Rams: LA could be in playoff contention heading into their bye week

The Los Angeles Rams hot start last season fell flat down the line. After starting 3-1, the team went on to finish 1-11. This year, that hot start could be extended.

The Los Angeles Rams were one of the weirdest teams in the NFL last season. Stuck in limbo between starting Jared Goff or not, the team gave its fans one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory. On the heels of a promising 7-9 season in St. Louis, the Rams took to LA to go 4-12.

After getting stomped on by the 49ers 28-0 in week one, the Rams went on to win three straight against the Seahawks, Buccaneers and Cardinals. The sky was the limit for the Rams during their homecoming in Los Angeles, but it was short-lived. The Rams nearly went winless the rest of the year, with their only victory being a 9-6 game over the New York Jets.

Our sister site, Ramblin’ Fan, published a piece on how the Rams may repeat history and start the season 3-1. We are here to take it one step further.

Los Angeles, heading into its bye week in week eight, will be in playoff contention. The team could even be threatening for the NFC West Division title. While this streak may die out early on, when the NFL season approaches the halfway line many are going to be talking about the play from the Rams.

Let’s face it, the Rams schedule is fairly weak to start the season. Los Angeles opens things off Sunday against an Indianapolis Colts team that is without Andrew Luck. Indianapolis is a significantly worse team without Luck, showcased by their 28-7 loss against the Steelers last year.

LA’s defense is going to keep the team in the game without Andrew Luck calling the shots. With a fairly bad Colts defense, the Rams are going to be able to capitalize down the stretch and pull off a one possession victory.

Following week one the Rams have the Redskins and the 49ers. Hosting Washington will be an interesting game, however, the Redskins secondary may haunt them. Jared Goff has so many tools in his arsenal, and outside of Josh Norman, the Redskins may not have what it takes to cover so many bases. I would expect Goff’s first real big game in the NFL and a Rams victory.

The team then heads to San Francisco to take on the 49ers. Los Angeles is a significantly better team, so they should have no issue getting their revenge against the 49ers. The next week the team hosts the Cowboys, which should be a loss. Here we sit at 3-1.

The success won’t stop there, though. Los Angeles will then host the Seattle Seahawks. While Seattle is a significantly better team, this game is a toss-up. Los Angeles always gives the Seahawks trouble. This game is the hardest to call.

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The next two weeks before the bye week are good matchups for the Rams. First, they head to Jacksonville, who may be undergoing a quarterback change. Then, they host the Arizona Cardinals, who are this season’s biggest wild card. Should the same struggles from last season carry over, the Rams should be able to put them away at home.

That leads Los Angeles to own either a 5-2 or 6-1 record heading into week eight. With Seattle facing both the Giants and the Packers on the road in the first six weeks, if the Rams can defeat the Seahawks they very easily could be in first place heading into their bye week.

After the bye week, the Rams schedule gets significantly harder. Los Angeles will face Seattle, New York and Tennessee on the road; all likely resulting in a loss. They also will head to Minnesota and Arizona, both tough matchups for the Rams and they likely will lose at least one of them.

Los Angeles hosts the Texans, Saints and 49ers in the second half. Los Angeles can take all three of these games, but likely will fall short to the Texans. This gives them a finishing record of either 9-7 or 10-6. Optimistic, yes, but if the team plays like they are capable of it is more than doable.

Next: Three keys for the Rams to take the NFC West

Regardless of what their finishing record is, the Los Angeles Rams very easily could be in playoff contention heading into week eight, likely shocking the entire football universe.

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