It’s certainly a positive that the Los Angeles Rams were able to stop the slide and find a way to win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The more encouraging sign? That Matthew Stafford and the offense found their footing on the game’s final two possessions and are carrying momentum into next week’s primetime contest against the Buffalo Bills.
What changed with the offense? Well, they had been beating their head into the wall on deep passes—the exact play defenses are aiming to takeaway this season.
That problem isn’t fixed. The overly aggressive nature was cooled towards the end of the Eagles game. Stafford took his checkdowns and pass catchers found room to run.
The Rams offense played within themselves. With their talented cast, that is enough. Kyren Williams accumulated 67 yards on a whopping 13 targets. Tyler Higbee was often available underneath, although he and Stafford did connect on a 20-yard back-shoulder pass along the sideline. Puka Nacua somehow flew under the radar and still put up 125 yards on nine catches.
Explosive is not the expectation. Consistency and good decisions are. As evidenced over the last three weeks, LA’s defense is good enough to give you chances at the end of games. You can’t turn the ball over and hand the opposing offense advantageous field position.
The last four weeks haven’t been good enough. This team never expected to be 2-2.
How can the Rams keep the positive momentum going?
The Bills are strangely a ‘get right’ game
Josh Allen and the Bills have been one of the NFL’s best teams through four weeks. On offense they will fill up the scoreboard. You can get after their defense.
Buffalo’s defense overall ranks in the lower third of the league in EPA per play, success rate, explosive play rate, points per drive, and missed tackles. They aren’t better in the run game versus the pass. They are flat out bad all the way around.
We know the Rams can run the ball. They need to continue to build on their progress in the passing game.
The Bills should give them an opportunity to do just that.
Their pass defense ranks 26th in EPA per play, 22nd in explosive pass rate, 27th in passer rating allowed, 30th in passing touchdowns with 10, and 20th in interceptions with two.
Buffalo leads the NFL in total pressures. On a percentage basis they’re currently third. The Bills can and will get after your quarterback. They’re not sticky enough on the back end for that to matter much.
The mission for Stafford and the Rams is to continue on the trajectory they showed on their final two offensive possessions against the Eagles and build on that progress versus Buffalo. It’s a unique opportunity.
Climbing to 3-2 from a 1-2 start would be a welcome development. The offense is the key to attaining that record.
