Los Angeles Rams 23, Arizona Cardinals 0: When It Rains...

The 2017 Los Angeles Rams are a thing.

Now leading the Arizona Cardinals 23-0 at halftime of their Week 7 battle in London, there’s no avoiding it. The Rams are a legitimate contender.

For what? We don’t know. How they’ll handle it? Well, we’ll all be watching. We know that much.

But what we’re seeing today is a performance from a team growing into itself without trying to do much. That’s what good teams do.

Things started perhaps a bit discombobulated as the Rams put two strong drives together, but the passing game couldn’t punch in touchdowns.

Then things really turned up.

A blitz from ILB Alec Ogletree injured Cardinals QB Carson Palmer and caused an interception to DB Lamarcus Joyner in his first game back after missing the last three. The Rams put together their third nice drive as RB Todd Gurley finally got his name called taking a strong run into the end zone aided by a key cut block from WR Tavon Austin. The Rams forced a punt at the two-minute warning to receive the ball at their 12-yard line with no timeouts. The result? An eight-play, 88-yard touchdown drive capped off by QB Jared Goff taking it in himself. They weren’t done. LB Mark Barron, himself hampered with a thumb injury, picked off a horrible playcall and throw from QB Drew Stanton in for Palmer and the Rams were able to get a 53-yard field goal in as time expired from K Greg Zuerlein.

Now the game’s not over. And we shouldn’t count our chickens yet. But there’s nothing wrong with speculating.

The Rams are 30 minutes away from a 5-2 record, something they haven’t enjoyed since 2003.

The Rams are a thing. And if we can finish these 30 minutes and get the victory, the Rams will leave London headed into the bye with the NFL world asking how much of a thing these 2017 Rams are.

And how much they could be heading into November.