Rams' gameplan vs. Commanders starts and ends with containing Jayden Daniels

The Los Angeles Rams should have their Week 5 meltdown against Josh Allen and the Bills fresh in mind as they prepare to face Washington in Week 9. No, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is not the juggernaut that Allen is, but he's a mobile playmaker who can burn defenses with his legs or off-schedule throws on the run. 

There's not much to worry about elsewhere in Washington's offense. Commanders running backs are averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Daniels is the real threat on the ground.

In the passing game, Antonio Williams leads the team with 259 receiving yards. Terry McLaurin is done for the year. The Commanders will also be without receivers Dyami Brown and Treylon Burks against the Rams.

Once again, anything they get done through the air is all about Daniels making plays and working miracles. If LA's defense can bottle him up, it should be a long day for the home team. But as for any Commanders foe, that's easier said than done.

Rams defense can't let Jayden Daniels run wild

Allen gouged the Rams for 121 rushing yards on just 10 carries, most of those on ad hoc scrambles. Puzzlingly, coordinator Chris Shula never adjusted by sending a spy to keep Allen contained. He can't make that mistake against Daniels.

The former second overall pick already has a 100-yard rushing game this season. Overall, Daniels has gained 236 ground yards on 8.7 per carry. He leads the Commanders with three carries of 20-plus. His 38-yard scamper is the longest on the team thus far.

It's easy to forget just how painful that Bills game was to watch. The quarterbacks the Rams have faced since then: Jacoby Brissett (not much of a runner), Kirk Cousins (a statue), and Justin Herbert, who is athletic but primarily relies on his arm. 

Daniels is one of the few QBs in the league who will take off on designed runs. That's less of a threat if the Rams can establish a big lead. In that case, the Commanders would be incentivized to drop back and pass while extending the game to allow time for a comeback. If they're trailing late, better an incompletion than a three-yard QB run.

Of course, Daniels is still a plus passer - six touchdowns, no picks, and 96.2 passer rating in five games this season - but he's far less fearsome when confined to the pocket.

Even in a favorable defensive game script, though, Daniels is a scrambling threat. As on so many occasions against Allen, the secondary might have everything covered downfield only to turn around and see Daniels streaking through a Red Sea of real estate. Leaving him unsupervised is fatal. 

With or without Trent McDuffie (back) and Kam Curl (ankle), who are both questionable on the injury report, the Rams will have to set the edge and keep an eye on Daniels all game. Easier said than done, but do that and they should be golden. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow