The Los Angeles Rams travel to take on the Washington Commanders this week, hoping to pick up their fifth win of the season. If they want to leave Landover with a win, following these five keys to victory will be paramount.
Do not let Daniels feel comfortable schematically
There are two ways to go about stopping Jayden Daniels, especially at this point in his career where he's playing more carefully due to his extensive arm/elbow injuries. The first is to give the pre-snap impression that the defense is sending pressure by blitzing early in the game to then mirror coverage packages. The second is to scheme Stefon Diggs out of the game as much as possible.
When Daniels can't get the ball to Diggs, he struggles. If the Rams blitz early and effectively, Daniels will instinctively rush his throws
to avoid the big hit or loss of yards, firing the ball to his hot route. Set up the fake and secure the pick.
Play the long game
Both figuratively and literally. Unless Washington's offense has momentum, the Rams should not force the action when they have the ball. Punt the ball, play field position, take points when possible (unless Brandon McManus is shanking kicks), and force Washington to put together continuous drives.
Considering all their injuries and issues, Washington does not have the offense and defense to outlast a Rams team that plays for field position and field goals.
Force Daniels to make decisions in uncomfortable situations
Going back to the first key, Daniels has struggled as a processor this season. Rather, it's with making decisions mid-play, recognizing the clock, and especially third-down situations. The Commanders are awful at converting on third down, so executing on early downs is a must.
If the Rams can pin the Commanders deep, there's a good chance Los Angeles can force a three-and-out, giving the offense good field position. Sean McVay and company will make them pay if the defense can force it.
Stay ahead of the chains, even if you have to punt
The Rams are very lucky that the offense for the Los Angeles Chargers is awful because their own offense was even worse in the first half. Their pass-happy approach had Matthew Stafford throwing darts to every blade of turf in the stadium. Not only did they not gain a first down until the last two minutes of the first half, but they also gained minimal yards, giving their defense little rest and horrific field position.
The defense will need a breather, as Daniels can extend plays, plus the field position battle will be dependent on moving the ball. If the Rams use their power run game to pick up at least one first down, that would be enough to win the battle of attrition, even if the team has to punt the ball repeatedly.
If Karty isn't the answer, he isn't the answer
Kicker Joshua Karty was put on the active roster as his "knuckleball" kickoffs are being used as a temporary fix for the team's kick coverage issues. When it works, it works, as his kicks bounce awkwardly in front of the returner, forcing the player to freeze in order to properly field the ball.
Once he gets his feet moving, the Rams' special teamers are usually in position to make the tackle, solving their issues of blown assignments. The problem is that he missed the landing zone twice last week, which is a penalty that gives the opposition the ball at their 40, creating another issue to solve. If Karty is missing the zone, that negates the whole point.
The horror scenario is if the Rams move off Karty and their coverage issues give up even more yards. It's a nightmare for the team, but Karty could be the answer if he gains some consistency. However, that's a big "if."
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 5 keys to victory vs. Commanders on Sunday
