With three games remaining between now and the end of the regular season, the Rams are the team to beat in the NFL. And as luck would have it, the calendar has a real gift in store for football fans since these same Rams face this Thursday evening one of the rare opponents who can shake them, the Seahawks.
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Some will correct me by telling me that the Broncos (12-2) have a better record than the Rams (11-3). That’s true, but the Broncos didn’t dominate like the Rams.
It’s undeniable, the Broncos must be considered among the best clubs, riding an incredible 11-game winning streak. The fact remains that their victories were acquired by an average difference of seven points. In history, 35 clubs have had 11-game winning streaks and the Broncos have the lowest winning margin of the lot, according to Pro Football Reference.
That doesn’t take anything away from the Broncos, but back to our Rams…
The Rams have beaten their opponents so far by an average margin of 11.36 points. The offense has scored 86 points in its last two games and has crossed the 30-point mark seven times. Seven opponents have been crushed by two or more touchdowns against the Rams.
A scary attack
With Sean McVay as head coach, the Rams offense is consistently dangerous, but I don’t remember seeing it as complete as this season.
Behind the exploits of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is heading straight for the league’s Most Valuable Player title with 3,722 yards, 37 touchdowns and only five interceptions, there is more.
The running game ranks eighth, the highest ranking for the Rams since McVay’s second season at the helm in 2018.
Kyren Williams is dominant with 1,030 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, but we shouldn’t forget Blake Corum, who comes out of his shell with 621 rushing yards (5.5 per carry) and five more touchdowns.
This season, the Rams’ strength comes mainly from the fact that they are more unpredictable than ever. The wide receiver duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams is sensational.
Adams suffered a thigh injury last Sunday and it’s a big blow if he has to sit out.
In the event of such a scenario, however, McVay holds other keys in his hands since the Rams regularly play with three tight ends on the field.
The presence of these strong guys helps on the one hand to solidify the ground game, but on the other hand, Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen each claim at least 20 receptions. The aerial game is thus diversified and it is complicated for opposing defensive players to read what is in front of them. Confusion becomes one more weapon in the Rams’ well-stocked offensive arsenal.
A cheap defense
It’s easy to forget, with the fireworks on offense, that the Rams’ defense is the third-lowest scoring average. With well-paid stars on offense, it is more through the draft and bargain shopping that the team performs on the other side of the ball.
Since 2023, youngsters Byron Young (third round), Kobie Turner (third round), Braden Fiske (second round) and Jared Verse (first round) have been incredible success stories, on inexpensive entry-level contracts.
Linebackers Omar Speights, a free agent ignored in the draft, and Nate Landman, a Falcons reject, form one of the good tandems on the circuit.
In terms of salary cap dollars, the Rams are banking on the lowest-cost defense in the entire league. Impressive!
Place aux Seahawks!
Quarterback Sam Darnold was the victim of four interceptions in his last game against the Rams.
Getty Images via AFP
That’s all well and good, but it won’t be easy in Seattle on Thursday night. The Seahawks have an identical record to the Rams, but the Rams beat them earlier this season in Los Angeles by terrorizing quarterback Sam Darnold.
Moreover, before this game, Darnold was completing 72.3% of his passes, with 251.3 yards per game, 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. Since then, his completion percentage has dropped to 61.8%, with 223 yards per game, five touchdowns and five interceptions. Could this be the match that broke him?
Be careful, however, as dominant as the Rams offense is, it has not exceeded the 30 point mark against the solid Seahawks defense since 2018.
MY PREDICTION FOR THURSDAY:
Rams 23 Seahawks 20
