Games in the NFL are often won in the trenches with offensive and defensive lines. If you can protect your quarterback, pressure the opposing team’s passer and stuff the run, you’re going to have a great chance to come away victorious on the scoreboard.
The Rams were great up front against the Chicago Bears in their 34-14 victory, allowing very little pressure on Matthew Stafford and getting good protection from their defensive linemen – led by Aaron Donald, of course.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Rams were the only team in the NFL to have one of the five highest-graded offensive and defensive lines in Week 1.
The only team with a top-5 graded offensive and defensive line?
The Los Angeles Rams 💪 pic.twitter.com/f4tmyaL5vK
— PFF (@PFF) September 16, 2021
Sebastian Joseph-Day and Aaron Donald both missed tackles and A’Shawn Robinson only played 23 snaps, but PFF clearly liked the way Los Angeles’ defensive front played against the Bears despite allowing 134 yards rushing.
The offensive line was a huge part of the victory, allowing those big plays to develop by providing Stafford with enough time to find his open receivers. It wasn’t an easy matchup for the O-line, either, facing Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn.
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