There is not any different technique to put it—the Los Angeles Rams have been outright embarrassed by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night time Soccer in Week 12. Needing a win to get a leg up within the tightly contested NFC West, the Rams failed, shedding to the Eagles 37-20 in primetime.
It was yet one more instance of a wildly inconsistent Rams staff this season. Positive, early-season accidents contributed to their 1-4 begin, however their final two losses have been downright mind-boggling, and lopsided at that.
Regardless of their struggles, the Rams are at present in third place within the division and only one recreation behind each the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks took the division lead after beating Arizona in Week 12. So, sure, the Rams are in no way out of the NFC playoff image, although they at present sit outdoors the seven playoff seeds in tenth place.
If the Rams wish to make the postseason, profitable the division will probably be their greatest route, which is attainable—however removed from probably.
Rams’ final two losses have been unhealthy
The 1-4 begin didn’t do the Rams any favors to start the season. However once they obtained more healthy, they rattled off three straight wins and 4 out of 5, together with division victories over the San Francisco 49ers and Seahawks. The issue has been two of their final three video games, the place they misplaced to the Miami Dolphins and Eagles, each in primetime affairs.
And it’s not simply that the Rams misplaced—they misplaced decisively. In opposition to Miami, whereas the ultimate rating was an eight-point margin, the Rams have been by no means really within the recreation. They failed to attain a single landing for the primary time since Week 9 of final season, in response to NFL.com. They went 0-for-3 within the pink zone, 3-for-12 on third down, and couldn’t maintain drives. A Matthew Stafford interception and a Kyren Williams fumble solely added to their woes.
The Sunday evening recreation towards the Eagles was a distinct story fully. Operating again Saquon Barkley put himself firmly within the MVP dialogue after a historic efficiency, amassing a career-high 255 dashing yards as a part of Philadelphia’s 314-yard dashing whole, together with two touchdowns. The Rams’ 17-point loss was their second-largest defeat of the season.
The Rams now personal one of many league’s worst dashing defenses, rating twenty eighth and permitting a median of 144.3 yards per recreation. Solely twice this season have they held opponents beneath 100 dashing yards, whereas 5 video games have seen them permit 130 or extra.
Once more, the inconsistency of this staff is what’s so unnerving, with the final two losses talking volumes. Even with semi-favorable matchups remaining—similar to towards the Saints, Jets, and 49ers—nothing is a assure for this staff. They might simply as simply win by six factors or lose by 20.
The win over the Patriots wasn’t nice
Wedged between the losses to the Dolphins and Eagles was a win over the New England Patriots on the street. Whereas a win is a win and shouldn’t be discounted, the standard of the opponent issues.
The Patriots have become a feisty staff this season, particularly since rookie quarterback Drake Maye took the reins. However they’re nonetheless quite a bit much less gifted and extra inexperienced than the Rams, as evidenced by their 3-9 file.
Maye almost led the Patriots on a late fourth-quarter comeback, and if not for rookie security Kam Kinchens’ interception, the Rams may have misplaced two straight.
Kyren Williams and the Rams’ working recreation proceed to wrestle
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After a stable season final 12 months, Kyren Williams is struggling in 2024. The third-year working again has 5 fumbles on the season, shedding three. He’s managed only one 100-yard dashing recreation this season, although he does have 11 whole touchdowns. The Rams rank twenty sixth in dashing offense, averaging simply 95.1 yards per recreation, and have scored only one dashing touchdowns of their final 5 video games.
The ineffectiveness within the run recreation little doubt places extra strain on an getting older Stafford to hold the offense. Whereas that’s wonderful when his offensive line and receivers are wholesome, that hasn’t at all times been the case persistently this season. And not using a sustainable dashing assault, the Rams will proceed to wrestle in path to incomes one of many seven NFC playoff seedings.
The remainder of the NFC West is simply higher, minus the 49ers
It’s robust to foretell who will in the end win the NFC West, however the Cardinals and Seahawks seem like in the most effective form. Whereas each groups have their very own consistency points, they appear higher fitted to the lengthy haul than the Rams.
The Rams maintain division wins over the 49ers and Seahawks however suffered a lopsided 41-10 loss to the Cardinals again in Week 2. This offers them a tiebreaker over San Francisco in playoff standings. The Rams nonetheless must face all three division rivals once more earlier than season’s finish, together with back-to-back house video games towards Arizona and Seattle to shut the season.
Whereas it’s not out of the realm of chance for the Rams to make a comeback—particularly with a coach like Sean McVay on the helm—they should present rather more consistency to make that occur. Proper now, the Seahawks and Cardinals appear way more dependable bets.