Rams vs. Colts: 6 eye popping stats that define Week 2 win

Rams stat No. 4: Opponent third-down conversion below 50 percent

For the second consecutive game, the LA Rams defense held the opponent to converting just five of 11 attempts on third downs and held the opponent to zero for one attempt to convert on fourth down. That is an incredibly impressive statistic that is being missed by many.

The LA Rams defense was never going to replicate the exact performance of 2020, even if former defensive coordinator Brandon Staley remained with the Rams. After just two games in 2020, the Rams averaged surrendering 18.0 points. But the Rams faced the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, two teams from the abysmal NFC East Division.

Are the 2021 opponents any better? While it’s impossible to say with certainty after just two games, we know that both of the Rams 2021 opponents were playoff teams just months earlier. And we also know that the Rams roster is entirely different this year. For that matter, so is the coaching staff.

The LA Rams defense has given up yardage so far this year, yes. But is that necessarily a bad thing? I’m not sure. Are victories awarded to teams that put up more yards? If the Rams surrender 80 yards but get the football on downs, isn’t that as good as a fumble or interception?  The goal of the defense is to stop opponents from scoring points.  Right now, the defense is holding teams to an average of just 19.0 points per game.

So far this year, the Rams are allowing just 10 of 22 conversions on third down, and zero of two conversions on fourth down. That is pretty healthy defense, folks.

As long as the Rams offense keeps putting up points, that should be just fine.