Rams Research
A few final tidbits from the statistical preview of this Week 1 matchup…
First, I had to remind myself that of the Rams seven losses last year, Nacua didn't start or finish five of them.
Stafford went 0-4 against Ryans' 49ers defense from 2021-2022, and LA averaged a mere 14.3 points per game in that span. What's troubling is this Houston personnel could be better than those San Francisco defenses. Last year, the Texans surrendered the lowest completion percentage in the NFL (58.8), racked up the second-most interceptions (19), and generated the second-highest pressure rate. Gulp.
How important is the return of Coleman Shelton at center, not to mention having both starting tackles ready to rock for Week 1 (unlike in 2024)? Stafford absolutely shredded with clean pockets last year. But when things broke down, they cratered. His passer rating plummeted from 107.9 when clean to 55.0 when under duress (down in Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew territory).
I did a study this offseason about offensive line continuity for the Rams under McVay. One summation was that LA's made the postseason every year its lost less than 30 percent of offensive line starts to injury/suspension.
Per Next Gen Stats, C.J. Stroud had only nine passing touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions versus zone coverage in 2024. You know who loves to rush four, puncture pockets, and play zone behind, don't you? Chris Shula and the Rams.
Watching the West
It's entirely possible that all four teams in the NFC West improved significantly this offseason.
Pop quiz: Which was the most complete team in the division last year, measured by the gold standard in unit efficiency? The Arizona Cardinals, who ranked 12th in the NFL – 11th on offense, 14th on defense, 18th on special teams. After pouring resources into their defense, is 2025 the year for Kyler Murray and company to deliver? It's a fairly gentle start for Arizona – at New Orleans this Sunday and home to Carolina next week.
The Rams won't see the Cardinals until after Thanksgiving, which is odd. Then again, the only division foe LA will face in the first 10 weeks is San Francisco.
The Niners have a soft schedule. There's no other way to put it. Whereas the Rams get the Eagles, Ravens, and Lions as their like-place finisher games, the Niners pair with the Giants, Browns, and Bears. Therefore, the Week 1 game at Seattle has the potential to be one of the most important games of the season from the LA lens. If the revamped Seahawks can't knock off the Niners at Lumen Field, San Francisco has a real path to being 4-0 when they land at LAX for Thursday Night Football in Week 5.
And I don't know if you're interested in tracking the Falcons this season after trading for their first-round pick in 2026, but Atlanta hosts defending NFC South champion Tampa Bay on Sunday in the early window.