Alright y’all, we are at the final preview of the 2021 NFL season. What a wild ride it’s been and while it is the end of the season, we are only getting started with Bulldog Sports as a media platform. The articles will continue, and new sports will be added, and let’s just say we won’t be needing Substack to publish articles very soon…

The final key match-up is between the two most important men on the field, Joe Burrow and Matt Stafford. Two loveable rogues, for very different reasons, but both massive fan favourites. Few people have swag like Burrow, and Stafford is endeared by all for putting up with so much misery for so long in Detroit and still delivering on a weekly basis. They both have been instrumental in getting their teams to the promised land, but only one will lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night.

Joe Sheisty 2021 Playoff Stats:

• Yards Per Game: 280.7 (6th).
• TD: 4 (4th).
• INT: 2 (Tied 3rd).
• Sacks: 12 (Last).
• Passer Rating: 96.2 (4th).
• Completion %: 68.8 (5th).

They don’t come much cooler than Joe Burrow. The LSU Tiger has taken the NFL by storm in his second season. He plays with a swagger only beat by his match day fits. He finished the regular season 6th in total passing yards, 8th in TDs and 2nd in passer rating, all while being the most sacked QB. Other QBs in the top five of sacks include Zach Wilson, Baker Mayfield and Matt Ryan, and I don’t need to tell you how their seasons went.

Burrow just gets the job done no matter what the circumstances, albeit with a nice receiving core. As mentioned in the match-up preview with Chase and Ramsey, the connection between Chase and Burrow has been lights out this year. But Chase is not the only weapon in Burrow’s arsenal, and his arsenal isn’t the only reason for his top five QB play. Burrow has certain intangibles that some high level QBs can only dream about. His ability to act, and perform, like he has been in the league for years should not be taken lightly. Especially given the fact, that this is his first full season.

But as good as he has been in the regular and post season, there are chinks in his armour. Burrow was third against pressure in the regular season with a passer rating of 94, but that has dropped to 40 against pressure in the post season, and he will certainly be under pressure against the Rams. Burrow will sling it against the Rams, and likely have lots of success, but if the Rams defensive line can get under his skin a little and force a couple of takeaways it could be the winning of the game for LA.

Matt Stafford 2021 Playoff Stats:

• Yards Per Game: 301.7 (4th).
• TD: 6 (3rd).
• INT: 1 (Tied 2nd).
• Sacks: 5.
• Passer Rating: 115.6 (3rd).
• Completion %: 72 (3rd).

Where do I start with Matt Stafford. The number one overall pick in 2009 has lived up to his draft capital since the day he stepped in the league. He is a straight up stud, achieving 30,000 and 40,000 career passing yards faster than anyone else. He also holds the record for most 4th quarter comebacks in a single season with eight, in 2016, and he is the first player in NFL history to complete 60% or more of all passes in each game in a season, along with many many other records. He suffered for too long at the hands of the Detroit Lions and fans everywhere, especially Detroit fans, are celebrating his success with the Rams.

In the 2021 regular season, Stafford hit many highs, but also a few lows. He finished the season 3rd in total passing yards, 2nd in TDs and 8th in passer rating. However, he also led the league in INTs. He can get scorching hot but can also make the odd blunder. He finished the game against the 49ers with over 330 yards, but he also had one INT and should have had another, if it wasn’t for that poor drop by San Fran on his long ball in the fourth quarter.

The thing about Stafford is though, when the going gets tough and things get tight in fourth quarter, he comes alive. As noted above, he is built different when it comes to fourth quarters, as seen on many occasions. His performance against the Bucs in this year’s divisional round is our most recent example. Brady levels the game with under a minute left in the fourth and Stafford proceeds to march the Rams back down the field to the victory with 0.34 left on the clock and no timeouts. Cold blooded.

This is such an interesting match-up between two QBs with talent in their arms and mental fortitude between their ears. It should be a classic. Onto the game preview..

LA Rams @ Cincinnati Bengals: LA Rams.

Rams:

Regular Season:

• End of Season Record: 12-5.
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 372.1 (9th) // Passing – 273.1 (5th) // Rushing – 99.0 (25th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 344.9 (17th) // Passing – 241.7 (22nd) // Rushing – 103.2 (6th).
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 27.1 (8th) // PPG Allowed – 21.9 (15th).
• Turnover Differential: +2 (13th).

Post Season (After Div. Round – Inclusive of all Playoff Teams):

• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 399.7 (3rd) // Passing – 305.3 (3rd) // Rushing – 94.3 (7th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 274.7 (2nd) // Passing – 220.7 (3rd) // Rushing – 54.0 (1st).
• Wild Card Score: 34-11.
• Divisional Round Score: 30-27.
• Conference Championship Score: 20-17.
• Injury Report (Out): Tyler Higbee – TE, Joe Noteboom – OL.
• Against the Spread: 10-10-0.

The Super Bowl favourites don’t have to travel far on Sunday night, which is sure to delight players and fans. The Rams are technically down as the away team but will get to lace it up in their home stadium. They have had some close calls in getting here, having won both the conference championship game and divisional round game by three points. They are sure to be buzzing after snapping their six-game losing streak against the 49ers. In the game that mattered as well. Sean McVay is feeling a massive sense of relief, having lost to his buddy Shanahan for six straight and that victory will give them a massive boost of confidence going into Sunday’s game.

The Rams have been playing top quality football on both sides of the ball in the playoffs. Out of the 14 teams that have entered the playoffs, they are top three in both overall offensive and defensive yards. Which is nothing to be snuffed at, seeing as they have faced the Tom Brady led Bucs, and defensively dominant 49ers. The Cardinals were a heap of muck come the end of the season, so I’m not really counting the win over them, even if they did beat them by 23. They Rams did give up 27 against the Bucs, who are a similar style team to the Bengals, but gave up 24 of those points in the second half. They should have won that game by a wide margin, if it not for Tom Brady. They are not playing Brady this Sunday but are playing a young QB who backs himself to be his second coming.

The pressure is certainly on the Rams here. They have sold their soul to the draft devil to get here, dealing each of the first-round picks since drafting Jared Goff in 2016. They have also acquired veteran pass rusher Von Miller and wide receiver OBJ in mid-season deals. As well as those guys, how many of their current squad will be back next year? They are all in and have the added pressure of losing the last Super Bowl they were in – 2018 against the Patriots. Their season will be labelled as a failure if they don’t win on Sunday, but the odds are stacked in their favour. They just need to stop a young, wild and free (alright Wiz Khalifa) Bengals team.

Bengals:

Regular Season:

• End of Season Record: 10-7.
• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 361.5 (13th) // Passing – 259.0 (7th) // Rushing – 102.5 (23rd).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 350.8 (18th) // Passing – 248.4 (26th) // Rushing – 102.5 (5th)
• Points Per Game Stats, ESPN: PPG Scored – 27.1 (7th) // PPG Allowed – 22.1 (17th).
• Turnover Differential: 0 (16th).

Post Season (After Div. Round – Inclusive of all Playoff Teams):

• Offence (Yards Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 337.3 (8th) // Passing – 249.3 (6th) // Rushing – 88.0 (9th).
• Defence (Yards Allowed Per Game, ESPN): Overall – 371.0 (9th) // Passing – 243.7 (7th) // Rushing – 127.3 (10th).
• Wild Card Score: 26-19.
• Divisional Round Score: 19-16.
• Conference Championship Score: 27-24.
• Injury Report (Questionable): CJ Uzomah – TE.
• Against the Spread: 13-7-0.
• Weather Report (YR Weather): Indoor Stadium.

Only a few years ago, Cincinnati was where you went to lay your career to rest. Before 2021, the last time they won a playoff game was January 6th, 1991, when they beat the Houston Oilers. The Oilers! But two years ago, they drafted the man himself, Joe Burrow and haven’t looked back since. Their turnaround from worst to at least second best, is nothing short of amazing. Their victories over the Raiders in the Wild Card Round and the Titans in the Divisional Round were somewhat unexpected, but their win against the Chiefs in the Conference Championship Game was massively unexpected.

The 27-24 thriller got pulses racing, as the Bengals battled back from 21-10 down going into the second half, to somehow steal the win in OT. The OT win is even more impressive, seeing as the Chiefs got the ball first in OT, which usually means they bring home the bacon. As mentioned above, Burrow was decent that day, throwing for 250 yards and two TDs, with one INT. While the Chiefs shut down Chase, they couldn’t do much to slow down Tee Higgins. And that is what’s so dangerous about Cincinnati. They have so many weapons. Tee Higgins could easily be a wide receiver one, if it weren’t for Chase. He logged 1091 yards and six TDs in the regular season, as a WR2. To compliment Chase and Higgins, you also have Tyler Boyd in the slot, who could have big game against the Rams, as Burrow will need to get it out quick, with Aaron Donald and Co. breathing down his neck.

The Bengals offence will be dependent on their start and LA’s defence. If they get off to a slow start, they will have to commit to the pass and abandon the run. The Rams have been excellent against the run, so it won’t feel too bad, but it might mean Joe Mixon has a quiet game yards wise. On the defensive side of the ball, they haven’t been great. They have been getting gashed in the run and pass, and the Rams can exploit both. Given their recent performances against the run, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sean McVay looks to control the game that way, which will keep Burrow off the field and run down the clock.

To conclude, the Rams are the better, more consistent team, on paper. They have more super stars, more experienced players in the important positions, and a more experienced head coach, who has been to the big game before. The odds are stacked against the Bengals, but the thing is, they have been all year. Joe Burrow is clearly built different and is leading the team in a way that not many can. People seem to think it is written in the stars for the Bengals, but unfortunately, I think this is where the dream ends. I think the Rams win and justify their big in-season spends.

I really hope this is a cracker (not sure if the over will hit, but I hope it does), and in the end, it will be a momentous occasion for either team. Although, Cincinnati will probably take it too far and burn the city to the ground.

Enjoy it and if you want to shoot me a message about it, please do. I love replying to all the messages I get. Also, see below for my favourite bets for the game, which includes a lovely little bet builder.

Interesting Singles (not the ones in your area):

Bet Builder:

Love ye all.

J.