FAB 4. Bucs vs. Rams – 4 Match-ups To Watch

Each week you can find 4 Match-ups to Watch in the Fab 4 section of my SR’s Fab 5 columns. Here is an advanced look at Tampa Bay’s big home game against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. The 7-3 Bucs will battle the 6-3 Rams in a game that could likely have NFC playoff ramifications. The obvious match-up to watch is whoever is playing left guard against All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, but because we don’t know if it will be Ali Marpet, who is still in concussion protocol, or Ryan Jensen, we’ll offer up four other match-ups to keep an eye on.

Bucs CB Sean Murphy-Bunting vs. Rams WR Cooper Kupp

Kupp, who has an overall grade of 76 from Pro Football Focus, is the Rams’ leading receiver with 53 catches for 577 yards (10.9 avg.) with two touchdowns. While he worked almost exclusively out of the slot a year ago, Kupp is playing in the slot this season but also outside a bit. Yet this skilled route runner and big target – he’s 6-foot-2, 208 pounds – will probably match up quite a bit with Murphy-Bunting. Kupp was held to just 50 yards on five catches last week against Seattle, but had a season-high 11 catches for 110 yards against Miami two weeks ago.

Rams WR Cooper Kupp – Photo by: USA Today

Murphy-Bunting has really struggled this year in the slot and has a 52 overall grade from PFF and a 51.3 coverage grade. The second-year cornerback has allowed a whopping catch rate of 88.1 percent this year, surrendering 37 catches for 437 yards and four touchdowns. Murphy-Bunting has just one pass breakup this year and one interception. He’s also committed two penalties. He’ll have his hands full with Kupp on Monday night and will need to play his best game of the year against L.A.
ADVANTAGE: Kupp

Bucs MLB Devin White vs. Rams RB Darrell Henderson Jr.

Henderson, Los Angeles’ third-round pick in 2019, is the highest-rated Rams player by PFF, earning a 90.3 overall grade and an 87.3 run grade. Henderson has 486 yards rushing and four touchdowns, while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Henderson is also a threat out of the backfield, and has 11 catches for 125 yards (11.4 avg.) and one touchdown. The Rams use all three backs – Henderson, Malcolm Brown and rookie Cam Akers – on offense, but Henderson leads the way and he’s one of the better up-and-coming running backs in the league.

Rams RB Darrell Henderson, Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

White has a ridiculously low PFF grade of 38.5, including a run defense of 39.5, which is asinine considering he leads the Bucs in tackles with 88, tackles for loss with 10.5 and has five sacks, which is tied for second on the team. White struggles in coverage and that’s an area that the Rams will look to attack him with Henderson, Brown and Akers in the passing game. Where White excels is blitzing and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles needs to attack quarterback Jared Goff and pressure him with White right in his face.
ADVANTAGE: Push

Bucs WR Antonio Brown vs. Rams CB Darious Williams

With Jalen Ramsey likely to match up against Mike Evans, Williams should be matched up with Brown on the outside. At 5-foot-9, 187 pounds, Williams is a better fit to chase the 5-foot-10 Brown around rather than the 6-foot-5 Evans. The former undrafted free agent is the second-highest graded defender in L.A., with an 81.9 grade and an 83.5 pass coverage grade. Williams has allowed just 18 catches for 261 yards and one touchdown, while breaking up six passes and intercepting four more, including two last week against Seattle’s Russell Wilson.

Bucs WR Antonio Brown – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Brown has only played in two games for the Buccaneers this year, but he is already the fifth-highest graded offensive player in Tampa Bay with a 77.9 overall grade from PFF and a 78.4 receiving grade. Brown has 10 catches for 100 yards on the year and is coming off his best game so far with seven catches for 69 yards at Carolina. Brown has the quickness to get open underneath against zone and the speed to get open deep. Williams is having a good year, but Brown is just getting started.
ADVANTAGE: Brown

Bucs LT Donovan Smith vs. Rams OLB Leonard Floyd

Floyd has a 64 overall grade from PFF for the season, but has averaged a 71.8 grade over the last three games, including a 74.8 pass rush grade during that span. Floyd has recorded five of his seven sacks this season over the past three games. Floyd had the best game of his career last week against Seattle, recording 11 tackles, three sacks, two QB hits, six hurries and a fumble recovery. Floyd can rush from either side of the line, but will likely work against Smith on Monday night. Floyd has had success running stunts with defensive tackle Aaron Donald and should see more snaps lining up next to him.

Rams EDGE Leonard Floyd – Photo by: USA Today

Smith has a 69.1 overall grade from PFF and a 67.1 pass protection grade. According to PFF, Smith hasn’t graded out higher than 63 over the past four games and had one of his worst games of the year at Carolina, giving up five pressures. The 6-foot-5 Floyd is a quick-twitch athlete with long arms, and that could give Smith problems. Because the Rams do so much stunting up front, Smith will also have to square off against All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald on occasion on a twist, which isn’t ideal for Tampa Bay.
ADVANTAGE: Floyd