Game Preview, Week 15: Washington at Los Angeles Rams
December 16, 2023
by Steve Thomas
Here we are, folks, again: watching yet another Washington team play out the string in a wasted season. The difference here, of course, is that it’s just year one of the Josh Harris era, which means that it’s highly likely that major, sweeping changes are coming very soon after week 18. As a result, if the players want to continue to be on this team, they need to get their act together and start playing like an actual NFL team instead of suffering a third blowout in a row. This week’s opponents, the Los Angeles Rams, just ran up 31 points last week, losing a heartbreaker in overtime against an elite team, the Ravens, so this game is going to be another tough one. Can Washington win? If they play like they care, and manage to put together 60 minutes of mistake-free football, then yes. Is that likely, though? Ummmm . . . no. Our game preview starts below.
Game time & location: Sunday, December 17, 2023, 4:05 p.m. ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA; Gates open at 11:05 p.m. PT; parking lots open at 9:05 a.m. PT
Television: FOX
Television announcers: Tom McCarthy, James Lofton, Jay Feely, Tiffany Blackmon
TV broadcast map: click here
DC-area radio: BIG-100 (WBIG FM)
Washington radio network: click here
Rams radio network: click here
Satellite radio: SiriusXM: 226 (Rams broad.)/381 (Wash. broad.); internet: 831
Washington roster: click here
Washington depth chart: click here
Rams roster: click here
Rams depth chart: click here
Records: Washington 4 – 9 (away 3 – 4); Rams 6 – 7 (home 3 – 3)
All-time head-to-head record vs Rams: 24 – 12 – 1 (last 10: 4 – 6; streak: 0 – 1)
Last meeting: L, October 11, 2020, 10 – 30
Early odds: Rams, -6.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Make sure the Rams passing game remains inefficient
Matthew Stafford is a big name, but in actuality this season, he’s been inefficient, completing just 60% of his passes and earning a rating of just 88.2, which isn’t terrible, but is also not great. The Rams have a couple of very dangerous receivers, so Washington’s secondary needs to have a solid game and not let Stafford improve and start to really connect with Puka Nacua and Cooper Cupp. If that happens, this game won’t go well.
Keep Kyren Williams under 4.0 yards per carry
Williams has been one of the best running backs in the NFL this season, gaining 801 yards on just 159 attempts, for an average of 5.0 yards per carry. However, he’s had three straight games, albeit against good teams, under 4.0 yards per carry. Williams getting going and having a huge game means bad things for Washington’s porous defense. This is another week in which Washington needs to play an overall solid game, including solid run defense, in order to succeed.
Effective short passing game
The Rams defense doesn’t really stand out in any particular area, either in a good way or a bad way. We all know that Washington’s offense coordinator, former running back Eric Bieniemy, hates the running game. I don’t suspect that he’s going to change now, so Washington needs to go with their strength and at least gameplan a good short passing game against the Rams. Keep an eye out on whether Washington is calling a ton of vertical routes, or whether they are smart and at least call quick, short outs, even if they aren’t really running with any sort of consistency.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
This matchup has the potential to go horribly, terribly wrong. Donald is one of the best defensive tackles in the history of the game, whereas Wylie has underperformed as compared to expectations. If we see Donald making a significant number of impact plays in this game, odds are that Wylie will be involved. Washington’s coaches would have to be crazy to consistently leave Wylie one on one with Donald, but regardless, this is probably the most important and highest-profile matchups this week.
This battle is nearly as important, as Young, as rookie, already has 6 sacks this season and has been a somewhat of a revelation as a defensive end playing next to Donald. This matchup with Leno isn’t go blatantly one-sided as Wylie vs. Donald, but it nevertheless important. Young has potential to terrorize Sam Howell, so Leno needs to have a good game while in pass protection. Keep an eye out on how much impact Young can make playing next to Leno.
Benjamin St-Juste vs. Puka Nacua
Nacua was a tremendous find for the Rams in the fifth round of this year’s draft, with 82 receptions for 1113 yards in just 13 games. In my view, given Nacua’s 6’2” height, St-Juste is probably Washington’s best choice to match with Nacua. Washington’s coaches would be wise to double cover Nacua, but we’ve see them make plenty of poor coverage choices. Washington needs to hope that St-Juste has a good day against an elite rookie talent.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful NL – not listed
| Washington | Rams |
| LB J. Davis, shoulder; Wed: DNP; Thurs: to IR | WR T. Atwell, concussion; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP |
| TE C. Hodges, back; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | T R. Havenstein, groin; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP |
| RB B. Robinson Jr., hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | TE T. Higbee, neck; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP |
| DE J. Smith-Williams, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | OLB M. Hoecht, knee; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP |
| C T. Larsen, knee; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP | WR B. Skowronek, ankle; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP |
| G S. Charles, calf; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | DE Q. Lake, hamstring; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP |
| CB E. Forbes, elbow; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | |
| T C. Leno, neck; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP |
Steve’s Prediction
Until Washington has it in them to show that they haven’t quit on the season, I’m going to keep predicting blowouts. The Rams took the Ravens into overtime. That won’t happen here. Rams win, 35 – 17.