It took two months longer than we thought it would, but we finally saw Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald wreck a game.
Garrett sacked Jayden Daniels three times including a forced fumble. Donald did not record a sack, but he was productive in both the run and pass games despite what the box score indicates. As a result, the Los Angeles Rams held the Washington Commanders to just 13 points as the team moves to 5-4
.According to SumerSports, Donald tied with Puka Nacua for a team-leading nine impact plays.
Garrett came in third place with four.
Donald:
- Average time to pressure: 2.15 seconds (0.45 faster than NFL average)
- 12.9% pressure rate (0.95% above NFL average)
- Two total pressures
Garrett:
- Average time to pressure: 2.38 seconds (0.05 faster than NFL average)
- 21.4% pressure rate (7.18% above NFL average)
- Five total pressures
The Rams were creative in how they deployed Garrett and Donald. Donald stunted on 28.6% of his pass rushes, which ranks roughly 15% above his counterparts at the position. Garrett often lined up over the offensive interior in order to take advantage of a lineup change after the Commanders since they were without their starting center.
While these numbers are unofficial and pending review, Pro Football Focus (PFF) also confirms stellar performances by both players. Garrett finished with an unofficial, team-leading defensive grade of 94.5 and Donald was third at 81.6. PFF had Garrett with nine pressures and Donald with five. LA finished with 21 pressures overall, which suggests the duo was also creating opportunities and favorable matchups for other defenders.
Daniels was under pressure on 35% of his drop backs. It’s extremely difficult to play quarterback effectively in that environment, even if the Rams were without Trent McDuffie on the backend.
But another way to read that is to say the defense should get even better once McDuffie returns from the back injury he suffered last week. The Rams will be tough to face on defense. With Garrett back in the fold, it’s not a bold take to say they are now a defensive team.
Opposing offenses should be shaking in their boots. Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald were exactly as advertised. They just put the rest of the NFL on notice.
