The Los Angeles Rams suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Baltimore Ravens on the road in Week 14, but fortunately they return home to a perfect get-right matchup against the Washington Commanders.
The Rams have been solid on both sides of the field the past month, while the Commanders have trended the opposite direction since selling off some pieces at the NFL trade deadline. Washington has lost four games in a row and look like a team that should be considering tanking down the stretch to improve their draft positioning.
Los Angeles can’t take any teams for granted at this juncture of the season given they’re in the thick of the playoff race, so they need to play disciplined football to get back on track and keep pace with the rest of the NFC.
Rams Offense vs. Commanders Defense
Matthew Stafford has looked like his old self in recent weeks, a good sign considering he’s been managing his thumb injury. Stafford could be without Tutu Atwell, who is currently in the concussion protocol, but he should have Tyler Higbee back on the field after the tight end missed last week with a neck injury.
The Commanders’ pass rush has fallen off since they traded away Montez Sweat, so Stafford should have time to hit the likes of Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson downfield for chunk plays.
Rams Defense vs. Commanders Offense
On the other side, Washington seems intent on rolling with Sam Howell as their starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. Howell has shown some real grit during the season and is a real-threat to make plays with his arm and his legs. However, he’s been susceptible to holding onto the football for too long so Aaron Donald and Byron Young should have their fair share of sack opportunities.
Brian Robinson was ruled out for the contest, so the backfield should be dominated by Antonio Gibson, who is a dual-threat on the ground and through the passing game. Washington’s also got talented receivers in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson who can stretch defenses, so they should be the focal point of the game plan.
Keys to Victory
1. No special teams meltdowns
The Rams lost on a punt return in overtime, and special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn knows he needs to get his unit on the same page. Los Angeles can’t afford to lose on the margins, and special teams falls right in that category.
2. Force the Commanders into passing situations
With the Commanders struggling to score, they could look to control the clock with their running backs. The Rams must prepare for this and be focused on early downs in order to generate more pass rushing opportunities.
