The Los Angeles Rams secured their third-straight win, climbing above .500 for the first time all season after a gritty 20-13 road victory over the Washington Commanders. This team is finally getting healthy, no doubt, but let’s be real, they definitely haven’t peaked yet. They still look like they’re missing pieces on both sides of the ball, and that’s the honest truth. Staying alive is the name of the game right now, though. The Rams have three “lives” left on the year if they want a real shot at the playoffs, which means they absolutely cannot afford to drop games to teams with losing records. This win was a must-have.
The Defense Is Getting Its Wrecking Crew Back
Look, the Rams path forward? It’s probably going to be as a defensive-first team. And after what we just saw, that might not be a bad thing. Myles Garrett, man, he is exactly who we thought he was. Three sacks with a forced fumble in his first truly healthy game back from a knee injury? That’s just getting the job done. We waited nearly two full months for him to return after he was limited in Week 1, but the wait? Totally worth it. Garrett looked like a game wrecker out there. That’s a super encouraging sign for the defense moving forward, especially since it was the first time we saw him and Aaron Donald on the field together. Donald had his positive moments too, which is huge. Once Trent McDuffie returns, this defense should be in seriously good shape.
Even with McDuffie out, Emmanuel Forbes stepped up big time. Playing against the very team that drafted him in the first round, Forbes defended three passes and filled in admirably. Yeah, there were some troubling moments, but McDuffie’s absence honestly could have been a much bigger disaster. Forbes got the last laugh, too, with a late deep pass breakup that ended up being pretty costly for Washington. Talk about redemption! On the same side of the ball, former Rams receiver Van Jefferson even had a breakout game.
Nacua’s Herculean Effort And The Puzzling RB Call
While the defense is figuring things out, the offense is still a work in progress, no doubt. Puka Nacua, though? That dude is a straight-up beast. Like Garrett on defense, Nacua did it all on the offensive side of the ball. He hauled in 14 of 19 targets for a massive 150 yards and a score. And if that wasn’t enough, he added two rushes for 20 yards. His receiving total comprised an insane 66% of LA’s gross passing yards on the day. The big question is, can such a heavy workload for Nacua actually be sustainable? Probably not. But when you’ve got a workhorse like that, you might as well use him until he can’t go anymore.
Then there’s the running back situation, and this one’s a head-scratcher. Blake Corum has been LA’s offensive spark plug over the last three weeks, which, surprise surprise, coincides perfectly with their recent win streak. He carried the ball 11 times for 58 yards, averaging a solid 5.3 yards per carry, and punched in a score. That’s a much more efficient day than Kyren Williams’ 15 rushes for 45 yards, averaging only 3.0 yards. But still, when the Rams had a chance to close out the game, they decided Williams was the best answer. Puzzling, right? You gotta wonder what they were thinking there.
The Rams are finally above water, but they are far from peaking. This defense, especially with Garrett back and McDuffie on the way, looks like it is ready to carry them forward. The massive question is how long Nacua can keep up this insane pace, and if the coaching staff can figure out the running back rotation. They absolutely need to keep winning to stay alive, and every single snap counts now.
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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