LA is 0-3 against the NFC North with the undefeated Vikings up in two weeks
On the surface a 1-4 record looks like trouble for the Los Angeles Rams.
LA started the year off with an overtime loss to the Detroit Lions, who put a 47-9 whooping on the Dallas Cowboys en route to a 4-1 record. Despite losing Puka Nacua, Joe Noteboom, and others in the early going of the game in Detroit, the Rams were able to keep it a close contest.
But things came unraveled in Week 2 at the Arizona Cardinals. Kyler Murray had the best game of his NFL career…maybe even the best game of his life. The Cards blew past the Rams and won by 31 points. Arizona currently holds a 2-4 record, so this is a blemish on LA’s resume that has not aged well as we collect information on each team.
Los Angeles showed signs of life in their third game against the San Francisco 49ers and came from behind to win 27-24. This win moved LA and San Francisco to equal footing on the new season at 1-2, though the 49ers are now in first place in the NFC West at 3-3.
But the next two games featured close matchups against two teams from the NFC North. Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears were calm, cool, and collected as they took the 24-18 win at home. Two touchdowns by Tucker Kraft helped the Green Bay Packers secure a 24-19 win on the road at SoFi Stadium. The Bears and Packers are now both 4-2 and holding up the rear of a better-than-expected division.
The good news for the Rams is that they will see a temporary reprieve in their difficult schedule this coming weekend when they host the Las Vegas Raiders. Raiders fans are certain to fill SoFi, though LA is currently favored by 4.5 points.
Los Angeles will round out their slate against the NFC North on Thursday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8. Minnesota is undefeated with Sam Darnold, and this should be a highly anticipated coaching matchup between Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell.
The NFL leader in point differential is the Minnesota Vikings at +61.
Then the Detroit Lions at +60, the Bears at +47, and the Packers at +41.
Every team in the NFC North has a better point differential than every other team in the league.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 14, 2024
Why the Rams might be better than it seems
The NFC North is suddenly the best division in football, though most likely did not see that coming before the season started. The Vikings are undefeated and showing no signs of slowing down, the Lions have lost a single game and seem to be getting better, and the Bears and Packers are frisky in their own ways.
The bad news for the Rams is they’ve already played three games against this division (comprising three of their four losses) and they are soon to play their fourth and final game within the next two weeks.
LA has effectively split their two NFC West matchups, though they took down the formidable 49ers and lost to the slumping Cardinals. An early November game against the Seattle Seahawks could help LA get back on track for the season and make the division race competitive.
If you are a Rams fan looking for a reason to be optimistic, understanding that their early season schedule has been brutally difficult should give you solace. That should be more temporary than long-term, and if the Rams can go 2-1 or better over the next three weeks they could be square in the NFC playoff picture with the New England Patriots on deck in Week 10.
Things might feel bad for the Rams right now, but if the team stays the course they could turn it around relatively quickly as their schedule lightens up.
