They won that 27-17 and then their next three scoring 117 points in the process and they averaged 29.9 for the regular season and they are up to 33.5 for their first two starts this year. they have only conceded 13 total, but have not faced anyone much yet and will be asked far more questions today by a Chargers team happy enough on the road. The NFL has always wanted LA more than the reverse, but the Rams look like they might at long last be the real deal and both teams would probably benefit from a high scoring shootout to try and get the locals interested and that is what I think we will get today.

 

I went "over" and it was done and dusted halfway through the third quarter and the Rams ran out 35-23 winners and it felt and was, much easier than that score implies. Pretty sure that Goff and co played very much with today and the short week in mind through the 4th quarter. This was a very impressive performance, the Rams had 33 first downs , 16 more than the Chargers, who made the pre season notes as one of those improvers in terms of first downs given up and that has got a lot of (positive) alarm bells going off in my head, especially given how they saw out the final 15 minutes of the game.

 

The only real shame is that the Vikings arrive here on the back of a 27-6 home loss to the Buffalo Bills who looked awful through their opening two games. The Bills were up by 27 at the half and kept Minnesota scoreless for three quarters. The "shame" is that we now have to give up a TD to get the required odds we/I need ! However, that is not enough to stop me, or I believe the Rams, who look the real deal and good on both sides of the ball. In addition to on field issues, the Vikings are dealing with problems off the pitch and apparent mental health issues with Everson Griffin (missed two games in three seasons where one of the best defenses in football gave up 57 points total to two teams with losing records), with "God making him" commit a series of strange acts, including losing it at the practice facility last week, breaking into a team mate's home and that was only the tip of the iceberg and it is no wonder they were off their game on Sunday. But that doesn't explain why there was no comeback until it was way, way too late and they have not impressed yet and a short week feels like the last thing they need right now. Add in the day travelling to LA and they look up against it.

 

Both teams have injury issues . The Rams are short in the secondary, especially if Marcus Peters doesn't pass a late test. The Vikings running back Dalvin Cook said he was going to play on Monday and has now backpedaled and said his injured hamstring will require a game-day decision.Left tackle Riley Reiff is one of a number of other issues, he has not practiced since the weekend when he did not play anywhere close to his usual level, not sure that with a replacement for him and rookie at right tackle , combined with all the other issues that Minnesota are facing, that they can win this.

 

The Vikings are also playing after the third-longest flight on a short week by any NFL team since the league expanded Thursday Night Football to 13 games per season in 2012.Head coach Mike Zimmer has voiced his issues with the NFL schedule makers loudly, this is the fifth straight season in his tenure that the Vikings are forced to play a road game on a short week and they are 1-3 in those games heading to LA. Rams by at least a TD.