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Week 15 - Washington Commanders (4-9) @ Los Angeles Rams (6-7)
Nuts & Bolts
Date: December 17, 2023
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Venue: SoFi Stadium - Inglewood, CA
How to Watch: CBS
Matchup History: Washington leads all-time series 26-14-1
Last Meeting: Los Angeles def. Washington 30-10 on 10/11/20
Betting Lines: Via DraftKings
Spread: Washington +6.5
Over/Under: 48.5
Prediction: Washington 16, Los Angeles 31
Official Game Notes: HERE
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Head Coach: Ron Rivera (4th season, 26-36-1 record in Washington)
Record: 4-9 (0-5, 4th in NFC East)
Last Time Out: Lost vs. Miami 45-15 on 12/3/23
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Sam Howell
Ron Rivera’s Washington Commanders come out of the bye with four games to play and a 4-9 overall record.
For all intents and purposes, the team is out of the playoff race and is very likely to be making organizational changes at season’s end.
But for now, there is football to be played. The Commanders make the trip west this weekend to take on the LA Rams, one of the hotter teams in the league that is playing tremendous football over the last few weeks.
Washington will be without its leading rusher, Brian Robinson, on Sunday, leaving veteran RB Antonio Gibson in line to get the bulk of the work behind quarterback Sam Howell, who is actually second on the team in rushing behind Robinson this year.
The Commanders enter Sunday’s game in LA having lost four games in a row, including the last three by multiple possessions while failing to put up more than 19 points in any contest.
Meanwhile, the Washington defense has been getting torched, surrendering 29 or more in each of the last four games, including 45 points in each of the last two.
Having played two high-flying offense back-to-back games in Dallas and Miami, the Commanders now face the challenge of the Rams, led by veteran QB Matthew Stafford and his slew of offensive weapons such as Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams, and rookie sensation Puka Nacua.
If Washington wants to win on Sunday, they’ll have to put up points, likely by throwing the football with success.
QB Sam Howell is 5th in the NFL in passing yards, but is also tied for 1st in interceptions with 14, and leads the NFL in sacks with 58.
If Howell can stay upright more consistently and take care of the football then the Commanders will have a chance to win the game on Sunday.
Unfortunately, for this team, those are two huge ‘if’s.’
Head Coach: Sean McVay (7th season, 66-45 record in Los Angeles)
Record: 6-7 (4-1, 2nd in NFC West)
Last Time Out: Lost @ Baltimore 37-31 in OT on 12/10/23
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Kyren Williams
Sean McVay has his team playing its best football at the right time.
The Rams have won three of the last four games, with the lone loss coming last week on the road against the top seed in the AFC Baltimore Ravens.
The heartbreaking 37-31 overtime loss is the third consecutive game that LA has put up 30+ points. With quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, and running back Kyren Williams all back in the lineup after missing time this year, the Rams offense looks as good as any unit in the NFL.
The 37-year old McVay was a long-time Washington assistant and was the offensive coordinator from 2014-2016 before the Rams hired him in 2017, making him the youngest head coach in NFL history at just 30-years old.
Since, McVay has led the Rams to four playoff appearances in six seasons, including two Super Bowl appearances, and one title.
After last year’s disappointing 5-12 campaign, the team came back younger and healthier and now has a chance to push for a postseason berth after many pegged them to be among the worst teams in the league.
With four games to go, the Rams have the Commanders, Saints, Giants, and 49ers, which may be resting starters if they can lock up the top seed in the NFC before Week 18.
Likely four winnable games for one of six 6-7 NFC teams. I wouldn’t bet against this head coach, this quarterback, or this team down the stretch of the season.