4 Rams storylines to follow after the bye week

After the Rams dismantled the Arizona Cardinals in London, and the Dallas Cowboys destroyed the San Francisco 49ers, it became abundantly clear that there are really only two teams who can win the NFC West.

In Week 5, Seattle came to the Coliseum and reminded Los Angeles that the Seahawks were still the king of the hill, and that’s a fair observation.

Most encouraging about that game, even in the loss, was that despite the Rams playing a pretty uneven game offensively, Jared Goff still made the throws late in the Coliseum to give LA a shot at winning.

That’s what winners, or at least the up and comer does.

After the bye week, seven weeks will pass before the Rams get their shot at a rematch, but this time in Seattle.

Good news?

Well, as the road has been friendly for LA, and the they have a history of playing Seattle tough, then liking their chances late in December might be an early Christmas present for Rams fans.

Los Angeles will also go the Glendale on December 3, and host the 49ers on New Year’s Eve.

Both NFC West contenders are at home on December 31, as Seattle hosts the Cardinals, making the last day of 2017 the day the division might ultimately be decided.

If the Los Angeles Rams have truly turned the corner, it’ll be because Jared Goff has to.

But has he?

Goff has now played in a total of 14 regular season NFL games, and is now 5-9.

Not bad. But in his defense,you have to daisy-chain two regimes to know the story. Jeff Fisher gave way to a possible super star rookie head coach in Sean McVay, who has now, over seven games, turned Goff around.

No doubt about it, the second year quarterback is exponentially better through seven games in 2017 than he was in his seven games of 2016.

This is all about McVay and his protégé QB.

Ultimately, to say that the every game of the first seven before the bye week validates Goff and his selection is very premature, but you have to like where he is headed.

If the Los Angeles Rams are to be who everyone seems to think they are today, a contender in the West and a playoff team, every single expectation will go through Jared Goff.

That might be a heavy lift.

All that said, you have to like what the Rams have done to build a supporting cast around him. While the expectations will certainly roll through him in 2017, he has the talent around him to help.

Still, ultimately, as goes Goff, so go the Rams.