The Los Angeles Rams travel to Landover, Maryland on Sunday to face the Washington Commanders in a matchup that carries very different stakes for each side. Los Angeles enters at 4-4 and tied atop a crowded NFC West race, while Washington sits at 2-4-1 and is trying to build on consecutive results that snapped a three-game stretch without a win. Kickoff at Northwest Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 8, with the game airing on Fox.
This Rams vs Commanders preview looks at the records, the injury situations on both sides and the matchup that could decide which team leaves Landover with momentum heading into the back half of the season.
Rams Vs Commanders Game Information
- Date: Sunday, Nov. 8
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Venue: Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD
- TV: Fox
- Weather: 61 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation
Rams Outlook
Los Angeles has alternated wins and losses over its last five games, beating the Eagles and Raiders and the Chargers while dropping overtime and one-score decisions to the Bills and Cardinals. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 204 of 303 passes for 2,146 yards with 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions on the season, and the Rams rank among the league’s more efficient offenses at 42.71% on third down.
The bigger concern is ball security. Los Angeles has given the ball away 12 times against only eight takeaways, a turnover differential of minus-4 that stands in sharp contrast to its scoring efficiency. Running back Kyren Williams has carried a heavy workload with 112 attempts for 548 yards and six touchdowns, and wide receiver Puka Nacua leads the receiving corps with 56 catches for 565 yards and three scores.
The injury report includes cornerback Trent McDuffie (back) and safety Kam Curl (foot), both listed as questionable, along with tight end Colby Parkinson (ribs). Defensive end Myles Garrett remains on injured reserve following knee surgery, and tight end Terrance Ferguson is also on injured reserve with an ankle sprain. McDuffie and Curl are each projected as game-time decisions in the defensive backfield.
Commanders Outlook
Washington has been inconsistent, going 2-2-1 over its last five with a win over Seattle, an overtime tie against the Giants, and a 27-10 win over Philadelphia its most recent result. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has thrown for 976 yards and six touchdowns on 91-of-145 passing while also leading the team in rushing with 236 yards and two scores on 27 carries, giving the Commanders offense a dual-threat dimension the Rams defense will have to account for.
Washington’s defense has been the more disciplined unit this season, posting a turnover differential of plus-7 compared to the Rams’ minus-4, a gap that could matter if the game stays close in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Antonio Williams paces the receiving group with 23 catches for 259 yards and a touchdown.
The Commanders’ injury list is heavier at the skill positions. Wide receivers Dyami Brown (calf) and Treylon Burks (foot) are both questionable, as is tight end John Bates (shoulder). Defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (shoulder) is also questionable, while defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton remains on injured reserve following pectoral surgery. If Brown and Burks are limited or sit out, Washington’s passing options outside of Williams narrow considerably.
Key Matchup
The Rams offense, which is averaging 395.4 total yards and scoring on 87.10% of its red zone trips, lines up against a Commanders defense that has forced a turnover differential of plus-7 despite allowing 22.7 points per game. Washington’s ability to take the ball away has kept the team competitive even in a season with a losing record, and Los Angeles has given the ball away 12 times, tied to some of its one-score losses this year.
How Stafford and the Rams offense protect the football against a Commanders defense built around takeaways could carry more weight than the raw yardage gap between the two offenses.
Players To Watch
Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
Stafford has thrown 15 touchdown passes against eight interceptions this season. His ability to limit mistakes against a Washington defense that has generated 10 takeaways in seven games will be a central storyline.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders
Daniels leads Washington in both passing and rushing, with 976 passing yards and 236 rushing yards. His dual-threat production has kept the Commanders in games despite a run defense and offensive line that have allowed 16 sacks this season.
Kyren Williams, RB, Rams
Williams has carried the ball 112 times for 548 yards and six touchdowns, giving the Rams a ground option against a Commanders run defense that has allowed opponents 126.6 yards per game on the ground, essentially matching Los Angeles’ own rushing average.
What To Watch
Los Angeles sits tied for second in the NFC West at 4-4, three games behind San Francisco’s 6-1 mark, and a win would keep the Rams within range in the division race. Washington, at 2-4-1, is fighting to stay relevant in the NFC East, where New York leads at 4-2-1 and Dallas sits at 3-5.
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