The Los Angeles Rams have officially checked the box for the first half of their season; getting out to a 5-2 record with 10 games left on their schedule. Los Angeles looks the part of a contender with Matthew Stafford leading the NFL in passing touchdowns and the defense being relentless against opposing quarterbacks. Even then, the Rams have had their hiccups with red zone efficiency, untimely turnovers, and special teams blunders. Those issues have held the team back more often than not from playing consistent football through four quarters of a game. Are there any other issues though? What must continue or change in order for the Rams to win Super Bowl LX for the second time in the Sean McVay era? Here are a few areas to consider…
Red Zone Scoring Percentage (TD Only) – NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
We’ll start with one that drives fans to blame Sean McVay (even though he is not responsible for the execution of the play). The Rams currently rank 17th (56.67%) in the NFL when it comes to scoring touchdowns in the redzone area. They are 8th amongst NFC teams. Other NFC Contenders above them include: Philadelphia (82.35%), Detroit (72.41%), Green Bay (72.00%), and Seattle (68.00%). The differential between Los Angeles and those teams is substantial. And when it comes playoff time, LAR can’t afford to kick field goals with an already shaky unit. It was encouraging to see Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams connect on three redzone plays. Moving forward, McVay may want to consider personnel or another player to get involved. Teams will likely start focusing on Adams and it would be wise to have another option. Terrance Ferguson perhaps?
Run Defense – CONTINUE
Teams that defend the run, especially against explosive run plays are likely to find themselves deep into January. Despite having faced Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, and Travis Etienne, the LA defense is 16th in rushing yards allowed/game. Ranking 16th might seem like cause for concern and indicate need for improvement. However, with the talent they have faced, they have only allowed 1 of those 5 to finish with 100+ yards. This group has been very stout against the run and I imagine that 16th ranking will likely be top 10 by season’s end based on impending matchups.
Turnovers – “COMPLICATED”
LAR is 11th in the turnover margin/game (+0.4). This is a positive sign at the defense’s ability to generate turnovers. The reason I would consider this “complicated” is because Stafford has done a remarkable job of protecting the football. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have not. Williams has lost 2 fumbles and Corum has lost one (ESPN credited the fumble to Stafford even though Corum was the guilty party).
As Los Angeles enters more divisional games and a potential playoff, LA will have to assure that they are on the positive side of the turnover margin. More often than not these divisional games will swing to the team that protects the football AND produces turnovers as a defense. I would like to see LA yield a few more turnovers week to week; really elevating the unit to be the top defense in the league.
Penalties – CONTINUE
Ever since Sean McVay arrived as head coach, Los Angeles has been one of the best teams at avoiding penalty flags. A much different tone than the Jeff Fisher days. Currently, the Rams rank 4th-best in penalty yards allowed/game with just 44.9 yards. The Rams have had some silly encroachment penalties but overall they have done a great job of not drawing yellow laundry during games.
Special Teams – NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
McVay has not been inclined to use his kicker in recent weeks. And that’s concerning not necessarily for Josh Karty but for the field goal operation as a whole. Chase Blackburn must get this operation under control or it very well could cost Los Angeles. I don’t think a change is necessary at the place kicker position. But I do think the snap, protection, hold, and kick can all be improved.
I think Ethan Evans and the punt coverage unit also need to button up their operation. Evans often outkicks his special teams defense and allows teams to generate substantial returns. Not a good recipe for field position and playoff football.
Matthew Stafford – CONTINUE
If Stafford continues to play like he has been through the first seven games, the Rams are a healthy bet to make the NFC Championship game. Stafford has notoriously been one of the best quarterbacks in the months of December and January. They need him as their leader to run the table.
Explosive Plays – CONTINUE
Almost hand-in-hand with Stafford this year has been the offense’s ability to generate explosive plays. When Sean McVay’s offense has been explosive, they have been at their best (2018, 2021). In 2021, when the team added OBJ the trajectory of the offense took off. I think the growing connection between Stafford and Adams (very similar to Stafford and OBJ in ‘21) is going to have a huge impact on whether LA hoists another Lombardi trophy.
Win on the Road in the Playoffs – NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
In 2023, the Rams were bounced from the playoffs when Detroit knocked them out in their first home game since the 1990s. In 2024, LA’s comeback bid was stalled when Philadelphia won in the snow to advance to the NFC Championship. Sean McVay is 2-2 all time in road playoff games. I do believe Los Angeles will have to go on the road at least once, maybe twice.
Do you agree or disagree? What other areas do the Rams need to improve? What percentage would you give LA right now to win Super Bowl LX?
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