The Rams’ offense came out of Week 1 looking nothing like the unit people spent the offseason hyping up. It produced the fewest points of any team in the opening slate, and the result was a flat, frustrating start that leaves Los Angeles needing a sharp turnaround against the Giants on Monday Night Football.
A lot of fingers point toward Matthew Stafford, and for good reason. The quarterback had his worst outing since Week 1 in 2022, finishing 15 of 25 for 155 yards with an interception.
He missed open throws, overshot others and never found the kind of rhythm that usually makes the Rams tick. Against a Giants defense that can bring heat up front, that kind of performance won’t get it done.
Stafford wasn’t the only one who came up short. Davante Adams entered the season with plenty of buzz about how much cleaner his connection with Stafford would look after a full training camp together, but that didn’t show up in the opener.
Adams caught three passes on six targets for 26 yards, and the results were underwhelming even if the blame can’t fall entirely on him. Stafford sailed one throw over his head late after Adams had shaken free on the sideline, but Adams also had trouble creating separation and giving his quarterback a real window to work with.
That was a far cry from what the Rams were expecting, and it was even less productive than most of Adams’ 2025 outings. The only games in which he finished with less were the playoffs against the Bears and Week 11 against Seattle.
Terrance Ferguson was another name that barely registered. He had been labeled a breakout candidate all summer, but he was nearly invisible in Australia and finished with one target.
Stafford missed on that throw as well, but Ferguson’s impact over 31 offensive snaps was minimal. That matters because the Rams lean so heavily on heavy-personnel looks with tight ends at the center of the formation.
The tight ends as a group didn’t do enough, either. They combined for just four catches and 31 yards, and one of those receptions ended with a Tyler Higbee fumble.
With two primary receivers and little depth behind them, the Rams need the tight end room to do more than block and occupy space. Ferguson has to be part of that answer, and so does everyone else wearing the horned helmet.
In Other News...
Puka Nacuas Breakup Drama Just Took Another Public Turn
Puka Nacuas off-field situation has become a public legal matter in Los Angeles County, where Hallie Aiono filed a petition to determine parental relationship to establish the Rams receiver as the legal father of their unborn son. In the filing, Aiono also requested joint legal custody, with full physical custody for herself, along with financial support tied to the pregnancy, the birth and attorney fees.
Aiono and Nacua have both since posted on social media in ways that suggest they are moving on with new relationships, adding another visible layer to a dispute that is already playing out beyond the courtroom. For a Rams team that has relied on Nacua as one of its most important players, the football side of his year now sits alongside a personal issue that is likely to keep drawing attention until the legal process runs its course. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Defense Faces A Big Week 2 Availability Question
The Rams opened the week with a familiar sort of early-season injury report, and the focus quickly landed on the defensive side. Kam Curl, Omar Speights and Nate Landman were all limited in practice because of injuries, while Kam Kinchens sat out entirely with a hamstring issue. Davante Adams also received a veteran rest day, but the bigger concern for Los Angeles is how healthy its defense can be heading into a Week 2 matchup with the Giants.
Myles Garrett was also placed on injured reserve, adding another layer to a group already being monitored closely before Sunday. The Giants have their own list of affected players, including Paulson Adebo, who did not practice because of a knee injury, but the Rams are the team with the clearest question hanging over the week: how many of their defensive pieces will actually be ready when the game gets here? [Read more 🡒]
Former Rams Receiver Charged After Deeply Embarrassing Arrest
A former Rams receivers name resurfaced this week for the wrong reason, with Stedman Bailey arrested in Florida after an incident at a Pembroke Lakes Mall entertainment complex. Police were called to the Round1 Bowling & Arcade after a witness reported Bailey and a woman engaging in explicit sexual activity, turning what should have been a routine public outing into an ugly and deeply embarrassing scene.
Bailey was later charged with one misdemeanor count of exposure of sexual organs, and he admitted to officers that his pants were down. He reportedly blamed heavy alcohol consumption for his behavior while denying that physical penetration occurred, leaving another jarring off-field headline for a player whose NFL career already feels long removed from the field. [Read more 🡒]