WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams, who once lost to the now 4-11 Chicago Bears, were blown out by the currently 7-8 Arizona Cardinals and had a 1-4 record, are now 9-6 and atop the NFC West.
According to the NFL Playoff Picture, the group has an 85% chance of making the playoffs. However, one area remains a struggle: their starts.
“There's no question about it; it hasn't been as good as we want it to be,” said quarterback Matthew Stafford about his team's early-game offense.
The Rams are second to last in the NFL in first-quarter points, totaling 27 across 15 games, while their opponents have accumulated 85. Coach Sean McVay said he wants his group, eighth in the league with 13.3 second-half points per game, to execute better at the start of games. But he is also pleased with their connectedness to come back.
The Rams failed to score in the first quarter in three of their four latest wins against the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints. However, they bested each team by scoring 36 of 52 points in the fourth period.
“When we've done it, it has been a pretty good movie, and when we haven't, it's correctable things,” McVay said.
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The Rams’ Week 16 opponent, the Cardinals, torched them in Week 3, soaring to a 21-0 lead and winning 41-10, the Rams’ largest loss of the year.
The team moved the ball early in the game but failed to convert a fourth-and-two on their first drive, as receiver Cooper Kupp was tackled close to the sticks. They also failed to move the chains on a couple of third-and-mediums.
“We have to do a better job adapting and finding ways to execute,” Kupp said.
McVay said he expects adversity in the Rams’ second game against the Cardinals, and how they respond to it will be vital. He has enjoyed working with the team focused on loosening and learning from challenging moments to play better.
“I see a toughness, resolve and resilience that's been developed in this group,” McVay said.
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Receiver Puka Nacua, who has 861 receiving yards in 10 games, did not feature in the first matchup against the Cardinals after aggravating a knee injury in Week 1. However, the second-year wideout is back and said they can correct their early-game struggles through improvements in the minor details.
“In the locker room, everybody feels good and is moving well,” Nacua said. “It is exciting.”
