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The Los Angeles Rams were one of the best stories of the 2023 NFL campaign. LA got hot after a 3-6 start and managed to return to the postseason following a dismal 5-12 output the year prior. With Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay leading the charge, anything is possible, so how should the Rams be viewed ahead of 2024?
Despite losing Aaron Donald to retirement, LA should be realistically seen as a Super Bowl contender this season. Conor Orr from Sports Illustrated listed the Rams among 12 teams that could actually win Super Bowl LIX in February:
“Now that the Rams have two established receiver threats, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, who are an intimate part of every nook and cranny of their offense, the sky is the limit. The reason? No other team has what the Rams have, so no other team can prepare for the Rams adequately enough. While Sean McVay’s staff was raided and gutted this offseason (again), those remaining and arriving in L.A. have a high ceiling for the 2024 season. The defense is most fascinating, with the injection of rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske to a unit that has been steadily hitting on mid-round picks to support Aaron Donald for the past two seasons. The result is a less star-studded but, potentially, more wholly functional unit for new coordinator Chris Shula.”
All the pressure will be on the defense as for the first time since 2014, AD will not be in the lineup. The defense will be placed under a microscope as new defensive coordinator Chris Shula navigates the unit through a transitional period. There is plenty of young talent to make LA dangerous defensively, although some growing pains might have to happen first before the group gels. Until that happens, the offense will have to carry the load which they’re plenty capable of if the second half was any indication.
The #Rams offense is now the 9th scoring offense in the NFL. They are top 3 in the last 4 games. They are 9th in total offense. 2nd in total offense over the last 4 games. They also are the 10th red zone scoring offense in the NFL.
— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) December 18, 2023
Sean McVay has these guys cooking at the right… pic.twitter.com/LBrY7W1ItH
Plus with a (hopefully) fully healthy Cooper Kupp, Stafford has enough playmakers around him to be successful. Rookie running back Blake Corum and All-Pro Kyren Williams should take much of the pressure off the veteran QB. Oh yeah, and that Puka Nacua kid is something special as well. Aside from Stafford, all eyes will be on young studs like Williams and Nacua to have an encore showing in ‘24.
ALL PRO’s at ages 22 and 23, Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua spear head the Rams youth movement on offense
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) January 13, 2024
So happy for these two kids to get the accolades that they definitely deserved in 2023. Two tough players who clearly have a passion for the game that you just can’t teach pic.twitter.com/7MslO7qKE6
How serious of a contender are you expecting LA to be this year? Let’s discuss in the comments!
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