Rams could end season with a top-10 defense
After a rough start to his career as a defensive coordinator, Chris Shula has been stacking good games recently and the L.A. Rams could have a top-10 defense by the end of the season. The Rams face the Seahawks on Sunday and a win not only gets L.A. back to .500, it would also establish that this is the team to beat in the NFC West and with credit to the defense.
In the last two games against the Raiders and Vikings, the Rams have allowed just 35 points and 186 rushing yards. Compare that to Week 2’s loss to the Cardinals alone: 41 points, 231 rushing yards.
But since starting 0-2 with losses to the Lions and Cards, the Rams have allowed the sixth-fewest yards in the league (322 per game) and the eighth-fewest points (21.5 per game).
Sean McVay told reporters this week that Shula has been doing a good job and that the defense has earned the right to be more aggressive. The Rams have the NFL’s third-highest pressure rate on blitzes (52.9%) and are top-10 against the pass by yards allowed/attempt on blitzes:
Today Sean McVay said the defense and DC Chris Shula have “earned the right” to be more aggressive, and the stats support that.
The Rams have the league’s third-highest pressure rate on blitzes (52.9%) and are tied for eighth in average pass yards allowed on those plays (5.1). pic.twitter.com/akxfEEss1t
— Wyatt Miller (@wymill07) October 28, 2024
The Rams enter the most important stretch of their season so far because they could now recover from a 1-4 start if they win four of their next five games:
at Seahawks
vs. Dolphins
at Patriots
vs. Eagles
at Saints
Looking at that schedule, there is a good opportunity for McVay and Shula to help the Rams win three-in-a-row starting this weekend in Seattle, then four if they beat the Dolphins and five if they beat the Patriots, two teams struggling this season.
A five-game winning streak would have the Rams at 6-4 headed into the Philadelphia home game.
Now that Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are back on offense, and Shula has hit his stride on defense, a second straight year with a surprising trip to the playoffs is back in sight.
