Record Set: 13 Personnel Achieve Under Heavy Pressure
The Los Angeles Rams experienced a significant victory in Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals, securing a 37-20 win. The team’s performance highlighted their strategic use of 13 personnel, which proved instrumental in both their offensive and defensive executions.
Record-Setting Performance by the Rams
In their latest game, the Rams pressured Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett extensively. The Rams achieved a remarkable 60% pressure rate, ranking them fifth among all teams for the season, according to Next Gen Stats.
Defensive Dominance
- The Rams pressured Brissett a total of 24 times, resulting in six sacks.
- They accomplished this with minimal blitzing, only resorting to blitz four times, with three pressures and two sacks generated from those calls.
- A collective effort saw 10 different Rams players exert pressure on the quarterback, with nine players achieving multiple pressures.
Significantly, during the contest, outside linebacker Jared Verse and defensive end Kobie Turner each recorded six quarterback pressures. Additionally, outside linebacker Desjuan Johnson contributed with five pressures of his own.
Strategic Use of 13 Personnel
The Rams set a new record for the highest percentage of plays in 13 personnel during a single game, reaching 66.7%. This statistic reflects their reliance on using three tight ends for two-thirds of their offensive plays.
- The Rams averaged 6.1 yards per play with this personnel grouping.
- They scored three touchdowns, all thrown to tight ends.
Tight end Davis Allen expressed the positive impact of this strategy, stating, “It felt good to get some momentum going into the playoffs.”
Key Statistics from the Game
| Player | Position | Catches | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tylor Higbee | Tight End | 5 | 81 | 1 |
| Colby Parkinson | Tight End | 4 | 46 | 2 |
Overall, the Rams’ tight ends accounted for a substantial 49% of quarterback Matthew Stafford’s passing yards. Stafford ended the game throwing for 259 yards and four touchdowns, indicating a powerful alignment between the tight ends and the quarterback.
This victory not only reinforces the Rams’ playoff aspirations but also showcases their potential, particularly when leveraging their 13 personnel strategy effectively.
