3 forgotten LA Rams offensive weapons you may be reading about Sunday evening
By Bret Stuter
![Sean Mcvay, Los Angeles Rams Sean Mcvay, Los Angeles Rams](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_6921,h_3893,x_0,y_302/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/54/01hkfeg4ewp0p5qzcysc.jpg)
The LA Rams must close out their 2023 NFL season on the road against the San Francisco 49er. It's odd that the NFL schedule makers were able to pit the top two teams in the NFC West Division in a head to head matchup to close out the season. But if you think about it, the Rams and 49ers have enough dramatic background to ensure meaningful football between the two teams.
Unlike many clashes between the two teams in the past, this time it's the 49ers who hold the higher ranking, entering the game with a 12-4 record. The LA Rams, on the other hand, are currently the sixth-seeded NFC team with a record of 9-7. Neither team's playoff presence will be adversely impacted by the outcome of the game, although the Rams could drop to the seventh seed with a loss and a Green Bay Packers win over the Chicago Bears in Week 18.
But let's push a pin in the other games. The LA Rams have plenty on their plate to keep fans busy in Week 18. For starters, who will the Rams turn to on offense to help lead the team to scoring touchdowns against the 49ers defense? The Rams will play rookie WR Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson, at least to start the game. But both with be key contributors in the postseason, and I expect will see limited action in Week 18 as a result.
But just as the LA Rams will turn to backup quarterback Carson Wentz to drive the offense in Week 18, this will be a game plan that is quite unique to the new passer's strengths. Because Wentz does not possess the same qualities to process his progressions as rapidly as starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams will try to move Wentz in the pocket to give him a smaller decision tree on offensive plays.
But moving the pocket does not mean an elusive offense that will depend solely on outflanking the agile and athletic 49ers defense. Rather, it will set the Rams up for a three pronged attack:
- Strong physical running the football between the tackles.
- A short-intermediate passing game to move the chains.
- An occasional deep pass to test the secondary deep.
With that in mind, which forgotten Rams offensive weapons are ideally suited to put on a show in Week 18? We have three players in mind. So let's get right to it.