and Kupp, he hasn’t charted a catch in three games and only been targeted 13 times over the past six games.

Xavier Smith (3, 6%) had his first offensive reps in a month. I do find it a bit strange that he’s not deep on kickoffs with Whittington. This appears to me to be the most dangerous combination.

Tight End

The comeback of Tyler Higbee (14, 27%) is a great story. He basically had his knee re-structured. Even with the rust of a 10-month layoff, Higbee was the best tight end on the field. How many reps should we realistically project going forward? And who should they be taken from?

I wouldn’t expect they come from Colby Parkinson (17, 33%), he’s looked a little better all-around, as of late. Although Hunter Long (19, 37%) has been on a six-week run at 30% of snaps and has been a special teams stalwart, his on-field performance was down against the Jets. His total of 15 games played and 259 snaps is by far, the most of his career. The fewest snaps for Davis Allen (12, 23%) since a Week 4 return from injury. He’s been trending down steadily since Week 6, although I thought he had 3-4 good blocks in New York.

Offensive line

Strong day for the big uglies. On the back of their work, the Rams were able to both run up the middle and attack on the flanks. Harder to grade pass protection, the game plan was very conservative and the pass attack was more complementary in nature.

Beaux Limmer (52, 100%) did struggle somewhat (5 penalties and a pressure), but overall, L.A. really ran well right up the gut. On the Rams first scoring drive, he was the lead blocker on the Puka Nacua screen that went inside the Jets. To spring him, Limmer hustled from the hash out to sideline (23+ yards) to be first on the scene.

The others, Alaric Jackson (52, 100%), Steve Avila (52, 100%), Kevin Dotson (52, 100%), and Rob Havenstein (52, 100%) all had strong outings. This starting unit has now been together for four straight games and are peaking at the right time.

Special teams

Don’t know if it was the cold or a change in strategy, but on kickoffs Ethan Evans (11) did not boom them all through the end zone. Three of five were returned for 99 total yards. Both of his punts were dropped inside the 15 yard line, one was muffed and recovered by L.A and the other downed at the one. It didn’t appear a bad snap by Alex Ward (6) on the missed PAT. After the missed extra point, Josh Karty (5) settled in and drilled home two medium-length field goals.

Defensive line

For Bobby Brown (14, 20%), it was the lowest snap count of the season, while Neville Gallimore (17, 25%) was at his season average. Both were deemed unneeded with the Jets throwing so much and the two Rams not being particularly adept at pressure. By my count, neither played in the final quarter. Tyler Davis (20, 29%) had his biggest workload in three weeks. Desjuan Johnson (7, 10%) mopped up.

The Jets came in with a quick-release, underneath pass plan and it kept Kobie Turner (50, 72%) and Braden Fiske (49, 71%) at bay. It looked obvious the Rams were trying to rush, keep the pocket secure, and collapse the pocket from there. L.A. has been trending down in blitz support, mostly rushing just four players with some simulated blitz looks.

Edge

More victims of the quick passing game, so to speak. Interested to see when the pressure rates come out later in the week because when ARod didn’t get the ball out quick, the Rams were able to press. A 67% completion rate is certainly good, but in the context of just few air yards (average under five, by my count), not so much. Jared Verse (55, 80%) and Byron Young (49, 71%) were much improved setting the edge. Michael Hoecht (37, 54%) offers quality backup reps and helps keep athletic players on the field.

Off-ball linebacker

Another good outing by the pair and actually a good season. I wonder how fans feel about the Rams needing to put out real some capital on an inside line backer for next year. Although a 2025 unrestricted free agent, Christian Rozeboom (66, 96%) isn’t likely to command the recompense of the other bigger names.

While still learning the pro game, one area where Omar Speights (38, 55%) stands out is hitting gaps in the run fits. He comes downhill hard and strikes well when gets there, his fourth down stop at the Jets 33 lit the Rams up and the short field was converted into a touchdown.

Safety

To counter the short passing game and cover a shortage at cornerback, the Rams used their big nickel and dime secondary schemes exclusively. New York QB Aaron Rodgers may have hinted/looked deep on a few throws, but it was mostly to let the L.A. short coverage players drop and throw short crosser/drag and flat pattern’s. As a a unit, the Rams safeties combined for 25 tackles.

Jaylen McCollough (31, 45%) subbed in for Speights as a pseudo-linebacker. He answered the call with his second most snaps of the season and led the Rams in tackles for the game. Quentin Lake (69, 100%) dropped into the slot and became a coverage safety. L.A. played a lot of two-deep zone. As the last line of defense, Kamren Curl (69, 100%) and Kamren Kinchens (50, 72%) weren’t challenged much by deep passes. Curl did have a nice breakup and of course, had the all-important strip sack. Kinchens came downhill twice and leveled receivers.

Cornerback

As is the norm, Ahkello Witherspoon (69, 100%) had a couple of very nice pass breakups and a couple others, he was completely turned around by receivers. Darious Williams (69, 100%) wasn’t challenged much, but did have a late-game breakup over the middle.

Active, but did not play

QB Jimmy Garoppolo, OL Joseph Noteboom, OL Joshua Jackson, CB Cobie Durant

Inactive

QB Stetson Bennett, RB Cody Schrader, WR Tyler Johnson, OL Dylan McMahon, OL Warren McClendon, CB Emmanuel Forbes

Next two weeks? For the birds.

The Rams finish out with home games with the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.

Let’s get the ugly stuff out of the way.

• If the Rams choke out and lose the final pair, they finish at 9-8 and likely in third place.
• If the Seattle Seahawks lose this Thursday night, the Rams take a two game lead in the loss column and must win only one of their final two games.
• If the Seahawks win and L.A. loses this Saturday night versus the Arizona Cardinals, they are tied at 9-7 and it all boils down to the finale, a Week 18 head-to-head match.
• If both the Rams (9-7) and ‘Hawks (8-8) lose this week. L.A. would maintain a one-game lead going into the final regular season game. A loss by both would also bring the Cardinals (8-8) back into the mix and the Red Birds would hold the 3-team tie breaker (as per NFL.com).

It just doesn’t get any easier over these last two weeks. The Rams need a 10-win season to go on to the playoffs.