All posts by : Don Lichterman

If last week’s frustration against Carolina left Rams fans pacing the hallways, muttering to themselves, and replaying all the “almost” moments in their heads, Sunday afternoon in Glendale was the antidote. The Los Angeles Rams didn’t just bounce back — they detonated. They walked into State Farm Stadium, flattened the Arizona Cardinals 45–17, and walked out looking every bit like a 10–3 team that should honestly be 12–1.

What made this win different wasn’t just the scoreboard. It was the rhythm, the demeanor, the tempo, the swagger, and the unmistakable feeling that this team knows exactly who they are. They didn’t panic when things started slowly. They didn’t tighten up after Arizona opened with a touchdown drive. Instead, the Rams did what truly elite teams do: they adjusted, they settled, and then they overwhelmed.

This was a win rooted in talent, toughness, and a whole lot of fun — and that combination is why this Rams team feels dangerous heading into December.

McVay’s Niceness Nearly Becomes a Plot Twist… Again

There are a lot of things you can say about Sean McVay, but one of his quirks — a charming one when his team wins, a maddening one when they don’t — is that he refuses to run up the score or embarrass opponents. Even in a game where the Rams hung 45, the coaching staff clearly throttled down at times. They pulled the starters for the entire fourth quarter, which I expected; however, Jimmy Garoppolo didn’t get to pass the ball and had to hand it off seven or eight times.

But the moment that made us crack up[ the most yesterday was McVay refusing to challenge a clearly blown call on a missed catch that should’ve been reversed in a heartbeat. He let it slide — classic McVay — and two plays later the Cardinals punched in another score. The Rams, unfazed, answered immediately. But still… sometimes you just want McVay to channel his inner Belichick and go full scorched-earth.

Honestly, you can act that way with this team for that exact reason. We will find a way to get points the very next set of downs.

The Start Was Not Ugly Per Se… Yet Suddenly It Was 10–0?

Let’s be real: the first three Rams possessions were clunky. Mistimed throws into the middle of zone coverage, drives that looked like they were learning to walk again after last week’s stumble, and a general sense of “settle down, guys.”

And then — poof — somehow the Rams had 24 points. That’s the beauty of this team. Even when they feel slightly off, the talent level is too high, the offensive line is too powerful, and the big-play ability is too explosive.

The Cardinals initially led 7-0 on an opening drive touchdown, but the Rams scored 21 unanswered points to secure a 24-10 halftime lead and extended their lead in the second half.

Those zone-beating throws that everyone hates? They work. They’ve always worked. They’re how the 49ers built a dynasty with dump-offs and yards-after-catch glory. And again this week, they were right there when Stafford needed them.

The Two-Headed Dragon: Williams and Corum

We knew it was coming. We’ve felt it brewing for weeks. And finally, Blake Corum broke the big one — a 48-yard slicing, darting, vintage-runner touchdown that felt like it was ripped straight out of a Gale Sayers highlight reel.

Between Corum and Kyren Williams, the Rams’ backfield is absolute poetry. Hard cuts, old-school leg drive, vision that looks artificially enhanced, and a burst through the line that has opposing defenses frozen flat-footed.

The stats tell the story — over 200 yards between them — but the eye test says even more. These two are so effective that half the time you can’t even tell which one exploded through the hole for another 12-yard chunk.

And let’s not ignore the obvious: they’re doing it behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL right now. On a “bad” play, they’re falling forward for six. On most plays, Stafford has the kind of time in the pocket you typically only see in commercials selling new credit cards.

Stafford: The Maestro, The Machine, The Man

We need to say this without hesitation: Matthew Stafford is one of the best quarterbacks to ever wear horns. One of the best the franchise has ever had. One of the best we’ve ever seen, period.

He is deliberate. He is surgical. He is serious — almost comically serious when everyone around him is celebrating like kids.

The contrast is hilarious: Stafford correcting a receiver on a touchdown play, while Puka Nacua skips around like the happiest human alive. One looks like a professor annoyed someone mislabeled a chart; the other looks like recess just started.

But that is the Rams’ identity. That balance of fire and joy. Stafford is the engine. Puka is the spark. And this offense is a machine.

Puka Nacua: Human Joy, Football Menace

There isn’t anyone in the NFL who plays with more enthusiasm than Puka. He’s a wide receiver who runs routes like a kid chasing a balloon across a playground. Then, mid-laugh, he’ll turn around and make a physics-defying, world-pausing catch.

He was spectacular again this week — twisting grabs, contested balls, yards after contact, and two touchdowns that showcased every part of his absurd skill set. But he wasn’t alone. Davante Adams (yes, that Adams) pulled down a few impossible catches of his own.

The Rams spread the ball around like they were hosting a football potluck. And when this offense is distributing touches like that, they are borderline impossible to stop.

Don’t Overlook the Standings: Things Are Getting Weird

Here’s the part that nearly made us choke on our water before kickoff: the Rams entered Sunday at 9–3 and were momentarily listed as a wild card. A wild card.

Thanks to an unexpected Seahawks surge and some NFC weirdness, the Rams needed this win to reclaim first place. I mean only for a few hours but still, it was alrming to see on that TV screen. Now they’re back on top. But the reality check was sobering: this race is tight.

The Broncos and Patriots sitting at 11–2 which is the best record in football today?

And yes — the Rams should be 12–1. The losses to Philadelphia and San Francisco should not have happened. The Panthers loss was a weird anomaly. Credit to Carolina — they hit hard — but the Rams didn’t finish the job. That’s why this stretch matters.

Especially because…

The Stafford–Goff Bowl II Arrives This Week

This week brings the sequel: Stafford vs. Goff in Los Angeles. It’s a matchup the league didn’t know it needed, but we absolutely love it — because earlier this year, some people were claiming Jared Goff had played better than Stafford, which I quickly called BS on and then of course, the best player rose to the surface.

After that? A trip to New England, which just so happens to fall on my birthday — and could be the kind of “birthday gift” game that puts the Rams in commanding position entering the home stretch. I like beating teams with the best record in Football.

And let’s be clear: both games are winnable. Both games are games the Rams will win. Both games are games that will either cement this team as a legitimate Super Bowl contender… or make the NFC race even messier.

This Team Has Fun — and That’s Why They’re Dangerous

The Rams aren’t just good. They aren’t just talented. They’re cohesive. They’re having fun. They are, to put it simply, a team that genuinely enjoys playing football together.

Puka laughing after every catch. Corum and Williams celebrating each other’s big runs. The sideline bouncing. And Stafford — always serious, always correcting, always teaching — grounding the chaos.

It’s the perfect chemistry of discipline and joy. And when a team mixes those two ingredients this late into a season, they become something very, very tough to stop.