Why resurging Rams RB Cam Akers final game is so vital

The LA Rams nearly traded him away. And for his part, veteran running back Cam Akers had a dispute with LA Rams head coach Sean McVay at about the mid-point of the 2022 NFL season. At that time, Akers had rushed 51 times for 151 yards and one touchdown. His performance was certainly not a strong point from which to make demands on the team regarding usage, workload, or offensive philosophy.

And yet, it happened.

Like the fictitious holiday of Festivus, made popular on the televised comedy series Seinfeld, it was a time to air grievances.  The Rams’ offense and its ability to put points on the scoreboard was sinking to the bottom of the NFL rankings. The Rams’ offensive line was a patchwork assembly of players that found itself ripped apart at the seams each week, only to be restitched together with a cast of new players.

All the while, the Rams running attack went nowhere.

Cam is back

Well, not until RB Cam Akers lit it up by rushing 42 times for 241 yards and three touchdowns over the past two games that the LA Rams ground game seemingly returned to a true option for the floundering Rams offense. Of course, this has not happened organically.

The Rams have reverted to using their 12-personnel package this season, an option that really hadn’t gained much traction until Week 16. With two tight ends on the field, the Rams have had a much easier go of it when trying to put up yards and scores on the ground. But what good will that do with a season that is already lost?

Well, let’s take a look at some reasons why a solid finish to the Rams’ rushing component to the offense is worth pursuing. You may already know some but bear with me. Not all are obvious to everyone: