The Los Angeles Rams got back to .500 with a 21-14 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 13. It wasn’t pretty, but the Rams found a way to get the job done, which is the only thing that matters at this point in the season. There’s still a lot to achieve after Sunday’s win, so let’s jump straight into our 10 takeaways.

1. What’s wrong with the Rams’ offense?

It seems strange to talk about the Rams’ offense when Sean McVay is the head coach. However, it has become a weekly topic of conversation. Sunday’s first half might be the worst ever this season. For the first time in the McVay era, the Rams’ offense was locked down in the first half. It’s the first time since the game against the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 that the Rams’ offense was shut down in the first half. Jeff Fisher was fired as head coach the next day.

That’s not to say McVay should be fired or that he should give up running the game, but there’s clearly something missing. The Rams had a completely healthy starting five on offense against the Saints and the offense was as disjointed as ever. The million dollar question is: Why? Part of that is the offensive line. This is a group that hasn’t experienced cohesion or confidence from the quarterback. There is an element of schematicity in that the running and passing games don’t feel cohesive. It’s also a group that lacks explosiveness. They don’t have a player who can make a 50 catch from five yards and win one-on-one matches. Similar to 2019 and 2022, McVay needs to take a serious look at the offense this offseason.

2. The running game was balanced by the early gift of Blake Corum

Whether it was a disciplinary measure or a much-needed wake-up call, the Rams utilized Blake Corum early in the game and the result was a more balanced rushing attack. Corum has had three games with five or more rushing attempts this season. The rookie running back had five runs in the first quarter alone and finished with eight runs for 42 yards.

The early dose of Corum seemed to have a positive effect on Williams and the rest of the offense. If you fumble and also fail in pass protection, McVay isn’t afraid to give other players chances. Hopefully this wasn’t a one-week affair and the Rams continue to use both players.

3. The defense held the Rams in check while the offense was anemic

The Rams could and should have easily been down by far more than 6-0 after the first half against the Saints. However, the defense managed to force two red zone stops, forcing field goals, and gave the offense a chance to come back in the second half. Against a better offense, it’s entirely possible that the Rams will be at least two points behind at halftime. However, the defense made plays when needed and it paid off in the end.

It was the definition of complementary football. When one unit was turned off, the other turned on. This was the case all year long as the offense started slow from game to game. This defense may not be the best in the NFL, but the potential for the future is definitely there.

4. Matthew Stafford had his worst game of the season

Throughout the first half, quarterback Matthew Stafford just didn’t look comfortable. In the first half, Stafford was 4 of 10 for 23 yards and had two bad sacks after holding the ball too long. The Saints defense had a good plan to play tight man-to-man coverage against the Rams wide receiver, but Stafford just wasn’t as sharp as he has been for most of the season.

The positive thing is that Stafford didn’t play well, but there were no turnovers. He was also much sharper in the second half, making throws when necessary, including two touchdowns. The Rams will need the best version of Matthew Stafford over the final six weeks. Hopefully, Stafford can start to trust the guys in front of him as the offensive line plays more snaps together.

5. Sean McVay made great adjustments in the second half

One of the biggest criticisms, which isn’t really founded, is that Sean McVay doesn’t make adjustments in the second half. McVay’s adjustments in the second half against the Saints made the difference in this game. The Saints dominated the first half on defense, playing tight man coverage and forcing the Rams’ wide receivers to win one-on-one duels. In the second half, the Rams showed a lot of man-punching and play-action, and the adjustments paid off.

Half of Stafford’s pass attempts came outside of play and 10 of them came in the second half. Stafford had an EPA per dropback of 0.6 with play action compared to -0.62 EPA per dropback without play action. McVay simplified the game plan for his struggling quarterback.

6. There is a glaring need for a top cornerback this offseason

The need for a top cornerback remains one of the biggest holes on the Rams’ roster this offseason. There will be big plays, but the speed at which they happen in the Rams’ secondary needs to be clarified. General manager Les Snead has tried to cover the problem with tape this offseason, and neither Tre White nor Darious Williams have necessarily succeeded

Williams gave Marquez Valdes-Scantling a big play and then allowed the two-pointer. The Rams simply don’t have a cornerback who can run the ball consistently. That has to be a top priority this offseason.

7. Rams came out on the right side of success in the red zone

Several times this season, the Rams have had success on the wrong side of the red zone. These games usually ended in defeats. The Rams began the year going 2-5 in the red zone against the Lions. They also went 1-4 in the red zone in a loss to the Bears and 0-3 in a loss to the Dolphins.

That was the exact opposite against the Saints. On Sunday, the Rams finished 3-3 in the red zone and held the Saints to an 0-2 success rate in the red zone. Not only were the Rams playing 3-on-3, but early in the game the Saints also had the number six ranked red zone defense. On defense, the Rams have been efficient in the red zone this season. After Sunday’s performance, they quietly have the sixth-ranked red zone defense in the NFL.

8. Kyren Williams shows why he’s still the guy

Kyren Williams was rightly criticized last week after his fumble on the first drive changed the game. On Sunday, however, he showed why he is still the premier running back in the Rams’ backfield. He split time with Corum early on, but by the end of the game it was Kyren Williams’ show.

Williams finished the game with 15 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. More than half of his runs resulted in a positive EPA and he had +36 more rush yards than expected. That’s his highest performance in a game since Week 15 of last season. That doesn’t mean Williams still doesn’t have explosiveness issues, but it was a nice rebounding performance.

9. Jared verses he is

This isn’t to compare Jared Verse to Aaron Donald, but the rookie was exactly what the Rams needed on defense following Donald’s retirement. At the start of the season, no one knew who “the guy” would be. Verse has embraced and embraced that role for most of this season. When the game was on the line, it was Verse who stepped up and made plays. It was his pressure against the Raiders that forced a Gardner Minshew interception. His forced fumble on Sunday decided the Rams’ game against the Saints. Not to mention Verse’s batted pass against the Seahawks, which should have ended the game had it not been for a long 4th down conversion.

Great players make big plays in big moments and Verse shows that he is a great player. The Rams needed someone on defense this season that they could rely on to make plays when they needed it. That player has consistently been Jared Verse this season.

10. Winning these games is a big step forward

The win against the Saints is obviously big as it keeps the Rams’ playoff hopes alive. They remain tied with the Arizona Cardinals and are one game behind the Seahawks for the NFC West lead. Nevertheless, the win on Sunday is much more important from an overall perspective. The best-case scenario is that the Rams make the postseason this year and maybe win a playoff game. This team will not achieve anything special this season as they lack consistency.

However, it is important to learn how to help a young team achieve such victories. The first half didn’t go the way the Rams would have liked, but they showed perseverance in the second half and got the win. As the young defensive players mature, winning games like this will be of great benefit.