Throughout his first 15 NFL seasons, Matthew Stafford’s groups skilled scheduled off weeks at varied junctures.
Thrice they arrived as early as Week 5; as soon as as late as Week 10.
With the Rams 1-4 after an Oct. 6 defeat to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, their star quarterback was requested if their Week 6 day without work was coming at a very good time.
“I don’t know,” Stafford mentioned. “We’ll see.”
That’s an ideal mantra to accompany the Rams via their remaining 12 video games.
On Sunday, after they play the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium, we’ll see if coach Sean McVay devised a workable plan to as soon as once more flip round a crew getting ready to falling out of the playoff race.
We’ll see if receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and offensive linemen Steve Avila and Joe Noteboom are able to return from accidents that left the Rams shorthanded in opposition to the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and the Packers.
We’ll see if defensive coordinator Chris Shula made scheme and personnel changes that can elevate the Rams from their statistical place at or close to the underside of the league.
One factor is for certain: The Rams can’t count on Stafford to supply miracle comebacks each week.
Positive, he did it for the thirty sixth time in victory over the 49ers at SoFi Stadium.
McVay, Rams and followers little doubt anticipated a repeat when Stafford engineered a fourth-quarter landing drive in opposition to the Packers that pulled the Rams inside 5 factors. Stafford obtained the ball again with lower than three minutes left and had the Rams on the transfer however his fourth-down go in Packers territory fell incomplete.
Stafford, 36, has persevered regardless of a still-patchwork offensive line and the injury-related absence of star expertise at receiver.
In the course of the offseason, the Rams invested a mixed $66 million in inside linemen Kevin Dotson and Jonah Jackson. They tendered left deal with Alaric Jackson for almost $5 million.
Stafford, nevertheless, has but to take a sport snap behind the projected beginning offensive line.
Alaric Jackson was suspended for 2 video games for violating the league’s personal-conduct coverage. Avila and the versatile Noteboom went down within the season opener, and Jonah Jackson suffered the same destiny in Week 2.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hugs Kyren Williams after the working again’s landing run in opposition to the Packers.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Occasions)
Stafford performed the final 4 video games behind a line that featured rookie middle Beaux Limmer, and the final three with left guard Logan Bruss, a 2022 draft decide, enjoying for the primary time.
The Packers hit Stafford 10 instances and sacked him 3 times, leaving him with a sore again.
Regardless of the road shuffle, working again Kyren Williams is scoring touchdowns. And after failing of their first alternative in opposition to the Packers, the Rams confirmed improved landing manufacturing from contained in the 20-yard line.
Receivers Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, rookie Jordan Whittington and tight finish Colby Parkinson all have had their moments however they’re complementary gamers in a receiving corps that requires Kupp and Nacua.
The younger defensive entrance has made an affect within the early post-Aaron Donald period, however buying and selling inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV, and pondering that Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom may fill the void, stays questionable.
The secondary is shaky, although Shula needed to be inspired by Jaylen McCollough’s interception return for a landing in opposition to the Packers.
McVay sat former cornerback Tre’Davious White in opposition to the Packers. Though the previous All-Professional has struggled, anticipating a participant coming off Achilles surgical procedure to be his former self initially of the season was most likely asking an excessive amount of.
Cornerback Darious Williams performed for the primary time this season in opposition to the Packers, and security John Johnson III is eligible to return from injured reserve after the sport in opposition to the Raiders.
Particular groups have largely performed properly. Rookie kicker Joshua Karty was good till he missed a field-goal try in opposition to the Bears and an extra-point try in opposition to the Packers.
Final season, the Rams misplaced to the Packers in Week 9 and fell to 3-6 earlier than they returned from an off week. Stafford then earned Professional Bowl recognition by main the Rams to the playoffs.
Of the Rams’ remaining opponents, solely the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Payments and Philadelphia Eagles have successful information via motion Sunday.
Can McVay and Stafford lead the Rams on one other run to the playoffs?
We’ll see.
