The next few games could be a referendum on Sean McVay. Last year, the Rams were totally unprepared for a playoff game at home against a team that finished third in its division. After going into a tailspin late this season, the future success of McVay will come into question if he is unable to lock down the second seed in a home game against a 4-11 team and notch his first playoff victory. If the Rams beat the 49ers, there would be a good chance for a rematch with the Bears. If the Rams can't win at home against a team with the likes of Mitchell Trubisky at QB, it will become clear that they aren't a legitimate contender. The Bears have a good defense, but the Rams have enough weapons on offense that they should be able to score points by devising an effective game plan and avoiding disastrous mistakes on special teams. The window of opportunity tends to be very short in the NFL. Players such as Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald, and Jared Goff have given the Rams an apparent opportunity, but Gurley has suffered the types of injuries that take a toll on a RB and Goff has shown signs of regressing.
