The Washington Commanders travel across the country to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15. The two teams are on opposite trajectories and have vastly different goals for the final four games of the season. Losers of four straight games, the Commanders emerge from their bye week to meet one of the hottest teams in the NFL over the last month. The Rams have won three of their last four games and have re-entered the NFC playoff conversation.
Commanders at Rams Matchup Preview
Rams Offense vs. Commanders Defense
The LA Rams began the season with a 3-6 record, fighting through injuries to both quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp. Since Stafford’s return in Week 11, however, the offense has been humming. The Rams have scored 30 or more points in three straight games, their only loss coming in overtime to the AFC’s current #1 seed Baltimore Ravens last week. The offense is extremely well-balanced, ranking exactly 12th in the NFL in both passing yards and rushing yards through 14 weeks. Los Angeles has compiled the 10th-most first downs and committed the 5th-fewest turnovers in the league. It’s not just volume stats, though. The Rams offense ranks ninth in yards per play and scores points on the 7th-highest percentage of possessions. They move the ball and they finish their drives.
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Washington Commanders defense is arguably the worst in the NFL. It ranks dead last in both total yards and yards per play allowed and has forced the fifth-fewest turnovers in the league. The Rams are highly, highly likely to win the turnover battle this week. Washington’s defense has also allowed at least 350 yards of offense in ten of their 14 games this season and has given up points on nearly 50% of opponent possessions (32nd out of 32). This is a matchup between a top-10 offense and a bottom-three defense. It could be a bloodbath.
Advantage: Rams Offense
Commanders Offense vs. Rams Defense
The more competent of Washington’s two units, the Commanders offense has been roughly league-average this season. It ranks 16th in total yards, 19th in yards per play, and 23rd in total points scored through Week 14. Sam Howell’s offense commits the fifth-fewest penalties in the NFL but ruins it by committing the fifth-most turnovers. Washington has converted the ninth-most first downs this season but scored points on the seventh-lowest percentage of offensive possessions. For every positive stat, there’s an equally negative one with which to squash it.
When the Commanders have the ball, it should be a relatively even matchup of mediocrity. The Rams defense ranks 14th in total yards, 13th in yards per play, and 13th in total points allowed. Los Angeles is very poor at preventing first-down conversions, 11th-worst on third down and sixth-worst on fourth down. While the Rams will almost certainly win the turnover battle, the Commanders should win the penalty battle. Aaron Donald’s defense has committed 87 penalties this season, 8th most in the league.
Advantage: Neither
Prediction
Like most Commanders games this season, the offense will have a tall task to keep pace with its opponent. The efficient Rams offense, led by the elite receiver duo of Kupp and Puka Nacua, won’t have any difficulty carving up Washington’s hapless secondary. The intangibles all favor the Rams, too. Los Angeles currently sits in 8th place in the NFC, tied with four other teams vying for the final wildcard spot in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Washington is celebrating moving up draft boards. Rams head coach Sean McVay enters the game with more momentum, has significantly more incentive to win, and will coach circles around Ron Rivera.
Prediction: Rams 38, Commanders 23
Main Photo: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
