The Los Angeles Rams won by a single possession, but there’s no denying that they dominated the entire contest.
They improved to 7-7 on Sunday with a 28-20 victory over the Washington Commanders, setting up a Thursday Night Football matchup with the New Orleans Saints. They outgained Washington by almost 150 yards, and even though they were outmatched in the turnover department, they never allowed this game to be in doubt.
The offense had yet another outstanding day, which was to be expected given the appalling defense of the Commander. Conversely, they forced Washington quarterback Sam Howell to look uneasy for three quarters prior to the entry of backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
What lessons can be learned from Los Angeles’ victory?
1. Matthew Stafford was dialed in.
Although few quarterbacks are playing better football than Matthew Stafford at the moment, he won’t get many votes during award season. He was just as deadly against the Commanders’ soft-spoken secondary as he had been against Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, a week after they had gone shot for shot.
He finished 25 of 33 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns overall. He gave veteran receiver Cooper Kupp, whom he frequently went to on third down, the impetus for a fantastic day. The amount of upside that connection retains on any given Sunday was exemplified by Kupp’s 111 yards.
In addition, Stafford kept the ball out of danger while hitting receiver Demarcus Robinson for a deep touchdown.
Although not very surprising, this shows that the Rams managed to defeat a lower-tier opponent.
2. The Kyren Williams Exhibition continues.
The victory for Los Angeles isn’t accompanied by any significant revelation. Sean McVay, the head coach, has his offense clicking and his well-planned runs are putting his players in position to win.
Kyren Williams, his favorite new toy, keeps proving he’s worthy of the attention and touches that keep coming his way.
Another week, yet another impressive display from the returning second-year
In Week 15, Williams gained 152 yards on 27 carries, including a touchdown to the delight of fantasy managers. Although Williams fumbled twice and was temporarily benched (or worse) for the majority of the league’s backs, he managed to maintain McVay’s trust.
Following his second fumble of the day, he saw a total of 21 looks (rushes, targets, and two-point conversion attempts). This encompasses the duration he devoted to concluding the match when Washington was within one point.
Williams’ head coach believes in him. It’s difficult to overlook given his output why.
3. The Rams are superior to all seven NFC teams.
In four days, Los Angeles (7-7) and New Orleans (7-7) will square off in a postseason match.
In a few weeks, the Rams will likely face a formidable San Francisco 49ers team and may falter and look foolish. Nevertheless, it is becoming more and more difficult to consider Los Angeles without considering them as a Wild Card team.
The run game is both steady and explosive, Stafford is playing brilliantly, and Kupp appears healthy following a mid-season slump. Though far from flawless, the defense is still led by someone by the name of Aaron Donald and is well-coached.
The Rams could very well miss the playoffs in a playoff system that permits the NFC South to host a postseason game. If they do make it there, though, no one will want to play them.
Every week, it seems like the Minnesota Vikings introduce a new quarterback. The NFC South teams mentioned earlier frequently trip over one another. None have a unit that is as effective as the Rams’, and they most definitely lack a quarterback to compare.
This is the NFC’s fifth-best team. The goal for the next three weeks is to convert that into a postseason berth.