LA Rams Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr., secure 12th W

Rams getting healthier, stronger, better

The Rams are getting better, getting stronger, getting more capable. This is a team that had lost starting running back Cam Akers to what was believed to be a season-ending tear of his Achilles Tendon. But he was activated to the team’s active roster in time for Week 17.

Prior to that, the LA Rams welcomed back OLB Justin Hollins to the active roster. And prior to that, the front office burned the midnight oil in flexing the active roster up and down to accommodate the impacts of a COVID-19 breakout on the roster, a breakout that at one time had as many as 29 players subject to COVID-19 protocols. Thankfully, the LA Rams removed their last player from the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, January 3, 2022.

Even as all those roster changes transpire, we are starting to see the benefits of adding both Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. to the team now.  You can check out Von Miller at the 0:00 time mark in the video below. Odell Beckham Jr. steps up to the microphone at the 36:00 mark in the video.

In the Week 17 victory, Von Miller had five tackles, three tackles for a loss, three quarterback hits, and two quarterback sacks. But it was his final sack with under 20 seconds remaining in the game that forced the Ravens to spike the ball and force them to set up with just one play left. The final play ended the game when Aaron Donald forced a fumble and the LA Rams DB Darious Williams recovered the football.

In the same Week 17 contest, Odell Beckham Jr. caught five of seven passes for 39 yards, including the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. In seven games, OBJ has already put up five touchdowns. That has equaled the scoring production of the LA Rams’ top wide receiver, Cooper Kupp, over that same time frame.

The LA Rams are 12-4. But this team has not come close to hitting its stride just yet. But they are getting there. Odell Beckham Jr. is scoring touchdowns. Von Miller had his first multi-sack game. The Rams are getting closer to their best play. But we’re not there quite yet.

Would the LA Rams be 12-4 without their two veteran additions in mid-season? I’m not convinced that the could be. Clearly, the Rams needed the performance of both Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller to win this one. I expect that we’ll continue to see key contributions from both players in the weeks ahead.