The Rams currently sit at the bottom of the NFC West with a 1-3 record—this season just hasn’t gone their way.
Among the myriad issues, star wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are still a long ways from returning, so quarterback Matthew Stafford has had limited throwing options, as names like Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Whittington and Tyler Johnson head up the current receiving room.
The defense, which lost key pieces over the offseason such as defensive tackle Aaron Donald to retirement and linebacker Ernest Jones who the Rams traded to the Titans, has struggled mightily to begin the season. The Rams finally made a first-round pick for the first time since their Super Bowl run, selecting defensive end Jared Verse out of Florida State, but he hasn’t done much yet to help out this struggling unit.
Heading into week five, the Rams have allowed the most points per game at 28.8, and that figure has largely been attributed towards their inability to stop the run.
In week four, when the Rams fell to the Bears 24-18, they got torched by D’Andre Swift, who heading into that game was one of the NFL’s most inefficient running backs. He averaged a measly 1.8 yards per carry before last Sunday’s matchup, but managed to rush for 93 yards on only 16 attempts. He also added 72 receiving yards on 7 catches, pushing his all-purpose yardage on the day to 165.
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula has to change something in defending the run, as Packers running back Josh Jacobs is primed for his 2024 breakout game if the Rams defense continues on this trajectory. Jacobs has only eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards once this year, against a subpar Colts defense, but he could have a field day against this struggling unit.
The Packers have had to play from behind in multiple contests, partially explaining why Jacobs hasn’t received many touches. This includes last week’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, when Green Bay ultimately fell just short of a victory after trailing by three touchdowns early in the game.
Quarterback Jordan Love threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns, but also added in three interceptions, proving that he’s still prone to mistakes. In a matchup in which the Packers are favored at SoFi stadium, the Rams will have to be physical up front and force Love to make mistakes through the air. The Packers will also miss wide receiver Christian Watson due to an ankle injury—a key contributor in that offense who can change the score of a game in an instant.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams team will continue to rely on running back Kyren Williams to produce the bulk of LA’s offense. Stafford has been building chemistry with his new receiving core, but we’ve yet to see him dominate a game through the air in 2024. Head coach Sean McVay has always been creative in ensuring that his receivers are open downfield, but this will be another game in which Williams will need to receive 20-plus touches to give the offense a chance.
If Stafford can continue to build rapport with his receivers, Rams fans can anticipate a potential breakout performance from one of Robinson, Whittington or Johnson. Whittington is an intriguing candidate in particular, as he’s seen a majorly increased snap and target share. If the Rams are battling back and forth, it may be Whittington who sees the lionshare of the targets given his proven ability to separate and find open space.
The Rams’ glaring issue concerning their defense won’t be fixed overnight, but this can be a chance to show improvements against a good offense. If not, the front office might treat this as a rebuilding year for the team and tank for a good first-round talent in 2025 NFL draft.