Deck the halls with boughs of holly. The LA Rams (9-6) have not yet completed a stunning comeback to earn the right to compete in the 2025 NFL Playoffs, but the team has risen from the ashes of a horrific start of 1-4 to the top of the NFC West Division. Two teams, the Arizona Cardinals (7-8) and the San Francisco 49ers (6-9) have already been eliminated from post-season competition. So it comes down to the LA Rams and the Seattle Seahawks (8-7) right now for the NFC West Division Championship.
The Rams have already won one head-to-head competition. That means that the Seahawks must win both remaining games on their schedule, the Rams must lose the season's final game, and a host of other things must happen in the NFL that are out of either team's control to determine who wins the division.
We'll explore the complex formulae that would be necessary if the Rams and Seahawks end the season tied. But for now, let's focus on the LA Rams, and the players who have helped get the team to a 9-6 record with just two games to go.
Borrowing the idea from Good Morning Football, we'll call this the LA Rams Nice List:
Of course, in keeping with the holiday spirit, the LA Rams are filled with players who belong on the nice list, and I'm not certain that I have the time or readers have the patience to sort through a list of 40+ players and coaches who have helped transform the team from struggling to accomplished.
(12) - Rookie C Beaux Limmer
On the 12th day of Christmas . . .
The first player on the list, in the slot reserved for 12 drummer drumming, is rookie center Beaux Limmer. When the team's front office pivoted from veteran center Coleman Shelton to signing free agent interior offensive lineman Jonah Jackson, the roster was instantly plunged into a dilemma of who would start at the center position. The team would either be forced to cross-train the newly acquired Jonah Jackson or shift the very promising Steve Avila to center in just his second season of professional football.
As it turned out, neither strategy panned out. Both Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila fell to injury to start the season, compelling the Rams to turn to rookie center Beaux Limmer to start in 2024. Since that time, he was benched only once, in a failed effort to shirt back to Jonah Jackson at center.
Limmer not only secured the role for the team, but has every so steadily filled the role of a starting offensive center in the NFL. His latest game showcased his mobility as well as his stalwart pass blocking:
Forget the grades dooled out for offensive linemen. Limmer is not perfect, as he is still learning his own quarterback's cadence in timing when he should hike the football. But after the ball is hiked, he is a ferocious stone wall that has a love of blocking and the game of football. He will only improve over time. That being said, he is churning at a pretty solid NFL clip right now.
(11) - Rams defense
11 pipers piping . . .
The 11 Pipers Piping slot has to go to the Rams' defense. They are young and inexperienced, yes. But new Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula certainly has a knack for rallying the troops, making halftime adjustments, and getting the most out of his players. While the defense has been exposed in at least three games this season:
- Week 2 allowed 41 points to the Arizona Cardinals
- Week 12 allowed 37 points to the Philadelphia Eagles and 255 rushing yards to Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
- Week 14 allowed 42 points to the Buffalo Bills, 342 passing yards, and 3 touchdowns plus 82 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns to Bills QB Josh Allen
So how can I have the audacity to showcase this defense on a list of top performers for the 2024 season, and in a vital Week 16 win on the road against that talent-laden New York Jets? Like many solid performers, things change. Performances improve. the same defense that surrendered 42 points in Week 14 has buckled down, allowing just six points in Week 15, and nine points in Week 16.
Two games against prolific offenses with a combined score of just 15 points is pretty good stuff. Keep in mind that the San Francisco 49ers boast Brock Purdy at quarterback, and the Jets boast Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. It was Purdy's worst game of the season, and tied for Rodger's second-worst game of 2024.
The defense has struggled to record quarterback sacks lately. But even as the sack numbers have waned in 2024, so have the scores of opponents. Are the Rams morphing into an elite defense? Two games is hardly a large enough sample size to reach that conclusion. And the team has yet to shut down an NFL Playoff-caliber offense.
But the effort certainly warrants praise for shutting down the wiley veteran QB Aaron Rodgers.
(10) - The entire Rams offensive line
Even as the LA Rams has settled into an unexpected starting five offensive linemen this season, there is no question that the currently configuration of LT Alaric Jackson, LG Steve Avila, rookie C Beaux Limmer, RG Kevin Dotson, and RT Rob Havenstein have come into their own. This offensive line has been been solid, and the fact that the group is finally getting a bit of continuity and able to build on improving communication and chemistry has been a blessing that has come at the right time for the team.
Of course, even with a stalwart offensive line, the team has been getting excellent pass blocking from RB Kyren Williams too:
Even as the offense has struggled to score points, the offensive line is putting up some of its best work of the season. The Rams' rushing offense has churned out 421 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns for RB Kyen Williams alone over the past four games. Over the same four games, the Rams offensive line has allowed just two quarterback sacks to veteran pocket passer Matthew Stafford.
No, I did not simply cherry-pick the most favorable period of the 2024 NFL season to prove a point. The Rams last four games has been the first time that the Rams have started:
- LT Alaric Jackson
- LG Steve Avila
- C Beaux Limmer
- RG Kevin Dotson
- RT Rob Havenstein
this season. Clearly, all of the lofty expectations of the Rams offensive line were right on target. In these past four games, the Rams offensive line has looked in control, coordinated, communicative, and cooperative. The team has even showcased a number of offensive line downfield blocking for running backs and wide receivers in the second level.
The Rams have won all four games with their five staring offensive linemen on the football field this season. That's a very promising development.
(9) - OLB Jared Verse
While there may be a nadir in Jared Verse's recorded quarterback sacks, do not be lulled into mistakenly concluding that he is no longer a force to be reckoned with. Rookie outside linebacker Jared Verse is fundamentally strong and adept at all aspects of an outside linebacker role. and he continues to do all of the seldom-noticed things to ensure the team continues to win.
While there is no replacing the leadership and elite production of All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald after his retirement, there are other ways to compensate for his absence. The team certainly leans heavily on NT Kobie Turner to defeat double team,s and terrorize quarterbacks. But rookie Jared Verse continues to generate significant positive contributions in each game this season:
What fans may not be aware is the fact that Jared Verse appears more like an NFL veteran than a rookie on the football field this season. And he is not about flashing after a quarterback sack as much as many think. He is a cold-calculating defensive savant, knowing that he must perform all the responsibilities of an NFL outside linebacker if he is to help the team win. So that is exactly what he does:
Jared Verse is a chirpy defender, a player who simply does not play silently. And that is a huge benefit to a team that has not had that type of player in the past. How so? In previous years, there was no lightning rod that attracted intense scrutiny from opposing players and NFL analysts. That has not always worked out well, as too much scrutiny has a tendency to create a negative feedback-loop that can cause even worse production.
But Jared Verse fuels his performance from fans' feedback as well. When visiting Minnesota Vikings fans seemed to cheer at the injury of veteran defensive back Kamren Curl, OLB Jared Verse took notice. Well, he did more than that. He grew angry at visiting fans. Shortly thereafter, he reciprocated to the irresponsible Vikings fans by sacking quarterback Sam Darnold, and celebrating by repeating the SKOL clap over and over on the football field.
I knew at that moment that the Rams had found their starting edge rusher for many years.
(8) - TE Tyler Higbee
It's not secret that the LA Rams roster has been in a bit of a quagmire through the injury absence of veteran tight end Tyler Higbee. The team has carried a significant number of tight ends throughout the season. Perhaps that was not the original plan, but Colby Parkinson, Hunter Long, nor Davis Allen was able to step up and claim the starting tight end role.
At least, not in the way that TE Tyler Higbee does. TE Colby Parkinson has 29 of 47 catches for 288 yards and one touchdown. Higbee turned his first and only reception into an 11-yard touchdown reception.
Of course, it's simply not part of the LA Rams DNA to feature a tight end in this offense. Perhaps Higbee's performance in December 2019 of 522 receiving yards was far more astounding than originally thought. Since hiring Sean McVay as the head coach of the LA Rams, no tight end has ever had a better season that that of veteran TE Tyler Higbee, who put up 734 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2019.
In 2024, Tyler Higbee has just one reception in two targets. But his one catch resulted in an 11-yard touchdown for the Rams. After the score, Higbee's teammates celebrated en masse over his touchdown. That moment was significant enough to be cited by HC Sean McVay after the game:
The Rams offense has not been scoring on pace with some of the Rams more prolific offenses led by HC Sean McVay since 2017. But the group has scored enough to win nine of fifteen games so far this season. Sometimes, it not how you win, but simply that you do win. Tyler Higbee is back, and with him comes the vital ability to score touchdowns in the red zone.
(7) - ILB Christian Rozeboom
Some players have a longer than expected learning curve to achieve their optimal level of production in the NFL. But undrafted veteran inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom has pushed the boundaries of slow-to-develop to an entirely new level. Still, it's not nearly important how he got there, simply that he got there. I can say without hesitancy that ILB Christian Rozeboom has arrived.
Christian Rozeboom is not an All-Pro. But the team certainly dug a huge hole for the defense by trading away veteran ILB Ernest Jones just before the start of the 2024 NFL season. That compelled the team to start veteran ILB Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom side by side. But difficulties with that early configuration soon surfaced. But Reeder and Rozeboom played passively, neither player plugging holes, meeting running backs head on, shedding blockers, or being particularly effective at making tackles.
At least, not until Reeder was injured, and ILB Omar Speights lined up next to him.
It seems that the promotion of undrafted LSU rookie inside linebacker Omay Speights has not only had the benefit of inserting a run-stuffer into this defense, but Speights has aided Rozeboom in leveling up by complementing his skill sets with an entirely different array of skills. After all, it's not who records a tackle for a loss, simply that someone does. It's not who makes the tackle, sheds blockers, or disrupts a pass, simply that someone does.
Rozeboom has incredible lateral range, and is a solid pass covering linebacker. But he is not effective at stuffing runs, often getting plowed over as a caravan of offensive linemen surround a running back. Speights busts through like a bowling ball to bowling pins. That keeps Rozeboom focused on what he does best. So far, Rozeboom has recorded 129 tackles (career high), 1.0 QB sack (career high), five tackles for a loss (career high) and four deflected passes (tie for career high).
Rozeboom put up nine tackles in Week 16. He is having an outstanding NFL season.
(6) - K Joshua Karty
Believe it or not, Rams rookie kicker Joshua Karty has kicked 23 of 28 field goals, for a success rate of 82.1 percent. That ties him for the most field goals made by a rookie kicker with 23, tying the former Rams elite kicker, Greg 'The Leg' Zuerlein with 23 field goals made in his rookie season. Of course, Zuerlein needed 32 attempts to achieve that mark. Karty has two more games. With just one more successful field goal, he will break Zuerlein's record.
Ironically, there are many fans who truly believe that Joshua Karty is no good, and should be cut from the team immediately. Karty has scored 99 points so far this season. While that is a far cry from the Rams' single-season record for veteran kickers, he remains very much in play to set the team's rookie kicking records.
As far as how is Karty performing against other rookie kickers? We continue to compare his first NFL season to other NFL rookie kickers who should be familiar to Rams fans. Note how favorably he compares to San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody's rookie season. Keep in mind that the 49ers selected Moody among the top 100 selections in the 2023 NFL Draft.
- K Matt Gay - FGM 27 of 35 (77.1%) | Xpt 43 of 48 (89.6%)
- K Greg Zuerlein - FGM 23 of 32 (74.2%) | Xpt 26 of 26 (100%)
- K Joshua Karty - FGM 23 of 28 (82.1%) | Xpt 30 of 34 (88.2%)
- 49ers K Jake Moody - FGM 21 of 25 (84%) | Xpt 60 of 61 (98.4%)
- 2024 Ravens K Justin Tucker - FGM 22 of 30 (73.7%) | Xpt 55 of 57 (96.5%)
The rage and vitriol that has become a weekly outburst on social media appears to be misplaced. If someone is disappointed with Karty's performance this season, it's more likely a result of too lofty expectations than too little production. Karty will set the franchise record for most made field goals by a rookie placekicker with his next successful field goal. Will that halt the cries to release him? Probably not.
(5) - WR Jordan Whittington
When the LA Rams drafted former Texas rookie wide receiver on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL Draft, one of the most intriguing qualities of his draft profile was a willingness to get his hands dirty. That is, he often volunteered to take on less lauded roles in the offense, like blocking and decoy route runinning. The tasks were vital to the team's success, but do little to elevate a player in the eyes of fans and many NFL scouts.
But Rams scouts know the value of those roles and were eager to lobby the team executives to select Whittington. The team is very ingenious in the use of wide receivers in the offense. Unfortunately, the team's complex usage of the position can limit how quickly a rookie cracks the starting lineup. When the team struggled to keep receivers healthy early in the season, Whittington started two games.
Surprisingly, he has hauled in 18 of 23 passes for 201 yards this season. But offensive snaps dried up as soon as the team restored both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua to the lineup. In response and in an effort to actively engage the promising rookie, the team assigned a kick returner role to Whittington in Week 9.
The team also tasked him with punt coverage:
Whittington has excelled in coverage, a vital role that has not been effectively filled since bring in puter Ethan Evans from Wingate in the 2023 NFL Draft. Now with a coverage player who can speed down the football field on pace with the punt, good things are bound to happen.
In Week 16, that is exactly what happened:
Jordan Whittington is willing to do whatever the coaches ask of him. And he is so physically gifted that he seems to excel at whatever the coaches task him. One fumble recovery sealed the win in Week 16. But I don't think his positive contributions end there.
(4) - DB Kamren Curl
While there have been mixed returns from the Rams investment into the 2024 NFL Free Agency market, one player who has met and perhaps even beaten expectations is former Washington Commanders safety Kamren Curl. The team wanted to get more physical on the back end of the secondary without giving up pass coverage
What Curl brings to this defense is a level of physicality without sacrificing Velcro-like pass coverage. And it's his pass coverage that continues to improve. Curl has allowed just 19 of 36 passes targeting his receiver to find their mark. While he has allowed four touchdowns in 2024, he has broken up eight passes this season. He has even recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
In Week 16, he recorded his first quarterback sack of the season. That was a strip sack that was recovered by rookie Jared Verse. The Rams offense turned that turnover into a touchdown.
Curl is new to the Rams defense and secondary, so it was never about becoming a Pro Bowler in 2024. But Curl has a much cleaner level of physicality that does not send his teammates to urgy centers. While his tackles are down, his forced fumbles, pass breakups, and pass coverage statistics show remarkable improvement.
Curl is a keystone for this defense going forward. And he is anchoring the secendary now, something this team has needed for some time.
(3) - ILB Omar Speights
The Rams front office has a proven track record at finding undrafted rookies who grow into a significant rotational or starting role for the team over time. But undrafted LSU rookie inside linebacker Omar Speights looked the part of starter in preseason, and he is continuing to deliver to that promise throughout 2024.
Speights is not a polished, refined linebacker who delivers every task required by an NFL inside linebacker. Nor should he be expected to deliver at that level, as he was signed by the team after the 2024 NFL Draft. It took several seasons before former undrafted inside linebacker Cory Littleton delivered a pro bowl season. In his rookie season, Littleton was a special team specialist.
But Speights is more than a rookie inside linebacker who is taking up space on this defense. Since earning a presence in this defense, the team is 7-2. While he is not the sole reason for the team's success, he has certainly contributed to the team's late-season playoff push.
Just check out the way Omar Speights shot through the line when facing a fourth-down and one yard to go against the New York Jets in Week 16. The Rams defense forced a turnover on downs three times in the game.
Speights has learned and developed rapidly this season. In many ways, he has been the engine behind a suddenly stingy defense as the season draws to a close. He is a sure tackler. a block-shedding container of chaos prepared to unleash his fury on on opposing running backs. As he improves, so does this Rams defense. And the defense is certainly getting better.
(2) - WR Puka Nacua
When the LA Rams drafted rookie prospect wide receiver Puka Nacua in Round 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft, 176 rookies were selected ahead of him. Even after rookie WR Puka Nacua set the All-Time NFL Rookie Receiving record in 2023, there were concerns that he might be a one-hit-wonder. But after another impressive season, Nacua has proven to be far more than an NFL anomaly. He is an elite receiver.
The Rams may not have benefitted from Puka Nacua in every game this season, but the offense has been much better when he has played. In just 10 of 16 games in 2024, he has hauled in 69 of 92 passes for 861 yards and three touchdowns. While injuries have limited his contribution this season, he has become an even more efficient receiver this year. His catch rate has improved to 75 percent, a career high.
Nacua is just 139 yards shy of his second 1000+ receiving yards season, and with two games remaining, he has a strong likelihood of accomplishing that landmark again. In recent games, the offense has routed through Puka Nacua, and not veteran WR Cooper Kupp. I've no reason to believe that Kupp is hurt, but he certainly continues to fall short of his 2021 record-setting performance.
Until things change for the Rams, I will continue to look towards Nacua to lead the team's wide receivers. Nacua is young enough to hold that role for many years, and accomplished enough to secure the lead receiver role as well. The team, may still get solid production elsewhere, but Puka Nacua has proven to be the go-to guy for the foreseeable future.
(1) - RB Kyren Williams
Look out for the little guy. That's right, the Partridge in a Pear Tree honor falls to the team's feature running back. With little fanfare, and nearly off the radar of the major NFL analysts, LA Rams RB Kyren Williams is running as though he is possessed by former Rams RB Todd Gurley. Gurley played five seasons for the Rams. and ran 1265 times for 5,404 yards and 58 touchdowns. He also caught 218 of 301 passes for 2090 yards and 12 touchdowns. An impressive feat.
While Kyren Williams has been with the team for three years, he has been a significant contributor for only two seasons. Still, he has rushed 566 times for 2,526 yards and 25 touchdowns over that period. He has also added 72 catches out of 97 passes for 448 yards and five touchdowns.
Williams is not simply a guy who muscles out rushing yards from sheer volume alone. Even as he has not demonstrated many coast-to-coast runs, he is incredibly efficient. He milks his offensive linemen for all they are worth, staying in the shadow of a burly offensive blocker until the rushing lane opens up, and then bursts into daylight for a big gain.
Williams has already set career highs in carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns this season with two games left to go. The surge of his production over the last four games has been possible thanks to the Rams' offensive line finally starting all five starting players. And his rushing has allowed the team to limit the number of quarterback sacks to Matthew Stafford to just two over those four games.
Williams rushing has gained 421 rushing yards and four touchdowns over the past four games. While that is a pace that may not be sustained over the final two games of the season, it certainly does put opponents on notice that they must do more than defend the Rams passing attack in 2024.
The Rams fought the cold, the time zones, and the New York Jets, to claim their ninth win of the season. The team now returns home for the final two games. This team will finish with another winning record, and could earn another NFC West Division title.
But for now, I'm simply grateful for all of the accomplishments this team managed in Week 16, and throughout the season. As always, thank you for reading.