Quarterback: I appreciate both of these quarterbacks. Joe Burrow has the Tom Brady mindset, but as a player, he’s a more mobile Drew Brees. Not bad to be compared to a few legends. The confidence Joe plays with is amazing. He’s never phased and this goes back to his days back at LSU. I’ve always felt Matthew Stafford has been very misunderstood. Now, he’s in a position with nice pieces around him and an offensive-minded head coach. However, Stafford can be a bit careless with the ball at times.
Advantage: Bengals, but slightly.
Running Back: The Rams are a scary team when they run the football. Isn’t it amazing that Cam Akers is back after tearing his Achilles? Don’t forget Sony Michel either. He’s got the big game experience and has a Super Bowl ring under his belt. Joe Mixon on the other side for Cincinnati is special. All year, I’ve referred to him as the Bengals version of Aaron Jones because of the versatility he displays. The Bengals have so many weapons on the perimeter.
Advantage: Rams
Wide Receiver: Cooper Kupp has been the best wide receiver in the league this year. Now, I’ll serve myself a slice of humble pie because, during the off-season, I kept saying that the Rams didn’t have a true number one receiver. Cooper has emerged as that top target. The other weapons have also been consistent. Van Jefferson has stepped up and Odell Beckham has been a consistent threat who appears to be having fun once again. Ja’Marr Chase has been a nightmare for defensive backs this year. He’s the favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Outside of Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd have also been other targets for Burrow.
Advantage: Draw
Tight End: This one was harder than to be expected. Tyler Higbee has become one of the best playing the position that is tight end. To be a successful receiver, you must be able to show what you can do without the football and Tyler has shown he can block consistently. I also give him the slight edge in receiving over C.J. Uzomah. It’s looking like Higbee will be on the injured list up until the game on Sunday. The Rams have a more complete group of tight ends than the Bengals do.
Advantage: Rams (if Tyler plays). If not, Bengals.
Offensive Line: The Rams’ offensive line is anchored by Andrew Whitworth. He continues to beat Father Time at the age of 40. Los Angeles had one of the best offensive lines in football this year and they did it consistently. The Bengals’ offensive line has been too up and down for my liking. Look at the game against the Titans in the playoffs. They allowed a total of nine sacks in that one game. Altogether, the Bengals allowed 55 sacks, and Burrow was taken down 51 times.
Advantage: Rams by a country mile.
