8 winners and 4 losers in the Rams Week 14 win over the Bills

Winner 8: HC Sean McVay

The LA Rams offense has sputtered and stalled all season long. It's not an outlandish criticism, it's simply the hard truth. The Rams roster has been adversely affected by a cascade of revolving injuries that have impacted various units of the team at various times. And the rigidity of Rams HC Sean McVay to adhere to his game plan regardless of who was and was not healthy enough to suit up and play has been a challenge for this team.

We have broached the topic at times, pointing to various strategies that the Rams have deployed this season, and the success of those alternative strategies.

The thing is, this was never a binary problem. The solution for success is almost never something as simple as the right way versus the wrong way. And in the analysis of what the Rams have done in the past to win games, a 5-0 record when the team deployed 15 percent or more of two tight ends is tough to argue against. But perhaps there has been some misinterpretation of the benefits of that strategy.

I don't believe that the Rams 12-personnel package gives the team an advantage in the running game. The opposite is more likely true. As soon as the Rams place two tight ends in the game, defenses almost always counter with linebackers and eight defenders in the box. That is why I have continued to point out how swift WR Tutu Atwell is ideally suited to complement the Rams two-tight-end offensive package.

Clearly, Rams HC Sean McVay has not found it necessary to rely on the 12-personnel package in the last two games, both of which have been victories. And that is possible because wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp block as effectively as tight ends.

As long as Kupp and Nacua are healthy enough to suit up and block, the Rams offense purrs like a high-performance engine. But take not of the Rams play distribution. The offense passed the football 30 times despite the game being a shootout. The Rams rushed 42 times in the game, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. As a result of leaning so heavily on the ground attack, the Rams dominated the time of possession in the game. And QB Matthew Stafford completed over 76 percent of his passes. That is against a defense that heading into the game had allowed just 68 percent completion rate.

Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Certainly not Rams HC Sean McVay.