The Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent the past two weeks taking on talented teams in the AFC East, and while tough losses to the Patriots and Bills didn't help their efforts to secure a fifth straight NFC South title, the true stretch run is now about to begin. Six of the Buccaneers' remaining seven games will be against NFC foes, and the first challenge in that run may be the greatest. This weekend, the Bucs fly to Los Angeles to face the 8-2 Los Angeles Rams, winners of five straight, at SoFi Stadium in front of a national audience on Sunday Night Football.

The Rams' most recent win was a 21-19 decision in a showdown with Seattle for first place in the top-heavy NFC West. Los Angeles is now tied for the best record in the conference and sport a high-powered offense led by Matthew Stafford plus a defense that has allowed the second fewest points per game (17.2) in the NFL. On Wednesday, Tampa Bay Head Coach Todd Bowles agreed with the notion that the Rams are in the conversation for the best team in the league.

"They definitely are," said Bowles. "They're playing great ball right now. They don't beat themselves. They get very few penalties, they take care of the football, and they play very hard on defense. So, they're definitely in the top two."

It starts with Stafford, who, 17 years into a career that will land him in Canton, Ohio, is having his best season yet, at least statistically. His 27-2 touchdown-interception ratio is reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers' MVP seasons, and he's only been sacked 14 times in 10 games so far. His union with Head Coach and offensive guru Sean McVay continues to produce better and better results.

"That's the challenge – that's one of the challenges," said Bowles of facing the McVay-Stafford duo. "Other than the run game, obviously, he's very good at what he does. If you don't get him off his spot, he'll sit back there and pick you apart. We've got to try to [get pressure] with four, and when we pressure, we've got to try to make some hay."

The Rams have drawn attention of late for their unexpected incorporation of three-tight end personnel packages in the offense, something they had done for a total of six plays over the previous four years. Tyler Higbee's move to injured reserve on Wednesday might affect how often that strategy is employed moving forward, but that's hardly a big problem for McVay as a play-caller. He can certainly lean on the dangerous wide receiver duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Nacua ranks third in the NFL with his 73 receptions, which have produced 850 yards and four scores, and Adams leads the league with 10 touchdown catches among his 43 grabs.

"Oh yeah – both tough, both aggressive at the line of scrimmage," said Bowles. "It's hard to play them one-on-one. They're very savvy at the top of their routes, as well. Puka and Davante both have strong hands and are polished route runners. It's going to be a challenge for our guys."

The Rams' defense doesn't have the same sort of name recognition since the retirement of Aaron Donald after the 2023 season, but a series of savvy draft picks in recent years has allowed the team to rebuild a strong defense rather quickly. In the post-Donald era, the Rams have reloaded with the likes of interior linemen Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner and edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young.

"Those young guys are playing well," said Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. "They have invested a lot of capital into the front seven in the last few drafts. These guys are just playing really well. Verse and Young on the edges, the interior guys are also playing well between Fiske and Turner. They're winning a lot of one-on-ones, making plays and the back-end guys are playing aggressively because of it.

"You can see -- especially last week, looking at the Seattle tape -- understanding the pass rush is getting home, the safeties are kind of keying into the lower routes, getting some interceptions and guys jumping routes. Like always, [the] game starts up front; it has to be won in the trenches, but for them, it allows their secondary to play aggressive."

Four different members of that secondary have multiple interceptions this season, and the Rams' four picks off quarterback Sam Darnold were the deciding factor in last weekend's close win. The Los Angeles defense also ranks in the NFL's top 10 in yards per play allowed, yards per rush allowed, third-down success rate and red zone touchdown percentage.

Obviously, hitting the road to play a team that is currently excelling on both sides of the ball presents quite a test for the Buccaneers in Week 12, but it's one they're looking forward to. All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs sees an opportunity for his team to get a big boost to start that aforementioned stretch run.

"I think it would be big for us," he said. "[There are] lot of good teams in the NFC, a lot of good teams in the NFL. [The] Rams are one of them, so we want to go out there and get a big win on the road on Sunday Night Football. I think it would be big for everyone in the locker room for confidence moving forward."

GAME AND BROADCAST DETAILS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4) at Los Angeles Rams (8-2)

Sunday, November 23, 8:20 p.m. ET

SoFi Stadium (capacity: 71,500)

Inglewood, California

TV Broadcast Team: Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), Melissa Start(reporter)

Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station

Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)

Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente

Spanish Radio Broadcast Team: Carlos Bohorquez (play-by-play), Martin Gramática (analyst), Santiago Gramática (reporter)

ALL-TIME HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES

The Los Angeles-and then St. Louis-and then Los Angeles again Rams hold a 16-10 edge (19-10including playoffs) in the all-time series with Tampa Bay, with the Buccaneers owning the victory in the most recent meeting, in 2022. That contest in Tampa went down to the wire, with Tom Brady throwing the game-winning one-yard touchdown pass to Cade Otton with nine seconds left in regulation. Tampa Bay's defense held Matthew Stafford and the Rams to just 206 yards of total offense, though Cooper Kupp had his traditional big game against the Bucs, catching eight passes for 127 yards and the Rams' lone touchdown.

Los Angeles had won the previous two regular season meetings. In Week Three of the 2021 season, the Buccaneers suffered the first of only four losses that season in their first visit to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with the Rams taking a 34-24 decision. Stafford threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns and the Buccaneers had difficulty scoring despite racking up 441 yards of offense. The previous year, in a game that had three lead changes and four different ties, the Rams won 27-24 on a 40-yard field goal by Gay, a former Buccaneer, with 2:36 left in regulation. Los Angeles held the Bucs to just 251 yards, their second-lowest total of the year, but Brady hit Chris Godwin on a 13-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with four minutes to play. The Rams duo of Kupp and Robert Woods combined for 23 catches and 275 yards and Jordan Fuller sealed the win with a pick on Tampa Bay's last drive.

The Buccaneers have also encountered the Rams three times in the playoffs – more than any team other than the Eagles – and all three times it has meant the end of Tampa Bay's postseason run. The last two times have been very memorable nail-biters decided late in the fourth quarter, including the 2021 matchup at Raymond James Stadium in the NFC Divisional Round. Brady led a stunning rally to pull the Bucs back from a 27-3 third-quarter deficit, at one point hitting Mike Evans on a 55-yard touchdown pass, and Leonard Fournette tied the game at 27-27 with 42 seconds left on a nine-yard fourth-down scoring run. Unfortunately for the home team, Matthew Stafford still had time to hit Cooper Kupp twice for a total of 64 yards and Gay walked it off with a 30-yard field goal.

The other two Bucs-Rams playoff games were for the right to go to the Super Bowl, at the end of the 1979 and 1999 season. In addition to those two NFC Championship Games, the Buccaneers decades-long history with the Rams includes the highest-scoring game in franchise history and the most thrilling Monday Night Football victory in team annals.

In Week Four of the 2019 season, the Buccaneers played in L.A. for the first time in 26 years and celebrated with a 55-40 win that set team records for most points scored and most combined points by both teams. Six different Buccaneers scored touchdowns in the game, with Godwin notching two among his 12 catches for 172 yards. Former Ram Ndamukong Suh ended the Rams' late comeback attempt with a 37-yard fumble return for a touchdown after a Shaq Barrett sack and forced fumble.

That win snapped a five-game winning streak in the series by the Rams, which in turn had come after the Bucs had won five of six between 2000 and 2010.

The second of the two Bucs-Rams NFC Championship Games came at the end of the 1999 season, pitting St. Louis' "Greatest Show on Turf" against a stifling Buccaneers defense. That defense carried the day for most of the game's four quarters until Ricky Proehl's 30-yard touchdown catch in the final five minutes gave the Rams an 11-6 lead. The Bucs had one more chance to take the lead back but stalled well into Rams territory after an overturned reception that led to the famous Bert Emanuel rule. Coincidentally, the Bucs and Rams had also met in the NFC Championship Game in 1979, in Tampa Bay's first-ever foray into the playoffs. Los Angeles won that game, 9-0.

The most famous non-playoff game between the Bucs and Rams occurred the season after their second NFCC meeting. In Week 16 of the 2000 campaign, with both Tampa Bay and St. Louis fighting for playoff spots, the two clubs staged an incredible shootout on Monday Night Football at Raymond James Stadium. Marshall Faulk scored four touchdowns for the visiting Rams but Warrick Dunn countered with three rushing scores of his own, including the game-winner on a one-yard dive with 48 seconds left. That final drive was kept alive by an incredible bit of ad-libbing by Dunn, who got out of a tackle for a loss by flipping the ball back to quarterback Shaun King. King ran around the end for a first down and a late-hit penalty tacked on 15 more yards. The Bucs held on to their hard-fought 38-35 win when John Lynch intercepted Kurt Warner's last pass.

NOTABLE CONNECTIONS

• Rams Head Coach Sean McVay got his very first NFL job in Tampa, joining Jon Gruden's staff as an offensive assistant in 2008.

• Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield had a brief stint with McVay's Rams in the latter part of the 2022 season. After he was released by Carolina, Mayfield was claimed off waivers by Los Angeles and famously led the Rams to a Thursday night win over Las Vegas just two days after joining the team. Overall, Mayfield played five games for the Rams, starting four, and threw for 850 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

• Eric Yarber, in his nine season as the Rams' wide receivers coach, held the same role for two seasons (2010-11) under Raheem Morris.

• Rams President Kevin Demoff joined the Rams after four seasons (2005-08) with the Buccaneers, working as a consultant and a senior assistant.

• Buccaneers Quarterbacks Coach Thaddeus Lewis played quarterback at Duke and then signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He spent most of his rookie season on the Rams' practice squad.

• Buccaneers defensive lineman Greg Gaines was drafted by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2019 draft and he played four seasons in Los Angeles before signing with Tampa Bay. Gaines appeared in 59 games with 25 starts for the Rams, amassing 122 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 24 QB hits, 11 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.

• Rams Assistant General Manager John McKay is the son of Rich McKay, who was the Buccaneers' vice president of football administration in 1992 and 1993 and the general manager from 1994 through 2003. John is also the grandson of John McKay, who was the Buccaneers' inaugural head coach, holding that post from 1976-84. The elder John McKay is in the Buccaneers' Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium.

• Jimmy Lake, the Rams' senior defensive assistant got his first coaching job in the NFL with the Buccaneers, serving as the assistant defensive backs coach from 2006-07. Following a stint with the Detroit Lions, Lake returned to Tampa to sere as the defensive backs coach on Raheem Morris's staff from 2010-11.

• Dan Shamash, who is currently the Rams' game management coordinator/assistant tight ends coach, was on Greg Schiano's staff with the Buccaneers from 2012-13, working as quality control to the head coach.

• Alex Van Pelt, who joined McVay's staff this year as a senior offensive assistant, was Tampa Bay's quarterbacks coach under Morris in 2010 and 2011.

SENIOR COACHING STAFFS

Tampa Bay:

• Head Coach Todd Bowles

• Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard

• Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach

• Pass Game Coordinator George Edwards

• Run Game Coordinator/Outside Linebackers Coach Larry Foote

• Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey

Los Angeles:

• Head Coach Sean McVay

• Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur

• Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula

• Special Teams Coordinator Chase Blackburn

• Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator Aubrey Pleasant

KEY 2025 ROSTER ADDITIONS

Buccaneers:

• QB Teddy Bridgewater (FA)

• LB John Bullock (UDFA)

• T Benjamin Chukwuma (UDFA)

• P Riley Dixon (UFA)

• WR Emeka Egbuka (1st-round draft pick)

• G Dan Feeney (FA)

• T Charlie Heck (UFA)

• WR Tez Johnson (7th-round draft pick)

• G Michael Jordan (FA)

• CB Kindle Vildor (UFA)

• CB Benjamin Morrison (2nd-round draft pick)

• CB Jacob Parrish (3rd-round draft pick)

• DL Elijah Roberts (5th-round draft pick)

• DL Elijah Simmons (FA)

• OLB David Walker (4th-round draft pick…on injured reserve)

• RB Josh Williams (UDFA)

Rams:

• WR Davante Adams (FA)

• ILB Shaun Dolac (UDFA)

• TE Terrance Ferguson (2nd-round draft pick)

• DL Poona Ford (UFA)

• DL Ty Hamilton (5th-round draft pick)

• T D.J. Humphries (FA)

• RB Jarquez Hunter (4th-round draft pick)

• LB Nate Landman (FA)

• CB Roger McCreary (T-TEN)

• LS Jake McQuaide (FA)

• WR Konata Mumpfield (7th-round draft pick)

• T David Quessenberry (FA)

• C Coleman Shelton (UFA)

• DE Josiah Stewart (3rd-round draft pick)

ADDITIONAL 2025 CHANGES/DEVELOPMENTS OF NOTE

Buccaneers:

• The Buccaneers rolled into 2025 with their fourth offensive coordinator in the last four years. This year's transition, however, is a bit different than the last two. In 2023 and 2024, Dave Canales and Liam Coen, respectively, came to town with entirely new offensive systems that the players had to absorb. In 2025, the Buccaneers followed the departure of Coen to be the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach by promoting former Pass Game Coordinator Josh Grizzard from within. Grizzard is certainly evolving the Bucs' offense in new ways and have his own spin on play-calling, but the basic system remains the same, offering a very helpful continuity for a team that is also returning all of its offensive regulars from a unit that finished in the top five in 2024 in net yards, points scored, rushing yards and passing yards. After Grizzard's promotion, the Buccaneers also hired one of his former colleagues, Kefense Hynson, to be the team's new pass game coordinator.

• To celebrate their landmark 50th season, the Buccaneers have unveiled a new sort of throwback uniform in 2025. In addition to the popular "Creamsicle" togs that they will don for the Thursday night game against Atlanta in Week 15, the Bucs have also worn, for this season only, a white version of their original uniforms worn during the 1976 season. Those uniforms made their debut in the home opener against the Jets in Week Three and were broken out again when the Bucs played at Seattle in Week Five, a game that was a battle of the NFL's two expansion teams from 1976.

• While Todd Bowles remains the play-caller for Tampa Bay's defense, he did make some changes to his defensive coaching staff. Mike Caldwell, who was part of the Bucs' staff from 2019-21 when Bowles was the defensive coordinator, returns to tutor the inside linebackers. Larry Foote has moved from inside linebackers to outside linebackers and is also the team's run game coordinator. George Edwards, who previously coached the outside linebackers, is now the pass game coordinator.

• The Buccaneers started the season without All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin, but both returned to the lineup in Week Four. However, the Buccaneers' injured reserve list has grown considerably as the season has progressed. Wide receiver Jalen McMillan sustained a severe neck strain in Week Two of the preseason against Pittsburgh and is expected to be sidelined for at least half of the regular season. He is currently on injured reserve but can be designated for return. Since the start of the season, the Buccaneers have also lost defensive linemen Calijah Kancey, tackle Luke Goedeke, guard Cody Mauch, tight end Ko Kieft and safety Rashad Wisdom to injured reserve. Goedeke is expected to return from IR at some point but Kancey, Mauch and Kieft are likely to miss the rest of the season.Godwin suffered a second injury that has had him sidelined for weeks and fellow wide receiver Mike Evans is on injured reserve due to a fractured collarbone.

• The changes made to the kickoff process by the NFL during the offseason appear to have impacted the Buccaneers' strategy for that play in a significant manner. Now that a touchback on a ball caught or landing in the end zone puts the ball at the receiving team's 35, the Buccaneers have relied a lot less on touchbacks, which they produced on more than 75% of their kickoffs last year. With that in mind, the team took kick coverage units into serious consideration when shaping the 53-man roster and multiple players – including linebacker John Bullock, cornerback Josh Hayes, outside linebacker Markees Watts and wide receivers Ryan Miller and Kameron Johnson – made the team in large part due to their special teams contributions.

Rams:

• Early in the 2025 offseason, there were some rumblings that Matthew Stafford's time in Los Angeles might be done, as he was given permission to speak with other teams in advance of a potential trade. He did in fact have discussions with the Raiders and Giants but those proved to just be precursors to a new deal with the Rams that gives him $84 million over the next two years. The Rams kept the rest of their quarterback room intact by re-signing veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo, who has remained as Stafford's primary backup ahead of 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett.

• In addition to Garoppolo, the Rams also kept some other potential free agents in town with new deals, including wide receiver Tutu Atwell, tackle Alaric Jackson and linebacker Troy Reeder.

• During the 2025 draft, the Rams picked up a valuable 2026 first-round draft pick by trading down with the Falcons, who were after Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. The move gives Los Angeles, which also has its own pick in the first round next year, a little flexibility if it decides to go after Stafford's eventual successor.

• With Nick Caley leaving Sean McVay's staff to serve as the Houston Texans' new offensive coordinator, the team hired former Seahawks assistant Scott Huff to be their new tight ends coach. Caley had also served as the team's pass game coordinator, with that task now going to Nate Scheelhaase, who had been an offensive assistant and pass game specialist for the Rams for one season.

• Alex Van Pelt also joined McVay's staff after spending last season as the Patriots' offensive coordinator, and the two prior seasons in the same role with Cleveland. Van Pelt got the title of senior offensive assistant in Los Angeles. Jimmy Lake returned to the team after just one season as the defensive coordinator on Raheem Morris's staff in Atlanta. The Rams also created a new position of pass rush coordinator in order to bring Drew Wilkins in after he also coached in New England last year, tutoring the linebackers.

• In the 2024 offseason, the Rams signed former Lions offensive lineman Jonah Jackson to a lucrative three-year deal and installed him at center, the first time he had played that position. However, Jackson spent much of the season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and in March the Rams chose to move on, trading him to the Bears for a sixth-round pick in this year's draft.

INJURY REPORT

Key:

DNP: Did not participate in practice

LP: Limited participation in practice

FP: Full participation in practice

NL: Not listed

Buccaneers*:

• C Graham Barton (illness) – WEDS: LP

• Chris Braswell (foot) – WEDS: DNP

• Ben Bredeson (hamstring) – WEDS: DNP

• CB Jamel Dean (hip) – WEDS: DNP

• WR Emeka Egbuka (illness) – WEDS: LP

• G Dan Feeney (illness) – WEDS: LP

• WR Chris Godwin (fibula) – WEDS: LP

• T Luke Goedeke (illness) – WEDS: LP

• DL Logan Hall (illness) – WEDS: LP

• RB Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot) – WEDS: LP

• QB Baker Mayfield (illness) – WEDS: LP

• K Chase McLaughlin (personal) – WEDS: DNP

• OLB Haason Reddick (ankle/knee) – WEDS: DNP

• WR Sterling Shepard (shoulder) – WEDS: LP

• OLB Markees Watts (hand) – WEDS: FP

• T Tristan Wirfs (shoulder) – WEDS: LP

* The Buccaneers conducted a walk-through on Wednesday. The practice status reports from that day are estimations.

Rams:

• LB Nate Landman (back) – WEDS: LP

• WR Xavier Smith (concussion) – WEDS: DNP

• DE Kobie Turner (back) – WEDS: FP

• CB Josh Wallace (knee) – WEDS: FP

WEATHER FORECAST

Stadium with canopy but open sides. Evening outdoor weather: Clear skies, low of 51, winds light and variable, 5% chance of rain, 91% humidity, winds out of the NE at 2 mph.

GAME REFEREE

Head referee: Clay Martin (11th season, 8th as referee)

BETTING LINE

• Favorite: Rams (-6.5)

• Over/Under: 49.5

INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS

Buccaneers:

Points Scored: K Chase McLaughlin, 80

Touchdowns: WR Emeka Egbuka, 6

Passing Yards: QB Baker Mayfield, 2,365

Passer Rating: QB Baker Mayfield, 97.0

Rushing Yards: RB Rachaad White, 376

Receptions: WR Emeka Egbuka, 45

Receiving Yards: WR Emeka Egbuka, 717

Interceptions: LB Jamel Dean, 3

Sacks: Yaya Diaby, 4.0

Tackles: S Tykee Smith, 79

Rams:

Points Scored: WR Davante Adams, 60

Touchdowns: WR Davante Adams, 10

Passing Yards: QB Matthew Stafford, 2,557

Passer Rating: QB Matthew Stafford, 112.6

Rushing Yards: RB Kyren Williams, 750

Receptions: WR Puka Nacua, 73

Receiving Yards: WR Puka Nacua, 850

Interceptions: S Kam Curl/CB Cobie Durant/CB Emmanuel Forbes/S Kamren Kinchens, 2

Sacks: OLB Byron Young, 9.0

Tackles: LB Nate Landman, 90

TEAM STAT RANKINGS

Buccaneers:

Scoring Offense: 10th (25.2 ppg)

Total Offense: 17th (332.2 ypg)

Rushing Offense: 22nd (110.0 ypg)

Passing Offense: 15th (222.2 ypg)

First Downs Per Game: 18th (19.6)

Third-Down Pct.: 15th (38.9%)

Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: 10th (5.88%)

Red Zone TD Pct.: 25th (51.7%)

Scoring Defense: 21st (25.0 ppg)

Total Defense: 22nd (342.0 ypg)

Rushing Defense: 10th (100.4 ypg)

Passing Defense: 27th (241.6 ypg)

First Downs Allowed Per Game: t-9th (18.5)

Third-Down Pct. Allowed: 17th (39.8%)

Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 14th (7.65%)

Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: 26th (64.0%)

Turnover Margin: 3rd (+9)

Rams:

Scoring Offense: 6th (27.2 ppg)

Total Offense: 8th (360.9 ypg)

Rushing Offense: 18th (114.0 ypg)

Passing Offense: 6th (246.9 ypg)

First Downs Per Game: 3rd (22.7)

Third-Down Pct.: 17th (38.7%)

Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: 3rd (4.13%)

Red Zone TD Pct.: 8th (64.4%)

Scoring Defense: 2nd (17.2 ppg)

Total Defense: 13th (323.0 ypg)

Rushing Defense: 11th (100.7 ypg)

Passing Defense: 21st (222.3 ypg)

First Downs Allowed Per Game: 17th (19.9)

Third-Down Pct. Allowed: 5th (34.6%)

Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 16th (7.42%)

Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: 2nd (43.8%)

Turnover Margin: 2nd (+10)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• QB Baker Mayfield has thrown for 10,909 yards since joining the Buccaneers in 2023. That ranks eighth in franchise history and he would move up to seventh, passing Brad Johnson (10,940), with just 32 more on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

• LB Lavonte David secured his 14th interception in the Bucs' Week Five win in Seattle, setting up the game-ending field goal. With one more interception, he would join Pro Football Hall of Famers Charles Woodson and Ray Lewis as the only players with 15-plus interceptions, 15-plus forced fumbles and 15-plus fumble recoveries since data began being tracked in 1994.

• DL Vita Vea recorded a half-sack against San Francisco in Week Six, improving his career total to 33.0. That put him into a tie with both Brad Culpepper and Jason Pierre-Paul for the ninth-most sacks in franchise history. Vea would break that tie with one more sack, and two more would move him past Chidi Ahanotu (34.5) into eighth place.

• S Antoine Winfield Jr. has 18.0 career sacks, tied with four other players for the 11th most by a defensive back since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Two more sacks would allow him to tie Charles Woodson for 10th place on that list.

NOTABLY QUOTABLE

• Head Coach Todd Bowles on the Los Angeles Rams' usage of 13 personnel and what allows them to be so effective out of that formation: "It's three tight ends, but it could play out like two tight ends or even one tight end. They're very versatile in what they do when they run the three tight end set. If you're big, they spread you out and they can throw it; if you're small, they can pound you. It's a very smart aspect of their game and what they do. Sean [McVay] is a great coach and does a great job with that, so we've got to be sharp."

• Quarterback Baker Mayfield on what he saw behind the scenes from QB Matthew Stafford when they were in the same quarterback room for the Los Angeles Rams: "I think I gained an even [greater] level of respect for him about communication, about how he wanted certain routes [and] certain schemes to be done. When you're at that level -- that year -- in your career, you kind of run the ship. Had a lot of respect for him before but seeing it in person on how detailed he really was and exactly what he was going to try and check to, that was big seeing it in person."

• Tackle Tristan Wirfs on what challenges the Rams defense presents: "Their front seven, and also us being very similar offenses. They hear all those calls all the time, just going against their own offense. I think that will be a little tough, but their defensive line, they're tough guys. I think a combination of both those things will be tough, but we'll be ready."

• Running back Sean Tucker on if he feels he gets better the more carries he gets throughout the game: "I would say so. I would say after a couple of carries, you get to feel out the defense and see what they're trying to do and the scheme they're doing for the day. The more carries after that, I am just able to get into my rhythm and mode and showcase what I can do."

• Bowles on the growth of safety Tykee Smith in his second season: "He's a confident player. We're confident in him. He understands the game. He's just one of those guys who knows how to play. I wish, coaching-wise, we could take credit but he knew how to play when he came in the door. He understands the game very well. He's a heck of a competitor and he's always going to show up on Sunday."