Well Rams fans, we’re 0-6 and hosting Peyton Manning and his 5-0 Indianapolis Colts.  I’ve got to be honest, I find it very difficult to find a viable gameplan that actually has the Rams winning.  Right now, the Colts are coming off of their bye week.  Peyton Manning has thrown for over 300 yards his first 5 games with Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and two no-name receivers as Anthony Gonzalez recovers from injury.  Manning hasn’t really been hit much, and the offense looks to just steamroll opponents.  On the flipside, the Rams just traded away a veteran linebacker, are banged up, have an anemic offense whose best player hasn’t scored a touchdown yet, and let David Garrard put up 300 yards in the air and Maurice Jones-Drew run for over 100 yards and 3 touchdowns last week.  The Football Gods will need to be shining on the Rams for this one to work out…

Control the Time of Possession – The Miami Dolphins did a terrific job of keeping themselves in the game with the Colts by holding the football nearly all game.  Manning still pulled a Manning game winning drive, but it gave the Dolphins their best chance to win.  The Rams need to attack with the exact same mindset.  If they can minimize the number of possessions the Colts get, they minimize the number of points they will (and I stress WILL) give up.  The Colts’ gameplan for the past few years has been to get ahead early and then let those pass rushing ends, specifically Dwight Freeney, pin their ears back and run loose.  The Rams have to hold onto the ball and use the running game to just play defense with their offense.  But this means…

Few 3 And Outs – the Rams need to convert all of these time consuming drives into touchdowns.  Field Goals will NOT get the win here.  For most teams, I’d say they can afford maybe one or two field goals.  The Rams just don’t have the offense capability to allow me to give that caveat.  Every time they get deep into Colts territory (inside the 30) it needs to be 4 down territory.  Coach Spags and Pat Shurmur have got to carry an aggressive mindset and need to really get after the Colts defense.  But this means sustaining drives and playing physical at the line of scrimmage on offense.  Steven Jackson can grind out yardage, but if ever there was a game where the Rams run blocking has to be effective, it’s this game.  Give it to Jackson 35 times and keep Manning off of the field as much as possible.

Keep Forcing Turnovers – The only way the defense will keep the Rams in the game is if they continue to force turnovers.  The problem here is Manning is just too damn good – picking him off will be very difficult.  Much harder than any of the other QB’s the Rams have played thus far.  Forcing a fumble or two will be key.  The Colts do like a bit of balance, so those audibles that Manning will inevitably call at the line to a stretch play will be the time for those linebackers to fly and get a helmet on the ball.  I have no doubt the defense will play hard, but the talent disparity is enormous between the Rams defense and the Colts offense.  The Colts will do whatever they want, but the Rams defense must make a play and force a turnover if possible if they want to be in the game.

Team/Player Photos: St. Louis Rams Team / Player Photos on Jul 24, 2010

Play Overwhelmingly Physical Football – I know I mentioned it earlier, but the Rams will not survive this game unless they come out and try to beat up the Colts.  Beat up the wide receivers.  Beat up the tight end,  beat up the linemen, beat up the linebackers, they need to summon a Herculean effort and just mash the Colts up as best they can and hold the ball.

I won’t lie, this game could get out of hand quickly, but I don’t foresee anything like the 59-0 shellacking the Patriots put on the Titans last week.  The Rams will score once while the game is still close, and again in garbage time, but from my viewpoint it’ll be around 35-17.  And the 17 is being generous, considering we’ve been blanked twice this season.