They say in order to be the best, you have to beat the best. That’s a stance the Rams will take in the next few weeks as they embark on what they hope is a long playoff journey. That quest for the Lombardi Trophy begins on Saturday against the Falcons, but within that game, there will be a smaller battle between two elite athletes.

Julio Jones, arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, will draw Trumaine Johnson in coverage, likely for the entirety of the game. It’s one of the toughest matchups any cornerback can have, but in order to be the best, you have to beat (or cover) the best.

To no one’s surprise, Johnson isn’t shying away from the task.

“You’ve got to love it,” Johnson said this week, via the L.A. Daily News. “Julio is one of the best receivers out there right now. You’ve got to love it. At the same time, I’m one of the best corners, too. So it’s going to be fun.”

Jones is battling ankle and rib injuries, which held him out of practice on Tuesday. He returned on a limited basis Wednesday, but he may not be fully healthy. Even so, a 90-percent version of Jones is still better than 90 percent of the NFL’s wide receivers, so it doesn’t make it an easy task.

Wade Phillips said Jones “may be the best” receiver in the league, and if he’s not No. 1, he’s “one of the best, for sure.” That’s the sentiment most people express across the NFL, and it’s easy to see why. He had 88 catches for 1,444 yards and three touchdowns this season, his fourth straight year with at least 80 catches and 1,400 yards.

When it’s all said and done, Jones may very well be one of the best receivers in NFL history, assuming he can stay healthy and remain as productive as he’s been the past few years. Staying on the field has been a bit difficult for him in the NFL, but he’s missed just three games the past four years, so his durability is certainly improving.

Obviously, his combination of size and speed makes Jones such a special player, but for Johnson, it’s something that’s difficult to explain.

“He has that ‘it’ factor – that dog factor,” Johnson said.