The Los Angeles Rams are looking at a must-win in Week 13 as they have fallen behind in the standings after suffering their worst loss of the 2019 NFL season to the Baltimore Ravens.
At 6-5, the Rams are a longshot to make the postseason, which is nothing short of disappointing after appearing in the Super Bowl last year. While their playoff hopes are fading, they still have an opportunity to right the ship against a rebuilding Arizona Cardinals team in Week 13.
The Cardinals have been one of the league’s most electric teams to watch as they have a revamped offense under first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury and rookie quarterback sensation Kyler Murray. The two appear to be a perfect match as Murray has looked comfortable in Kingsbury’s Air Raid offensive scheme.
Kingsbury has drawn several comparisons to Sean McVay and he had nothing but good things to say about the Rams head coach ahead of their Week 13 matchup, according to Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“I mean, he’s done a phenomenal job,” Kingsbury told reporters this week. “Phenomenal person. One of the brightest minds in football. To be able to learn under him and see how he operates day-to-day, and be a part of that, was definitely appealing.
“I’ve known him a few years now, and just the way he handles himself, it hasn’t changed a bit with all the success, all the great things he has (done). The way he treats people is first-class and I have a great appreciation for that.”
Kingsbury spent some time with the Rams last year after being fired by Texas Tech. McVay offered him a full-time job, but he instead took the USC offensive coordinator job before ultimately landing with the Cardinals. Despite being in the same division, McVay and Kingsbury remain friends to this day and the latter mentioned how much of a help the former was once the Cardinals decided to hire him as their head coach:
“Anything that I needed once I got the job – questions, thoughts, giving real advice – he was great,” Kingsbury said on a conference call with Rams beat writers this week. “That’s just the type of person that he is – those of you that have been around him (know).”
McVay was hired to be the Rams head coach because of his bright offensive mind and several teams around the NFL took notice of what he did in Los Angeles. Kingsbury seems to be the latest coach in McVay’s mold as he has transformed a Cardinals offense that was dead last the previous season in multiple offensive categories.
Although the Rams have not resembled the explosive force we are used to seeing, they still should be able to take advantage of a porous Cardinals defense that has bled points all year long. If there was a matchup for them to get right, it would be this one.
