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The Los Angeles Rams (3-2), coming off a tough home loss to division rival Seattle Seahawks, look to bounce back in Week 6 as they travel east to take on the AFC South leading Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2).
To say these two teams are unfamiliar with one another would be an understatement. It’s been more than four years since these two teams last faced off — a game that resulted in a 34-20 win for the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The series history dates back to 1996, but the Rams and Jags have only stepped on the field together four times. This Sunday, the Rams will look to improve to 4-1 in the all-time series and remain atop the NFC West.
Can the Rams’ offense get back on track this weekend? Can their defense limit the damage on the ground from Leonard Fournette? The Turf Show Times’ staff have their predictions...
EddieP (@iAmEddieP_)
This’ll be an interesting game. The Jags gave a strong running game with rookie Leonard Fournette. It’ll be up to the Rams’ run defense to stop em.
On offense the Rams cannot have the miscues they did last week. Gurley has to receive more than 14 touches. Sammy Watkins needs to receive his fare share of targets. The playmakers gotta make plays, especially against a tough defense like Jacksonville’s.
Prediction: Rams win 20-13
RamBuck (@lannyosu)
The Rams will find a way to get Gurley and Watkins plenty of touches, three of which will result in TDs. Goff will limit mistakes and distribute the ball in a dink and dunk game plan.
Prediction: Rams win 24-21
Joey Aucoin (@LaRamsRamsRams)
My non-bold prediction is that the passing game will be quiet for both teams due to the Jag’s strong passing defense and Blake Bortles being a terrible QB. I feel like Leonard Fournette will continue to roll over defenses, handing a W over to the Jags.
Prediction: Jaguars win 21-13
Eric Nagel (@Eric_nagel)
I think the Jags have too good a defense, and the Rams just aren’t designed to stop them. However, I expect the team to bounce back, so it should be close.
Prediction: Jaguars win 23-16
Charlie Hiller (@charliehiller)
This should be a fun game. Both teams are sort of the surprises of their conferences and each team is looking to build on their early success. The Rams need a real bounce-back effort after handing the Seahawks a win last week, and it'll have to come against a defense that just picked off Ben Roethlisberger 5 times. If the Rams can limit their mistakes, this can be a big road win while Seattle is on a bye.
Prediction: Rams win 33-20
Theramsreport (@theramsreportIG)
Jaguars ferocious secondary and great pass rush are too much for Jared Goff as Todd Gurley can’t carry the offense. Game is a defensive battle.
Prediction: Jaguars win 20-10
TG25 (@MrTimGodfrey)
Rams get back to their winning ways because, while talented, Jacksonville is the same team who lost to the New York Jets and has Blake Bortles as their quarterback. The winning in spite of hot, wet trash can as their quarterback can't last forever.
Prediction: Rams win 31-28
Elijah Kim (@Big_EZK)
The Rams look to get back on track against a strong Jacksonville secondary. While on paper the Jaguars secondary has posted great numbers, a deeper look into the competition shows that they've done well against somewhat weak competition. The Jaguars run defense hasn't been good regardless so it'll be surprising to see if Gurley doesn't eclipse the 20 carry mark. Look for the Rams to lean on the run game and playaction to emerge in a close game in Jacksonville.
Prediction: Rams win 24-20
BMule (@_BMule)
The Rams offense and McVay stalled out last week against the Seahawks. It doesn't get much easier this week. The Jaguars lead the league in sacks and forced turnovers but are giving up the most yards per carry and they still are getting by with Blake Bortles. Gurley needs 25+ touches. I'm sure that we'll see an improved Rams offense but I'm not sure if it will be enough.
Prediction: Jagaurs win 20-17
seattlerams (@seattlerams_nfl)
In a close game where both teams are able to move the ball, Kayvon Webster takes a pick-6 back late in the 4th quarter to send the Rams to London with a 4-2 record.
Prediction: Rams win 24-21
Sosa Kremenjas (@SosaNFLDraft)
The Rams get back on track with a strong overall team performance. Todd Gurley has quite a day against the Jaguars struggling run defense, and Coach McVay refuses to get away from running Todd in back-to-back weeks. Blake Bortles is pressured into a few of his patented mistakes, and the Rams bottle Leonard Fournette just enough to get the win.
Prediction: Rams win 24-17
Sean Wilkinson (@Papa_Lurch)
This is an intriguing matchup that virtually no one expected to have any playoff implications, yet here we are with the upstart Rams and Jags jockeying for early playoff position.
With the Rams offense and Jags defense being the among the most surprising units in the NFL this season, I expect it to be a fun game. My gut tells me that the Rams won't have enough on D to slow Leonard Fournette and the Rams fall to 3-3.
Prediction: Jaguars win 31-25
3k (@3k_)
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Prediction: Rams win 23-13
Brandon Bate (@NoPlanB_)
It’s getting hard to gauge which Rams team we’ll see on Sundays — both on offense and defense. I’m guessing this is another very close game that comes down the wire. I’m giving the slight advantage to the team that’s not traveling coast to coast.
Prediction: Jaguars win 27-23
Fourteen TST staff members participated in this week’s roundtable. Eight of them are predicting the Rams to win on Sunday.