The unexpected Rams enter the postseason with a 7–0 record after their bye week.
In the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, January 7, 2024, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) is applauded by teammates after collecting a pass to set a rookie record for receiving yards against the San Francisco 49ers.Jed Jacobsohn/Application
Los Angeles (AP) — With seven victories in a row since their bye week, the Los Angeles Rams are among the few teams playing better football heading into the postseason and have secured a historic playoff matchup with the Detroit Lions.
The Rams (10-7) concluded their regular season at a level that demonstrated they can accomplish great things this year, and they’re also not nearly as far from championship contention as they seemed to be during the previous offseason.
Of course, momentum doesn’t always mean much in the postseason.
Even though they rested their key players, the Rams managed to complete the regular season strongly.
There were many backups in LA’s 21-20 victory over San Francisco, but there were also many reasons for the Rams to feel positive about this week and the upcoming campaign.
Coach Sean McVay stated on Monday, “It’s about coming together at the right time and continuing to gel as a group.”
“Our seasoned leaders, in my opinion, really raised the bar for everyone around them, and some guys are able to contribute far more quickly than is typically anticipated because, well, you just have to.
We’re depending on you. We’re happy with our current situation. Although we’re all 0–0 right now, I think we have some solid momentum.
At the bye, the Rams’ chances of making the playoffs appeared remote, as they were 3-6. They recovered from their week off, most notably with Matthew Stafford’s injured return, and they soon put together a run of ever-better performances.
They succeeded thanks in part to young players stepping up in ways that McVay’s Rams, who haven’t produced a first-round draft pick since 2016 — the year before the coach took over — as well as senior leadership from Stafford, Aaron Donald, and Cooper Kupp.
The NFL’s second-youngest roster had over two dozen first- and second-year players, but a half-dozen draft picks made significant contributions in addition to Puka Nacua’s historic season.
After recording his sixth winning season and fifth 10-win campaign in seven years with the Rams, McVay said, “I see a connected team.
” I observe a group of people who help one another out. I see a team that overcomes hardship more effectively, and I also see a team that is most successful when it comes to having a great time having fun and letting loose.
The Rams were sixth in points scored (23.8) and seventh in total yards per game (359.3) in the NFL.
Despite missing two and a half games, Stafford narrowly missed out on a 4,000-yard throwing season; Kyren Williams became the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Rams since 2018; and Nacua emerged as the NFL’s most productive rookie wide receiver.
McVay assembled another exceptional offensive squad, made possible by a much-improved offensive line.
