Rams flawless offense pushes team over .500 in shocking win over AFC powerhouse

Forget what you know about the LA Rams offense. Clearly the team was playing possum for the first 12 games of the 2024 NFL season. After all, veteran QB Matthew Stafford, the venerable starting quarterback for the LA Rams, proved that he is still able to outduel the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.

Okay, so it's not as simple as all that. But the Rams fans who have waited ever-so-patiently for this offense to wake up from nearly a season-long slumber have finally been rewarded with one of the best offensive showings by this offense in a very long time. The result of the team's offensive outburst was more than one victory. With a stellar performance against a stingy defense from one of the best teams in the NFL this season, the Rams have thrown their hate into the middle of the NFL Playoff conversation.

Yes, the NFL playoffs. The team that was 1-4 before the Week 6 BYE is now 7-6, and the Rams control their own destiny.

If the team needed a shot of confidence, it just guzzled an entire fifth of the stuff. Just check out some of the highlights against the Buffalo Bills in Week 14:

Keep in mind that this was a Buffalo Bills team that rode a seven-game winning streak into Week 14. And this is the same Rams team that was shut out in the first half of their Week 13 contest against the New Orleans Saints.

Quite the turnaround, eh?

Stafford was not sacked for fourth time in 2024

There are definite and distinct correlations between what the Rams do, how veteran QB Matthew Stafford responds to those actions, and the outcome of games. For example, the Rams have won all five games when the offense had deployed two tight ends for at least 15 percent of the offense snaps. No, it's not because the Rams offense has a better running game when they use two tight ends. Rather, it surprises defenses that prepared for a steady diet of three wide receiver formations.

And then there is the fact that WR Tutu Atwell is deadly dangerous to any defense that tries to put eight men in the box.

Another keen cause-and-effect relationship can be found when the Rams offensive line does not allow QB Matthew Stafford to be sacked in a game. So far in 2024, the Rams offensive line has surrendered 0 sacks just four times. Week 14 was the fourth game of that to occur.

And Stafford had a season-high performance in which he appeared to elevate his game higher than ever before.

And let's not forget that rookie center

And, of course, every excellent quarterback performance begins with the handoff from a trusted and effective offensive center. The Rams have that in rookie center Beaux Limmer, a Round 6 rookie who was projected as early as Day 2 in the 2024 NFL Draft, but due to the abundance of offensive linemen, fell to the Rams late in Day 3.

He was a solid prospect who had 'start me,' written all over him. Now that he is getting regular work as the starting center, he continues to improve and develop rapidly

The Rams responded rather quickly to a series of offensive line injuries that complicated the 2024 NFL season. As part of the scramble to get vacated positions filled, the team promoted rookie center Beaux Limmer to fill in for injured IOLs Jonah Jackson and Steve Avilla. Since taking over, Limmer has suited up and played in every game save one, Week 10. He has played 742 offensive snaps, been flagged five times, and allowed just one quarterback sack.

While his 2024 pass-blocking grade is less than impressive, Pro Football Focus loves his run-blocking and overall command of the center position. Rookies on the offensive line start poorly because they are processing and reacting to new situations constantly. But Limmer seems to have turned the corner, playing with far more confidence and proficiency now.

Of course, it all adds up to one victory. But if the Rams can sustain that level of play through season's end, the team could find itself competing in the 2025 NFL Playoffs.

As always, thanks for reading.

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