Defensive tackle Aaron Donald broke the single-season franchise sack record, and the NFL's single-season sack record for defensive tackles. With 20.5 sacks in 16 games, Donald has already put himself in the history books — a fact that he undoubtedly appreciates.
"For sure, you're going to be excited for the way you finished the season, happy with the success you had," Donald said on Thursday. "But we've got a lot more football left, so just try to go into the playoffs strong, and hopefully you get to that big dance. So we've got a lot of work ahead of us."
With just his second taste of the intensity of playoff football coming next Saturday, Donald is excited for the opportunity at hand. And he's well aware that part of leaving a legacy within the league comes from being at your best in the postseason.
"Well you've got to leave it all out there, because it's win or go home. So you've got to play at your best," Donald said. "You've got to try to find ways to dominate in any way — it ain't about getting sacks, it's about making the big plays. If that's pressing the quarterback, making them throw a pick — whatever you've got to do to try to dominate the game. So that's the mindset we've got to have as a team, and go into it. So I'm just going to go out there and fly around."
Donald's mindset has been to dominate the game in all facets for a long time. But you could see the effects of him pressuring quarterbacks last week, as the defensive tackle's backfield disruptions helped force 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens into interceptions during the Week 17 victory.
Look back at Aaron Donald's 20.5 sacks of the 2018 regular season.
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (8) Kirt Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings during the Rams 38-31 victory over the Vikings in an NFL Week 4 Thursday Night Football game, Thursday, September 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (9) Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions and causes a fumble during the Rams 30-16 victory over the Lions to win the NFC West in a Week 13 NFL football game, Sunday, December 3, 2018, in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with teammate (50) Samson Ebukam after a sack against the Minnesota Vikings during the Rams 38-31 victory over the Vikings in an NFL Week 4 Thursday Night Football game, Thursday, September 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (8) Kirt Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings during the Rams 38-31 victory over the Vikings in an NFL Week 4 Thursday Night Football game, Thursday, September 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks (3) Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks during the Rams 33-31 victory over the Seahawks in an NFL Week 5 football game at CenturyLink Field, Sunday, October 7, 2018, in Seattle, WA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (3) CJ Bethard of the San Francisco 49ers during the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in a Week 7 NFL football game, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (8) Kirt Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings and celebrates during the Rams 38-31 victory over the Vikings in an NFL Week 4 Thursday Night Football game, Thursday, September 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (4) Case Keenum of the Denver Broncos during the Rams 23-20 victory over the Broncos in an NFL Week 6 football game, Sunday, October 14, 2018, in Denver, CO. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (4) Case Keenum of the Denver Broncos and celebrates during the Rams 23-20 victory over the Broncos in an NFL Week 6 football game, Sunday, October 14, 2018, in Denver, CO. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a sack against the San Francisco 49ers during the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in a Week 7 NFL football game, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers (90) and defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) sack San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 (Hiro Ueno/Rams).
Defensive end (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback during the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in an NFL Week 07 football game at Levi's Stadium, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Defensive end (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback during the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in an NFL Week 07 football game at Levi's Stadium, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 (Hiro Ueno/Rams).
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (12) Aaron Rogers of the Green Bay Packers during the Rams 29-27 victory over the Packers in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during an NFL Football game, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Defensive end (99) Aaron Donald and Defensive lineman (90) Michael Brockers of the Los Angeles Rams celebrate a sack versus the San Francisco 49ers as the Rams 39-10 victory over the 49ers in an NFL Week 07 football game at Levi's Stadium, Sunday, October 21, 2018, in Santa Clara, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (12) Aaron Rogers of the Green Bay Packers and celebrates during the Rams 29-27 victory over the Packers in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 28, 2018, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) celebrates a sack during an NFL Football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (9) Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions during the Rams 30-16 victory over the Lions to win the NFC West in a Week 13 NFL football game, Sunday, December 3, 2018, in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) and defensive end Aaron Donald (99) celebrate a sack during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) and nose tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) celebrates a sack during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Hiro Ueno/Rams)
This week, though, Donald said he's been fine tuning the little things.
"Just working on your technique — playing the run, rushing the passer, just trying to clean up things and keep yourself fresh," Donald said.
The defensive tackle said he actually does feel remarkably fresh after a 16-game season — "no aches, no pains, no nothing" — so perhaps he doesn't need the rest this weekend as much as some. But Donald said he'll be tuned into the Wild Card round games this weekend, if for nothing else then to get a bit of a head start on whoever the Rams will face next weekend.
"You're watching a little bit of the offensive line, see how they're playing, what they're doing. So we'll check it out," Donald said.
"But just trying to figure out who's winning, who's losing, trying to figure out who we're going to be playing, so I can break down some film and get ready to go."
Clarence Dennis contributed reporting.
