Will Week 7 win prove Rams are for real?

The Los Angeles Rams look to stay hot against the Arizona Cardinals in London.

The Los Angeles Rams are 4-2 and are atop the NFC West with that record. They seem to be on the come up in the NFL with the hiring of Sean McVay. Some fans and experts are high on the Rams, but there are plenty who still aren’t fully convinced this team is legitimate NFC contenders.

With the injury Aaron Rodgers sustained against the Minnesota Vikings, it seems that there are three or four teams (Not including the Rams) that could represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. The top teams are the Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, and maybe you can include the Atlanta Falcons or Minnesota Vikings. I’m not a believer in either. I don’t trust the QB play from the Vikings and Atlanta seems shot from the Super Bowl and they cannot hold a lead.

Los Angeles has beaten the Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts aren’t a good football team. Their roster might be the worst in the league. The Niners are extremely competitive but they’re in rebuilding mode. The Cowboys win was impressive with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott both playing in that game and the Rams coming back on the road to beat the 13-3 team. The Jags game was a wonderful display on executing a game-plan and not doing too much to get a victory against an elite defense.

The Rams losing to the Washington Redskins was a heart-breaker, but the team bounced back well against a Sean McVay’s former team. Washington could also be a potential playoff team and the Rams could see them again in January, if both teams make the playoffs.

The loss to the Seahawks raised some eyebrows and the Rams showed that they could hang in there and almost win a game (Cooper Kupp). Turning the ball over that many times and still outplaying your division rival is something a young team with a new head coach should hold their head up high.

The Cardinals are coming off of a dominating win against a potential playoff team in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jameis Winston’s injury hindered the chances at the Bucs beating the Cardinals. But the Cardinals played an exceptional game. With the addition of Adrian Peterson, the Cardinals’ offense looks tremendous again.

The Rams need to stop the running game first and foremost. Containing Peterson should be the priority. If Peterson doesn’t play well, it should give the Rams plenty of opportunities to get after Carson Palmer and sack him. Getting after Palmer and flustering him in the pocket could create turnovers.

On the offensive end, Todd Gurley needs to get going as much as possible in the running and passing game. Give him 25-30 touches to ensure that the defense will be on his heels and then the Rams could set up the play-action pass.

Getting a win and going into the bye week with a record of 5-2 would raise eyebrows and prove the Rams are contenders.