This may be the most ironic twist to the Rams 2024 NFL season

For LA Rams fans, let's have some fun today. That's right, for the first time in months, the team has clinched a playoff berth and is not under the pressure of winning. Of course, that does not mean that the team is willing to lose, nor should it be. But the team may be crazy like a fox. What do I mean? While other NFL teams are still fighting to improve their playoff berth, the Rams' decision to sit seven offensive starters has basically given the team an out.

Yes, the Rams want to win in Week 18. But the team is not under tremendous pressure to do so. For seven vital offensive starters, Week 18 is a BYE week. Even as their bodies heal and recharge, they will have the opportunity to witness their teammates vying for a win. And that will give them good reason to return to practice in the 2025 NFL Playoffs alert and ready to go.

So the question is, who will lead the offense in Week 18?

If you can't beat him, sign him

The LA Rams struggled against veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo. He was the starter for the San Francisco 49ers, and he seemed to have some mystical magical power of defeating the Rams. In face, the Rams have not defeated him in a regular season game. So, it only made sense to sign him to the Rams roster.

The team is no stranger to signing former veterans who had competed against the Rams in the past. All-Pro inside linebacker Bobby Wagner signed with the team in 2022 and played very well. Unfortunately, an injury-riddled team did not play very well that season (finishing with a record of 5-12). As a result, the front office released Wagner and restocked the roster with bargain-basement rookies and veterans who were willing to play for the NFL minimum.

Despite the frugal payroll, the team improved to 10-7 and competed in the playoffs last season. Now, the team is fighting to improve to a record of 11-6. But to do that, they need to rally behind former foe, QB Jimmy Garoppolo:

Even with Jimmy G as the starter, some fans are wondering whether the team will give some offensive snaps to young backup QB Stetson Bennett.

Still, it will be surreal to see Garoppolo in a Rams uniform, and cheering him on against the Seattle Seahawks.

The future QB remains unclear

The Rams have three quarterbacks under contract right now. Veteran QB Matthew Stafford is under contract through 2026. But the current contract provides no guaranteed money to Stafford in 2025, a situation that almost all NFL analysts have stated will hold Stafford out of training camp until it is resolved.

Veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo is under a one-year contract that expires at the end of the 2024 NFL season. Week 18 not only affords Garoppolo an opportunity to astonish Rams execs, coaches, and fans, but it gives him a chance to put up some quality video footage that could persuade prospective teams to ante up with a lucrative contract to play for them in the 2025 and future years. While the team would love to re-sign Garoppolo if he plays well in Week 18, they have never restricted an NFL veteran from signing elsewhere for better money or opportunity.

The last quarterback on the roster is former Georgia QB Stetson Bennett. As of today, he is the only quarterback on the roster who is expected to return in 2025 without incident. While many fans view Bennett as expendable, he had a tremendous preseason in 2024 despite missing all of 2023. And he did so by shaking off mental errors and threading impressive TD passes to pull out unlikely victories.

He is unlikely to see playing time in Week 18. Still, I would not be disappointed in the least if he was able to drive the offense in the season finale. The Rams have a lot of questions about the future of their quarterback position. Hopefully, they will find some answers in Week 18.

As always, thanks for reading.

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