It would be an understatement to say these two teams have gotten off to a slow start.

The preseason Super Bowl favorites are 4-4 midway through the campaign, and if the season ended today, they would be on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

The Commanders didn’t have nearly as much hype entering the season, but can’t be thrilled with their 2-4-1 record so far. With the NFL trade deadline looming, time is running out for both teams to start their turnaround.

Oddsmakers have the Rams as 4.5-point favorites on the road, with the Over/Under down to 48.5 from the opening number of 50.5.

Rams vs. Commanders prediction, best bet

The Rams caught the injury bug at the worst time.

Cornerback Jaylen Watson is out for the season with a shoulder injury, which is a huge blow for a secondary that is banged up heading into Week 9. On the offensive side, Matthew Stafford is dealing with a sore arm, which is a bad sign for a QB who throws the ball at the third-highest clip.

It’s possible that the Rams get some good injury news, though. Myles Garrett will play for the first time this season, which is huge for a defense that needs to rein in Jayden Daniels, who can scramble out of the pocket and keep the chains moving with his speed.

Betting on the NFL?

So much of this game will come down to health for the Rams. If their defense can overcome the injuries, they should be able to keep Washington’s offense quiet. The Commanders rank 27th in red zone attempts and 31st in converting on third downs.

Stafford should be able to take advantage of their defense, which ranks 27th in passing yards and touchdowns allowed. I’ll back the Rams to cover on the road in this spot.

The Pick: Rams -4.5 (-108, BetMGM)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.