LA Rams and how 12 days of Christmas can lead to a SB win

On the fourth day of Christmas

The LA Rams gave to me, four players returning off the Injured Reserve list. Yes, that includes offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, defensive back Taylor Rapp, inside linebacker Micah Kiser, and unofficially injured Cam Akers.  For the Rams to navigate this perilous schedule to win a Lombardi, the team will need to have every possible player to full health as quickly as possible.

The Rams have built success upon the contribution of many, not the sensational performances of a few. That being said, the defense needs the return of Rapp and Kiser to stop opponents. And in a similar fashion, the Rams need both Whitworth and Akers on the offense to move the chains and score. Each player named is expected to be healthy ‘soon’. The Rams need to convert that soon to ‘now’, and to do so quickly.

On the third day of Christmas

The LA Rams gave to me, three All-Pro players. Yes, that’s Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and Johnny Hekker.  All three players have earned All-Pro designations in the past, and all three need to have the type of season to ensure that they earn that honor once more.   While Donald, Ramsey, and Hekker all have a defensive alignment, it has been the Rams defense that has done a majority of the heavy lifting so far this season.

If the defense continues to handle their business, the Rams need to secure the football and take what defenses will give them to win games. Of course, defenses get stingier as the Rams advance in the post-season. But the Rams objective will not change. Play fundamentally sound football and secure the football.