Eric Williams
NFL reporter
Los Angeles Rams basic supervisor Les Snead likened his group’s 4-4 begin to the center of a 17-round boxing match, with two months left to see how issues pan out.
“What you probably did previously does not actually matter,” Snead mentioned. “Now that is going to be what you do just about each spherical going ahead.”
How the Rams and each different NFL group finishes over the subsequent eight weeks will decide the general success of their season. The Rams can look to final 12 months’s spectacular stretch run, wherein they gained seven of their final eight video games to succeed in the playoffs, for inspiration on the best way to carry out within the second half of this season.
The Rams be a part of the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys – sure, the Cowboys – as groups that might make a run on the backstretch this season, making issues attention-grabbing for the remainder of the league.
Let’s check out the place every group stands on the midway level.
Los Angeles Rams (4-4)
Los Angeles is 1.5 video games behind the Green Bay Packers (6-3) for the ultimate wild-card spot within the NFC, however solely a half-game behind the Arizona Cardinals (5-4) for the NFC West prime spot and an automated berth to the postseason.
The Rams began 3-6 final season however obtained sizzling and made the playoffs. And coach Sean McVay is as soon as once more leaning on a younger roster, led by 16 league-leading rookies who’ve tailored to the velocity of the NFL and are enjoying at a excessive stage. The first- and second-year gamers mixed for 15 sacks on protection for the Rams, tops within the NFL.
(RELATED: Jayden Daniels, the Rams’ greatest midseason All-Rookie within the NFL)
Five of Los Angeles’ final 9 video games are at house and solely 4 towards final season’s playoff groups. Four of the group’s remaining opponents have successful information.
The Rams are additionally bettering. Puka Nacua is again from an early-season knee harm. And the reinforcements on the offensive line will return heart Jonah Jackson, guard Steven Avila and deal with Joe Noteboom.
(RELATED: Puka Nacua amongst 5 key gamers returning for playoff-chasing groups)
Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)
After enjoying killer soccer to restart the season this 12 months, Joe Burrow performed like an MVP candidate whereas serving to his Bengals battle again into the postseason dialog. At 4-6, the Bengals are a sport and a half out of the final wild card spot within the AFC behind the Denver Broncos (5-4).
Even after a heartbreaking 35-34 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Cincinnati has gained three of its final 5 video games. Burrow put the Bengals on his shoulders. Since Week 5, he has thrown for 1,694 yards and 17 touchdowns, with simply three interceptions.
Fellow LSU product Ja’Marr Chase is placing up elite manufacturing as Cincinnati’s No. 1 receiver. Against the Ravens on Thursday, Chase made 11 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns. He now leads the league in receiving yards (981) and receiving touchdowns (10) over the weekend.
If the Bengals can get extra consistency from their protection, they are going to be within the playoff hunt.
Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
There are three the reason why the arrow is pointing up for the Bolts as they chase their first postseason win for the reason that 2018 season. No. 1 is quarterback Justin Herbert, who lastly seems totally wholesome and has taken command of the assault.
Thanks to his emphasis on the operating sport, Herbert is having a statistically environment friendly season, finishing 65 % of his passes for 1,725 yards, with 10 landing passes and one interception for a passer score of 101.6. Herbert tried at the very least 15 passes with out an interception in six consecutive video games, setting the file for the longest hitting streak in franchise historical past.
Second, new defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has someway remodeled one of many worst defenses within the league below former coach and defensive guru Brandon Staley into the most effective, utilizing principally the identical personnel.
And lastly, the Chargers have a authentic head coach who has already been within the winner’s circle in Jim Harbaugh. During his first season as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh led them to a 13-3 file and a postseason berth.
He’s on an analogous path with the Chargers. I assumed the Bolts ought to have acquired a prime receiver for Herbert earlier than the commerce deadline. But I additionally perceive not stunting the expansion of younger receivers Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey by including an enormous identify to that group.
New York jet (3-6)
New addition Davante Adams mentioned as a lot this week is getting “table racing vibes” by quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the Jets snapped a five-game dropping streak in a comeback win over the Houston Texans.
Can the Jets make it to their second straight win Sunday towards the Cardinals? While Arizona sacked Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams eight instances in a blowout win at house, the Cardinals are giving up 228 passing yards per contest, No. 24 within the league. The Jets additionally enter this weekend’s sport rested, after enjoying on Thursday final week.
As for the remainder of the season, New York performs solely two groups with a successful file of their final eight video games: the Cardinals on Sunday and the Buffalo Bills within the penultimate sport of the season.
Even if the Jets flip issues round, they could be too late to succeed in the postseason. But ending across the .500 mark may very well be sufficient to stay with Rodgers and maybe interim coach Jeff Ulbrich subsequent season.
Will the Jets rise once more?
Dallas Cowboys (3-5)
OK, take heed to me.
I do know the Cowboys have misplaced three in a row, and buying developmental receiver Jonathan Mingo for a fourth-round decide does not precisely flip the swap on a dropping season. Additionally, Dak Prescott might miss vital time with a hamstring harm.
However, backup Cooper Rush has a 5-1 file as a starter courting again to the beginning of the 2022 season, when Prescott additionally obtained damage. OK, the Cowboys had one of the opportunistic defenses on the time and a operating again in Tony Pollard who created steadiness on offense.
But the Cowboys will play 4 of their subsequent 5 video games at house, which is sweet, besides Dallas is 0-3 at house up to now this season.
Can Cooper Rush lead Cowboys to a loss to Jalen Hurts, Eagles?
The one factor I consider the Cowboys can depend on is head coach Mike McCarthy’s expertise in coping with hostile conditions. On prime of that, the group’s greatest defender, Micah Parsons, might return this week from an ankle harm. Parsons mentioned he believes Dallas can nonetheless make a run, primarily based on how Rush has carried out as a starter beforehand. And in accordance with The Athletic, the Cowboys have the eighth simplest program for the second half of the season.
If they’ll get again to leaning on the operating sport, taking good care of the soccer on offense, and taking the ball away on protection, the Cowboys can at the very least make issues attention-grabbing in the long term.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, protecting the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN e Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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