WESTERN JUGGERNAUTS
The NFC West is by far one of the wildest divisions. You never know who is going to win, nor do you know who is going to be upset and sent home early. The best example would be the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers’ seasons have followed three similar patterns over the last decade: they would either lose in the NFC Championship game, fall in the Superbowl, or completely miss the playoffs. One of their postseason short-comings in the NFC Championship game came in 2022 in heart-breaking fashion against the eventual Super Bowl 56 Champions, Los Angeles Rams.
SLUMP TURNAROUND
Accompanied by the worst slump for a Super Bowl-winning squad (5-12 record) as well as a laboriously injured team, the league had relatively low expectations for the Rams for the 2023-2024 NFL season. Following a 3-6 start to the season, the Rams encountered a sub-10% chance of making the playoffs. Coming out the bye week, the Rams finished the last 8 games with a 7-1 record, with the only loss coming from an overtime loss against the Baltimore Ravens. While they didn’t win the division that year, they still managed to scrap a Wild Card spot where they met with an old foe, QB Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions. The game was ironic, being Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s homecoming to Detroit where he spent most of his career. It eventually ended with a Lions 24-23 close victory, but hopes were high for the Rams and it was nothing short of a magical comeback season.
PLAYER ANALYSIS
The Rams again for the 2024-2025 season were predicted to be a mediocre team, but they again proved the odds wrong. Starting 2-4 on the season, the Rams finished the season 10-7 and clinched a 4th seed with a NFC West divisional victory. Key players on the offensive side of the Rams included Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams. Stafford in 16 games played threw for 3,762 passing yards, 20 TDs, 8 interceptions, and posted a 65.8% completion percentage. Matthew Stafford really shined, proving his clutchness the Rams had lacked. He was one of the more underrated QBs and many analysts had him rated as a top 5 QB.
After a strong 2023-2024 campaign for Kyren Williams, he continued to shine not just on the field but also for fantasy football managers. Williams totaled for 1,481 scrimmage yards and 16 TDs and was seen as a key player for prying extra yardage after contact. Wide receiver Puka Nacua was hurt for a lot of the 2024-2025 season. With only 11 games played he still put up a strong statline. Nacua totaled 990 yards and 3 TDs in 79 receptions.
The Rams looked strong heading into the postseason, but most analysts had picked the Minnesota Vikings to beat the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round. Instead, the Rams totaled the Vikings and had sent them speechless back to Minnesota. Rams beat the Vikings 27-9 and it was a true defensive masterpiece. The Rams defense had recorded 9 sacks on comeback player of the year QB Sam Darnold and intercepted him once as well. One of the sacks by Kobie Turner included a 57-yard “scoop-and-score” by DROY Jared Verse. The Rams eventually fell to the Super Bowl champions, Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round, but did not leave without putting up a fight. Stafford threw for 324 yards and 2 TDs, more than double what opposing QB Jalen Hurts threw for. The Rams also managed to have 4 receivers over 50 yards and kept everyone involved, including RB Kyren Williams rushing over the century marker. Ultimately, the snowy conditions had led the Rams to a very close loss, 22-28. The Rams at one point were 14 yards away from the end zone and winning the game, but the Rams offensive line couldn’t hang on and let pressure get to Stafford who had to throw the ball away on 4th down to end the game.
FUTURE
This year the Rams look to make noise in the league. Though the Rams lost wide receiver Cooper Kupp, they gained an arguably better wide receiver, DaVante Adams. Adams, though playing with 2 below average teams, New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders, he still managed to put up 1,063 yards, 8 TDs, and an average of 12.5 yards per reception. His route running should be a dangerous addition to the Rams offense and could help mentor Puka Nacua to be an even better receiver than he is already. Matthew Stafford shutdown all the trade rumors and is returning to the Rams in hopes to end his career on top of the NFL world. The Rams also resigned Tutu Atwell. Many Rams fans and analysts believed he could be used better someplace else, especially as a deep threat, but Sean McVay is willing to try things again and utilize him better. Who knows if Tutu Atwell could be another explosive player in Rams history like Tavon Austin or Todd Gurley. Speaking of explosive, the Rams look to pair running back Kyren Williams with 2024 draft pick Blake Corrum as the explosive ground weapon for the Rams. He struggled to find his footing during the 2024-2025 season, but will return stronger in the next. Most of the Rams defense is also returning with DROY Jared Verse looking to make a bigger statement alongside the rest of the strong and young Rams defense proven to be dangerous. Les Snead is also trying to snag valuable picks in the draft as they have the best drafters in the NFL in the last couple of years.
The Rams shouldn’t be seen as a divisional team or a mediocre team, rather they should be valued alongside the Eagles, Commanders, and Lions. The Rams are looking to make a bold statement in the 2025-2026 season, who knows if they could really win it all.
