The Rams are trending the right way at just the right time. After back-to-back wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles heads into Week 9 with a chance to make it three straight when it meets the Washington Commanders.
Washington, meanwhile, finally picked up its second win of the season in Week 8, knocking off the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football. Even at 2-4-1, the Commanders are still hanging around in an NFC East that’s being led by the Giants at 4-2-1.
This matchup sets up as a test of how much faith you want to put in the Rams’ record versus what they actually are. The numbers and the eye test point in the same direction: Los Angeles is better than its early-season results suggest. Injuries have clearly been part of the story, but the Rams still profile as a top-10 team in almost every area.
The path for Los Angeles is pretty clear. When the Rams can get the run game going, it opens everything else up in the passing attack. That’s a problem for Washington, because the Commanders come in ranked 31st in opponent rush success rate.
Washington’s injury situation only adds to the concern. The Commanders are banged up too, and there are real questions about whether Jayden Daniels can drag this team to a win without big-time weapons around him.
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Garrett has been on injured reserve since after Week 1, so any step toward a return would be a welcome boost for a defense that has been waiting for reinforcements. Fergusons possible return would matter on the other side of the ball, giving the Rams another option as they try to keep pace in the playoff race during a demanding stretch away from home. [Read more 🡒]
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Rams Trade Deadline Buzz Centers On One Risk Sean McVay Can't Ignore
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Josh Downs and Thomas would give the offense another layer of reliability, while Stewart could address the kind of nose tackle presence that can be hard to find in-season. Chimere Dike brings value in the return game, and Mack would obviously add pressure off the edge, but every option carries its own question mark for Sean McVay and the front office to weigh. For now, it is all buzz and no deal, which leaves the Rams balancing urgency against the risk of making a move that looks cleaner on paper than it does on the field. [Read more 🡒]