Nevermind winning a Super Bowl, Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett have to save Rams season
Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett were supposed to be the final pieces of an Avengers-like puzzle for the Los Angeles Rams when they built their superteam in the offseason to win the Super Bowl. Now as the Rams head into their Week 10 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, they might be the only thing keeping that dream alive. The Rams are riding a three-game winning streak, but their roster looks like it survived a demolition derby.Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are sidelined, Terrance Ferguson remains out, the offensive line is dealing with injuries, and Matthew Stafford is running out of familiar faces to throw the football to.Suddenly, the Rams’ playoff hopes rest on the shoulders of two of the most decorated defensive players of their generation.And judging by what Garrett and Donald said Thursday, they’re perfectly comfortable carrying that weight.“We just go out there and play ball.
That’s all we can do,” Donald said when asked about the defense shouldering more responsibility.“Keep trying to get the ball back to the offense, trying to get as many three-and-outs as we can, as many turnovers as possible.”That responsibility begins Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, the same team that embarrassed Los Angeles with an 18-16 walk-off victory at SoFi Stadium in Week 6.The Rams were 2-4 after that loss, their season seemingly headed for the scrap heap.
Three consecutive victories have resurrected their playoff hopes, but another defeat to Arizona would threaten to undo much of that progress.Fortunately for the Rams, Garrett is back.The two-time Defensive Player of the Year returned from knee surgery last Sunday against Washington and immediately recorded three sacks, helping the Rams escape with a 20-13 victory.His presence also gave Donald something he hasn’t enjoyed very often throughout his Hall of Fame-caliber career: another generational pass rusher demanding the same attention.“Pretty damn exciting, honestly,” Garrett said Thursday on The Ri...