Week 9 showdown: LA Rams sit Von Miller for Sunday Night Football

The LA Rams watched as the Arizona Cardinals, with backup quarterback Colt McCoy, dismantled the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 31-17 to sweep the series and assure themselves remaining atop the NFC West Division. Thanks to a loss by the Green Bay Packers to the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 13-7, the Arizona Cardinals now sit atop the NFL with a record of 8-1.

The Rams need to win on Sunday Night Football in Week 9 to keep pace with the Cardinals. But they too will be without a star. That is, recently acquired outside linebacker Von Miller is inactive for this one.

It was always going to be a race against time to get the guy up to speed, as the veteran edge only arrived at the team in mid-week. But that race was hampered by a lingering ankle injury suffered while he was on the Denver Broncos. In a move to save his talents for a future game, the Rams made the game-time decision to sit him out for Week 9.

Mid-term Exam for Rams

This will be a huge test for the LA Rams. The Tennessee Titans are a very physical team and have beaten AFC powerhouses like the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in the past two consecutive games.

The Rams will find out if their high-octane offense is nearly as explosive without the threat of deep-route receiver DeSean Jackson. The game is underway, as the Rams running game has been rather effective so far. The passing game has been somewhat successful, but it’s clear that the defense has set up to prevent the big play from the Rams passing game.  The Rams have completed four of six passes, but the longest so far in the first quarter is only 14 yards and 12 yards.

The Rams lead in this one:

QUARTER 1: 3:40 remaining

The Rams have taken a slim lead. Will the team extend the lead? Or will the Titans mount a comeback? Stay Tuned.