Farmer: Rams are back to winning, and here's how the Chargers can help them

December 9, 2019 | News | No Comments

Yo, Chargers.

Little help?

The Rams are rolling now, in the wake of their 28-12 victory over Seattle on Sunday night, and they could use an assist from their future stadium mates. The Chargers play host to Minnesota on Sunday and the Rams are a game behind the Vikings in the scramble for a wild-card spot.

“It’s kind of ironic,” Rams safety Marqui Christian said with a smile. “I’m a fan of the Chargers, man, especially this week. I’m not a hater. L.A. for L.A.”

Of course, the Rams understand the only thing they can control is taking care of their business down the stretch, when they finish with games at Dallas and San Francisco, and a finale at home against Arizona.

At long last, they look like the team Sean McVay coached in his first two seasons. Misdirection plays, jet sweeps, wide-open receivers and a heavy dose of running back Todd Gurley. Beneath the Coliseum lights, and with a national audience watching, it was McVintage McVay.

Coming off a 45-6 humiliation at home against Baltimore on “Monday Night Football” two weeks ago, the Rams pounded NFC West foes Arizona and Seattle by a combined score of 62-19.

“I think this is a different team, a different mentality,” left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “I think we’re shooting our shot the next three weeks.”

There are reasons for optimism, particularly with Dallas on deck. Even though they’re still in first place in the inept NFC East, the Cowboys have lost four of five games. They’re a ho-hum 3-3 at home and 2-7 outside of their division.

The lurking monster is San Francisco, a team that embarrassed the Rams in L.A. two months ago with a 20-7 victory that wasn’t as close as the score suggests. The Rams couldn’t budge against the 49ers and were 0 of 9 on third downs.

Now, the 49ers are the best team in the NFC, and are fresh off a thrilling 48-46 win at New Orleans. The Rams can’t afford to think about life beyond the Dallas game, but San Francisco is scary.

Regardless, Sunday night was a time for celebration for the Rams, who assembled their most complete game this season. They kept quarterback Jared Goff upright, denying the Seahawks a sack even with two rookies starting on the right side of the offensive line and a lightly experienced left guard in Austin Corbett.

Whitworth had an excellent game in what, opponents-wise, is his toughest stretch this season.

“I had one hell of a gantlet to start December, and it isn’t any fun,” he said, listing the pass rushers he has or will face. “Chandler [Jones] twice, [Jadeveon] Clowney, Nick Bosa and Robert Quinn.”

Then, with tongue firmly planted in cheek: “It’s a Christmas gift for a left tackle.”

So far, so good. Goff has been sacked once in two weeks. It helps, of course, that Gurley has gotten back on track and bears some resemblance to the player who was in the thick of the most-valuable-player conversation in each of McVay’s first two seasons.

Gurley had 113 yards from scrimmage, including a seven-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter when he took out cornerback Tre Flowers with a devastating stiff-arm. It was a highlight-reel play: My cause, you’re decleated.

Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp each caught touchdown passes, and tight end Tyler Higbee was a huge contributor with seven catches for 116 yards.

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is sacked by Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) and defensive end Morgan Fox (97) during the first quarter.