The Los Angeles Rams came out of Week 1 with a problem that’s impossible to ignore: the offense was flat-out the worst in the league. They were the only team that didn’t reach double digits in points, while the Chicago Bears set the pace at 59. If the Rams somehow matched that output, they’d need nine games - or until the second game of November - to get there.
That’s the ugly headline. The softer one is that, after a week filled with humiliation, injury, and controversy, there’s only one direction left for this group to move.
The defense wasn’t spotless, but it at least gave the Rams something to build on. Los Angeles allowed 27 points, which ranked 18th, though the yardage numbers were worse, landing at 22nd. So yes, there’s still plenty of work to do on that side too.
Now comes the real test: can they bounce back after jet lag and an embarrassing loss? They have to.
NFL schedulers didn’t do them any favors, sending them to Australia for their opener before bringing them back to face the surprisingly formidable New York Giants in Week 2. The last time head coach John Harbaugh stood on the sidelines at SoFi Stadium, his former Ravens beat the Blue and Yellow 45-6.
What stood out most in Week 1 was how much offense the Rams left sitting in the playbook. Drives kept dying before they had a chance to matter. The result was a mess of three punts, a fumble, an interception, and two turnovers on downs.
Explosive plays were almost nonexistent. For the full game, a Puka Nacua reception was the only gain of 20-plus yards. That kind of output won’t hold up for long.
The plan seemed to be to try to outmuscle the 49ers defense, but that approach never really took shape. The tight end group, usually one of the more dependable parts of the roster, had a rough day across the board. That room finished with just four catches on six targets for 31 yards.
Los Angeles also needs more from its speed options. Tutu Atwell was a healthy scratch, and Xavier Smith was never targeted.
Neither player wins with power, but that isn’t the point. With two tight ends on the field, the Rams need a fast receiver running free downfield to stretch the defense and loosen up the box.
That never happened.
As always, thanks for reading.
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