7 biggest changes for Rams and Bucs since Week 3 showdown

The Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will square off for the third time in the last two seasons on Sunday in the divisional round of the playoffs. Their last meeting was in Week 3, a 34-24 win by the Rams at home.

This game will be in Tampa Bay, so the Buccaneers will be the ones with the home-field advantage this time around. But on paper, the Rams might be in better shape than they were in Week 3.

Here’s a look at seven differences with the Rams and Bucs since the last time they squared off.

Chris Godwin, Robert Woods and DeSean Jackson were on the field

Two vastly underrated receivers, Godwin and Woods, were on the field when the Rams and Bucs squared off back in Week 3. Godwin caught six passes for 74 yards in that game, also scoring on a 2-yard rushing touchdown. Woods caught three passes for 33 yards and had a 5-yard rush, which admittedly aren’t the most impressive numbers. However, both players suffered torn ACLs in the second half of the season, causing them to miss the rest of the year.

Jackson was also still with the Rams, and he had a huge impact in their Week 3 win. He caught three passes for 120 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown on a deep shot from Matthew Stafford. He was released and signed with the Raiders, so he’s done for the year.

Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. have joined the Rams

Two of the biggest midseason additions anywhere in the NFL weren’t on the Rams when they faced the Bucs in Week 3. Miller joined in a trade with the Broncos before the November deadline, while Beckham was signed by the Rams after he was released by the Browns.

Since then, both players have had a big impact. Beckham gained 54 yards and scored a touchdown in the Rams’ win over the Cardinals, and Miller had one sack and three tackles for a loss against Arizona.

Against the Bucs, Miller will replace Justin Hollins, who started at outside linebacker in Week 3. Beckham will take over the void left by Woods, as he has during his time with the Rams.

Jason Pierre-Paul missed first meeting

The Bucs were without Pierre-Paul in the first meeting due to hand and shoulder injuries, being ruled out ahead of their Week 3 meeting. Pierre-Paul is on track to play in this one, which will relegate Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to a rotational role at outside linebacker.

The Buccaneers still have Shaq Barrett rushing the passer, too, as well as Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh. So the Rams’ offensive line will need to be at its best on Sunday – with or without Andrew Whitworth at left tackle.

Kenny Young was the starting linebacker

Young played every snap at linebacker for the Rams in Week 3, with Troy Reeder serving as the No. 2 linebacker and playing just 16 total snaps. Young has since been traded to the Broncos, which has led to a change at inside linebacker. Reeder has been the starter the last three weeks while Ernest Jones was on injured reserve, but Jones has a chance to return on Sunday.

If Jones does return, he’ll be the primary linebacker with Reeder playing mostly in base packages as the No. 2 LB. It’s hard to say whether Jones and Reeder is an upgrade over Young and Reeder, but regardless, the Bucs are likely to take advantage of this position on defense.

Jordan Fuller was healthy

The Rams no longer have their defensive signal caller and starting safety after Fuller suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 18. Reeder was the signal caller last week, but that duty could be handed over to Jones if he returns.

Terrell Burgess and Nick Scott filled in for Fuller and Taylor Rapp while both were out last week, and though Rapp has a chance to return, he’s still in the concussion protocol. Being without Fuller in this game will hurt the defense, especially against an experienced quarterback like Tom Brady.

David Long Jr. played almost every snap

Long played 97% of the defensive snaps against the Bucs in Week 3. That won’t happen again on Sunday, even though he should still see some playing time. He’s now splitting snaps with Dont’e Deayon as the No. 3 cornerback behind Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams.

Long was only targeted four times and gave up two catches for 28 yards, so it’s not as if he was a liability in the Rams’ secondary. Expect to see a mix of Long and Deayon in nickel packages when the Buccaneers go three-wide on offense.

Rams rarely use 12 personnel now

Against the Buccaneers in Week 3, Johnny Mundt played 31 snaps, or 48%. Tyler Higbee played 75%, so they were on the field together a lot. Since Mundt tore his ACL in October, the Rams have used 12 personnel infrequently. Since Week 7, the Rams have only used 12 personnel on 11% of their offensive snaps compared to 16% when Mundt was healthy from Week 1-6.

It’s not a huge difference, but with Mundt gone, don’t expect to see the Rams utilize two-tight end packages with Higbee and Kendall Blanton or Brycen Hopkins much.

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