With the Rams headed to Melbourne for Week 1, the spotlight lands where it usually does when Los Angeles wants to set the tone: on Matthew Stafford.
A lot can change once the real games start, and there’s plenty of curiosity around what offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase will bring and whether Chris Shula’s defense pushes the offense into a different kind of rhythm. The Rams are definitely headed into this season with some new wrinkles. One thing that already stands out: they’re loaded at tight end, with five on the roster, a clear sign the team is leaning harder into that position in 2026.
Still, the clearest path to a strong opener runs through Stafford. In the 2025 season opener against the Houston Texans, and again in two games against this year’s Week 1 opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, he was the driving force behind the offense. In those three games, the Rams averaged only 17 rushing attempts for 92 yards and a touchdown, while Stafford put up 25 completions on 37 attempts for 305 yards and 2.7 touchdowns on average.
That’s why he’s the central figure in this matchup.
Puka Nacua remains the steady presence in the passing game, but when the Rams faced the 49ers in 2025, Davante Adams was the more productive target. Across those two games, Adams averaged 5.5 catches for 85.5 yards and scored a touchdown. For a receiver who was less productive overall last season, that stands out.
If there’s one area that could bring real tension in Week 1, it’s special teams, and Harrison Mevis carries the biggest burden. In last year’s loss to San Francisco, his missed 53-yard field goal pushed the game into overtime. The 49ers then cashed in with a 41-yard kick to win it.
The Rams also had a chance to force the issue late, but the drive died at the San Francisco 20-yard line. On fourth-and-1, Kyren Williams was stopped without a gain.
Even with special teams still something of a swing factor, the defense looks like it should be far harder to crack this time around. San Francisco put 52 points on the Rams last season, but that kind of output should come way down.
The numbers from that matchup were ugly: the Rams’ secondary let backup quarterback Mac Jones throw for 652 yards and five touchdowns against just one interception.
This year, Los Angeles has strengthened both the pass rush and the coverage behind it, which should keep Stafford from having to win track meets every week.
He’ll still be the main man in Melbourne, though, and he went through training camp and the preseason relatively healthy and rested. If the Rams are as good as the offseason buzz suggests, this is the kind of game they should be able to win.
Of course, it’s the 49ers, so nothing is guaranteed.
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Puka Nacua Nears Rams Return With Big Questions Still Hanging
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Nacuas on-field comeback, though, comes with bigger questions still hanging over the situation. He remains involved in a civil lawsuit alleging off-field misconduct and is also waiting on possible NFL discipline, even as he has spoken publicly about spending the offseason focused on self-improvement and mental health support. For the Rams, it leaves his return to football paired with a layer of uncertainty that could linger well beyond next week. [Read more 🡒]