There may not have been a more valuable player to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday than linebacker Cory Littleton. He made two of the biggest plays in the game, playing a pivotal role in the Week 1 win.
He brought a halt to the Panthers’ opening drive when he punched the ball out of D.J. Moore’s hands and recovered the fumble after Carolina had gained momentum. Then in the fourth quarter, he picked off Cam Newton with 5:55 to play and the Rams up by 10 points.
It wasn’t a game-sealing interception, but it gave the Rams the ball back and prevented the Panthers from making it a one-possession game.
Not to mention, he also broke up another pass and is tied for the NFL lead with 14 total tackles after one game. He was recognized by Pro Football Focus for his historic performance, earning a spot on the Team of the Week.
His overall grade of 94.3 wasn’t just the best of any linebacker, it was the highest grade of anyone in the NFL in Week 1.
As someone who has made a name for himself as a special teams ace early in his career, we’ve seen Littleton on the PFF Team of the Week before. This time he makes it for his work on defense, though, after a performance that saw him finish the game with four tackles resulting in a defensive stop, a pass breakup and an interception.
This is the sort of play Los Angeles needs from Littleton all season, especially with the lack of depth the team has at linebacker. He played every snap on Sunday and was the only inside linebacker to receive significant playing time, showing just how reliable he is in the eyes of the coaching staff.
Littleton won’t have 14 tackles and an interception every week, but he’ll be in the middle of the action more often than not. His range and speed make him a playmaker for Wade Phillips at inside linebacker.
