Rams Must Shake Off a Troubling Trend as They Face Another Shorthanded Opponent in Week 14
At 9-3, the Los Angeles Rams are sitting in a strong position heading into the final stretch of the regular season. But if there’s been one recurring theme in their three losses this year, it’s not just about shaky special teams or questionable officiating-it’s the way this team has struggled when facing opponents led by backups.
Let’s rewind for a moment. In Week 5, the Rams dropped a game to a San Francisco 49ers offense that was missing key starters.
Fast forward to Week 13, and the same story played out again-another loss to a team fielding multiple backups. These weren’t just tough matchups; they were games the Rams were expected to win.
And yet, they didn’t.
Now, here comes another test.
The Arizona Cardinals are next on the schedule, and they’ll be without wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) and Greg Dortch (chest). That’s a big hit to their passing game-those two account for a third of Arizona’s receiving touchdowns. Sure, the Cardinals still have tight end Trey McBride and rookie wideout Michael Wilson, but on paper, this is a matchup where the Rams’ secondary should have the edge.
But “on paper” hasn’t meant much when it comes to this Rams team facing undermanned opponents. That’s where the concern lies.
Chris Shula’s Defense Has Been Solid-But This Is a Prove-It Game
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula has done impressive work with a unit that’s among the league’s least expensive. Despite the lack of big-name contracts, his defense ranks 13th in total yards allowed per game and second in points allowed. That’s not just respectable-it’s borderline elite, especially considering the youth and inexperience on that side of the ball.
But Week 14 isn’t about moral victories or silver linings. It’s about playoff positioning, and the stakes are real.
The Cardinals may not be in the postseason picture, but they’re a division rival. That means this game carries added weight in the playoff tiebreaker formula. A loss here doesn’t just sting-it could cost the Rams the edge in a tightly packed NFC West race.
Right now, the Rams and Seahawks are both 9-3. Seattle has a favorable matchup against the Falcons, and it’s reasonable to expect them to take care of business. Meanwhile, the 49ers-rested after a late-season bye-are lurking just behind, with a favorable schedule ahead thanks to their last-place finish a year ago.
So no, this isn’t drama for the sake of drama. If the Rams slip up here, the domino effect could be brutal.
They’d lose crucial ground in the playoff race and potentially fall behind in divisional tiebreakers. That’s a hole no team wants to dig in December.
The Bottom Line: Time to Flip the Script
The Rams have shown they can hang with the league’s best. But if they want to be taken seriously as a contender, they’ve got to stop playing down to shorthanded teams. That starts with showing up in Week 14 and handling business against a depleted Cardinals squad.
This is a moment for the Rams to prove they’ve learned from earlier missteps. The talent is there.
The coaching is there. Now it’s about execution-and urgency.
Because in a playoff race this tight, there’s no room for another letdown.