In the 1996 cult classic movie “Swingers,” a heartbroken Jon Favreau gets a phone call from Vince Vaughn, who offers his struggling buddy a simple solution to life’s problems.
asserted
who → get → problems
“Vegas, baby, Vegas!”
Thirty years later, Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams could use a similar intervention.
Because what began as a season filled with Super Bowl aspirations has become a five-alarm fire, and the team that dreamed of playing for a Lombardi Trophy in its own stadium might need a miracle just to escape the NFC West basement.
uncertain
that → use → basement
After consecutive home losses, including Sunday’s humiliating 18-16 defeat to the previously 1-4 Arizona Cardinals, the Rams (2-4) head to Allegiant Stadium for a Week 7 showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders (3-3).
asserted
Rams → include → Raiders
The Rams couldn’t beat a Cardinals team they were favored to defeat by nearly two touchdowns.
asserted
they → beat → touchdowns
Now we’re supposed to believe they can stroll into Sin City, missing half their starting lineup, and beat a Raiders team averaging 27 points per game?
asserted
they → suppose → game
Somehow, Los Angeles enters Sunday as a 4.5-point favorite.
asserted
Angeles → enter → favorite
Apparently, oddsmakers haven’t watched the same Rams team the rest of us have or maybe they haven’t read the injury report.
asserted
they → watch → report
Davante Adams is headed for surgery on his ruptured hamstring.
asserted
Adams → head → hamstring
Ford and kicker Blake Grupe are done for the season.
asserted
Ford → do → season
Myles Garrett remains on injured reserve, while cornerback Trent McDuffie (groin) and linebacker Nate Landman (concussion protocol) did not practice most of this week.
asserted
McDuffie → remain → week
Without Garrett and Turner, the Rams’ pass rush resembles a casino patron desperately searching for his last chip.
asserted
rush → resemble → chip
They’ve recorded just eight sacks all season, tied for second-fewest in the NFL.
asserted
They → record → NFL
That’s music to Kirk Cousins’ ears.
asserted
That → ’ → ears
The Raiders quarterback has thrown for 14 touchdowns, tied for the league lead, and wasn’t sacked once in Sunday’s 33-30 loss to Buffalo.
asserted
quarterback → throw → Buffalo
With Brock Bowers terrorizing defenses over the middle and Tre Tucker coming off a 97-yard, two-touchdown performance, Las Vegas has enough weapons to expose the Rams’ increasingly vulnerable defense.
asserted
Vegas → terrorize → defense
Offensively, McVay needs to stop treating his running game like an unwanted dinner guest.
asserted
McVay → need → guest
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum found success against Arizona, yet the Rams inexplicably abandoned the ground attack.
asserted
Rams → find → attack
They’re averaging 4.6 yards per carry, ninth-best in football, while Las Vegas ranks 28th against the run.
asserted
Vegas → average → run
Here’s a novel idea: run the damn ball.
asserted
idea → ’ → ball
With Adams sidelined, Puka Nacua must carry the receiving corps, while rookie Konata Mumpfield figures to receive an expanded role.
asserted
Mumpfield → sideline → role
C.J. Daniels and Tutu Atwell could also factor into the equation if activated.
uncertain
Daniels → factor → equation
Matthew Stafford leads the NFL with 1,794 passing yards, but those numbers mean little when the Rams rank 20th in scoring at 22.5 points per game.
asserted
Rams → lead → game
Perhaps the cruelest irony is that the Rams rank third in both total offense and total defense.
asserted
Rams → rank → offense
They’re moving the football and limiting yardage, yet somehow finding new ways to lose.
asserted
They → move → ways
One could argue they’re just two penalties and one blocked field goal away from being 5-1 on the season instead of 2-4.
uncertain
they → argue → season
Sunday renews an old-school Los Angeles rivalry, with the all-time series deadlocked at 8-8.
asserted
series → renew → 8
But nostalgia won’t save the Rams.
asserted
nostalgia → save → Rams
They need execution, healthy bodies and a victory before their once-promising season disappears faster than a tourist’s paycheck at the blackjack table.
asserted
season → need → table
The Rams have struggled to defend the middle of the field even when healthy.
asserted
Rams → struggle → field
Now they face one of football’s most dangerous tight ends without several of their best defenders.
asserted
they → face → defenders
Quentin Lake intercepted a Jacoby Brissett pass intended for All-Pro tight end Trey McBride in the Cardinals’ first series last Sunday.
asserted
Lake → intercept → series
Now he and his teammates in the secondary get the difficult assignment of stopping Bowers who had 70 receiving yards against Buffalo last Sunday.
asserted
who → get → Buffalo
If the Rams defense cannot control the middle of the field, Sunday’s game could get ugly in a hurry.
uncertain
game → control → hurry
Duarte’s Decision
Raiders 28, Rams 20
The Rams have reached the point where reputation means more than reality.
asserted
reputation → reach → reality
They’re favored because of Stafford, McVay and the names printed on their jerseys, not because of anything they’ve demonstrated lately.
asserted
they → favor → anything
The Raiders are healthier, more explosive offensively and better equipped to capitalize on the Rams’ weaknesses.
asserted
Raiders → equip → weaknesses
Cousins should have time to throw, Bowers will feast over the middle, and the Raiders’ pass rush will make Stafford uncomfortable.
asserted
Stafford → have → middle
Unfortunately for McVay and the Rams, what happens there won’t stay there.
asserted
happens → happen → McVay
The Raiders’ pressure rate ranks third in the NFL.
asserted
rate → rank → NFL
Against a depleted Rams offense, relentless pressure could turn Stafford’s afternoon into another frustrating exercise in survival.
uncertain
pressure → turn → survival
The Aporia
