The state of the Los Angeles Rams after 15 weeks

The Los Angeles Rams are rolling, and just in time for the playoffs.  So what is the state of the team as they prepare to enter the final two weeks?

The Los Angeles Rams made a statement with their win against the Seahawks 42-7 on Sunday, probably the biggest statement game in 15 years.  With only two weeks left, let’s crunch some numbers and take a look at the state of the team as the sun sets on the regular season.

The headlines all year have been HC Sean McVay, QB Jared Goff, and the offensive turnaround from last year to this year.  That is not hype; that is the reality.  The Rams are currently averaging just over 31 points a game, tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for best in the league with 438 total points.  While it was likely that Philly would have been number one this season in that category, with QB Carson Wentz out for the year, it looks like the Rams will finish with the best scoring offense.  In addition, RB Todd Gurley looks like an MVP candidate, leading the league with 17 total touchdowns.

Goff has thrown for 24 TDs through 14 games.  The last Rams quarterback to throw for 24 TD’s was Marc Bulger in 2006.  If Goff gets to 25 by the end of the year, it will be the most since Kurt Warner threw 36 in 2001, the last year of the Greatest Show on Turf. (Side note: Sam Bradford‘s career high was in 2012 when he threw for 21 TDs, Jeff Fisher‘s first year with the Rams and the highest of the Fisher era).

The defense has also been impressive, currently tied for sixth in points allowed.  They had Russell Wilson under constant pressure yesterday and forced him into mistakes.  The defense does still struggle at times, such as last week against the Eagles, but they are a good, playoff quality group that should be able to give the team a chance to win.

And speaking of playoffs, the Los Angeles Rams are estimated to have a 97% chance of making the playoffs at this point.  Any Rams win with, or a Seahawks loss at this point clinches the division for LA (i.e. their magic number is one).  The New York Times has a fun calculator that shows the outcomes of different scenarios.

Related Story: Game Recap: Rams drop the hammer in Seattle, beating the Seahawks 42-7

The Rams special teams unit has been amazing.  Johnny Hekker can punt, Greg Zuerlein can kick, and Pharoah Cooper is becoming one of the best return men in the league.  Time and time again he had great returns against the Seahawks to give the Rams offense a better chance to score.  That will be a huge advantage in a playoff game.

Next up are the 8-6 Titans who, after starting out the season looking like a playoff team, have lost two in a row, including one to the 49ers yesterday.  If the Los Angeles Rams can win, they will clinch the NFC West for the first time since 2003.