The Los Angeles Rams will likely go as far as quarterback Matthew Stafford takes them this season, and with Stafford already dealing with back issues heading into 2025, many are understandably concerned.
So, just how worried should we be about Stafford before the Rams' Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans? Jeff Howe of The Athletic feels that there is major reason for trepidation.
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"I don't like the sounds of a lingering back problem for anyone, let alone a 37-year-old quarterback who has taken a litany of grueling hits throughout his career," Howe wrote. "When Stafford was at his best last season, he was a second-tier QB. Combine that with the Rams' youth movement and this looks like a team with untapped potential, but it won't matter if Stafford has trouble getting through the season. I'm wary of a team reaching its ceiling when it has that many question marks."
Stafford threw for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 65.8 percent of his passes and posting a 93.7 passer rating in 2024. He was good; not great.
Yes, the Rams won the NFC West and made it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, but it was clear all throughout the campaign that the team had issues. With Stafford now another year older and nursing an injury, it's completely valid to be a bit bearish on Los Angeles going into 2025.
To be fair, the Rams did add wide receiver Davante Adams during the offseason, and a wide receiver tandem of Adams and Puka Nacua definitely sounds impressive. But if Stafford isn't able to stay healthy, LA's improved receiving corps won't matter much.
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The Rams might actually have to lean on their defense, led by young pass rushers like Jared Verse, Kobie Turner and Byron Young. However, their secondary remains an issue, particularly at the cornerback position.
Luckily for Los Angeles, the division is not nearly as daunting as it once was.
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