The Los Angeles Rams just snagged a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, but let’s be real, their path to the playoffs is still narrow. Like, *super* narrow. They’re likely looking at needing ten wins just to sniff a wildcard spot in the NFC. The mission walking into Sunday was 8-3, and now it’s sitting at 7-3. That said, you can’t take away from that impressive win against the Raiders. It was a good one, even if it doesn’t change everything.
Defense Held Strong, Offense Found a Groove
Honestly, the defense showed up big time, even with a laundry list of guys missing in action. We’re talking Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, Kobie Turner, and Nate Landman all out. Poona Ford, another key piece, was also sidelined and is now officially ruled out for the rest of the year. Despite those huge absences, the defense still fared well. They’re expecting some reinforcements in the coming weeks, which is good because they’ll need it.
On the other side of the ball, the offense had its most well-rounded performance of the season. Matthew Stafford was efficient, just dropping dimes where they needed to be. And the ground game? Blake Corum and Kyren Williams were just churning out those crucial yards, keeping the Rams ahead of the chains. It was encouraging, for sure, but the team knows it’s gonna take more to hit their goals.
That Deep Ball? Still MIA.
Alright, so here’s where things get tricky. Where did those 20-plus yard passes go? Seriously, the offensive line is actually holding up, giving Stafford enough time to launch it downfield. Defenses are obviously trying to shut that down strategically, but you’ve got Sean McVay, one of the best offensive architects in the game, right? He should be able to draw up some favorable matchups to get that deep game back.
A huge part of this puzzle is Terrance Ferguson. The pass-catching tight end has been on injured reserve since Week 3. The reports on his return are all over the place, so who knows when he’ll be back. Until Ferguson returns, the Rams might not be able to push the ball downfield effectively. The big question is, who steps up in the meantime and fills that void?
Replacing an All-Pro by Committee
When you’re talking about replacing someone like Davante Adams, it’s never easy. The Rams don’t have a single player on the roster who can just step in and immediately fill the shoes of a future Hall of Famer. It’s a tough spot. And let’s be honest, the reserve receivers, Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield, have been pretty disappointing given all the chances they’ve had.
But against Vegas, we saw a proof of concept, at least for now. Colby Parkinson seemed to take over Adams’ role between the 20s, snagging 48 yards on five catches. Then Davis Allen stepped up for red zone duties, grabbing two touchdowns! That’s a stat line you’d expect from Adams when Puka Nacua is healthy. This mix might change next week, but for now, they at least know it *can* work.
Oh, and on defense, after Nate Landman missed Week 7 due to concussion protocol, Shaun Dolac filled in. It’s an unexpected shift, but sometimes that’s where you find those hidden gems.
The Rams likely need to win their next three games , against the Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, and Arizona Cardinals , if they want any real shot at the playoffs before a seriously daunting backend stretch of the schedule. This team’s got to keep winning the games they should, because stacking those blocks is the only way to build a skyscraper.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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