Rams' depleted secondary thrown a life raft at the perfect time

There is no question about it, the Los Angeles Rams' secondary did not perform nearly as well in Week 3 as it had in previous games. For anyone trying to establish a causal relationship with the team's second-half meltdown against the Philadelphia Eagles and the absence of starting cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, it's too early to do so.

Fans are sharp enough to know this. Those same fans are smart enough to understand that the undefeated Indianapolis Colts pose another huge challenge for the depleted Los Angeles secondary. If that wasn't enough, the team is on the NFL's Week 4 upset list. But let's not be so hasty just yet.

Indy's offense is powered by the undeniable running forte of running back Jonathan Taylor. And newly-signed free agent quarterback Daniel Jones has rejuvenated his floundering career by connecting with rookie tight end Tyler Warren (14-of-21, 193 yards, zero TDs), wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (16-of-19, 193 yards, two TDs), and wide receiver Alec Pierce (9-of-13, 171 yards, zero TDs). The thing is, Pierce is not playing in Week 4.

Rams depleted secondary thrown a liferaft in Week 4 clash with Colts

Let's not presume that LA's defense is off the hook. Indy's offense remains a thundering herd of horses powered by Taylor, Warren, and Pittman. But without Pierce's explosives, averaging 19.0 yards per catch, is the offense the same? Time will tell.

The Colts must also face the Horns without starting right guard Matt Goncalves, who has yet to yield a quarterback sack in over 200 offensive snaps. His replacement will be Dalton Tucker. Tucker played 464 offensive snaps at right guard for the team in 2024, so he knows his way around the position. But he was benched last season due to inconsistent play. Now, he must face a defensive front that is arguably one of the best in the NFL.

With Pierce on the bench, LA's secondary has a more manageable challenge. While the run defense will be pushed to its limits in containing Taylor, the pass defense must still thwart Warren and Pittman.

Still, this is a defense that appears to be on a mission to prove its worth and value, and earn the respect of the NFL. This is the same defense that entered Lincoln Financial Field and squelched Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. That may only be the beginning.

Fans have yet to see how good the secondary may be without Witherspoon. But now that the team is not facing Alec Pieve, the likelihood for a solid game have improved dramatically. As always, thanks for reading.