LA Rams Aaron Donald is smiling again. Look out for Week 9 matchup w Titans

Competitors welcome challengers. So you can bet that the LA Rams are looking forward to matching up against the Tennessee Titans, the class of the AFC. The LA Rams, despite a 7-1 record, are no better than the fifth seed in the NFC right now. That is due to the fact that the LA Rams lost their only contest with the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals.

The LA Rams are playing catch-up right now. To continue making progress, they have to take down the Tennessee Titans.

The same cannot be said of the Titans right now. Having swept the Indianapolis Colts, the Titans had amassed the equivalent of a four-game lead in the AFC South Division in just eight games. Even after the Colts claimed a win in Thursday Night Football, the Titans have a very comfortable lead and can realistically coast to the NFL Playoffs from here on out.

So the Titans will just roll over for the Rams? Hardly. In fact, the Titans will be the toughest challenge for the Rams so far. Not only are they out to prove themselves worthy of NFL Playoff talk, but they have a no-lose situation in this one.

This type of game is a measuring stick for both football programs. In this one, both teams have a chance to determine how far they have progressed so far this season, and how far they need to go. We already know that the LA Rams have a lot of work to do to stabilize their special team’s play (again).

Now the question becomes, how far has the Rams’ defense come? Will Von Miller play, and if so, will he make a significant difference? Can Ernest Jones follow up his dramatically successful debut by holding his own against a far tougher NFL offense?