The Rams appear to be getting into a groove now that their offensive weapons are healthy -- yes, Cooper Kupp is back this week despite being largely ineffective this season. The Browns, meanwhile, cannot keep their quarterbacks healthy. Cleveland makes its bones on defense, but the unit is far less effective on the road (where it allows nearly 30 points per game) than at home. Los Angeles is more than capable defensively, and against Joe Flacco (who was sitting on his couch last week), the Rams should be able to feast.

For Joe Flacco: from quasi-retirement to starter within a week. Really? In recent seasons, he has hardly shined. Against a determined Rams pass rush, Flacco's nearly 39-year-old legs cannot save him. More importantly, RB Kyren Williams, coming off a sensational game, delivers what L.A. needs: a balanced offense. With WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, along with rising TE Tyler Higbee, the Rams pose problems galore even for a defense as distinguished as the Browns'.

With Joe Flacco starting at QB for the Browns, it does give them a veteran presence at the position. However, it doesn't give them the element of creativity or mobility once the play breaks down. Expect to see Aaron Donald introduce himself to Flacco early and often in this game.

The Rams have been very conservative on offense over the past five weeks. Their median number of plays is 31 passes to 26 rushes compared to the first six game medians of 38 passes to 22 rushes. Stafford's median completions is just 15 in his last five starts.

I have to admit that I had a very low opinion on the Rams roster to begin the season but Sean McVay has made chicken salad out of chicken feathers. The Rams are the 9-seed in the NFL and have a great chance of making the playoffs. Joe Flacco was a statue in the pocket five years ago. With the Jets last year Flacco completed 58% of his passes for just 5.5 yards per pass. I'm backing Sean McVay.

Even though middle linebacker Anthony Walker returns from a hamstring injury, fellow linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah should stay busy. He's coming off a dominant performance featuring 12 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and two tackles for loss. Look for Owusu-Koramoah to record at least seven combined tackles Sunday in LA.

Amari Cooper has had a solid season -- except when rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson starts. In those three games, Cooper managed to catch seven of 19 targets for 66 total yards. Joe Flacco is a huge upgrade for Cooper, who should be heavily featured Sunday in LA. Look for Cooper to clear this prop total for the seventh time in nine games not quarterbacked by DTR.

The idea of Joe Flacco is better than what's likely to be out on the field as the former Ravens star approaches the age of 39, and I don't have confidence he'll have success, especially if the Rams are able to get consistent pressure in passing situations with Cleveland down both starting tackles for the rest of the year. The Browns have given up nearly 30 points per game in their last five on the road, and Matthew Stafford may not be as under siege as you think with Myles Garrett likely less than 100% after injuring his shoulder last week and the Rams offense surprisingly ranking fifth in sack rate. I think this line is two points low after adjusting for Flacco.

As good as the Browns defense is, it struggles on the road some and isn't great stopping the run and the RZ is a problem. They are just 24th in the RZ, and have allowed 12 rushing TDs. Ten of those have come in the last seven games and they have allowed multiple rushing TDs in three of those games. Williams has a knack for hitting paydirt, doing so 9 times in 7 games, a problem running or catching the ball. He has a TD in three of the last four games and five total TDs in that span. It's not like Matthew Stafford is going to vulture anything from him.

Sean McVay doesn't want Myles Garrett wrecking his season and against a Browns defense that is far worse against the run, and with an OL that is better run blocking, I don't think he gets cute here. Williams is back healthy and he will get fed. Getting 20-some carries would not surprise me at all, and with a nose for the endzone McVay, so long looking for a back he could lean on, there isn't much reason not to let him build up a lather. He's gone over 100 rushing yards in three of his last four games and Cleveland's defense has been far more leaky on the road than at home. Had recent woes vs the run at Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Hopkins is having an excellent season, his coach trusts the heck out of him and the Browns are still stuck in QB purgatory with maybe Joe Flaco now the guy right off the street. The redzone offense has long been broken among other issues on that side of the ball and Hopkins has good range and this will be a great day to kick. He leads the NFL in field goal attempts and has 15 in his 5 road games. It's not plus-money like it was at the start of last week, but this still looks pretty darn solid to me.

The Rams are very much like a Jenga tower thanks to the roster build. But I've been pounding the table for their playoff chances the last two weeks and now they are very much alive: even at 5-6 the Rams have better playoff odds than the 6-5 Seahawks because their schedule is much friendlier. Kyren Williams is back and looks like a running back who could a much-needed engine for this offense. Cleveland's defense is elite, and the Browns are a desperate team, without a quarterback and with their playoff chances starting to get a little dicey. Aaron Donald is going to be a problem for the Cleveland quarterbacks on Sunday.

DraftKings is the only book to have this under -200 and while I normally don't play this early, Cleveland could be without QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and perhaps more importantly Myles Garrett. Oh, and Amari Cooper was knocked out in the second half Sunday with a ribs injury. This is only going up in my opinion unless the Rams have some major injuries I haven't heard about from Sunday.