Rams Have Ultimate Opportunity for Redemption

The St Louis Rams fans are usually binge drinking by week three. It’s something that fans have become accustomed to over the years of countless disappointing seasons. The formula is the same. The Rams will show up one week and win against a tough opponent (usually a division rival) and then will turn around the following week and only put up six points against the last-ranked defense (or at least near the bottom).

This year is no different. The Rams turned heads when they came out in week one and pulled out an overtime upset against Seattle. Fans were legitimately excited that this year might be the year, until week two and three, where the Rams offense has had some serious struggles. The Rams lost to Washington in week two, then to Pittsburgh in week three. Rams fans have accepted their fate of another most likely losing season behind head coach Jeff Fisher.

Live Feed

Black and Teal

However, there is a huge opportunity for redemption here. Say whatever you want about this Rams team, but the truth is that they are close. Very close, in fact, to being a team that can beat anyone. If one or two plays get made last Sunday, the Rams would be 2-1 instead of 1-2. Of course that’s all speculation now, but it still matters. This isn’t a team that is getting blown out every game with little hope. The talent is here, and the more this team plays the better they will get.

The chance for redemption all falls on Sunday. This Sunday afternoon, the Rams will take on the division rival Arizona Cardinals, who are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. They are 3-0 and have scored 126 points in their first three games, the fourth-most in NFL history in a span of three games. If the Rams can go into Arizona this weekend behind enemy lines and pull off a victory, then all shall be forgiven from the previous two games.

Now before you start thinking negative about how this is a huge impossibility, here are some things you might not have considered. The Rams always play division rivals tough, so don’t expect a blowout with St Louis coming off of a wonderful defensive performance against Pittsburgh. The Cardinals may be 3-0, but the teams they have played aren’t exactly the division leaders. The Saints are now 0-3, and the Bears are as well after getting blown out 26-0 against Seattle on Sunday. The only team the Cardinals have played that has a win this year is the 49ers, and their win was over a Minnesota Vikings team that had a rocky opening game on the road. So even though the Cardinals continue to win, they haven’t quite faced an elite team yet. Some would even argue that this will be Arizona’s toughest game yet, so expect a grudge match throughout.

The Rams offense will likely not come out in full swing, but expect Todd Gurley to get more reps, which could help drive the rushing attack. Look for the offense to gain a little momentum heading into this week. Not a lot, but a little will naturally happen with the rookies getting more and more experience. There is no word on when the Rams will get Brian Quick back, so they will likely turn their trust to the same drop-happy group from last week. Fisher is not happy with the drops; he made that very clear in his press conference after Sunday’s loss, so it will be something that is stressed this week in practice.

The Rams won’t be favored and are still a long shot to win, but this is a group that has a very good shot to win this game. If the Rams could somehow pull off the upset, (which they are very good at doing) fans would most likely forgive Fisher for the pitiful week two and three performances, and the NFL will believe in the Rams once again (until they likely lose in Green Bay in the following week, but one week of excitement is better than none, right?).

Next: Rams Cut Pead and Promote Brandon McGee

More from Arch Authority

• St. Louis Cardinals: Randal Grichuk to begin Double-A rehab stint
• John Brebbia deserves a shot as the St. Louis Cardinals’ closer
• St. Louis Cardinals place Randal Grichuk on DL, recall José Martínez
• St. Louis Cardinals release RHP Corey Baker from organization
• St. Louis Cardinals activate Kolten Wong and Kevin Siegrist from DL, option Luke Weaver and Alex Mejia to Triple-A