Game within game: Adams vs. Ramsey
Green Bay’s Davante Adams has caught more touchdown passes over the past five seasons than any other player. Jalen Ramsey of the Los Angeles Rams is one of the NFL’s pre mier cornerbacks.
They finally will face each other in a postseason game when the topseeded Packers host the Rams Saturday.
The only time they’ve squared off in the regular season was in 2016 when the Packers beat the Jaguars in Ramsey’s first career NFL game, though Adams was quick to disagree with the suggestion that was their lone previous matchup.
“Not right, not right,” Adams said as he shook his head during a Zoom session. “We had like five reps in the Pro Bowl. That was the other one. And we know how competitive the Pro Bowl is.”
Adams’ sarcastic references to the Pro Bowl aside, these two AllPro performers have not matched up against each other with so much at stake.
Frankly, they rarely have faced off with anything on the line before. Adams noted that in the 2016 game, he primarily worked against Davon House and Prince Amukamara while Ramsey spent much of his time in the slot.
“We actually honestly got together more in the Pro Bowl than probably we did in the 2016 game,” Adams said.
It remains to be seen how often they’ll face each other Saturday. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers noted that the Rams’ coverage schemes mean a receiver isn’t necessarily lining up against the same cornerback throughout a game.
“They’ve been playing a lot of twoshell, so it’s different,” Rodgers said. “Just like I feel the NBA is different where it’s not like MJ (Michael Jordan) is coming to town and somebody’s got him oneonone all game and he’s going to try to drop 50 on him. The Rams have a dynamic, dynamic player in Jalen, but they have been playing a lot more twoshell, so I don’t know how much mano a mano is going to be out there.”
Yet they figure to face off at least some of the time in a matchup of two men having arguably their greatest seasons.
Adams had 18 touchdown catches during the regular season to lead the NFL and tie Sterling Sharpe’s 26yearold franchise mark. He also had a franchiserecord 115 catches for 1,374 yards despite missing two games with a hamstring injury. He helped the Packers score an NFLleading 31.8 points per game.
“We all know that Davante Adams is one of the top players in the league,” Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley said.
Ramsey has strengthened the Rams’ secondary since they acquired him from Jacksonville in October 2019 for two firstround picks and a fourthround selection. The Rams led the NFL in total defense and scoring defense this season.
“I think he’s really showing why he’s the most complete DB in this league,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “The tape doesn’t lie.”
New boss: The Falcons announced that Arthur Smith, the Titans’ offensive coordinator for the past two seasons, will be Atlanta’s next head coach.
Smith held a virtual interview with the Falcons on Monday, and he also interviewed with the Lions and Jets.
Smith was one of seven candidates to interview with Atlanta, including interim coach Raheem Morris.
Smith, 38, will replace Dan Quinn — who in fiveplus seasons went 4342 in the regular season and 32 in the playoffs. He is one of two coaches in franchise history to take the Falcons to the Super Bowl, where they lost 3428 after leading 283 against the Patriots in February 2017.
Roster moves: The Browns activated left guard Joel Bitonio from the reserve/COVID19 list. ... Among the players added to active rosters ahead of playoff games this weekend were Bills running back Antonio Williams and cornerback Dane Jackson, Ravens cornerback Pierre Desir and quarterback Tyler Huntley, Packers defensive back KeiVarae Russell and defensive tackle Brian Price, and Rams QB Bryce Perkins and defensive back Donte Deayon.
Briefly: The Panthers announced that former Seahawks vice president of football operations Scott Fitterer has accepted their offer to become general manager . ... The NFL suspended Bears defensive linemen Mario Edwards Jr. for the first two games next season for violating the league’s policy against performanceenhancing substances . ... The conditional reinstatement of Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon, who did not play this season, was rescinded by the NFL and Gordon is once again under suspension. He has been suspended by either his team or the NFL eight times.