LA Rams starting Wolford now means Rams must advance to round two

In LA Rams News: By starting Wolford in round one of the NFL Playoffs, the team needs to advance to round two to sort this all out

The LA Rams had a difficult choice to make regarding which quarterback would get the start in round one of the NFL Playoffs. The LA Rams could restore recuperating starting quarterback Jared Goff to his starting role, risking reinjuring his surgically repaired thumb. Or the Rams could give backup quarterback John Wolford his second start of the season, hope that he plays well enough to advance the team to round two and allow Goff’s thumb to heal for one more week.

The Rams decided minutes before game time. Wolford will start.

And so, the damned-if-they-do-damned-if-they-don’t is now in full force. If the Rams lose, there will be a huge uproar over starting Wolford in such an important game. If the Rams win, there will be an equally loud cry for Wolford to start the rest of the way.

What’s best for the team

The key to this shocking decision is what is best for the team. For this week, starting a healthy Wolford simply makes more sense for the LA Rams than to start a questionably healthy Jared Goff. After all, Goff is playing with a thumb that was dislocated and broken on the helmet of a Seattle Seahawks’ defender less than two weeks ago.

While I am astounded that Goff can grip and throw a football already, that’s hardly proof that Goff can withstand the pounding he will surely get in the pocket from the Seattle Seahawks pass rush. Even if Goff was slightly ahead of Wolford, the Rams’ decision to give Wolford the start proves that Goff is not 100 percent yet.

Where does this leave the Rams?

The LA Rams need this win today. If John Wolford picks up the win today, the LA Rams will certainly be back to the same point a week from now as to who will start. But if the Rams lose, that could leave the team in the chaos of why did the Rams choose NOT to go with Jared Goff in this win or go home.  In the end, this is a gamble by the Rams in a game where plenty of gambles will take place.

If the Rams lose, questions will linger as to why Jared Goff did not start. If the Rams win, the consensus will form that the Rams should start Wolford. In all honesty, the Rams offense runs more wide open under Wolford but runs more crisply with the veteran experience of Jared Goff.

The Rams coaching staff knows what is at stake in this one. So the nod to Wolford was undoubtedly made with significant deliberation. Let’s hope that it pans out for the Rams.