Rams' perceived weaknesses may be a strength vs. Jaguars' upstart defense

The 4-2 Jacksonville Jaguars are a formidable opponent. Their superpower is creating turnovers, a lesson that comes up frequently in discussions regarding the Los Angeles Rams. It's the great equalizer for teams that aren't particularly effective at gaining yards, scoring points, or shutting down opposing offenses.

Turnovers are the name of the Jaguars' game. They have a net turnover differential of plus-eight through six weeks.

In contrast, LA has a net differential of plus-three. For the visual learners, the table below lays it out:

While that doesn’t necessarily dictate the outcome of every game, it sets the stage for a tough road in Week 7. The Horns continue to battle through injuries — this week it's wideouts Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell, running back Blake Corum, inside linebacker Omar Speights, and right tackle Rob Havenstein.

Throwing inexperienced players onto the field against a sticky-fingers defense is a recipe for heartache, but the cavalry is on the way.

Rams' backups could make life tough on the Jaguars in Week 7

As Los Angeles pivoted from its 2024 season to 2025, general manager Les Snead understood that he had to create a succession plan for seasoned veterans quarterback Matthew Stafford, tight end Tyler Higbee, and Havenstein. The tight end talent available in the 2025 NFL Draft made the decision easy, and Snead selected Terrence Ferguson in the second round.

The Rams have been starting Warren McClendon Jr. at right tackle in Rob Havenstein’s absence for the past two games. The thrilling part of McClendon’s performance? He’s actually been a solid upgrade at the position, allowing just two pressures and no sacks over 76 dropbacks, per Next Gen Stats. That ranks him as the fifth-best offensive lineman in pressure rate (just 2.6 percent) — and the best among right tackles.

While Corum is battling injury, his absence could be the perfect opportunity to debut rookie running back Jarquez Hunter. Even though LA continues to lean heavily on Kyren Williams, the offense seems to operate more effectively when toggling between two backs. Hunter is ideally suited for Week 7 — he has the burst to threaten the perimeter, but also the power and mindset to smash the football between the tackles and move the pile.

Week 7 is shaping up to be a tough challenge for an offense that may have to face a stingy defense without two of its most productive offensive weapons.

Still, with solid depth across the roster and players already stepping up, Los Angeles’ offense could turn the tables in this one. After all, if they can protect the football, the defense has shown it can be just as opportunistic.

As always, thanks for reading.