Sean McVay can wash, rinse, and repeat Red Zone heroics in Week 9

The Los Angeles Rams offense didn't have any ill effects in Week 7 without elite wide receiver Puka Nacua. At least, not in terms of the final scoreboard. A 35-point outburst was just what the doctor ordered for a team that was beginning to buckle under injuries to several key starters. With that impressive win, the team sailed into its Week 8 BYE on a high note.

Now here we are, two weeks later, and preparing to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. Everyone expects Los Angeles to handle its business without a hitch. Perhaps that will come to pass. Unfortunately, it only happens if the offense stays on track. Can head coach Sean McVay get as much out of his offense in Week 9? For now, he seems confident, and he has a lot to say about that topic.

Does that mean fans should expect that shocking 13-personnel formation to become a staple option for this offense? It's unlikely. LA has had numerous examples of one-off successes that were instantly returned to the vault. But McVay is without wide receiver Tutu Atwell over the next four games. That creates an ideal situation to try new tactics.

Puka Nacua is back, but 13-personnel may be sticking around as well

All signs point to Nacua starting in Week 9. But it's likely that the team will not throw him into the same heavy workload against the New Orleans Saints defense. He has been out, has recovered from an ankle injury, and is needed for the next 10 games. Burning through him in his first game back would be a huge mistake.

Spreading the wealth is not just prudent logic; it can be incredibly effective as well. And as he stated so eloquently above, it makes perfect sense for this offense to lean into the four tight ends that it currently carries on the roster. All four tight ends are talented. And after seven games, three of the four have found the end zone.

LA discovered that tight ends can be an integral part of a prolific offense in Week 7. That is a lesson the team should not abandon quickly. As the weather cools off, tight ends become more valuable as they block and handle the cold-weather physicality better.

13 personnel allowed the Horns to score 35 points in less-than-ideal weather conditions in Week 7. SoFi Stadium will not be a wet and windy site, but it's an ideal location to prove that tight ends still matter in this offense. As always, thanks for reading.