The Rams -- and particularly their defense -- will benefit from the bye week and the Cowboys' uneven play on the road. Though I've been a big fan of Dallas down the stretch, that has mostly been in home games against less-talented opponents. The Cowboys defense will have all it can handle in Sean McVay's scheme, and Jared Goff should be well-prepared to pick it apart. Todd Gurley is healthier than he's been in quite some time, and Los Angeles knows it has a tremendous opportunity to take care of work early if it is running on all cylinders. I believe it will be, and I'm backing the Rams.

The Rams’ recent malaise while still (mostly) winning offers a reminder of how good they were while bulldozing every opponent in their path. The first-round bye that has allowed ailing RB Todd Gurley and others to freshen up was a godsend. The venue matters: Dallas was 3-5 straight-up on the road, while L.A. had the league’s most efficient offense at home. The Rams’ defense is no impenetrable wall but should hold down Dallas’ middling attack enough for QB Jared Goff and cohorts, who average 37 points at home, to ring up enough points for a cover.

Two great running backs will have to work really hard to find success in this game. The Rams can't afford their star tailback Todd Gurley to have an off day, as he's an integral piece to their offensive puzzle. On the flip side, we've seen Cowboys QB Dak Prescott have success without Ezekiel Elliott. Also, Prescott thrives under pressure while QB Jared Goff does not.

I like the Rams a lot. Dallas is not great on the road. The Rams are going to crowd the box and make Dak Prescott beat them. He's interception-prone. Jared Goff has thrown 22 TDs and only three INTs at home. The Cowboys just played the Seahawks, and teams that play Seattle get roughed up. The Rams are rested and ready.

The Cowboys have the rushing attack to give the Rams fits, but I'm not sure they'll be able to stick to it for 60 minutes. While their defense has played well this year, five of the seven times they've given up at least 350 yards to the opposing offense have come on the road. The Rams have topped 400 yards of offense in all but one home game (a paltry 377-yard showing in Week 17), and with Todd Gurley having three weeks to rest his knee, I think the L.A. offense will look more like what we saw before their bye. The line is in the perfect spot, but my lean is to the favorite.

The Cowboys have won eight of their last nine games, which includes all three of their 2018 road wins: at the Giants in Week 17, at an awful Atlanta, and at Philly when the Eagles appeared to have surrendered already. The one loss during that stretch was a complete beat down at Indy. It was ugly. Dallas couldn't score, 23-0. The Rams come in refreshed and had a couple of practice games against the Cardinals and 49ers to show their offense is now fine-tuned. I think this will be the most lopsided score of the divisional round. Rams win and cover.

The Rams allow a league-worst 5.1 yards per carry. Dallas comes in on an 8-1 tear with Ezekiel Elliott and the superior defense in this matchup. Since acquiring Amari Cooper, the Cowboys are 3-1 on the road. Grab the points but don't be surprised by an outright upset.