Rammed Shut

Out in Hollywood, there's an NFL team that is experiencing every bit of a horror film right now. The defending NFC champions, the Los Angeles Rams, are 3-2. Normally, that would be a good records for teams like Tampa Bay or Cleveland. Not the Rams.

There were high expectations going into this season for the Rams, particularly Jared Goff. Despite leading the NFL in passing yards (1,649), Goff has been less than star-studded. Only seven touchdowns to go with seven interceptions (matching the totals from his first two seasons in the NFL) and a QBR of 45.4, Goff has been hit or miss for Los Angeles. It also doesn't help that Wade Phillips's defense has allowed 42.5 PPG in the last two losses. Coupled with allowing 470.5 total yards a game and having a turnover ratio of -4 in those two losses, Phillips's defense suddenly looks pale. Granted, you shouldn't sleep on the Buccaneers offense or Russell Wilson for that matter. But Los Angeles hasn't looked the part of defending NFC champion in the past couple weeks.

Then there's Todd Gurley. There was a hullabaloo about Gurley's knees last season and how they would affect his running game. He hasn't gotten the ball much (64 carries) and is only averaging 4.2 yards a carry. Aside from his week one performance against Carolina, Gurley hasn't had much of a presence in Sean McVay's offense. In this situation, that might need to change.

The NFC West looks tougher than most divisions. San Francisco appears to be back with a versatile running game and a tough front seven and Seattle has Wilson and a lethal front seven and running game of their own. If Los Angeles is to make a return trip to the Super Bowl, they will need to figure things out before it's too late. Otherwise, there won't be a happy ending for the Rams.