That NFL ticket you managed to scrounge for the Rams-49ers clash on September 11? <\/p>\n
Hold onto it with all your life.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t sell it or and consider handing it over to a relative or even your best mate.<\/p>\n
Because this historic MCG game just became God-tier level.<\/p>\n
A game of intense divisional rivals just reached overdrive with confirmation of Aaron Donald\u2019s return to the Los Angeles Rams defence.<\/p>\n
For the uninitiated, Donald is an NFL great with three defensive player of the year awards, 10 Pro Bowls and a key role in the 2022 Super Bowl victory.<\/p>\n
And he is returning to an NFL defence that just traded for Myles Garrett, who has claims alongside Donald as the best defender of the modern era.<\/p>\n
After months of speculation Donald finally confirmed his return on a one-season deal that can secure him up to $US30 million on a heavily incentive-laden deal.<\/p>\n
Now comes the waiting game _ is he ready to suit up in Melbourne? <\/p>\n
The very fact he is prepared to risk that Super Bowl legacy after two seasons of retirement shows how prepared the 35-year-old is to return to the field.<\/p>\n
In that Super Bowl at the Ram\u2019s home field SoFi Stadium quarterback Matt Stafford\u2019s no-look pass to wide receiver Cooper Kupp set up the go-ahead touchdown.<\/p>\n
It was Donald who slammed the door shut, with a line-stuffing stop of the Cincinnati Bengals run play on third down in the game\u2019s final drive.<\/p>\n
Then came Donald\u2019s game-winning pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow that forced an incomplete fourth-down pass.<\/p>\n
Game over. 23-20 Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n
Legacy secured for Donald.<\/p>\n
Now a Rams team already stacked with reigning MVP (Matt Stafford) and the current defensive player of the year (Garrett) just added the 127kg ball of muscle to truly terrorise NFL quarterbacks.<\/p>\n
Donald plays on the interior and Garrett is an edge-rusher \u2013 so in theory they should perfectly complement each other\u2019s styles.<\/p>\n
As Stafford said of former rival Garrett in training camp, he is so adept at disrupting every plan he dominates the quarterback\u2019s thoughts on every play.<\/p>\n
Now the Rams have doubled down with two players of that rare ability.<\/p>\n
Garrett crossed from Cleveland in the off-season after setting the NFL single sacks record, so the Rams enter the season as the only team boasting multiple players with multiple defensive player of the year awards.<\/p>\n
How much will we see him in Melbourne, as the Rams on Monday set their 53-man roster?<\/p>\n
That is the $500 (ticket price) question.<\/p>\n
But even if Donald plays 10-15 defensive snaps it will open up all manner of possibilities for a defence already stacked to the gills.<\/p>\n
Coach Sean McVay was non-committal after Donald\u2019s signing, adamant it was a decision for the days ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not going to talk about any plans. It\u2019s going to be a day at a time,\u201d McVay said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether or not he\u2019s available or whether we think it\u2019s best to play him in Australia, the best way to do it is one day at a time. But we are obviously excited to have him back.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Donald made clear he believed he could reclaim his past glories.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I feel like I can play at the highest level? Yes. Do I feel like I can still be like myself? 100 per cent. If I didn\u2019t feel like that I wouldn\u2019t be here. I studied myself to a T. Watched every movement, every cut, every hip flip. In my opinion, I don\u2019t see any difference. If anything, it looked a little cleaner to me. This is a complete team with me or without me, I had the opportunity to come back and be part of something special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year outside linebacker Byron Young contributed 12 snaps (eighth in the NFL) and the Rams have acquired star cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson to solidify last year\u2019s shaky defence.<\/p>\n
Stafford and his offensive stars \u2013 wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum \u2013 all held but the defence wavered in the NFC Championship loss to eventual Super Bowl winner Seattle.<\/p>\n
The Herald Sun asked former NFL player Ben Graham how to rate this historic NFL game out of 100 last week as Donald\u2019s return was yet to become official.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 100 out of 100,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou couldn\u2019t ask for more. The first divisional game played internationally. Divisional games are like the AFL\u2019s version of eight-point games. Every one of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a rivalry that goes back a long way. The Rams are the home team but the 49ers fan base The Faithful will paint the town red. The 49ers are a bit injured but the Rams are all in. This is no pre-season game. This is no exhibition game. It\u2019s going to be one of the most watched regular-season games in America, broadcast to over 200 million people, and the magnitude of it being in Melbourne is off the charts.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"That NFL ticket you managed to scrounge for the Rams-49ers clash on September 11? 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