(1) - WR Cooper Kupp
THe LA Rams needed offense in Week 11, So it's no wonder that the team dialed up veteran WR Cooper Kupp to break the plane and put points on the scoreboard. After all, he continues to have that special chemistry with his quarterback, and unshakeable trust of his head coach.
Kupp has appeared in only six of ten games this season. He has not exactly been a good luck charm for the team. When he has played, the Rams are 3-3. Without him, the team is 2-2. But three of the team's best offensive scoring games have come with Kupp on the football field.
We pointed out a concerning decline in Kupp's production in 2024. Here is what we noted:
"The thing is, despite missing nearly half of the games, Kupp continues to lead the team in targets. And despite getting 16 more passes thrown his way, and catching 15 more passes than teammate Tutu Atwell, he leads Atwell by only 10 receiving yards. Kupp is gaining just 9.3 yards per reception (a career low) and just 6.8 yards per target (another career low). His 3.6 yards gained after the catch is, you guessed it, a career low."Ramblin Fan author Bret Stuter
And so he was back to his former self in Week 11:
Does someone from the Rams football organization read our articles? Kupp hammered at each deficient category in Week 11:
- Yards per Reception - 10.4 (+1.1 YPR)
- Yards per Target - 7.4 (+0.6 YPT)
- Yards After Catch per Reception - 4.5 YAC (+0.9 YAC)
And if you watched the game, listened to it on the radio, or were fortunate enough to attend, you witnessed another record changing hands:
Kupp is up once more.
Okay, so how does all of this create a chance for another winning streak? Ultimately, the LA Rams have to win a game to start a winning streak. But now that step one is accomplished, how can the team extends success?
The Rams got three players involved in scoring in Week 11. In the process, two new players have crossed the plane. That complicates the task for every defense remaining on the schedule. Beyond that, the fact that the team did not have a perfect game and still managed to win is a huge confidence builder. The defense created two turnovers. One led to an instant touchdown. The other ended the final New England Patriots offensive drive, effectively ending the game.
The team still has things to clean up. But the team is back to .500, and is competitive once more. A Week 12 against a very good Philadelphia Eagles team could be the turning point of the season.
As always, thanks for reading.