The Los Angeles Rams (4-5) travel to New England to take on the Patriots (3-7). Our Rams vs Patriots prediction is that New England will win the game outright.
Los Angeles’ three-game winning streak was snapped in Week 10. Their 23-15 loss to Miami has hampered their playoff hopes, though they are only 1.5 games behind first-place Arizona.
New England has been improving steadily after a controversial and shaky start under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo.
Head-to-head, New England leads 9-6.
The teams have met twice in the Super Bowl with New England winning both. Ironically, Super Bowl XXXVI was the first of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era and Super Bowl LIII was the last.
Offshore Odds: L.A. is a 4.5-point Favorite on the Road
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | -4.5 (-107) | -215 | O 43.5 (-110) |
| Patriots | +4.5 (-113) | +185 | U 43.5 (-110) |
L.A.’s Playoff Hopes Took a Major Hit
Los Angeles has been a team in flux all season. As they adapt to a life without future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald, their 2024 season could have gone either way. And it has.
After a Week 5 loss to Green Bay, they sat at 1-4 and contemplated a sell-off at the NFL Trade Deadline. They won three straight and had justification for optimism. The dominant team in the NFC West, San Francisco, was struggling in its own right.
The loss in Miami has set L.A. back. Objectively, L.A. might have been better off in the long term to look toward the future and trade star receiver Cooper Kupp and other marketable names. They are 20th in the league in points scored per game, 22nd in points allowed, and on the lower tier in nearly every category except for passing yards per game.
If they have realistic playoff aspirations, they must defeat New England.
New England’s Fortunes May Be Rising
The storm surrounding the Patriots franchise amid questions about Mayo’s future has subsided. Wins over the Jets and Bears plus a strong showing in an overtime loss to the Titans certainly helped.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye looks like a keeper. New England dominated reeling Chicago in its 19-3 win in Week 10. Their defense sacked Bears QB Caleb Williams nine times. Maye was an efficient 15 for 24 for 184 yards.
The Patriots are rapidly improving and are playing hard. Expect similar aggression against Los Angeles as they showed against Chicago with immobile Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford an inviting target.
Rams vs Patriots Prediction: New England Will Upset Los Angeles
L.A. might have mistakenly held onto veteran assets in its quest for a playoff spot. New England has shown fight in its last three games after Mayo called them out for lack of toughness. The Patriots will take another step and win this game.
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