2 NFL pundits project doom and gloom for mighty Rams in 2025

What is it about the Los Angeles Rams that seems to attract naysayers? For a team that has missed the NFL Playoffs just twice since hiring HC Sean McVay in 2017, you might guess that there would be a bit of objective odds figured into the willingness to rally around the downfall of the team that just won the NFC West Division. After all, nobody shouted from the mountaintops about the demise of the San Francisco 49ers in 2024.

You know, the team that just finished last in the division.

It's a race to get out the most stark and outrageous takes about 2025 possible. You know the ones, the way-too-early forecasts that scryed Super Bowl LIX pitting the New York Jets led by QB Aaron Rodgers against the San Francisco 49ers led by Mr. Irrelevant, QB Brock Purdy. It's a pattern that directs the more 'out there,' predictions, the better. After all, by the time the season ends, the drama of real football pushes all of those miscast fortunes aside.

Unless they got it right, that is.

A broken clock is correct twice a day. And so it goes with the mudslinging of future forecasting of a new NFL season. But what about the rationalization, the logic, the painstaking investigative work? Without a sense of team rosters, a smattering of how a team built their team for a new season, and an overall assessment of a football organization as a whole, it's all just fundamental entertainment. Much like a fortune cookie, a coin-operated fortune teller in an arcade, or reading the daily horoscope in the daily newspaper (is that still a thing?).

There is just enough language to make it feel somewhat authentic. But the details are left to be so generic that it can't be argued line item by line item. Of course, the same Rams 'doomsday,' perspectives marched on social media after the 2022 and 2023 NFL seasons, so why should this year be any different?

So where will the sky fall on the Rams in 2025? Let's take a look?

Rams offensive EPA will tumble in 2025

When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams' future, there are so many uncertainties and variables that it's difficult to quantify them all and emerge with an objective and defendable forecast for the team. But that did not stop Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr from taking a complete stab in the dark. He composed an article about one bold prediction for every NFL team that has some merit for some teams, but when he got to the LA Rams, I tried but failed to follow his logic.

The Assertion:
The Rams will drop in both total passing and total rushing EPA next season.

Okay, Why? He cites the team's risk of losing crafty veteran WR Demarcus Robinson as the catalyst, not even making mention of the Rams willingness to trade veteran WR Cooper Kupp. If the only personnel moves this offseason consisted of expiring contracts for Tutu Atwell, Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, and the anticipated trade of Cooper Kupp, he might be onto something. But the Rams will address any and all vacancies in the wide receiver room.

Who's to say that the team will not be better in 2025? At least allows the wizard of personnel moves, GM Les Snead, a chance to restock the Rams roster before throwing in the towel. The entire team is focused upon the offense this offseason. I doubt that they will fail.

The Rams go from first to worst in the NFC West

Pro Football Network is often a hodgepodge of solid NFL information intermingled with some sketchy speculative pieces that leave readers scratching their heads. Its latest article that follows along the same line, NFL Bold Predictions for 2025, is of the head-scratcher variety.

While the article appears to be an anthology of speculative assertions, the piece fails to give credit to anyone. Was this such a ridiculous piece of spitballing that nobody wanted to take the credit for it?

The Assertion:
It’s easy to project a significant dropoff on the offensive side of the ball (C+ grade in Offense+ last season, 11th best), and the writing is on the wall when it comes to the defense.

I'm floored by this one. If the premise is that the defense is falling into a fetal position in 2025, did nobody watch the NFL Playoffs? The Rams defense swarmed both the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles offenses, racking up a phenomenal 16 quarterback sacks in just two games. And yet, PFN used this statistic to defend the logic:

• Sack Rates
• 2019-21: 8.1% (second)
• 2022-24: 6.4% (23rd)
  
  

I'm sorry, but sack rates should be based on who will be competing on defense. And since when as 'sack rate' been the gold standard for defenses? The article correlates sack rates to five teams in 2024 that struggled. The conclusion? The Rams will find itself among the 5-win teams in 2025.

The funny thing is, the Rams have one of the fiercest pass rushes in the NFL. Doubt it? How could this pathetic defense described by PFN manage to put up 16 QB sacks in two NFL playoff games? They overlooked that minor detail that blows a hole in their theory.

You can ignore early Armageddon predictions

Try to judge the taste of a baked cake by the box mix in the grocery cart. Try to forecast the weather for next week just off the cuff. While humans have a snappy ability to take what is known and make educated guesses about the unknown, the truth is that even those guesses must be based upon some level of knowledge.

And until all 32 teams set their rosters, future forecasts are a bit premature.

But even the general trend of the future has some basis if the forecast is rooted in the quality of the team's front office and coaching staff. What do I mean? Rams HC Sean McVay has two of eight seasons of failing to make the NFL Playoffs. That is a 'failure,' rate of 25 percent. If any other head coach holds a 75 percent success rate in postseason competition, that track record will supersede the annual roster resets and restocks.

Much like a NASCAR race driver who stops for a pit stop. It may be a new set of tires and fresh gasoline, but the driver is certain to be back in the lead if he was leading the race before the refueling. So why discount Coach McVay?

Everyone loves to be the person who nailed a 'gotcha' moment, and the consistent success of the Rams under Coach McVay makes this team a magnet to such metallic perspectives. Nobody goes haywire over predictions of a struggling 49ers team that ended last in the NFC West Division in 2024.

As long as the Rams keep winning, NFL pundits will take their 'sky is falling,' shots at them. It's simply not something I recommend having any concern over. As always, thanks for reading.

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