Los Angeles Rams 9, Denver Broncos 17: Tuned Up

Well. That about does it.

The Los Angeles Rams lost to the Denver Broncos on the road tonight, 9-17. In this third preseason game, the Rams now likely turn almost entirely toward roster and personnel decisions with the first round of cuts coming this week and a second round coming next weekend to get from 90 to 53 players. That’s 37 players, many of whom featured across the second halves of these last three preseason games, who either have taken their last snap or are headed toward as much on Thursday.

More importantly, it’s the end of the tune-up period for the starters and likely contributors with two weeks to go before the season opener. So with perhaps the final look at the starting offense and defense, this game is the final taste in our collective mouths before football matters.

That being said... It wasn’t the worst taste. If anything, the combination of capable game management from QB Case Keenum, along with the potential for improved O-line play and a Todd Gurley-led running offense offer... Well, look. We were dead last in yards gained last year. It offers an improvement on that, no? And we’ll have to see about the defense. They certainly held up well tonight, but Trevor Siemian is not your median NFL QB.

And so it is. Now we wait. We cut. We scrimmage late, and cut again. We’re 15 days away from Week 1 of the 2016 Regular Season.

Was tonight enough to make you confident about 2016?