Rams vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Who has the edge?

RAMS (7-4) VS. JAGUARS (2-9)

When: 1:05 p.m. Sunday

Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood

TV/radio: Ch. 11; 710 AM, 93.1 FM, 1330 AM (Spanish)

Line: Rams by 13

Notable wounded designations: Rams: RB Darrell Henderson (thigh), WR Odell Beckham Jr. (hip), RT Rob Havenstein (foot) and CB David Long Jr. (ill) are questionable; RB Buddy Howell (thigh) is out. Jaguars: CB Shaquill Griffin (concussion) is out; RB James Robinson (heel/knee) is questionable.

What’s astatine stake? The Rams request a drama-free triumph implicit 1 of the worst teams successful the NFL to support a three-game losing streak from turning into escaped fall. A triumph would support the Rams 2 games down the NFC West-leading Cardinals, who are favored astatine Chicago, going into adjacent week’s crippled successful Arizona. The Rams are presently the No. 5 effect successful the NFC; Football Outsiders analytics springiness them an 84.4% accidental of making the playoffs but lone a 5.7% accidental of winning the division.

Who’s better? The Rams, clearly. But don’t archer them. They’ve made a wont of failing to screen large constituent spreads, going 0-3 against the dispersed with 1 propulsion (and the outright nonaccomplishment to the Jets past December) erstwhile favored by 10 points oregon much the past 2 seasons. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are 2-0 this twelvemonth arsenic double-digit underdogs, including their outright triumph implicit the Bills.

Matchup to watch: Rams DT Aaron Donald vs. the Jaguars’ violative line. Donald is bare aft going without sacks the past 2 games. That’s a occupation for Jacksonville guards Andrew Norwell and Ben Bartch.

Rams triumph if … If QB Matthew Stafford breaks his early-turnover wont and takes vantage of Shaquill Griffin’s lack from the Jaguars’ secondary … the defence tin bash its portion for shot power by limiting James Robinson and a Jags crushed crippled averaging 5.0 yards a transportation … the Rams’ rotating formed of punt and footwear returners commencement to nutrient affirmative tract position.

Fantasy pick: Rams TE Tyler Higbee. Rams manager Sean McVay is looking for ways to trim turnovers and enactment astir a limping tally game, and helium said “higher percent plays successful the walk game” are 1 option. Higbee is looking to bounce backmost from a mates of mediocre games (drops vs. 49ers, 1 drawback vs. Packers).

Prediction: Rams 27, Jaguars 17. It’s hard to ideate the Rams losing to this opponent. It’s besides hard to urge them (believe it, we’ve been trying); the NBA has played a 4th of its play since the past clip the Rams bushed a constituent spread.