How loud will LA Rams RB Ronnie Rivers roar in SoFi Stadium in Week 5?

Expect the unexpected in Week 5

The LA Rams entered the 2023 NFL season knowing that the offense would bear the burden of putting up points if the team was to win many games this year. But the team certainly had to factor in the contribution of both featured running back Cam Akers and All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp in their planning. So far this season, Cam Akers appeared in Week 1 only. And due to an untimely injury, the LA Rams have yet to see Kupp contribute.

Still, the Rams offense has not been without weapons. The Rams havethe hottest NFL rookie this season in wide receiver Puka Nacua. Combine Nacua with Kupp, factor in the speedy WR Tutu Atwell and TE Tyler Higbee and you've got a lot of weapons to challenge the Eagles unimpressive secondary in Week 5. Still, that is too simple. The LA Rams offense loves to pass, and the Eagles secondary struggles to defend the pass. Could the Rams be a bit more clever that simply pass against the Eagles in Week 5?

Rams may rush the football

I don't believe that it's a secret that an offense that commits to running the football keeps defenses honest. What I mean by that is that as long as there is a threat of the Rams to run the football, the Philadelphia Eagles pass rushers cannot pin their ears back and go all out to get after Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

So it's a great strategy to mix in running plays even if they do not deliver big gains. Sometimes the benefit of commiting to a rushing attack is a more effective passing attack. And that alone warrants the Rams running the football.

But there may be more reasons behind the Rams rushing attack. While the Rams clearly have pivoted to RB Kyren Williams as the feature back, the 5-foot-9 195-pound running back out of Freson State has proven to be a nice change of pace back for the Rams ground assault. And the Philadelphia Eagles defense has to plan ways to stop Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.

They won't be looking to stop Ronnie Rivers. But perhaps they should? The Rams invested in the running back position this year, and Rivers had an impressive preseason. That was noteworthy in the face of heightened competition.

Ronnie Rivers may not be one of the Rams players who is expected to deliver heroics in Week 5. But after showing up with a solid Week 4, perhaps he should be.