Los Angeles Rams vs. Houston Texans: Four things we learned about the 7-2 Rams

Rams struggle, but persist

The test games circled on the schedule are always the big-name opponents like Dallas and upcoming Minnesota. But every week is a test for the Los Angeles Rams. They’re tested not on their talent or their coaching staff, but their perseverance. Sunday’s game wasn’t the first time the Rams got punched in the mouth early in the game, and it won’t be the last.

But how this team responds to adversity speaks volumes about who their identity. This isn’t a team that rolls out 30-50 points every week and hopes that drowning their opponents with offensive assaults will be enough to win the game. If that were the case, they would have lost on Sunday.

The team, instead, relies on their ability to outlast adversity. In the first half, the offense ended their first three, consecutive drives with a punt and even failed to convert their bread-and-butter play, the fake-punt-pass, into a first-down. When that happened, a lot of people (myself included), figured this was the ripple-effect of a Houston team that came to play.

But it wasn’t. Instead, it was just another door that closed on head coach Sean McVay. Yet, that handsome bastard just kept opening doors until finally his offense found it’s rhythm and rode to a 33-7 routing off the Texans.

The offense and defense each get their due of proper praise. But everyone should also be recognizing the fact that this team doesn’t stop throwing punches. Even when they themselves are bleeding from a few shots, the Rams just keep on fighting.

You have to put more than 1 guy (or a WR) on Clowney

DE Jadaveon Clowney is pretty damn good. Did you know that?

On Sunday, he looked like a man amongst kids during a Thanksgiving football game in the backyard. He was just tossing people left and right and was in the Rams backfield quite a few times.

Part of that had to do with what LA trotted out in their blocking scheme. For starters, the Rams put TE Tyler Higbee out there, one-on-one with Clowney. Higbee has been known to win a fight or two, but this was not one of those fights. Clowney had no problem working his way around Higbee.

Don’t even get me started on why WR Cooper Kupp was on Clowney, either.

Even against RT Robert Havenstein, Clowney had little issue.

LA should send Buffalo a thank you card

Since the Dallas game on Oct. 1, WR Robert Woods has been on fire.

Through the five games since Oct. 1, Woods is averaging more than five catches and more than 87 yards-per-game. In his last last five games, he has caught at least 62 percent of his targets and caught 80 percent of his targets in the last two weeks.

Woods has been top dog among the Rams receivers and will undoubtedly reach 1,000 yards on the season.

While WR Sammy Watkins has been a tad cold in the last month, he has been a major contributor to the offense especially in the beginning of the year.

When the holidays arrive, the least the Rams can do for Buffalo is send them a nice card and maybe even a handle of grocery store-brand liquor. It’s Buffalo; they are not ones to turn their nose up at free alcohol.

Joyner is as close to an actual Ram as we will get

The Rams start Lamarcus Joyner at safety; a guy who doesn’t even weigh 200 pounds with his clothes on. On paper, that seems a bit unorthodox. But during the game, it makes you wonder why they didn’t start him at safety sooner.

Since moving from corner to safety, Joyner hasn’t skipped a beat in his performance. Not only is he still a reliable pass-defender (four pass deflections and two interceptions), but he’s resumes his place as one of the team’s hardest hitters.

WR Will Fuller might miss a game due to cracked ribs, thanks to Joyner.