Looking back at the Rams’ first eight games of this season, it probably didn’t go as well as the team had hoped. Sure, they swept the NFC East, but they lost disappointing games to the 49ers and Dolphins, and dug themselves too deep a hole in the first half against the Bills before a miraculous comeback attempt came up short.
Still, the Rams are in a good spot at 5-3, sitting just one game behind the division-leading Seahawks. And for all the criticism and doubt cast upon Los Angeles before the season began, 5-3 is a pleasant surprise.
Nate Davis at USA TODAY Sports handed out midseason grades for every team after the first half of the year, and the Rams were somewhat surprisingly given an A-. Here’s what Davis wrote about L.A. thus far.
Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff is rebounding from a down year, completing a career-best 65.5% of his passes. Yet coach Sean McVay hasn’t had to ask as much from his quarterback, successfully restoring offensive equilibrium with a multi-pronged run game that’s surged since RB Todd Gurley’s departure. However the real story here might be a defense that’s quietly emerged as the NFC’s stingiest under first-year coordinator Brandon Staley.
The Rams have mostly exceeded the lower expectations that were set for them in August and September. Just look at their Super Bowl odds. They’ve gone from 20th-best to ninth-best in a span of two months, greatly improving their chances.
They’re squarely in the mix in the playoff hunt, sitting just one game out of the No. 1 seed in the conference. Their schedule will get tougher, but with that defense, they can compete with anyone.
