NFC Playoffs: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Los Angeles Rams 1/23/22 NFL Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams clash Sunday afternoon in the NFL NFC Divisional Playoffs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Los Angeles Rams are coming off a win over the Cardinals and look to make the second conference championship in the last four years. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just beat the Eagles and look to make back-to-back conference championships. 

The Los Angeles Rams have won seven of their last nine road games. Matthew Stafford is completing 76.5 percent of his passes for 202 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. have combined for 115 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, while Tyler Higbee has 3 receptions. The Los Angeles Rams ground game is averaging 140 yards per contest, and Sony Michel leads the way with 58 yards on 13 carries. Defensively, Los Angeles is allowing 11 points and 183 yards per game. A’Shawn Robinson leads the Los Angeles Rams with 7 tackles, Von Miller has 1 sack and David Long Jr. has 1 interception.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won eight of their last nine home games. Tom Brady is completing 78.4 percent of his passes for 271 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Mike Evans and Giovani Bernard have combined for 156 receiving yards and 1 touchdown, while Rob Gronkowski has 5 receptions. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ground game is averaging 91.2 yards per contest, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn leads the way with 53 yards and 1 touchdown. Defensively, Tampa Bay is allowing 15 points and 339 yards per game. Mike Edwards leads the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 9 tackles, Antoine Winfield Jr. has 1 sack and Carlton Davis has 1 pass deflection.

The Rams are 2-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The Buccaneers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games and 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall. The over is 7-3-1 in Rams last 11 road games. The under is 6-1 in Buccaneers last 7 vs. NFC. The Rams are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Tampa Bay and 8-1 ATS in their last 9 meetings.

These teams met back in September and the Rams won by 10 points, but that game was in LA and it was so long ago, I’m not sure how much you can take from it now. With that said, the Bucs don’t have as many offensive weapons as they once had, their running game is questionable and their offensive line has serious question marks. Ryan Jensen and Tristan Wirfs are both ruled as questionable for this contest, and the Eagles defensive front had their way with the Bucs in the second half, often steamrolling their way in the backfield. The Rams spent a billion dollars on a defense that features A’Shawn Robinson, Von Miller, Leonard Floyd and Aaron Donald. That’s the key to the game right there, and if the Bucs cant get a healthy OL in time, it’s going to be tough sledding for Brady and company.

Give me the free field goal with the Rams, a game they could win outright.