The Los Angeles Rams downed the Los Angeles Chargers in the (the wall explodes as Zack de la Rocha walks through the rubble)
WE FOUND YOUR WEAKNESS AND IT’S RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR NOW TESTIFY
Injuries
Well, the Rams finally ran into the chipper here and have to deal with a rash of injuries on a short week with the Minnesota Vikings coming to LA on Thursday in Week 4.
Already with EDGE Morgan Fox, WR/KR/PR Pharoh Cooper and WR Mike Thomas on injured reserve with rookie EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on the Physically Unable to Perform list, the Rams were missing 53-man roster talent. K Greg Zuerlein’s groin injury from Week 2 put him out until mid-October at the earliest. ILB Mark Barron is fading from memory like Marty’s family in the photo in Back to the Future.
Now though, the Rams have some new injuries impacting things moving forward.
CB Marcus Peters injured…well, something. Making it a mini-crisis at cornerback, CB Aqib Talib also left injured with an ankle problem. KR/PR JoJo Natson Jr. broke his hand, so the Rams are scouring for new options there. And EDGE Dominique Easley had a knee injury that will land him on the injury report today.
Overall, nothing that the Rams can’t deal with. But obviously, something to track over the next three days’ injury reports.
Performance Issues
The offense was absolutely dominant so nothing of concern there. This is nuts though:
Lowest three-and-out percentage in the NFL through three games:
3) Chiefs 25.0%
3) Raiders 25.0%
3) Bengals 25.0%
2) Buccaneers 20.8%1) Rams 6.9%
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) September 24, 2018
If anything, is it time to start talking about the pass rush? The Rams are tied with three other teams for the second-least sacks in the NFL with four. And yes, part of it is teams scheming against the strength of the talent inside with Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers demanding attention. And yes, we knew linebacker talent was an issue. But is it a concern that is worth discussing yet?
Standings
It was a pretty strong weekend on this front for Rams fans.
We marched out to 3-0. The San Francisco 49ers lost their quarterback for the season. The Arizona Cardinals finally decided to switch from QB Sam Bradford to QB Josh Rosen…in the final seconds of the game. The Dallas Cowboys were unable to put together much against the Seattle Seahawks, though.
Overall, any perspective about the 201 Rams right now should be really positive. The team is playing good football, QB Jared Goff is coming off of the best game of his NFL career and the NFC West Champions are in NFC West champion position.