4 New Year's resolutions for LA Rams offense must make for 2026

The 11-5 Los Angeles Rams are not down for the count. But their current two-game losing streak is beginning to make even the most loyal fans squirm in their seats. After skyrocketing to a 9-2 record that was good enough to secure the NFC's number one seed, the team has sputtered to a 2-3 record over the past five games.

Still, this is not the time to panic. While this team is shooting itself in the foot, multiple NFL experts have doubled down on solid endorsements for the Horns as the playoffs near. Still, the team cannot win merely by showing up. Strategy is more important than ever. So what will it take to win in the playoffs?

The complexity of such an answer is not easily discarded. Nor is it easily addressed. The team has been struggling to fix cascading hiccups all season long. So, the easiest way to diagnose resolutions is to bisect the team into the offense and defense.

Let's start with some offensive New Year's Day resolutions that will yield huge impacts in the postseason.

4 New Year's resolutions for LA Rams offense to make for 2026

4. Keep Matthew Stafford upright

Keeping veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford safe in the pocket on an MVP-worthy season should be step one. But the team can only do so with a sound offensive line and liberal use of the tight end position. Blocking is not instinctive. Like anything, the more it's performed, the better the proficiency.

That means ensuring the offensive line has solid, well-seasoned blockers. That should be the first item off the checklist.

3. Don't abandon the running game

Even as the team deals with an injury to running back Blake Corum, the need to commit to running the football is as urgent as ever. Los Angeles is among the NFL's top 10 rushing offenses and one of only three top rushing offenses that are currently heading to the playoffs.

So, if running the football has gotten the team to the postseason, it ought to be capable of getting the team through the postseason, too. It's easy to task Matthew Stafford with powering through for the win. But this offense needs to remain balanced. That balance only happens with a strong commitment to run the football.

2. Stick with that 13 personnel throughout the playoffs

Los Angeles has used 13 personnel (three tight ends) at a rate of nearly 28 percent of the offensive plays. That frequency is roughly double that of any other NFL team. Not only is LA using the formation more frequently, but this offense is the best at it. And that creates a huge advantage.

Defenses rarely see that formation.

That means that LA has an inherent advantage. Advantages become significant in the postseason. Like it or not, this offense must press its advantage.

1. Role out some new wrinkles

When the LA Rams exploded for 45 points in Week 14, there was an unanswered question. How did this offense become so dominating in that game? The answer is, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur called the plays. He was spectacular running the offense.

It wasn't as though he devoted the team to a barrage of trick plays. He made different use of talent for down and distance scenarios that the defense expected. That threw off the defense.

Could that happen again? You bet it could. The team has played 16 games, with players performing the same plays each week. Now would be an excellent time to toss in a new wrinkle or two. That means emphasizing different players. Giving work to some offensive rookies. It all boils down to forcing defenses to hesitate.

This offense is tops in the NFL. Still, there is room to become even better.

As always, thanks for reading.