The Rams head to Washington on Sunday afternoon with a chance to push their season record above .500 for the first time, and they’re carrying real momentum into Week 9.
Los Angeles has already shaken off its ugly loss to the Cardinals. Since then, the Rams have ripped off back-to-back double-digit wins over the Raiders and Chargers, a stretch that has put them back at 4-4.
Washington, meanwhile, is coming off a statement win of its own after beating the Eagles 27-10 on Monday Night Football, though the Commanders are still only 2-4-1 overall. At home, they’ve gone 2-1-1.
The betting market hasn’t given much away on the side. The spread opened and has stayed put, while the total has dipped from 48.5 to 47.5.
SI Betting’s Iain MacMillan likes the Rams in this spot, and he sees a team that’s better than its record suggests.
“The Rams are a better team than they get credit for, and they're better than their early-season record. There is no denying that they're dealing with a plethora of injuries, but the Rams are still a top-10 team in almost every area.
The Rams are at their best when they're able to establish the run to help open up the passing game. Now they get to face a Commanders team that's 31st in opponent rush success rate.
The Commanders are dealing with injuries of their own, and I have doubts about Jayden Daniels' ability to carry his team to a win without any big-time weapons to lean on.
If you’re giving me the Rams as less than six-point favorites against the Commanders, I’m taking them every day of the week. Los Angeles has found its form in the last two weeks, and Washington’s home record doesn’t scare me.
The Rams should be able to use their passing game to get an early lead, and then run the Commanders’ defense into the ground the rest of the contest.”
That’s the case for Los Angeles heading into Sunday: a team finding its rhythm, a Washington defense that has struggled against the run, and a matchup that could tilt quickly if the Rams get ahead early.
In Other News...
Justin Herbert Drama Just Gave Rams Fans Even More To Talk About
Quentin Lakes postgame criticism of Justin Herbert added another layer to a crosstown matchup that already carried plenty of edge for Rams fans. After the Chargers loss to the Rams, Lake took aim at Herbert following an interception, then later apologized to the quarterback, turning a sharp on-field moment into a bigger conversation about how the game was being viewed from both sidelines.
Herbert and Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh both answered back, with Harbaugh defending his quarterbacks performance and pushing back on the criticism. Even with Herberts uneven season drawing scrutiny, the larger picture in Los Angeles remains unchanged for now, since reports say the Chargers have no intention of trading him. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Injury Report Just Put Matthew Stafford Under A Bigger Spotlight
Sean McVay spent part of his latest availability putting some guardrails around the concern that flared up after Matthew Stafford was seen with ice on his throwing arm following the game. The Rams officially listed Stafford with an elbow injury, but McVay framed it as routine maintenance rather than a setback, noting that the quarterback has been a full participant in practice and has not missed any reps.
For a team that leans so heavily on Staffords arm and command, any injury note naturally draws attention, especially when it lands on the same part of the body that matters most to his game. McVay said Staffords performance has not been affected, which is the part the Rams care about most, even if the injury report keeps the conversation alive for now. [Read more 🡒]
Myles Garrett Puts Rams Defensive Momentum To The Test Sunday
The Rams have spent much of the season trying to build on defensive momentum, and Sunday offers another good measuring stick for how real it is. One of the weeks more intriguing individual battles has Los Angeles edge rusher Myles Garrett lined up against Washington tackle Brandon Coleman, a matchup that could shape how often the Commanders can stay on schedule and how much pressure the Rams can generate without having to overcommit elsewhere.
Garrett has been the kind of force offenses have to account for snap after snap, and the Rams will be watching closely to see whether that edge presence translates into the kind of disruption that changes a game plan. With Washington dealing with the challenge of protecting Coleman against one of the leagues most disruptive defenders, this is the sort of test that can either reinforce what Los Angeles has been building or expose how much work still remains. [Read more 🡒]