4 Ways A Realistic Path Back To .500 Exists For The Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are in a familiar spot. For their second consecutive year, the Rams have hit rock bottom after facing the Green Bay Packers.

Last year, the team was able to turn around a 3-6 record and make it to the playoffs. Will they be able to do so again?

With the team on bye and starting from a 1-4 record, there is no quick path back to .500. However, a realistic path might lie out in the fog ahead. Here’s a look at what (realistically) could get the team back into the playoff picture at .500.

Step 1: Correctly Manage The Bye Week

The first piece to the puzzle is already here. The Los Angeles Rams can’t lose this week and should only get healthier over their bye-week break. That said, at 1-4, they can’t afford to go on vacation and completely check out, either.

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Sean McVay needs to cook up an offense that can work with any number of receivers. Additionally, with Kyren Williams standing alongside Matthew Stafford as the biggest star on the offense, McVay will need to get creative by creating a run-first offense with a few tricks up their sleeves.

Aside from that, the team needs to remain patient and take things one game at a time. Luckily, the schedule does give some reason for hope.

Step 2: Los Angeles Rams Must Beat The Raiders

When the team exits their bye, the Las Vegas Raiders will await them. The Raiders have big questions at quarterback to figure out after losing in blowout fashion to the Denver Broncos.

As such, the Rams should be able to pull out a win to jump to 2-4. Of course, with the Minnesota Vikings looming just four days later, the Los Angeles Rams cannot look past the Raiders, either. A win will jump-start their comeback, but a loss could tee them up for a backbreaking slide against the Seahawks and Vikings in the next two weeks.

Step 3: Get Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back sooner rather than later

According to Adam Schefter, Cooper Kupp is expected to be back around Week 7 with Puka Nacua expected to return by Week 9. If both can be back at 100% and back in the fold in time for the showdown against the Vikings, the Rams may have a chance in the game, but it isn’t all or nothing (more on that later).

If the Rams lose to the Vikings, they’ll be 2-5.

Also Read: Sean McVay Gives Optimistic Timeline On Cooper Kupp’s Return

This sets up for a monumental showdown against the Seahawks in Week 8. If they lose and slip to four games under .500, it might be backbreaking. However, if they win as the Giants have proved is possible, they will be 3-5 with Kupp and Nacua back in the fold.

Step 4: Win Streak Against Mercifully Lighter Schedule

After the game against the Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams will face the likely Tagovailoa-less Miami Dolphins. Then, they will face the likely Drake-Maye-led Patriots.

If the team can go 2-0 here, they’ll jump to 5-5 with no problems. However, if they slip up and lose one of these games and fall to 4-6, they have a shot to get back to .500 against the Eagles on November 24 and the Saints on December 1.

The Rams might be 1-4 now, but brighter days lie ahead for the team and its fans. Put simply, don’t throw in the towel just yet.

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