The Los Angeles Rams hope a few extra days between games can make a world of difference for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The 37-year-old veteran enjoyed a mini bye before the Rams (3-2) travel cross country to face the Baltimore Ravens (1-4) on Sunday afternoon. It will be the first game for the Rams since Oct. 2, when they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in overtime in a Thursday night contest.
“I use (the mini bye weeks) as best I can,” Stafford said. “I make sure that when I’m at the soccer games for my girls, I’m sitting down and not up too much, trying to save my legs. If we’re painting pumpkins, I’m trying to make sure my hands don’t get too dirty.”
The veteran got the laugh he was seeking.
“No, I mean, I rest as much as I can. … But I do appreciate them, especially as I get older and longer in my career. It’s important to try to use those times whenever you can to try to feel as good as you possibly can.”
Stafford has played about as well as he can through the Rams’ first five games. He has posted a career-high 107.3 passer rating while completing 66.7% of his passes for a league-high 1,503 yards plus 11 touchdowns and two interceptions.
The mood is much different in Baltimore, where Lamar Jackson will miss the game because of a hamstring injury. Jackson sat out last week as the Ravens lost 44-10 at home against the Houston Texans.
It marked the third straight defeat for Baltimore, which entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations and now must battle back for the rest of the year just to try to make the playoffs.
In all, six Ravens are listed as out, with cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), tackle Emery Jones Jr. (shoulder), linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) and receiver Devontez Walker (oblique) joining Jackson in missing the Rams game. On a positive note, cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) and safety Kyle Hamilton (groin) practiced fully on Friday and will play on Sunday.
Ravens wideout Rashod Bateman and his teammates will try to put on a better show for the home crowd after receiving a shower of boos in blowout loss to Houston.
“The fans got every right to feel how they feel,” Bateman said. “They expect excellence. It’s our job to deliver that. We are not upholding the standard right now, so we deserve all the criticism.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of his players, “They’re completely motivated to get the win this week, but the main thing you have to focus on is how to do it. You have to go play a certain way, getting prepared to do that and to play the way we can play given whatever circumstances we have.”
With Jackson out, Cooper Rush will make his second consecutive start for Baltimore. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 179 yards last week, but he threw three interceptions.
Meanwhile, running back Derrick Henry will look for a better performance after rushing 15 times for 33 yards and a touchdown a week ago. Henry has 317 rushing yards and four TDs on the season, but hasn’t gained more than 50 yards on the ground since Week 1.
The Rams’ top playmakers include wideouts Puka Nacua (588 receiving yards, 2 TDs) and Davante Adams (357 receiving yards, 3 TDs). Kyren Williams has provided a burst out of the backfield with 368 rushing yards and four total scores.
Rams receiver Tutu Atwell (164 receiving yards) showed up late on Thursday’s injury report with a hamstring injury and is questionable for the game, as is tight end Colby Parkinson (concussion). Tight end Tyler Higbee (hip), safety Kamren Kinchens (knee) and linebacker Nate Landman (ankle) were full participants in practice on Friday. Offensive lineman Rob Havenstein (ankle) and linebacker Omar Speights (ankle) are doubtful for Sunday.
The Ravens are 6-3 all time against the Rams, and they have won four of the five matchups in Baltimore.
–Field Level Media
