The Los Angeles Rams head into Washington this Sunday carrying a two-game winning streak, hoping to climb above .500 for the first time all season. Standing in their way is a Commanders team that just snapped a three-game winless streak with a stunning upset of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Three weeks ago, the Rams (4-4) looked finished after a lopsided loss to the Arizona Cardinals left them 2-4 and last in the NFC West. Since then, they’ve beaten the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers, putting them back in playoff contention right before their schedule turns tougher down the stretch.
Washington (2-4-1) is not conceding the season. Quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 217 yards and a touchdown in the 27-10 win over Philadelphia, his first victory in more than 13 months. The Commanders have been tough at home, leaning on physical, opportunistic defense to offset an inconsistent offense.
Rams’ Defense Rounding Into Form
Los Angeles has held four of its last five opponents under 22 points. Against the Chargers, the Rams intercepted Justin Herbert twice and allowed just three field goals, no touchdowns.
Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett returned to practice this week for the first time since September, raising the possibility of pairing him with Aaron Donald on the pass rush.
But the injury list keeps growing. Cornerback Jaylen Watson, a two-time Super Bowl champion, underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on Wednesday. All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie is dealing with a back injury.
That leaves the secondary thin against a quarterback who thrives outside the pocket. Rams fans got a preview of that danger in Week 5, when Buffalo’s Josh Allen rushed for 121 yards against them. Daniels has already put up 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season against the Giants, including a 38-yard scramble.
Donald and Byron Young will need to hold their rushing lanes rather than chase sacks. The Rams don’t need five sacks Sunday — they need Daniels uncomfortable and forced to beat them from the pocket.
Offense Leaning on the Run
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have each scored touchdowns in consecutive games, giving the Rams a reliable two-headed rushing attack that has eased pressure on quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has thrown for 2,146 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.
Washington, though, is allowing just 3.1 yards per carry, so Stafford and wide receiver Puka Nacua may need to carry the offense if the ground game stalls. Washington’s pass defense ranks 27th in the league, surrendering 243 yards per game, and sits 25th in third-down defense — openings the Rams could exploit.
Why This Game Is a Trap
The Commanders rank 31st out of 32 NFL teams in third-down conversion rate. If the Rams can force Daniels into obvious passing situations and keep his scrambles contained, they should control the game.
But Washington has already shown it can derail a contender, having scored 27 unanswered points against Philadelphia. With a bye week two games away and the playoff picture coming back into focus, the Rams can’t afford to treat this as an easy Sunday against a losing team.
