RAMS (4-2) at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-2)
When: 6:30 a.m. PT Sunday
Where: Wembley Stadium, London
TV/Radio: NFL Network; NFL+/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 380, 227
Line: Rams by 3.5
Notable injury designations
Rams: OUT: WR Puka Nacua (ankle), RT Rob Havenstein (ankle).
Jaguars: OUT: LB Devin Lloyd (calf), TE Quintin Morris (groin).
What’s at stake? The Rams want to go into their bye week with a win after two straight years entering their off week coming off a discouraging loss. The Jaguars, coming off a 20-12 defeat at the the hands of the Seattle Seahawks, are trying to keep pace with the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South race.
Who’s better? The Rams are further along in their building process than the Jaguars, but Jacksonville has proven they can hang with some of the best teams in the NFL after winning three straight against the Texans, 49ers and Chiefs in Weeks 3-5. Still, the Rams have more elite talent on the roster, even without Nacua.
Matchup to watch: Rams S Quentin Lake vs. Jaguars WR Travis Hunter. Jacksonville’s top receiver, Brian Thomas, is a bad matchup for the Rams’ secondary. He excels against press coverage and has the size to win over the undersized Rams corners. But if Lake can shut down the offensive-defensive wunderkind Hunter in the slot, it should limit Jacksonville’s ability to move the ball consistently.
Rams win if: WR Davante Adams tops 100 yards receiving and he and QB Matthew Stafford connect on more than 70% of his targets. … They hold Jacksonville’s inconsistent run game to less than 3.5 yards per carry. … They convert 60% of their trips to the red zone into touchdowns.
Fantasy sleeper: Rams WR Jordan Whittington. The second-year receiver is more comfortable in the slot role where Nacua has thrived this season, so expect Whittington to pick up some work in the Pro Bowl receiver’s absence.
Prediction: Rams 24, Jaguars 17. Beat reporter’s record: 5-1 on the season; 4-2 against the spread.