Poona Ford and the Rams will be ready for whatever weather comes their way

Los Angeles Rams were dramatically better at stuffing the run last season. After getting walloped by Eagles running back Saquon Barkley twice in 2024, they went all out to improve. The answer was veteran nose tackle Poona Ford, who had quietly become one of the NFL's best run-stoppers during a seven-year career. He was just as good for the Horns in Year 8.

The Rams have assembled what should be an even stingier run defense in 2026. But the journey to do so began in 2023, when they drafted edge rusher Byron Young and versatile defensive lineman Kobie Turner. In 2025, the team shrewdly added inside linebacker Nate Landman to play behind Ford.

The problem with playing in Los Angeles is the system shock when facing bitter cold and snow against northernly opponents later in the year. That's not an issue for Ford. He douses his socks in cayenne pepper, a trick he learned from former Seattle Seahawks teammate Al Woods.

It must have worked, because Ford continues to use the tactic years later and he survived a full season playing for the Buffalo Bills in some of the league's harshest home-field conditions.

Rams' Ford-led run defense should hold up just fine in the cold

Cold weather is always a risk in the playoffs. Last year, Los Angeles traveled to an ice-encrusted Soldier Field to defeat the Bears in overtime.

Ford played 44 snaps in that game and made four tackles, including a tackle for a loss. While Chicago ran for 160 yards as a team, no individual accounted for more than 79 yards and the Rams held the Bears without a rushing touchdown

Fortunately, LA's schedule is not overly daunting from a weather standpoint this season. Most of their would-be arctic matchups occur either early in the season and/or at home.

One that stands out as a potential challenge is a crisp Week 9 clash in Washington, DC, against the Commanders, and even more so Christmas Day in Seattle, which can be quite chilly at that time of year.

But unless Los Angeles again enters the postseason as a wild card - and they are the Super Bowl favorites - it stands a pretty good chance of avoiding the cold this year. If frigid temperatures do appear on the forecast, however, Ford will be armed with his secret spice to keep him going from start to finish.

As always, thanks for reading.

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