How difficult will Rams find getting off to a fast start in the 2025 NFL season?

The Los Angeles Rams opened slowly in the past two seasons. In 2023, the Rams were 3-6 before winning seven of their last eight games to finish with a record of 10-7. In 2024, the team opened the season with a record of 1-4 before turning things around and winning nine of the final 12 games to finish the year at 10-7 once more.

While it's encouraging to get hot late in the season and hope that momentum carries over into the NFL Playoffs, there certainly is something to be said for not digging such an early hole, too. After all, if the team had opened the 2024 NFL season with a record of 3-2, the Rams would have finished 2024 with a record of 12-5.

And with the team opening the 2024 NFL schedule with:

• @ Detroit Lions
• @ Arizona Cardinals
• San Francisco 49ers
• @ Chicago Bears
• Green Bay Packers

The Rams would have entered the 2025 NFL Playoffs with a record of 12-5, and perhaps that would have changed the outcome of the postseason. It certainly would have given the team a stronger case for the 2025 NFL season. Of course, as in every mythical scenario that changes history, there would have been repercussions, too.

It was the Rams' presence at the 26th overall pick that prompted the Atlanta Falcons to surrender their 2026 NFL Draft Round 1 pick to move back into Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. And right now, that extra Round 1 pick feels incredibly valuable.

But what led to the Rams' early-season struggles? Has this team fallen into a pattern of bad habits? Or is this merely the coincidence of two seasons of bad luck? Every season is different, for many reasons. Ultimately, the Rams have to deal with the challenges of a new season, but like a contractor must solve the unique challenges of single-home construction. But the Rams coaching staff is consistently one of the best in the league. So why haven't the coaches been able to solve this dilemma?

Let's examine the factors that derailed the Rams' early-season efforts in 2024 and consider whether the conditions may be present early in 2025 as well.

(5) - Rams legendary All-Pro DT Aaron Donald retired

The Los Angeles Rams' defense was in a state of flux throughout the first half of the 2024 NFL season. The greatest single factor that impacted the entire team was the anticipated but sudden retirement of All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Donald was one of the three veteran players the Rams kept in place after the soft reboot after a disappointing 2022 season

Donald was more than one player. He was a significant presence on the Rams defensive front. His ability to elevate the production of his teammates was so measurable that it became knows as the Aaron Donald effect. And as offensive linemen double teamed him, many former Rams pass rushers found an easier path to opposing quarterbacks, and to bigger paychecks.

But it was not just Donald's retirement.