The Los Angeles Rams have a matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers today, and with the cameras on SoFi Stadium for this Southern California affair, here are the three biggest storylines bubbling from this contest.
Making up ground in the West
The winless Chargers and the 3-4 Rams entered the season with championship expectations, and to make those dreams come true, they need to give the opposition nightmares. The Rams are looking to get back to .500 for the season, and with the San Francisco 49ers losing last week, the division is still up for grabs. The first thing to do is to close the gap with Seattle and to start making some moves in the early playoff window.
The season is young, but wins in the NFL are scarce. The Green Bay Packers are currently holding down the last
wild-card spot after their Thursday night win against the Carolina Panthers, and the Rams host them on Thanksgiving Eve. Just saying.
For the Chargers, it's even worse. With the trade deadline looming, players and coaches are competing for their livelihoods. Desperation drives the narrative.
Sunday special team scaries
The Rams' special teams have been a letdown this whole season, and their kick coverage team has been simply awful. Now, the team has brought back kicker Joshua Karty and long-snapper Jake McQuaide on their practice squad, activating them both for this game.
Karty, who lost his job last season due to continual misses on field goals and extra points, could be back because of his "knuckleball" kickoff style, but we don't know the details. McQuaide will play because starter Joe Cardona is doubtful due to an ankle injury. Cardona did not practice all week. McQuaide has never played with Karty or current starting kicker Brandon McManus, but has worked with punter Ethan Evans.
Are the Rams about to have competent special teams?
The tight end room is on the verge of falling apart
The work of the Rams' tight ends this season can not be overstated, as Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, and Terrance Ferguson have been unquestionable highlights through the up-and-down season. Higbee is having a resurgent year, while Allen had a career performance against the Las Vegas Raiders last week, catching two touchdown passes.
The issue is that Ferguson has been on injured reserve since he got hurt in the third game of the season, and Parkinson has been playing the whole season in pain, with the team alluding to bigger issues with his health/game-day readiness than what we already know.
Parkinson has been at his best once again, but how much more can he take? Same question with Higbee, who is having a resurgent year.
The team clearly doesn't feel comfortable with Max Klare, as he doesn't play (or really even dress), even with Ferguson being out. So how will the Rams continue to use their 12- and 13-personnel offense moving forward, and if they stay at record-high usage, can their players handle the workload for the whole season?
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 3 major storylines ahead of Rams vs. Chargers
