Los Angeles Rams: Playmakers are the key to beating the Chargers
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Rams face their toughest foe yet in the Los Angeles Chargers and really just have to keep it simple: rely on the teams’ playmakers.
The Los Angeles Rams have become the consensus favorite to win the Super Bowl this season. Everyone knew how talented the Rams were heading into the year and the first two games of the season only solidified that.
LA won the first two games of the season by a combined 77-13. However, both games were relatively easy against the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals; two of the likely five bottom teams in the league this season.
In Week 3, the Los Angeles Rams have the first true test of the season in the Los Angeles Chargers.
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Naturally, the Rams are going to be the favorites in almost every game the team plays simply due to the talent on the roster. So while the Rams are favored, anything can happen. The Rams will have the home field advantage but then again, the Chargers are used to playing road games in LA.
The Chargers present a dangerous game due to the multiple playmakers on both offense and defense and the team’s ability to stand toe-to-toe and go score for score with the Rams until either team slips up or runs out of gas.
In these type of games, the Chargers are typically the team to slip up. However, the Rams cannot rely on a Charger mistake to win the game.
Instead, the Rams have perhaps the most simple gameplan possible against the Los Angeles Chargers in just relying on the playmakers. No need to be fancy, to attack certain areas and beat it to the ground.
If the Rams just go out and play football and feed the ball to the biggest playmakers on the team, they will succeed.
Tyreek Hill absolutely burned the Chargers in Week 1 and LeSean McCoy was looking good in Week 2 after being virtually nonexistent in Week 1. McCoy’s injury prevented him from having a big game but he was averaging over four yards per carry.
The Chargers are athletic but it is also a pretty young defense that is prone to making mistakes and missing tackles when it matters most. Dumping the ball off to Brandin Cooks on a quick slant and letting him do the rest could provide great results.
Pounding the ball up the middle with Todd Gurley should get at least three yards nearly every time and will put the Rams in a great position to extend drives and eat the clock.
The Chargers may be talented but they are still the Chargers. Mistakes are going to happen. Those mistakes are going to be amplified if the Rams can consistently feed the ball to the most athletic players on the team.
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Either way, this is going to be an offensive battle and the defensive playmakers are going to need to step up in big spots. As for the offense, though, Sean McVay does not need to get fancy. Just rely on what you have.