LOS ANGELES -- At long last, amid deafening demands and escalating anticipation, the Jared Goff era is set to begin in this city.

It's time.

Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher made up his mind Tuesday morning and informed Case Keenum that Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, would be his starting quarterback for Sunday's home game against streaking Miami, a development that was first reported by ESPN's Chris Mortensen. And anyone who has watched this team realizes why this needed to happen.

The Rams' offense has been lifeless of late, in desperate need of a spark. The Rams are dead last in the NFL in points per game, with a quarterback who has shouldered the game's lowest Total QBR for pretty much the entire season. Lately, their defense has been dominant and their special teams play has been a major positive. But the offense has held them back. They stopped their four-game losing streak by beating the Jets on Sunday, but it came by a 9-6 score because their offense couldn't capitalize on three separate drives into the red zone.

Now the Rams will be at home, in front of the same Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum crowd that began a "We Want Goff!" chant nine days earlier, and Goff will not carry the burden of a long losing streak.

This was never really about Keenum, who handled a difficult situation admirably and at times actually played well. It wasn't about Goff's ability, because that can be difficult to decipher from a handful of scout-team reps. This was about Fisher having the confidence to pull the trigger; about growing comfortable with the unknown of a rookie quarterback who is only one month removed from his 22nd birthday.

Five rookie quarterbacks have started at least one game in the NFL this season, but all of them -- Carson Wentz with the Eagles, Dak Prescott with the Cowboys, Jacoby Brissett with the Patriots, Cody Kessler with the Browns and Paxton Lynch with the Broncos -- were thrust into the role because of unforeseen circumstances. Goff comes out of a Cal system that ran an air raid offense in which he never had to communicate plays from the huddle, take a snap from under center or make so much as a third progression.

He struggled in the preseason, going 22-of-49 for 232 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and three fumbles, hardly looking comfortable with the speed of the game. He began the regular season as an inactive third-stringer and was promoted to backup for Week 2. But as the regular season began, Rams coaches began to praise Goff's development.

About mid-October, offensive coordinator Rob Boras said Goff was "not asking rookie questions anymore," a clear indication he was finally grasping the offense. And after Goff got all the first-team reps during the Rams' bye week, Boras praised the way he translated it onto the field -- the quickness with which he got in and out of the huddle, the confidence he displayed as he approached the line of scrimmage, the accuracy with which he delivered passes.

Said Boras: "We were all really pleased to see what he was able to do in those couple of practices."

You could sense the momentum turning in Goff's favor last week, when Fisher was asked once again why Goff would not be his starting quarterback. He pointed only to the upcoming matchup, saying the Jets defense they were about to face was too intricate for a rookie to debut against them. On Goff, he said: "With each passing week, he's getting better and better. He's better understanding, he's recognizing things, he's prepared, he understands the challenges week-to-week."

Keep in mind: This season is not lost for the Rams.

They are 4-5, but because of the NFL's widespread mediocrity, they are only 1 1/2 games removed from a wild-card spot. He might have waited longer than many would have hoped, but this was Fisher trusting Goff at a critical juncture of the Rams' season (heck, a critical juncture with his own job situation).

Goff alone will not fix this offense. The running game has been a disaster, with Todd Gurley ranking 41st among 43 qualified running backs in rushing yards per attempt behind an offensive line that is allowing way too much penetration. And Goff's road will not be easy. He'll face a Dolphins team that has won four straight, features menacing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and is coming off forcing San Diego's Philip Rivers into four interceptions. Then Goff will have an early game on the road against New Orleans, travel to face New England, go up against Atlanta, and then, four days later, travel to face Seattle.

But Goff is the spark this offense -- this city -- needs right now. They need his poise in the pocket. They need his arm strength. Heading into the season, former Rams quarterback Jim Everett talked about how Goff "can visualize the deep ball better than anyone on that roster." Maybe Goff will have better chemistry with Tavon Austin, who has had a hard time connecting with Keenum. Maybe he will get defenses to stop stacking the box against Gurley. Maybe he will push this offense a step forward.

Regardless, it's time for the Rams to find out.