:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58181049/usa_today_10478200.0.jpg)
The Los Angeles Rams are in the playoffs for the first time in 13 years and are coming in as sizable favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in the wild card round per the oddsmakers.
Having opened as 5.5-point favorites, the line has since widened to as much as 6.5 points by some bookmakers. With the Rams having rested the majority of their starters in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers, they should be enjoying optimal health heading in, or as optimal as is possible all things considered. For the Falcons, they were in a rough battle with NFC South rival Carolina Panthers and suffered the worse for wear from their 12-point win as LG Andy Levitre aggravated a tricep injury early in the game and has been placed on injured reserve.
That being said, I doubt the switch to a backup left guard is motivation to move the line from the oddsmakers. I’d posit this is just the money coming in supporting the Rams. And for good reason.
The Rams’ historic turnaround is hardly a fluke. It survived the test of a 16-game season (ok, a 15-game season...last week barely counts) to turn the worst scoring offense in the NFL to its best in a single year’s time, the first time that’s happened in the NFL’s modern era.
As such with the playoffs coming to LA, the Rams are coming in as home-field favorites.