The SoFi stadium teams will have back to back opportunities to position themselves for a shot that determines if they have the goods play in that final game on their home turf in February.
After the Rams (7-3) got utterly embarrassed on Monday Night Football by struggling divisional rival 49ers in Frisco, the Chargers (5-4) were thoroughly outplayed by the heartbreak Minnesota Viking at home,
The Bolts will shot for redemption will come on Sunday Night Football when host beleaguered Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3-1), a team that tied the only winless team in the league.
There are exactly 8 games remaining in this expanded regular season and, but it’s still hard to make a case for either one of them being a Super Bowl contender.
The Bolts have lost two of their last three, both at home to the Pats and Vikings.
The Rams have dropped two straight, to surging Titians 28-16 and then the Niners 31-10, being outscored 59-26 in the process.
While there is arguably more pressure on the high salaried Rams because of off season acquisitions Matthew Strafford and in season grabs of future hall of famer Von Miller and disgruntled albeit gifted receiver OJ Beckham, the Chargers are not off the hot seat.
Brandon Staley inherited a team that failed to close out games under Anthony Lynn and the defensive minded guru was hired primarily to fix that and advance this team beyond .500 and into the playoffs.
However, so far Staley is not much better than Lynn and we know that the face of the franchise Justin Herbert absolutely loved playing for the dude and didn’t want him fired.
A new set of concerns have emerged with Herbert. He has not been throwing the homerun ball that made him so dangerous last season.
Herbert is just too gifted, a dream of a quarterback for offensive coordinator Mike Lombardi to have, but he’s is being handcuffed with a dink and donk system specifically because they don’t have anyone capable of stretching the field it will diminish his productivity and decrease chances for victories.
Receiver Mike Williams has regressed tremendously after showcasing his catching and scoring ability early on, but now can’t hold onto the ball.
Sean McVay has gotten everything he requested from Rams owner Stan Kroenke, but each and growing week there is a slew of new excuses as to why his team failed.
Mind you the Rams are 7-3 on the season, but the defense has regressed under Raheem Morris with the most dominating player on that side of the ball Aaron Donald.
The NFL is a league where it is hard to win no matter who the opponent, but that’s why there are great teams that separate themselves and middle of the road teams.
Right now, both of the locals are in the playoffs, but check back after the Rams bye week and see the position of both then.
I am concerned and you should be too.
