The Los Angeles Rams’ 2023 plan was crystal clear: set aside some cash, hold onto future draft picks, and use any available salary cap space to make a big splash in 2024 to revitalize a team that has been paying a heavy price for its rebuilding since winning Super Bowl 56.
However, the Rams (5-6) have abandoned their initial plan as December approaches. Dare we say it, they are in the running for the NFC playoffs after two straight victories and a rejuvenated offense.
If a few things go right, they might be tied for the seventh-best spot in the NFC by Sunday night.
The Rams’ victory over the visiting, underdog Cleveland Browns (7-4)—who may be missing their starting two quarterbacks due to injuries—is, of course, paramount.
Following the favored Dallas Cowboys’ victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, Los Angeles could win another game to drop the Seahawks to 6-6.
However, the Rams have the tiebreaker because they swept Seattle this season, and Sean McVay is still dominating Pete Carroll, the coach of the Seahawks.
The Chiefs’ victory over the Packers on Sunday night would be the last straw, dropping Green Bay to 5-7 and one game behind the Rams.
Few believed Los Angeles could bounce back from their Week 9 loss to the Packers, who defeated the Rams to drop them to 3-6.
Following a four-week layoff due to an ankle injury, running back Kyren Williams made his debut last week. Quarterback Matthew Stafford also made a full recovery from his thumb injury.
And so it is! Now that the Rams have triumphed twice, rather than everyone focusing on ’24 while peering through binoculars, the talk is about what could happen this year.
With the Rams on the verge of a three-game losing streak, McVay is taking his time with the big picture. However, if L.A. makes a late push, they might be playing important games by mid-January.
“It’s about one week at a time,’’ McVay said. “If we do that and continue to get better, then I think those conversations always take care of themselves, and that’s what served us well in previous years as well.’’
Nevertheless, the expectation was that the Rams, who currently have roughly $46 million in cap space in ’24, would clear some dead weight off the books the following season. This was reported by spotrac.
The Rams will have their first first-round pick in the draft since selecting quarterback Jared Goff with the first overall pick in 2016. The Rams have ten selections in total to complete a roster that is demonstrating its ability to contend at a high level this season.
tense conclusion Tyler Higbee was familiar with the maxim “wait until next year.” The coaches and players, according to him, never bought into it.
In the team’s 37-14 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday, Higbee had two touchdown catches.
“(We) knew that we had a chance to do something special and make a run at the playoffs,’’ Higbee told the LA Times.
With games left against Cleveland, the Baltimore Ravens (9-3), the Washington Commanders (4-8), the New Orleans Saints (5-6), the New York Giants (4-8) and the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers (8-3), there is still a lot of work to be done.
For the record, the Rams are still hoping that 24 will be a significant season.
Let this one play out first, though. Recently, L.A. has given off the impression of a team ready to compete and possibly surprise everyone in the playoffs.