LA Rams win looms even larger in the aftermath of Week 16 final scores

Los Angeles Rams (9-6)

After dropping four of the first five games on the season, the LA Rams have certainly followed the same script as that of 2023. Namely, the team regrouped over the Week 6 BYE, and has emerged as one of the hottest teams in the NFL ever since. The Rams have roared out to a record of 8-2 since that early BYE, and with the return of starting TE Tyler Higbee, find themselves at their healthiest of 2024.

Amazingly, the Rams could end 2024 with a record as lofty as 11-6. That is incredible given the early season struggles faced by the team. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the team's success in the final two-thirds of the season is the fact that the team is winning in so many different ways. Whether it's a full-fledged offensive shootout, a defensive standoff, capitalizing on the other team's miscues, or simply taking over the game in the final four minutes to score twice for the win, the Rams seem to have no end to the ways they win games.

That's a good thing, and a bad thing. What we know is that the Rams defense has only allowed a total of 29 points to be scored in total of three of the past four games. And in that one game in which the Rams allowed 42 points, the offense kicked in with 44 points to ensure a victory in that game as well.

The Rams boast the 17th-ranked defense in terms of points allowed, surrendering an average of 23.1 points per game. The Rams offense, ironically, comes in as the 18th-ranked offense, scoring just 21.9 points per game. Thankfully, the Rams have a net turnover statistic of +5 so far this season. But the fact that the Rams boast a record of 9-6 despite showing a point differential of -18 points on the season is alarming.

Despite scoring 44 points in Week 14, the Rams offense has averaged 24 points in the past four games. And despite allowing 42 points in Week 14, the Rams defense has allowed an average of less than 18 points per game over the last four games.

Perhaps with TE Tyler Higbee back, the Rams' offense will return to its lofty point-scoring self. And the team is certainly getting hot at the right time of the season. But in the end, the Rams still have plenty of items to address on the punch list if this team expects to compete in the postseason and have success once there.

The Rams must face the Arizona Cardinals (7-8) in Week 17, and close out the season by hosting the Seattle Seahawks (8-7) in Week 18. Conceivably, a Rams victory in Week 17 coupled with a Seahawks loss in Week 17 would give the Rams an opportunity to sit starters in Week 18. And you know that both the Rams players and HC Sean McVay would love to give his players an impromptu BYE week to close out the season.

The Rams have time to trouble-shoot the offense. I know they will do better in Weeks 17 and 18. As always, thanks for reading.

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