PFF grades Super Bowl addition

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Psycho_X

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If you care about such things. One more trip down subjective grading lane. Nothing too surprising though.

Rams PFF grades: Best and worst performers from Super Bowl LVI​

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Cameron DaSilva

February 15, 2022 7:15 am PT


For as well as Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. played in Super Bowl LVI, it was the defense that truly came through and delivered a ring for the Los Angeles Rams. Pro Football Focus’ grades support that, with several defenders earning high marks for the way they played on Sunday.
Three Rams defenders had grades over 89.5, and that doesn’t even include Aaron Donald. Cooper Kupp was the highest-graded player on offense, followed by Andrew Whitworth and Matthew Stafford.

We broke down the top (and bottom) players on each side of the ball with grades from PFF.

Top 3 offense​

  • WR Cooper Kupp: 85.2
  • LT Andrew Whitworth: 83.3
  • QB Matthew Stafford: 78.7
Surprise, surprise. The Super Bowl MVP was the Rams’ highest-graded player on offense in this game, with Kupp catching eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. He took over on the game-winning drive, even picking up a critical first down on fourth-and-1 with a 7-yard rush. He was a star – as usual.
Whitworth didn’t allow a single pressure in the game, according to PFF, and earned an 82.9 run-blocking grade. That’s the very definition of a stud at left tackle, winning his matchup with Trey Hendrickson.
Stafford had one turnover-worthy play, which was his first interception – a deep shot to Van Jefferson. His second pick went off of Ben Skowronek’s hands, in no way Stafford’s fault. He didn’t play his best game of the year, but Stafford was plenty good enough and two of his three touchdown passes were into tight windows.

Top 3 defense​

  • OLB Von Miller: 93.5
  • OLB Leonard Floyd: 90.4
  • DE A’Shawn Robinson: 89.5
The Rams had three defenders with grades of at least 89.5. That’s remarkable – and all of them play along the defensive front. Miller had six pressures and two stops, recording another two sacks in the Super Bowl.
Floyd had one sack of his own, along with three pressures, earning his highest overall grade of the season. He did a nice job rushing off the left side of the defense opposite Miller.
Robinson was an unsung hero in this win, posting his second-best overall grade as a member of the Rams. He had a season-high three pressures and made three stops in the running game, sacking Joe Burrow once. He was dominant against the run.

Bottom 3 offense​

  • RB Cam Akers: 52.9
  • WR Ben Skowronek: 49.8
  • TE Kendall Blanton: 47.3
Akers could find no running room at all in this one, rushing for just 21 yards on 13 carries. The run blocking wasn’t great and he did force four missed tackles, but the production simply wasn’t there.
Skowronek was targeted five times, but he only caught two passes for 12 yards and his drop in the third quarter was costly, resulting in an interception and three points for the Bengals.
Blanton was surprisingly out-snapped by Brycen Hopkins, and also out-produced by him. Blanton wasn’t targeted a single time and in 14 run-blocking snaps, he had a grade of just 62.7

Bottom 3 defense​

  • S Taylor Rapp: 49.6
  • S Nick Scott: 48.7
  • OLB Justin Hollins: 47.8
Eric Weddle thankfully stepped up and played well because Rapp and Scott both struggled. Rapp allowed four catches on four targets, giving up 38 yards in coverage. He didn’t miss any tackles, though, and had six tackles in the box score.
Scott missed tackles on two of his four attempts, which really hurt his overall grade. He was only targeted once and gave up a single 6-yard reception.
Hollins did a little bit of everything: four run-defense snaps, four pass-rush snaps and three in coverage. Unfortunately, he missed one tackle and didn’t have a pressure in the win.

Other notables​

  • DT Aaron Donald: 82.6
  • WR Odell Beckham Jr.: 77.7
  • S Eric Weddle: 77.2
  • RG Austin Corbett: 72.4
  • TE Brycen Hopkins: 68.6
  • CB Jalen Ramsey: 60.0
It’s surprising to see Donald outside the top three on defense, finishing with the fifth-best grade on that side of the ball. He registered a team-high seven pressures and tied for the most stops (4) on the Rams, so he easily could’ve had a higher grade.
Beckham was well on his way to a great game before injuring his knee, catching two passes for 52 yards and the opening touchdown.
Weddle played every snap and made five tackles despite tearing his pec, coming up and recording two stops in the win, too. His tackle short of the sticks on first-and-10 three plays before the Bengals’ final fourth-down attempt helped the Rams win the game.
Corbett wasn’t great as a pass blocker (46.4 grade) but he excelled as a run blocker, recording an 81.5 grade in that department. He only allowed one pressure, too.
Hopkins stepped up in a huge way at tight end with Tyler Higbee out, catching four passes for 47 yards. His grade wasn’t very high, but he played well.
Ramsey didn’t have his best on Sunday night, allowing five receptions for a team-high 160 yards in coverage. He was dragged to the ground by his facemask on Tee Higgins’ 75-yard touchdown, so that shouldn’t have counted, but Ramsey has had better games.
 

OntarioRam

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I've been saying it all year. Andrew Whitworth is still an absolutely elite LT. His expected retirement will be such a huge loss. What a career, what a player, what a person. Hats off. It's great to see him grade so highly in the Super Bowl. It shows you how much this one meant to him.
 

Psycho_X

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  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
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I've been saying it all year. Andrew Whitworth is still an absolutely elite LT. His expected retirement will be such a huge loss. What a career, what a player, what a person. Hats off. It's great to see him grade so highly in the Super Bowl. It shows you how much this one meant to him.
Yeah, I almost wish he'd just do one more year lol. But happy for the big guy. We won't replace Big Whit, the odds of getting someone of his ability and leadership is almost impossible. Hopefully Boom, or whoever, can at least be close to his ability.
 

OldSchool

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Robinson was just as vital in the post season as anybody else and people wanted to get rid of him along with Morris. Him and Gaines allowed AD, Von and Floyd to feast as they did.
 

Merlin

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Well up until the midpoint of this season people had every reason to question Robinson. But boy did he show up at the most opportune time by turning it up for this stretch run.
 

FrantikRam

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Well up until the midpoint of this season people had every reason to question Robinson. But boy did he show up at the most opportune time by turning it up for this stretch run.


You're one of my favorites and I agree with a lot of what you say....

But going to take this opportunity to say I told you so on Brockers :)
 

jjab360

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Eric Weddle outplayed our current safeties with a torn pec and only being in this defense for a month. And some Rams fans couldn't wait to get rid of him lol.
 

8to12

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Eric Weddle outplayed our current safeties with a torn pec and only being in this defense for a month. And some Rams fans couldn't wait to get rid of him lol.
He did not outplay Nick Scott in the games against the Cardinals (Wild Card) and the Buc's (Divisonal)
 

jjab360

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He did not outplay Nick Scott in the games against the Cardinals (Wild Card) and the Buc's (Divisonal)
No he did not. Nick Scott is coming along well, has to be looked at as a possible starter next season.
 

Kupped

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Robinson may have turned a corner in his career. If he builds off this season, he can get a pretty damn good contract after 23.

We can't get carried away about Nick Scott, imo. But I'm encouraged. It's probably smart to draft a safety if you're basically afraid to put Burgess on the field.
 

badcop

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Gaines not mentioned on the broadcast nor here by PFF with an 84.1 score. Kids still ignored by announcers and some media after all he's done this year including those crucial run stops.
 

FarNorth

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I've been saying it all year. Andrew Whitworth is still an absolutely elite LT. His expected retirement will be such a huge loss. What a career, what a player, what a person. Hats off. It's great to see him grade so highly in the Super Bowl. It shows you how much this one meant to him.
Rams won't be as good without Whitworth. It may not be possible to bring him back, unless we can't sign Noteboom, but he could certainly play another year. If not, it will be hard to replace his blocking and impossible to replace his leadership.
 

I like Rams

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I'm pretty sure Whitworth got beat on one play and it resulted in a sack...

Also seeing Donald and odell rated low, Blanton out with an injury not mentioned, Hopkins not graded nor Gaines mentioned....this seems like a pretty sloppy grade by PFF
 

FarNorth

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Robinson was just as vital in the post season as anybody else and people wanted to get rid of him along with Morris. Him and Gaines allowed AD, Von and Floyd to feast as they did.
A-Shawn was huge. He has always been a great athlete. This year he took on the challenge, put in the training, and showed what he could do. All kinds of big stops against the run in the playoffs.

The whole d-line just crushed the Bengals down the stretch. Imo they were the difference in the game in the 4th quarter. So was Von Miller. So was AD to put it away. Took some adjustments to unleash AD and the pass rush but they got dialed in and dominated.

Yes, Stafford and Kupp led the winning drive, but imo the whole d-line stepped up just as much or more so and truly won the game.
 

Jacobarch

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I'm pretty sure Whitworth got beat on one play and it resulted in a sack...

Also seeing Donald and odell rated low, Blanton out with an injury not mentioned, Hopkins not graded nor Gaines mentioned....this seems like a pretty sloppy grade by PFF

Whit got hit by Akers and knocked him down which caused the sack. So I don't think they graded him on that play for obvious reasons.

Agreed on those pff grades. Not sure how you grade a player that was doubled and triple teamed on almost every play. Every time he was singled up he beat his man. It's ridiculous really.

No surprise that rapp had another bad game. That guy needs to be kicked to the curb. I'm not sure why that guy still has a job. Howard our LB / SS outplayed him and Scott our ST specialist played pretty damn well in the playoffs. I really hope rapp is no longer a ram next year.
 

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Whit got hit by Akers and knocked him down which caused the sack. So I don't think they graded him on that play for obvious reasons.

Agreed on those pff grades. Not sure how you grade a player that was doubled and triple teamed on almost every play. Every time he was singled up he beat his man. It's ridiculous really.

No surprise that rapp had another bad game. That guy needs to be kicked to the curb. I'm not sure why that guy still has a job. Howard our LB / SS outplayed him and Scott our ST specialist played pretty damn well in the playoffs. I really hope rapp is no longer a ram next year.
Ah yea... I forgot about the Akers trip. Didnt realize that was on that play.

But if they are going to forgive some plays due to circumstances that are not their fault, that should also be attributed to things like injury, ie Blanton and Odell.

I liked Rapp his rookie year. He made a rookie mistake in our last playoff game, but he was a stand out all season before. Wade seemed to know how to use him, unfortunately he hasn't excelled since his rookie season.
 

norcalramfan

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I'm pretty sure Whitworth got beat on one play and it resulted in a sack...

Also seeing Donald and odell rated low, Blanton out with an injury not mentioned, Hopkins not graded nor Gaines mentioned....this seems like a pretty sloppy grade by PFF
He was tripped by a running back on that sack.
 

thirteen28

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I'm pretty sure Whitworth got beat on one play and it resulted in a sack...
Of all people, he got beat by Samson Ebukam in the NFC Championship. I think it was on our final, winning drive though, so it had minimal effect.