LET'S TALK FOOTBALL - Los Angeles Rams

After an embarrassing hangover in the 2022 season, it looked like the future was going to be bleak for the Los Angeles Rams. They went all in for a Super Bowl ring and succeeded, but a 5-12 year followed by a 3-6 start to 2023 made us wonder if this team would be the same again. But thanks to Sean McVay and Les Snead, they turned things around and revitalized their franchise as a legitimate playoff contender. Last season was the best they had since they won the championship. An 11-6 record, champions of the NFC West, and they dethroned the fourteen win Vikings in the Wild Card. Even if they did not have enough to beat the eventual champion Philadelphia eagles, it was still a successful season for the Rams. Now they have to show that they can jump into a higher tier because their quarterback is not getting any younger and while they showed tremendous promise over the last couple years, this is a team that still has a couple noticeable flaws that have to be fixed quickly.

One of the biggest wins of the offseason for LA was that they were able to bring back Matthew Stafford on an adjusted contract. He might not be the same quarterback that he was when he first arrived, but he proved that he is still capable of leading this team to the playoffs at thirty-seven years old. While there is risk of a steep decline, the supporting cast around him should indicate that we will not get it anytime soon. In the backfield, the Rams have a touchdown magnet in Kyren Williams, who is also coming off a season where he ran for nearly 1300 yards, which was the seventh most in the NFL. One big loss was releasing Cooper Kupp, their former Triple Crown winner and Super Bowl MVP, but the silver lining is that they have a new focal point of the offense in Puka Nacua. Even better news is that they signed future Hall of Fame wideout Davante Adams to round out a successful receiving duo. Another underrated loss was Demarcus Robinson, who I felt was a perfect third option to this team. However, knowing Sean McVay, there are going to be at least a couple of guys that will jump onto the scene. Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell are my best guesses. One need that I think that the Rams needed to address was their tight end position. Tyler Higbee has been with the team for a long time now, but he struggled to come back from a torn ACL, and their two backups Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen did not contribute at a solid level. It made sense to draft Terrance Ferguson in the second round because the top two guys in the class were already picked, so let’s see what he can do. I can say the exact opposite about their offensive line because it gave up the sixth fewest sacks in the league.

Last season, the defense was the exact same group that I saw in 2023: it was a group that allowed a ton of yards, but an opportunistic one that did not give up too many points and came up with a lot of takeaways. However, the one thing I was most disappointed about their performance was that they only totaled thirty-eight sacks, tied with the Raiders for the twelfth fewest. The reason why this is so jarring is because their front four has a boatload of talent. Braden Fiske had an outstanding rookie year with eight and a half sacks, while Kobie Turner and Byron Young blossomed as full-time starters with eight and seven quarterback takedowns respectively. I think the minute that Jared Verse breaks out and shows his first round pedigree, then this group will hit their ceiling. Yet I also think that their defensive line needs a tad more depth, especially for their run defense. Christian Rozeboom and Michael Hoecht left in free agency, so it looks like Omar Speights and Troy Reeder are going to man the second level, but I don’t think that they will drastically turn things around. As for the secondary, my opinion remains the same as it did after the 2023 season and throughout the 2024 season: it might not be great, but they are opportunistic. They brought back Darious Williams to be their number one corner and gave Ahkello Witherspoon a new home to be a decent second option. With Cobie Durant in his natural position in the slot, they can continue to force mistakes and give more time for their defensive line to attack the quarterback. I am also a fan of their two starting safeties Kamren Kinchens and Kamren Curl, along with an underrated gem in Jaylen McCullough. This defense does not have too many household names, but this is still a group that is capable of winning enough games to make sure that the Rams are in the postseason hunt. However, if things continue to stay the same, then the best they can hope for is the second round.

In my opinion, I think this is the last year that the Rams can truly compete for a deep playoff run with Matthew Stafford at quarterback. This team is still capable of winning the division because they still have an efficient offense and a defense with a ton of playmakers, but there are two teams legitimately standing in their way: Detroit and Philadelphia. If LA can get past either one of them, then the sky is the limit. If not, then Snead and McVay have to make serious decisions that will make sure their future is not in jeopardy.

WEEK 1 vs. HOUSTON TEXANS

I am looking forward to watching this matchup because we have an unproven Texans offense going up against an unproven Rams defense. This means that we are more than likely getting a tight game that comes down to the very wire with the defense making the final stand. Whomever that will be will be up to the gods of fate. Last season was rough for a Texans franchise that was finally starting to get things back on track. Despite winning the AFC South and making it back to the playoffs, it felt like they were worse than last year, and now it is time for everybody to prove that it was just a fluke. That means CJ Stroud is going to have to break through that rough sophomore wall and return to the promising stud he was in his rookie season. This season will be a bigger challenge because not only is Stefon Diggs gone, but Tank Dell is expected to miss all of 2025 with that gruesome knee injury he suffered in December. However, I think both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are going to surprise a lot of people in their rookie seasons, which will take a lot of pressure off of Nico Collins and even newly signed Christian Kirk. Along with Joe Mixon and Dalton Schultz, it is still a talented offense that just let go of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, so it is time for Nick Caley to right the ship. Yet, their offensive line still gives me pause for concern. They traded away Laremy Tunsil, released Shaq Mason, and traded away Kenyon Green. The new guys that the Texans signed include Cam Robinson, Trent Brown, and Ed Ingram. The only returning pieces are Juice Scruggs and Tytus Howard. I don’t know how, but it felt like their offensive line got worse. That says a lot, considering that CJ Stroud was the second most sacked quarterback in the league!

As for the Texans defense, the one thing that held them back from their potential was the lack of discipline. That falls on DeMeco Ryans because this was supposed to be the unit for him to turn around. They have the talent, but they need the chemistry and mental toughness to really go far in the playoffs. Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter did a tremendous job on the front four, they have a legitimate linebacker duo of Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, but it is their secondary that I think makes this group even more dangerous. They have a transcendent number one corner in Derek Stingley Jr., a couple of rising studs in Calen Bullock and Kamari Lassiter, and Jalen Pitre is one of the more underrated safeties in all of football. They also just acquired CJ Gardner Johnson in a trade with Philadelphia, which means Jimmie Ward will not have to take a huge load of the work as one of the only veterans on the team.

The only reason why I am favoring the Rams in this game is because they are home. I can definitely see the script flipping upside down because the Texans have a respectable defense, but I believe that LA is better coached and I think they will be more prepared to make sure they take care of business at So-Fi Stadium.

WEEK 2 @ TENNESSEE TITANS

I should hope that the Rams do not fall into an ugly trap game against the Titans because this is the week where I expect LA to win handedly. The Titans had the worst record in the league last season and clinched the first overall pick, which they used to select quarterback Cam Ward. I loved watching him when he was at Miami, but head coach Brian Callahan is going to throw this kid into the fire early, and I honestly cannot determine how he will perform. The pieces around him are not terrible, but then again, they only won three games with essentially the same supporting cast around him. You have Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears manning the backfield, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett as your expected top receiving targets, and an offensive line that honestly did not improve over the offseason. I have hopes for rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Deke, but I still cannot understand why new general manager Mike Borgonzi gave Dan Moore Jr. $50 million guaranteed to be their starting left tackle.

As for the defense, it really gave us a bunch of mixed signs every week. They were the second best group in yards allowed, yet were the third worst in points surrendered. All of the veterans that they acquired that offseason were let go before the 2024 season could even conclude, and a couple more might join them if they implode once again. Harold Landry was released, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs were cut in the middle of the year, and Ernest Jones was traded. Hopefully, things do not head in the opposite direction once again because they have solid guys in their group. Jeffery Simmons, Arden Key, and T’Vondre Sweat held their own on the front four. Cody Barton and Dre’Mont Jones were brought in from Denver to help pick up the slack. L’Jarius Sneed is trying to return to form and will have guys like Amani Hooker and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to step up on their end.

Even if the Titans turn out to have a decent season, I do not think there is an excuse why the Rams should not win this game. Unless Matthew Stafford unexpectedly has a turnover-laden performance or Cam Ward turns into the best quarterback Tennessee ever had, then LA should do everything in their power to make this a convincing win.

WEEK 3 @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

This game might be taking place in week three, but I think this will be the time where we see how far the Rams will go this season. They lost to Philadelphia not once but twice, and Saquon Barkley absolutely torched them both times. Unfortunately, the odds are not in LA’s favor right now, especially since this game is at Lincoln Financial Field. I won’t be like a bunch of national media pundits and say that Philadelphia is starting a dynasty, but they are the most feared team in the NFC. Jalen Hurts finally got the respect he deserved by winning a championship and the game’s MVP, because when Philadelphia’s best player Saquon Barkley was held in check, it was the quarterback that rose up to the moment and redeemed himself from two years ago. Thankfully, the offense from that season will be back. Saquon is still at the peak prime of his career, the Eagles have one of the best receiving duos featuring AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, but one of the best news of the offseason was that they found a way to keep tight end Dallas Goedert for the foreseeable future. The offensive line has four of its five starters returning, so this offense should still be dominant on paper. The last thing Philadelphia wants, however, is a repeat of what happened two years ago. They might have finished with a winning season and a playoff appearance, but they collapsed after a 10-1 start and got demolished in the Wild Card with two different coordinators than the ones they had in their first Super Bowl matchup against the Chiefs.

Thankfully, Vic Fangio will still be in charge of the defense, which means you should not experience a setback any time soon. Even though they lost a ton of pieces in the offseason, Philly is deciding to focus on its youth to keep their repeat chances alive. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis will be the two key pieces to their defensive line, with assistance from Nolan Smith and perhaps Jalyx Hunt coming around the edge. In the second level, Zack Baun will be the quarterback of the unit as he is coming off of a breakout season, with the confidence that he will come out stronger this year. With help from Nakobe Dean and rookie Jihaad Campbell, I don’t expect that run defense to get worse. The secondary is where it gets really interesting because even though they are still young, both Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean formed into a lethal cornerback tandem. Reed Blankenship has evolved into a legitimate starting safety and Sydney Brown is hoping to reach that level, so there is depth in that group as well. I don’t think that defense will be as dominant as it was the year before, especially since there will be a lot more inexperienced guys being thrusted into starting positions, but then I remember what happened in 2023. When they lost to Kansas City, the Eagles had the best defense in football. One year later, they were one of the worst. It was the biggest reason why Philadelphia fell apart after such a strong start, so my fear is that it could happen again, especially since it will be a younger unit.

Barring any injuries, I think that the Eagles are a stronger football team that should be able to win this game at home. I definitely expect it to be close because LA proved that they can compete with this opponent, but for them to be able to pull off the upset, they cannot commit any momentum-swinging mistakes. Otherwise, things will fall off the rails quickly.

WEEK 4 vs. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Just like Week 2, this is another game that I think that the Rams should win by double digits. The reason why is very simple: the Colts do not have a legitimate starting quarterback. We thought it could be Anthony Richardson, but his inaccuracy issues completely plagued this team, and it did not help that he was in and out of the lineup throughout the season. I seriously doubt Daniel Jones is going to get this team over the hump, so what I see is an average offense led by two subpar quarterbacks. I feel bad for Jonathan Taylor because his prime is just being wasted. The same goes with Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce, because while Joe Flacco was not exactly the transcendent backup that he was in Cleveland, he at least proved that all those two needed was a better player throwing them the ball to help the two of them grow. However, one player that I think a lot of teams will have a hard time planning against will be rookie Tyler Warren. Regardless of who starts at quarterback for Indianapolis, he is going to be the ultimate security blanket because there are so many things he could do with the football. The offensive line was not so bad last season, but the departures of both Ryan Kelly and Will Fries are going to hurt them in 2025. Outside of Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith, I don’t really know which players on that front are going to excel at the highest level, meaning that Indianapolis is more than likely bound for another mediocre season.

Newly hired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is hoping to get his career back on track in a new change of place and prove that Gus Bradley was truly not the right man for the job. When I look at the Colts defense, I see a lot of names, but I know that the production was not there the year before. Their front four was supposed to be led by DeForest Buckner, Kwity Paye, and Laitu Latu. Yet, they totaled the seventh fewest sacks with thirty-six. Zaire Franklin is one of the consistent leading tacklers in the NFL, but their run defense allowed close to 132 yards per game. However, I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that their secondary was still a travesty. This offseason, Chris Ballard did his job to make sure that it would not be an issue again. They brought in Charvarius Ward to be their new number one corner and signed safety Camryn Bynum to elevate it even higher. These were the two latest additions to a secondary that already had starpower in Nick Cross, Kenny Moore, and Jaylon Jones. Now it is up to Anarumo to see if he can finally turn this group around for the first time in close to five years.

The last two meetings between these teams came down to the wire, so I would not be surprised if we get another, but I feel that we are going to get the same outcome: a Rams victory. Otherwise, there will be serious question marks surrounding this team’s ability to win the NFC West again.

WEEK 5 vs. SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

In my opinion, the winner of the NFC West is going to come down to these two teams. I doubt that the Rams are going to sweep the series like they did last year, but I will say that they throw the first punch at home on Thursday Night Football. However, I am expecting a very competitive game because the 49ers are trying to prove that last year was just a fluke, like they did in 2020. There will be no more offseason drama now that Brock Purdy got his contract extension, so now that the offense is healthy, it is time to see what he can do. Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Trent Williams will be returning. Unfortunately, Deebo Samuel and Jaylon Moore will not. However, the 49ers still have an incredible amount of depth at wide receiver and the offensive line has been a stable unit for the most part. Deebo might be gone, but if Aiyuk cannot fully recover from the injury, then there is another trio that could pick up the slack: Jauan Jennings, Demarcus Robinson, and Ricky Pearsall. It might not sound totally inspiring, but with Shanahan as the play-caller, they will be effective and efficient.

At the start of the offseason, the 49ers saw many of their stars depart elsewhere. Javon Hargrave, Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, and Charvarius Ward were the most notable names to leave. The good news is that they still have two of their key cornerstones in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. Not only that, but Robert Saleh is coming back as the defensive coordinator, so a familiar face will be more than welcomed back in the building. The 49ers made sure to give Bosa some extra help by drafting Mykel Williams in the first round, but I truly do not know if this team is going to be truly better than they were last year. With Greenlaw gone, you don’t know who is going to pair up with Warner on the second level. Deommodore Lenoir got himself a nice contract extension, but who is his right hand man? On the other hand, Hufanga’s void will be filled with the likes of Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown, along with veterans Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant hoping to adapt to their new change of scenery.

The biggest reason why I have the Rams winning is because even though they are on a short week, they will be in the comforts of their own home. Let’s just hope that we do not get another snooze fest like we did in Levi’s Stadium last year.

WEEK 6 @ BALTIMORE RAVENS

Lamar Jackson has not lost to the Rams in his career yet and I do not see that streak ending anytime soon. He is a two time MVP for a reason and if it were not for a certain Josh Allen fellow, then there is no question that he would have won his third. Besides him, the rest of the team has a boatload of talent that should be a championship contender. Derrick Henry proved that not only is he still the King, but he is easily one of the top two running backs in all of football. What I’ve been more impressed with is how well the Ravens opened up the passing game. Zay Flowers has slowly but surely emerged as a number one option and Rashod Bateman has not done too bad as a number two. But now that DeAndre Hopkins has been added to the mix, Lamar will have more than just Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely to lean on as a security blanket. The biggest win of their offseason, in my opinion, was bringing back Ronnie Stanley. He turned more money down to stay with Baltimore, so as long as he stays healthy, he will be a huge investment that will pay off. The interior still gives me some concern, but with Lamar under center, it should not be too huge of a liability.

Hopefully this time, the defense will stay consistent all season long, rather than just wait until the second half of the season to show up. The pass rush has really come alive in the last two years, led by Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, but players like Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson have really stepped into the fold in a positive way. The Ravens also drafted Mike Green in the second round, who led the FBS in sacks last year, so it will be interesting to see what type of role he can carve out in Zach Orr’s system. In the second level, there is nothing else to say about Roquan Smith besides the fact that he is the best middle linebacker in the league. Trenton Simpson really stepped up as the right-hand man and those two are why Baltimore allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league. What really stepped up in the second half of the season, though, was their secondary. Marlon Humphrey still proved that he was one of the best cover corners in the league, but with Kyle Hamilton as the deep safety, they exploded and took off. If Jaire Alexander can stay healthy, then this group will be even more lethal, especially since Ar’Darius Washington and Nate Wiggins are expected to have bigger roles. To top it off, I think that the safety room will be better with Malaki Starks jumping on as a first round pick.

Maybe I would pick an upset if this game were being played across the country, but Lamar has been near perfect against NFC teams, and I think the Rams are one that will look vulnerable in a couple key facets. I do not think it will be a blowout since these two teams took it to overtime just a couple of years ago at M&T Bank Stadium, but I still believe that the Ravens are just a stronger team with more edge.

WEEK 7 @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Rams will be back in London for the first time since 2019, and just like that matchup against the lowly Cincinnati Bengals, this is a game where LA should be easily favored to win. Despite entering the second home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, they are still a stronger team with a brighter future. It will be interesting to see how the Jaguars look with Liam Coen as the new head coach, because if Trevor Lawrence continues to look mediocre at best and pathetic at worst, then that contract extension is only going to appear worse as the days roll by. Coen has a lot of work to do with not just getting Lawrence back on track, but with the rest of the offense as well. They have two capable starting running backs in Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, while Brian Thomas Jr. has emerged as the focal point of the passing game, but the offense suffered a lot of turnover at the same time. Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Evan Engram were all released. Jacksonville replaced them by promoting Brenton Strange as the starting tight end, signing Dyami Brown in free agency, and then trading up with the Browns to draft Travis Hunter with the second overall pick! Not only is Hunter supposed to help out a ton in the passing game, but that secondary has desperately needed a standout cornerback for years, and the Jaguars got a guy that can do both! One of the biggest surprises of 2024 was that their offensive line actually did pretty well, despite only winning four games. It only let up thirty-two sacks, the ninth fewest in the league, and I think it got stronger with the signing of Patrick Mekari in free agency. Anton Harrison showed improvement, Ezra Cleveland thrived at left guard, and the unit did pretty well for itself without Cam Robinson at left tackle. Lawrence is going to be the biggest X factor for this team’s success, or else Jacksonville’s new regime will not be afraid of moving on from him in the upcoming offseason.

As for the Jaguars defense, I have been consistent in saying that it has been the team’s Achilles heel for the last five years. The only two guys that kept it somewhat afloat were Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, so even with the addition of Travis Hunter, this group has a lot of making up to do this year. Arik Armstead has been a disappointment, Devin Lloyd showed a lot of consistency issues, and I did not like that Jourdan Lewis was the only addition they made to the secondary in free agency. Maybe Hunter and Tyson Campbell can form into a solid duo, but for this team to truly turn things around, everything has to be absolutely perfect in all aspects of play.

The new general manager for the Jaguars is a former executive for the Rams, so this will be an interesting game to watch. However, LA is better coached and they have a more complete roster, while Jacksonville still has a ton of holes and patches that are yet to be fixed. I don’t believe it will be a completely lopsided game, but the Rams should manage to make more than a few plays to pull away down the stretch.

WEEK 8: BYE WEEK

WEEK 9 vs. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

On the surface, this should look like a blowout, but my gut feeling is that we are getting a tighter matchup than expected. However, the Rams should still be the ones coming out with the win. I feel bad that this is the first head coaching job for Kellen Moore because on a team with no cap flexibility, an aging roster, and no plan at quarterback, this is the worst situation he could have asked for. Everything was put on halt when Derek Carr retired, so now there are three guys competing for the starting job: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, and rookie Tyler Shough. I wish I could say that at least there are the Pelicans, but that team is on the verge of blowing it up. The only silver lining I have is that at least the Saints offense will be healthy. Alvin Kamara had a bounce back season with close to 1500 total yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will more than likely be the two biggest targets for whichever quarterback throws them the ball, along with tight ends Juwan Johnson and Taysom Hill. Brandin Cooks is even coming back, so there is some nostalgia there. The offensive line is not completely horrible either and it got better with Kelvin Banks Jr. replacing Ryan Ramczyck at right tackle. The only issue is that once everybody got hurt, the entire offense plummeted, and it is one of the biggest reasons why the Saints had a dismal five win season.

As for the defense, how do I put this? They have zero depth and they are incredibly old. When you do look at the younger guys in this group, they are either inconsistent or inexperienced. They already lost their top two corners in Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, their only two good pass rushers are Bryan Bresee and Carl Granderson, we don’t know what to expect from Chase Young, and Demario Davis can only do so much at thirty-six years old. At least they signed Justin Reid to reunite with his former Texans teammate Tyrann Mathieu, but with Brandon Staley as the defensive coordinator, my hopes are not that high for this group.

This game is at home, so there is no reason why the Rams should not win. I can see this coming down to a one score game because New Orleans has been scrappy in the last two matchups, but their lack of a legitimate starting quarterback is what will hold this team back from their true potential.

WEEK 10 @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

As I said earlier, I just do not see this series ending in a sweep one way or the other. This division race is going to be tight, and I think the matchups between these two teams will be must-watch. I am going to give the team with the home field advantage the benefit of the doubt because when both of them have legitimate aspirations, they play with a ton of edge and aggression that can be hard to match.

WEEK 11 vs. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Over the past couple of seasons, the Rams have not only beaten the Seattle Seahawks, but at their own game handedly. Now I understand that LA lost to this team last year in the regular season finale, but they were playing backups in a game with no postseason implications. This one has a little bit more of a tense vibe as one team is trying to win the division and the other is hoping they could earn a spot in the playoffs themselves. Many are hoping that 2024 for Sam Darnold was not just a “one year wonder” and that he does not revert back to his Jets form. Myself included. When I look at the supporting cast around him, it is not as great as it was when he was with the Vikings, but it is still manageable. The Seahawks have an underrated running back tandem of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, two guys that can punish defenders with physicality and acceleration on yards after contact. No more Tyler Lockett or DK Metcalf, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged as a number one option and he will have a promising right-hand man in Cooper Kupp. Hopefully, the former Super Bowl MVP can stay healthy because he has proven he can still play. You just need him on the field. Seattle also has an emerging tight end in AJ Barner, and there are a couple of depth guys in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo that are hoping to have some role in this offense. However, the state of the offensive line always worries me, from the days of Russell Wilson. One red flag about Darnold’s play is that he tends to hold onto the ball too long, and you cannot have that in Seattle, because he is not going to have a clean pocket most days. They might have drafted Grey Zabel in the first round, but if Charles Cross is the only good lineman they have again, then this team is going to be extremely disappointing to watch.

The main strength of the Seattle Seahawks last year was their defense, despite the fact they missed the playoffs with a ten-win season. They have an incredible amount of playmakers on all three levels and Mike MacDonald did a great job of making sure that this unit cleaned up any issues that they might have had in the past. Leonard Williams is still an absolute beast of a pass rusher and there were plenty more guys that stepped up as well. Boye Mafe and Derick Hall had breakout seasons last year, and now that Demarcus Lawrence is coming on board, this is a defensive line that will have depth. In the linebacking corps, Ernest Jones will hopefully have a full season under his belt with the team, because he is an incredibly versatile player that any team would love to have. The safety has a plethora of name talent like Riq Woolen, Julian Love, Devon Witherspoon, and Coby Bryant. The hope is that if the offense finds some consistency, the defense will not suffer any setbacks. MacDonald is a hell of a coach, so I am truly hoping for the best.

It is not impossible for this series to end in a split, but knowing how Sam Darnold looked against this team twice last year when he was with the Vikings, I find it more believable for the Rams to sweep this series. They will definitely win the first game since it is at home, and when they play each other again in Seattle, we will see where the cards fall.

WEEK 12 vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

We finally get to another potential playoff preview between two of the best teams in the NFC that are more or less in the same boat this season. We know that they are more than capable of winning the division, but how high is their ceiling? That has been the case with the Buccaneers over the past five seasons. It began with Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield has done more than his job to make them a respected foe. He might have his third different offensive coordinator in his three years with the team, but I think that as long as the pieces are still there and the system does not change, then it should not be too big of an issue. Bucky Irving emerged as one of the more promising rookie running backs in the league, so any time the passing game does get held in check, then he and Rachaad White can pick up the slack. Say it is the other way around, then you have Mike Evans to worry about, somebody that is essentially guaranteed to total a thousand yards in a season. Chris Godwin is coming back, Jalen McMillan showed tremendous promise as a rookie, and Tampa drafted Emeka Egbuka to round out the receiving room. Their offensive line is also a well-rounded unit that showed improvement towards the second half of the season, but based on Mayfield’s style of play, it is a unit that might give up more sacks than you would like.

My only real concern with the Buccaneers is their defense, which should not be the case with Todd Bowles as the head coach. If you ask me, it is an average unit with a few key stars, but not much else. They have a beast in Vita Vea anchoring the pass rush, Lavonte David still playing at a high level at middle linebacker, and one of the best safeties in the league in Antoine Winfield Jr. However, they allowed the fourth most passing yards out of any other team and their secondary only totaled seven interceptions. I understand that Tampa drafted two corners with their mid-round picks and signed Haason Reddick in free agency, but I don’t believe that those additions moved the needle with this group. Although they have guys they can show up in spurts, Tampa does not have a lot of players that are difference makers, and that is critical if they want to make a deep playoff run.

Baker Mayfield has not won a primetime game in the regular season since joining Tampa Bay. However, I think that some streaks have to end eventually, and I think that the Buccaneers have the pieces to win this game in a close finish. It is just going to come down to which quarterback can screw up the least and which one can show up when everything is on the line.

WEEK 13 @ CAROLINA PANTHERS

I have a ton of hope for Carolina, but this is the type of game that I do not see Sean McVay losing. However, this is not going to be just a cakewalk victory on the road. After seeing his career nearly get destroyed to begin the 2024 season, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young completely rebounded down the stretch and is now a sign of optimism rather than the biggest liability. Head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan are hoping that he and the rest of this offense can pick up where they left off, because they showed more positive flashes than they did in the last five years. Chuba Hubbard emerged as one of the best running backs in the league and he will have a nice right hand man in Rico Dowdle to step in when needed. Adam Thielen is not getting any younger, but that is a reason why Carolina used their first round pick to draft Tet McMillian, who will join a receiving corps featuring Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. They also have a rising tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders that will be seeking more opportunities, along with an offensive line that only let up thirty-six sacks. I do not think they will be a top ten unit right away, but if Carolina continues to head into the right direction, then they can absolutely be one of the more efficient offenses in the league.

However, I think the true X factor of this team is their defense, which was a disaster last year. It ranked dead last in total yards, passing, and points. They had the fourth fewest sacks and totaled nine interceptions, with a lot of it attributed to guys like Derrick Brown and Shaq Thompson missing the entire season. Brown will be returning, along with highly touted cornerback Jaycee Horn, but I do not think that this unit got drastically better. I like Tershawn Wharton, Christian Rozeboom, Tre’von Moehrig, and Pat Jones II. I think those are highly respected players that will be beneficial to this group. Yet, are those three really going to move the needle? Their leading tackle Xavier Woods is gone, Josey Jewell was okay, and neither Jadeveon Clowney nor DJ Wonnum made a difference on the defensive line. We knew that defensive coordinator Ejero Evero was going to have his hands full, but I seriously cannot tell if this group will overachieve or not. As much as I want them to, this team does not have the right personnel to do that at the moment, unless their offense turns back the clock a decade and starts ripping everyone’s hearts out.

Even if the Panthers find a way to turn things around, I just do not know if they have enough to beat a team like the Rams. It is going to require complete perfection on their end to have a chance because LA can take advantage of any minor mistake that their opponent makes.

WEEK 14 @ ARIZONA CARDINALS

One of the biggest upsets of the 2024 season was in the second week, when the Arizona Cardinals absolutely crushed the Rams 41-10 in Glendale. Obviously, LA was dealing with a bunch of injuries at the time, but it was a sign that things were starting to turn in the right corner. Entering 2025, the Cardinals are trying to make the statement that they have what it takes to make it back to the playoffs. Kyler Murray did not have a hard time bouncing back from his torn ACL and showed that this is still his team for the foreseeable future, James Conner is still a workhorse at running back, and Marvin Harrison Jr. established himself as the focal point of the passing game. Trey McBride rightfully earned a contract extension to make him the highest paid tight end in the NFL, but I am curious to see how Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch are going to perform in what should be make-or-break seasons for both receivers in the league. The fact that Arizona has one of the best offensive lines in football after being such a garbage heap a few seasons ago should indicate that this unit will be very efficient. The question is can they be consistent, because that has been the biggest con of Kyler Murray’s tenure in the NFL.

What I was really more impressed with was their defense with Jonathan Gannon leading the charge. I still feel their pass rush can get a lot better, but totaling forty-one sacks last year showed promising signs of improvement. It is why they drafted Walter Nolen with their first round pick and signed Josh Sweat to a long-term deal, giving players like Darius Robinson and Baron Browning chances to have improved in the 2025 campaigns. I am also expecting the run defense to get better because even though they have Zaven Collins, there is a reason why Arizona signed a proven veteran in Dalvin Tomlinson. The secondary is also an above average unit that at least made the effort of adding a potential number one corner by drafting Will Johnson in the second round, so that should take a lot of pressure off of Budda Baker’s shoulders. It is still a very young group, so I am anxious to see which guys are going to step up, especially as we approach the second half of the season.

This is definitely the type of the game that the Rams cannot afford to lose, but this is the series I do not expect to be one-sided again. The only way I can believe LA will win twice is if Arizona proves that they truly learned nothing and predictably collapse in the final few weeks of the season for the sixth time in a row.

WEEK 15 vs. DETROIT LIONS

In the last two matchups against the Detroit Lions, the Rams were close but did not play well enough to win. Now that these teams will meet in So-Fi Stadium, LA needs to prove that they are capable of beating an NFC juggernaut for their championship hopes to stay alive. Detroit might have lost both of their coordinators, but as long as Dan Campbell is in charge, then they are the team to beat in the division. For all the flaws that Jared Goff might have as a quarterback, he has still been one of the best the organization ever had. The only worst case scenario is that he turns into a turnover machine again and causes them to slip out of the playoff race, but with the cast around him, it should not be an issue. Detroit still has a one-two punch at running back featuring Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Amon-Ra St. Brown is easily one of the top five receivers in the league and Campbell is hoping that Jameson Williams could emerge as a legitimate number two. Sam LaPorta is always one of the more reliable tight ends in the league and their offensive line is one of the best in the league. We know that this offense will keep Detroit in postseason contention, but what about the other side of the ball?

When the Lions defense was healthy, they were one of the more improved units in the league. But the more guys they lost, the worse it got. If Aidan Hutchinson can successfully bounce back from the gruesome knee injury he suffered against the Cowboys, not only is this group going to get back on track, but he will be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year. The only issue is that there is not anybody else on the line that can generate consistent pressure. They have a few perennial run stuffers, but the only player that had more than a few sacks in 2024 was Za’Darius Smith, and he is still a free agent. At least the linebacking room is still deep with Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez. But without a pass rush, then that means the secondary is going to be put in a tough place. They lost Carlton Davis in free agency, but they still have a few key playmakers that will at least hold their end of the bargain. Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are easily one of the best safety tandems in the league, they signed DJ Reed to complement the rising Terrion Arnold, and the additions of both Amik Robertson and Avonte Maddox should keep things stable. However, if this group is not healthy, then this season might turn out even worse than the last two.

The only way I can believe that the Rams will win this game if I see it myself. We know that this is going to come down to the wire, but Detroit always seems to be one step ahead no matter what. I believe that both offenses will thrive and that the quarterback with the ball in his hands last will win. LA just needs to make sure that Stafford is the one that has the opportunity.

WEEK 16 @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Rams are on the road in two of their final three games of the season, and their first one is in a place where they have not lost since December of 2020. I normally do not like picking sweeps because it indicates that the other team does not have a chance, but I just feel that LA has a more dynamic and consistent offense, with a more trustworthy quarterback leading the helm. I think that we will get a lower scoring matchup than the one at So-Fi, if that is possible, but I trust that the Rams will be more disciplined and composed in the most critical moments.

WEEK 17 @ ATLANTA FALCONS

Something tells me that this is going to be a trap game. The Rams are on the road against a team they are expected to beat on Monday Night Football, but the Falcons are not exactly the type of opponent you want to completely underestimate. Now that Michael Penix has the full keys to the Atlanta offense, one of two things is going to happen. Either he surges like Lamar Jackson did in his sophomore year and carries the team to relevance, or the flaws keep rearing their ugly heads as they walk into another mediocre season. As I said, this is a team that has plenty of talent to get over the hump. Bijan Robinson is easily one of the top five running backs in all of football and Drake London broke through in his third year with over 1200 receiving yards. However, for this offense to truly rise up the charts, they need Kyle Pitts to get back on the map. After his rookie season, he was expected to be a huge focal point of the offense. Then all of a sudden, his play diminished and he has been in a lot of trade rumors. At some point in time, the quarterback cannot be the scapegoat for this anymore, so it will be really interesting to see how Pitts performs in 2025. Let’s not forget that Darnell Mooney fell eight yards short of a thousand last season and Ray-Ray McCloud set career highs in targets, catches, and yards! I don’t have a lot of concerns for the offensive line, even with the loss of Chris Dalman, because it is a group with proven starters. The Falcons only gave up thirty-two sacks the year before and was considered one of the best run blocking lines in football, so it really comes down to the receivers getting open and Penix being smart with his decision making.

As for the defense, it was really the most disappointing in the league. There is a reason why they did not decide to bring Matthew Judon or Justin Simmons back after signing them to prove-it deals for one year. They also knew that they could not keep Grady Jarrett around much longer because after the extension he received in 2019, he never totaled more than six sacks in a season. The good news was that Atlanta had two first round picks and decided to boost the edge with those selections. They finally made a smart decision and took Jalon Walker with their first pick, but then stunned all of us by trading a future first for James Pearce Jr. That means that head coach Raheem Morris sees them as immediate impactful players to complement Arnold Ebiketie. The rest of their defensive line has proven veterans like Leonard Floyd and David Onyemata, but they are also not getting any younger, so a lot more weight is going to be given to the young guys. They finished with the second fewest sacks in the NFL, so even though that number will get higher this season, I do not see a drastic improvement. I never had an issue with the linebacking room. Kaden Elliss is an extremely versatile linebacker and I have hopes for JD Bertrand, so I think the signing of Divine Deablo can help this group instead of hurt them. But the one position group that I have never been fond of is the secondary. AJ Terrell and Jessie Bates might be All-Pro caliber players, but who do they have to help out? I like Dee Alford, but he had an up-and-down season as he struggled with coverage. Jordan Fuller is a guy that I liked when he was on the Rams, but he tailed off in Carolina and got cut after one year for a reason. Mike Hughes did not do too bad and Atlanta brought him back on a new contract, yet I am worried that last year might have been a blimp in the radar.

I will give the Rams the benefit of the doubt for now since they have a more proven offense, but I have a weird feeling that the circumstances are going to change when this matchup arrives. Hopefully LA still wins regardless, but the Falcons have an interesting season ahead of them.

WEEK 18 vs. ARIZONA CARDINALS

My guess is that the Rams are going to play all of their starters in the hopes that they will win the NFC West for a second year in a row. I have faith that they will handle their business at home against the Cardinals, but this will depend on how the 49ers perform against the Seahawks at home. Once those games are over, then we will see who will take home the crown.

FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 11-6