🏆 Are The Rams True Super Bowl Contenders?

Eric Dickerson discusses the Rams’ strengths and weaknesses heading into the postseason. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: NFL legend Eric Dickerson wants to see more out of the Rams heading into the NFL postseason ... we take a look at if the Philadelphia 76ers will move Ben Simmons ... and more! The Los Angeles Rams haven’t had a record this good since the last time they went to the Super Bowl, haven’t looked this good in much longer than that, haven’t had a defender as good as Aaron Donald in perhaps forever and have finally, in Matthew Stafford, have a quarterback to instill some genuine confidence. But Eric Dickerson wants more. Dickerson, the iconic Rams running back who shattered countless records and defensive hearts in the 1980s, isn’t entirely sold on Los Angeles ahead of the team’s wild-card clash with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday. And while hopes are high in Tinseltown that a long and fruitful playoff run beckons, Dickerson has some worrying factors nagging him about Sean McVay’s stacked squad. “The team is so talented on both sides of the ball,” Dickerson told me in a telephone conversation this week. “There is so much ability when you look at both sides and every position. “But I have some concerns. Offensively we don’t have an identity, are we a running team, throwing team, physical team? I don’t think we run the ball enough, we don’t commit to it. When you look at the team you can see how things can go great. But there is also the potential for it all to go wrong, and we’ve seen that.” [STORY IMAGE 1] Dickerson was displeased with the Week 18 defeat to San Francisco, where the 49ers, in front of an L.A. crowd comprised mostly of visiting supporters, surged late to overturn a 17-point deficit and win in overtime. According to Dickerson, a mindset of “playing not to lose” was prevalent with the Rams, something he insists the team cannot afford in the postseason. “We were playing scared,” he added, “and it cost us the game.” The Rams are a tough team to define. Winning the NFC West with a 12-5 mark must, of course, be seen as a positive. At their best, such as during a Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that signaled their intention as a contender, the Rams have looked as good as anyone. Yet there were plenty of blips mixed in, including a three-game skid mid-year. [STORY IMAGE 2] McVay was buoyant despite the loss to the 49ers and his team will have far more momentum behind them than Arizona, who started 7-0 but lost six of 10 to close things out. “You can always draw on previous experiences going into the playoffs,” McVay told reporters. “Winning or losing (late in the season) really hasn't been much of a factor on how teams do … so we're going to choose to say it doesn't mean (expletive).” However, the question remains as to which version of the Rams is going to show up when it matters. In Week 14, L.A. was far too strong, dominating the Cardinals in a performance that saw Donald terrorize Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray. Earlier in the season it was a different story, with Murray leading the Cardinals to a comfortable 37-20 win in Week 4. Opinion is divided as to which of the teams, and which individuals within them, are under the most pressure going into Monday. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury has made a habit of beginning seasons with great success - and finishing them gloomily. [STORY IMAGE 3] For the Rams, Stafford is tasked with proving he’s one of the elite players in the game. A loss here would bring some recrimination from an expectant fanbase, and the 33-year-old would not be immune to it. “The Rams mortgaged their future for him,” [FS1’s Chris Broussard said on “First Things First.”]( “You didn't do that to get beat in the first round by a wild-card team. As the stakes have gotten higher Stafford's performance has gotten worse." According to [FOX Bet]( the Rams are a 4-point favorite and are priced at -200 on the money line. [STORY IMAGE 4] As for Dickerson, there are mixed feelings. He is looking forward to the postseason and knows the prospect of something special is there for the Rams, if things all fall into place. But after a season where everyone - from NFL opponents, to the team’s fans, to the squad itself – has been unable to work out just how good the Rams really are, there is something holding him back from daring to dream. “Obviously things can turn out in a number of different ways,” Dickerson said. “That will decide how we look back on this season. Say they beat the Cardinals and then lose the next one, that’s just an ‘OK’ kind of season. When you have a roster like this you’re going to be looking at going to the Super Bowl. “That’s the standard you’re aiming for and I hope they can get there. I’m just not quite sure.” [STORY IMAGE 5] [IN OTHER WORDS] - Following a gutsy win at rival Alabama, the Auburn Tigers now stand atop [Andy Katz’s men’s college basketball tiers](. - After highs in Seattle and lows in Atlanta, Dan Quinn is back in the postseason hunt with Dallas, [FOX Sports NFL Writer Eric D. Williams writes](. - Will Philly move Ben Simmons? How high can Klay lift the Warriors? [FOX Sports NBA Writer Yaron Weitzman ponders the NBA's most intriguing storylines](. [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Michigan at Illinois (FS1, 9 p.m. ET) Hunter Dickinson and the Michigan Wolverines take on Kofi Cockburn and the No. 25-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini in a Big Ten clash. Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals (Saturday, NBC, 4:30 p.m. ET) Derek Carr leads the Las Vegas Raiders into Cincinnati to battle Joe Burrow and the Bengals in this AFC wild-card game. New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (Saturday, CBS, 8:15 p.m. ET) Mac Jones and the New England Patriots take on Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in this much-anticipated AFC wild-card matchup. Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, FOX, 1 p.m. ET) Jalen Hurts leads the Philadelphia Eagles against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this NFC wild-card game. San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, CBS, 4:30 p.m. ET) Nick Bosa leads the San Francisco 49ers into Dallas to battle Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in an NFC wild-card matchup. Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, NBC, 8:15 p.m. ET) Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in this AFC wild-card game. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Buccaneers -8.5 From FOX Sports NFL Analyst Geoff Schwartz: The Bucs have covered 12 of their last 17 at home, including six of their previous seven. They have the No. 1 ranked offense to pair with the ninth-ranked defense. And Tampa Bay is getting some reinforcements, as Leonard Fournette and Lavonte David are returning to the lineup after three weeks on the injured reserve. The Eagles do have the trenches that most teams would be jealous of, but the Buccaneers one-up them in that area. Tampa Bay has multiple potential All-Pros across the board, including center Ryan Jensen who sets the tone for this unit. We know the Bucs' defensive line can stop the run and rush the passer, which is why they are extremely tough to play against. While Tampa Bay's pass defense can be had, the Eagles are not built to counter that. More than anything, experience counts in this matchup. The Bucs are tested and know this feeling, as they are marching on for back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. I like Tampa Bay to roll big in this game. 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