The LA Rams Top 10 winners in Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings

The LA Rams victory in Week 8 on Thursday Night Football could not have come at a better time. Not only did the team extend its winning streak to two games on just five days rest, but the early scheduled game allowed fans to pivot from football to baseball to cheer on the Los Angeles Dodgers take a 2-0 lead over the New York Yankees in the World Series.

But now, the two sports must co-exist once more for fans, as the Rams are preparing to take on their NFC West Division Rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, on the road for Week 9. And while the team enjoys a two-game winning streak, and a 3-1 advantage at home at SoFi stadium, the team has yet to win a game on the road.

The Seahawks are eager to win after being trounced at home to the visiting Buffalo Bills, and the Rams could be ripe for that bounce back game. Still, success breeds success, and the team is starting to learn and appreciate the feeling of winning.

The win was not the tale of one or two players. If you have a chance to rewatch the game, take not of how the offense kept the team in the game until the defense had a chance to make adjustments to what the Minnesota Vikings offense was doing. After offering almost no resistance in the first quarter, allowing the Vikings to score two touchdowns on their first two possessions, the team settled down and held the Vikings to just six points for the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, the Rams offense continued to put up touchdowns consistently, one per quarter, throughout the game. So who were the winners of the underdog Rams football team? We have a Top-10 set of winners who deserve a belated standing ovation as the team prepares to take on the Seahawks in Week 9.

(10) - DC Chris Shula

With a young defense, a host of unfamiliar players, a new defensive coordinator, fielding the overall cheapest defensive unit in the entire NFL, and the retirement of All-Pro DT Aaron Donald, I fear that fans have set the bar far too high for Rams DC Chris Shula. After all, the team did not exactly give him a blank check to restock the shelves in the offseason. Much like Special Teams Coordinator Chase Blackburn, the front office did just enough to give Shula a few pieces to play with, with the belief that more defined needs would surface for 2024

But Rams fans clearly want results, now.

You can blame the early struggles of this defense on injuries. Or you can blame the early defensive struggles on unfamiliarity among players, coaches, and strategy. Unfortunately, many have opted to voice their frustrations by discrediting DC Chris Shula, and calling for the team to fire him outright. And yes, that happened frequently in the first quarter of Week 8.

Thankfully, the Rams football team ignored those passionate pleas.

The Rams defense is beginning to congeal. That's right, the worst defense in the NFL, and the least expensive defensive unit in all of professional football, is improving rapidly. In terms of passing defense, this team has risen to the 16th-ranked defense in the NFL. In terms of rushing defense, this group has risen to the 24th-ranked defense. In terms of allowing points, the Rams are now the 22nd-ranked defense. In terms of yards allowed, this defense is now the 21st-ranked defense. And in terms of creating turnovers, the defense is now the 20th-ranked defense.

While not yet great, the improvement has been significant, and consistent. Here's a fun fact: The LA Rams defense has not allowed a touchdown in eight of the last nine quarters of regulation play. That's pretty signficant for a defense that struggled early in the season.

Closer examination reveals that the team, while being cautiously slow and deliberate, has been making gentle and gradual improvements to the rotations all season. The team has swapped out struggling veteran DB Tre'Davious White for seasoned DB Ahkello Witherspoon. The team has flipped to a rapid rotation of defensive linemen to keep players fresh.

And the recent injury to starting ILB Troy Reeder has forced the team to deploy both Jake Hummel and Omar Speights at the inside linebacker position. The results have been noticeable, as the defense continues to improve with each week.

(9) - WR Cooper Kupp

It's quite obvious that there is a special level of chemistry between veteran QB Matthew Stafford and WR Cooper Kupp. And the anticipation of Kupp returning to the offense infused plenty of positive energy into the entire team in the days ahead of Thursday Night Football. It was that positive mojo that set the stage for the team's upset victory.

Curiously, this was not one of Kupp's best outings. Whether the tema game planned to go elsewhere with the football, of the Minnesota Vikings secondary coverage forced the team to look elsewhere, Kupp only hauled in five of eight passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Unapologetically, I expected more.

That is not to say that I am disappointed, nor should anyone believe there is cause to be disappointed in Kupp's outing. He came off an injury and delivered a score. What more could you ask for?

Well, besides a more coiffed look during his post-game interview:

Kupp has accounted for nearly 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns in just three games this season. He remains a vital contributor in the offense.

(8) - ILB Omar Speights

Despite the outcry from Rams fans to give undrafted rookie inside linebacker Omar Speights a shot at competing in this defense, the coaching staff continued to dig in its heels and refuse to do so. At least until starting ILB Troy Reeder was injured and placed on injured reserve. Suddenly down a starter, coaches relented and allowed Speights to see action on nearly 50 percent of the defensive snaps.

While he seemed to hesitate on pass coverage, he was a wrecking ball when it came to his run defense. And best of all, his debut reinforced exactly what the fans had been saying all season: Just give the guy a chance.

He played very well in his debut.

The Rams defense has struggled post-Ernest Jones to get that fierce and physical style of play back onto the football field. While this was only one game, the evidence already suggests that Omar Speights elevates that sought-after toughness that spreads quickly to his teammates. As Speights grew comfortable, the defense became stingy.

(7) - Offensive line

I sometimes get the feeling that fans are holding their breath until the team's two starting offensive linemen, Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson, heal up and return to the active roster. But in the meantime, let's give a shout out to the two rookies who are delivering superb production on the offensive line in the meantime. Rookie left guard Justin Dedich has started his first two NFL games in just five days, while his teammate, rookie center Beaux Limmer, has seen action in every game, and filled a starting role since Week 2.

In 416 offensive snaps, Limmer has committed three penalties, but has yet to surrender a quarterback sack. Dedich has played 128 offensive snaps, committed one penalty, and allowed no quarterback sacks.

Both players were flagged in Week 8. But not one member of the Rams offensive line allowed a single quarterback sack, despite the fact that the Vikings are one of the most dominant pass-rushing defenses in the NFL this season.

Even NFL Insider and analyst, Brian Baldinger, noted the superb performance of the Rams offensive line.

And once again, Baldy's Breakdowns are spot on. We can confirm his observations instantly by checking out Next Gen Stats and how well QB Matthew Stafford was protected:

Imagine that. Stafford not only had a solid game. His Week 8 performance outshone the six games played previously, and in some ways, by his 2024 season production up to this point in time. Thank the offensive line for the opportunity to snap back to primetime Stafford.

(6) - RB Kyren Williams

Singing the praises of LA Rams RB Kyren Williams is getting to be a habit. It's almost to the point where I can prewrite an article that tosses lots of praise on Williams, change an opponent's name and tweak some stats, and have a new article ready to go each week. Based on what I am reading about Williams, I'm not convinced that is not the method some sites are using.

While it's true that Kyren Williams is a scoring machine, his versatility is such that he continues to keep defenses guessing week in and week out. Of the 15 touchdowns scored by the offense this season, Williams has accounted for 10 of them. And just for the record, the defense has already added two touchdowns and a safety in just seven games.

Williams is so vital to this offense this season that it's almost painful to attempt imagining how the team might perform if he was unable to suit up. Thankfully, the team is slowly starting to share the workload on game day with rookie RB Blake Corum. Hopefully, that trend continues because this offense needs WIlliams at full strength if the postseason is in play.

(5) - WR Demarcus Robinson

In the first four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, Rams WR Demarcus Robinson had caught nine of 18 passes for 161 yards and zero touchdowns. But in the past three games, Robinson has hauled in six of 11 passes for 72 yards and three toucdowns. While Robinson is not having the type of year many hoped that he might deliver when he was extended, he has begun to showcase why he is so important top the full strength offense.

Even as other players rotate in and out of the offense, Robinson rotates into the endzone for touchdowns. You see, he has scored three times in two games, and scored twice in the Rams Week 8 victory

Robinson is not going to be 'that' guy to put up 1,000+ receiving yards in a season. Nor is he the type that will garner plenty of interest at the trade deadline or in the NFL Free Agency market. But as long as the Rams have Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua on the football field, Robinson is an ace at putting up points on the scoreboard.

And who doesn't enjoy seeing points go up on the scoreboard?

(4) - WR Puka Nacua

In his first game back, and putting up over 100+ receiving yards, WR Puka Nacua is talking about his blocking. This is how this young wide receiver's mind works. He is never content to simply catch a football. He understands that football is a complex sport, and demands much more of his role than simply running and catching footballs.

In his first game back from injury, Nacua hauled in seven of nine passes thrown his way for 106 yards. That kept pace with Vikings elite WR Justin Jefferson, who hauled in eight of nine passes for 115 yards. While Nacua did not score, he continued to move the chains to keep the Rams offense on the football field.

Nacua is as passionate about football as anyone on the team. That translates into his love of all aspects, not just the spotlight functions. Nacua loves to block, to take out an opposing defende, or at the least engage them enough to allow the ball carrier to tack on those extra yards.

It's the selfless acts of so many Rams players that all add a little bit to the overall team play. And it's the standard that so many fans have come to expect from players.

(3) - OLB Jared Verse

The more I see of rookie outside linebacker Jared Verse, the more reasons I have to love what he brings to this defense. Not only does Verse bring dominance from his individual production on the football field, but as defenses shit their blocking focus from other players to neutralize Verse, Verse continues to get better as the rest of the defense gets better opportunities to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Jared Verse is a lightning rod, an agitator, and a trash-talker, but he is more than anything exactly what this defense needs right now. Verse does not just read bulletin board fodder for motivation. He sets his mind to making players who make foolish statements pay the price. And that vengeful perspective includes disrespectful fans as well. Just ask the visiting Minnesota Vikings fans who celebrated at SoFi Stadium when Rams DB Kamren Curl was injured in the first quarter.

Jared Verse is not about the spotlight. He is simply an excellent football player who demands respect for himself and his teammates. At this pace, he is well on his way of commanding that level of respect.

(2) - QB Matthew Stafford

After watching him struggle in Week 7, I voiced concerns over the status of starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. After all, he had thrown just three touchdowns and four interceptions in the Rams first six games of the 2024 NFL season. And if the team had any hope of stringing together victories after the Week 6 BYE, the offense had to play a huge role.

Well, the debate is over. Stafford was clearly back at the top of his game, tossing laser beams to his receivers and finding the end zone four times in one game. The last time he thres that many scores in one game was 2023, just three days after Thanksgiving Day.

Stafford was not just the soul-stealing assasing on the gridiron. He seemed like a man possessed, determined to win the game through sheer willpower alone if necessary. And Stafford was even eluding a frighteningly-effective Vikings pass rush.

This was clearly Stafford's best game of the season. Can he sustain that level of performance? Let's hope so.

(1) - HC Sean McVay

I know that I am not shy about raising questions about the strategy used in some games. In fact, I frequently examine what works for the offense, and lobby the team to give those tactics more opportunities. From two tight-end offensive formations to bigger running backs to get scores in the red zone, from mixing up the personnel rotations to thinking outside the box, I typically mention it in an article.

But after a doctorate-level display of offensive design and play-calling like Week 8? All I can do is bow in respect and admiration.

It was all on display in Week 8. The ruthless abandon that led to two quick scores right out of the gate, to the willingness to entrust young WR Puka Nacua and veteran scoring specialist Demarcus Robinson, McVay was as his dialed-in finest as he dialed up one of the Rams best offensive showings in a must-win game in a very long time.

Not only did he become the Winningest Head Coach in LA Rams Franchise History, but he earned it in a undeniable fashion.

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