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Give Me 5: Dante Fowler Jr.'s top plays from the second half of the season

As the Rams enter the offseason, it's time to check out some of the team's top plays from the second half of the NFL season and postseason.

Here are the top five plays from outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr.

No. 5

Outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. was acquired ahead of Week 9 in New Orleans and proved to be a playmaker in the Rams defense for the season's second half and into the postseason.

Fowler played one of his best games as a Ram Week 13 in Detroit, logging one sack, five tackles — three for a loss — and a quarterback hit on Matthew Stafford. Fowler's play of the game came on a short pitch from Stafford to receiver Bruce Ellington on 3rd-and-2, designed to trick the Rams defense. Fowler read the play and blew up Ellington's effort behind the line of scrimmage, forcing a fourth-down field goal try.

No. 4

Fowler made his presence off the edge felt one last time in the regular season Week 17 against the 49ers with a clutch hit on quarterback Nick Mullens as he stepped up to deliver a pass in the first quarter.

Fowler hit Mullens' arm as he threw and the ball wobbled through the air and into the hands of linebacker Cory Littleton for the Rams second early takeaway of the day.

No. 3

Fowler continued to bother backfields with his speed well into the postseason with a first-quarter Super Bowl hit that wowed the crowd in Atlanta.

Fowler zoomed off the edge and halted running back Sony Michel with a diving grab along with some help from defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to record the tackle for loss.

No. 2

Fowler's top play of the regular season came just how defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and general manager Les Snead dreamed it would, with the former No. 3 overall pick providing pressure from the edge as the strong defensive interior forced quarterback Russel Wilson backwards.

Wilson, unable to step up in the pocket on 3rd-and-3, down by five with six minutes left in the game, had his motion disrupted by Fowler, who popped the ball out of his right hand before recovering the fumble on the Coliseum's turf.

The Rams took over on offense and scored on the next play — going up two scores on the division rival Seahawks.

No. 1

Fowler all but single-handily sent the Rams to the Super Bowl as the catalyst behind quarterback Drew Brees' rogue overtime pass, the seated interception by safety John Johnson, and then the game-winning 57-yard field goal from kicker Greg Zuerlein once the Rams took over on offense.

Fowler changed the tide with a flailing hit on Brees as the future Hall of Fame quarterback looked for wideout Michael Thomas down field. He finished the game with 0.5 sacks, two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, and five total tackles.

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