The Rams don’t get much time to settle in this season. They open on Thursday Night Football against the 49ers, and after the Seahawks handled the Patriots on opening night, Los Angeles walks into Week 1 with a little extra pressure to answer.
There’s no mystery about where this one can swing. Brock Purdy has a habit of putting the ball in harm’s way at least once or twice a game, and the Rams’ job is to make those mistakes matter.
They won’t have Aaron Donald, but they do have difference makers in Myles Garrett, Jaylen Watson, and Trent McDuffie. Garrett’s ability to create quick pressure could be the trigger that forces Purdy into a costly throw, while Watson and McDuffie give the Rams a better shot to capitalize on it.
The start matters just as much as the turnovers. Los Angeles showed in London last year against the Jacksonville Jaguars what a fast opening can look like: a defensive three-and-out, a 13-play touchdown drive, another three-and-out, then a six-play touchdown march and a 14-0 lead before the game really had time to breathe.
By halftime, the Rams were up 21-0 and in control. They did something similar against San Francisco last year too, jumping out to a 21-0 lead on the way to a 42-26 win.
With the trip west and the body clock still stuck on California time, a sharp opening would be a strong sign the Rams have avoided jet lag.
San Francisco’s offense is built to make tackling look a lot harder than it should. Kyle Shanahan keeps finding ways to turn routine catches into yards after the catch, and Thursday night should be no different.
He’ll look to get Christian McCaffrey into space and test the Rams’ linebackers and secondary, and Deebo Samuel is back after having success against Los Angeles in the past. That puts a premium on clean tackling from Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, and Nate Landman, because even small completions can become explosive plays if the Rams miss the first hit.
On offense, the cleanest path to getting rolling is on the ground. If Kyren William and Blake Corum can get going early, everything else gets easier for Matthew Stafford and the passing game.
That was the formula in last year’s win over the 49ers, when Williams and Corum combined for 27 carries, 129 yards, and two touchdowns, with both backs averaging more than four yards per carry. The forecast calls for a chilly 54 degrees at kickoff, so a productive run game would help Los Angeles settle in quickly.
Special teams could decide the whole thing. The Rams lost several games last season because of mistakes in that phase, which is why they made a coordinator change to Bubba Ventrone and added Joe Cardona at long snapper.
In a game projected to be tight, one mistake there could be the difference between a three-point win and a three-point loss. With Super Bowl expectations hanging over the season, the Rams can’t afford a repeat of last year’s special teams issues.
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Aaron Donalds Rams Return Is Being Overshadowed By A Messy Fight
Aaron Donalds return to the Rams conversation has been drowned out by a far more personal dispute, one that spilled into public view after he filed court papers in July 2026 seeking temporary sole physical custody of his two minor children. The filing cited safety concerns tied to a French bulldog living at his former partner Jaelynn Blakeys home, with Donald alleging the dog had bitten the children and Blakeys niece and backing up the claim with photographs.
Blakey denied the accusations, saying the dog had long been part of the family and served as an emotional-support animal, while also accusing Donald of using safety concerns as leverage in their co-parenting fight. The disagreement only grew messier when private text messages about the dog leaked, underscoring how tense the situation had become before Blakey ultimately agreed to remove the animal ahead of any judicial intervention. [Read more 🡒]
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For Los Angeles, the timing is rough. Aaron Donald has been ruled out, leaving the Rams without one of their biggest defensive difference-makers for a game that could hinge on pressure up front and controlling the middle of the field. Even with the 49ers easing two stars back into the mix, the Rams now have to navigate a cross-hemisphere showdown without the player who often changes the game plan on his own. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Donald's Comeback Starts With A Rams Reality Fans Won't Love
Aaron Donalds return to the Rams is going to take a little patience, and the first sign of that came before the season even got rolling. He will be inactive for Los Angeles Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers after not traveling with the team to Australia, where the Rams open the season, as the club gives him time to ramp up following his comeback from retirement.
For a defense that still views Donald as a centerpiece, the delay is a reality fans probably would rather not face right away. His last NFL action came in 2023, and the Rams are expected to keep easing him back in with a return no earlier than Week 2, leaving the opener to unfold without one of the leagues most disruptive defenders. [Read more 🡒]