3 Reasons why NFL Expert touts Rams offense as 1 of NFL's best for 2024

The Los Angeles Rams offense was a far cry more accomplished in 2023 than 2022, which was one of the main contributors of the team bouncing back from a pedestrian 5-12 record in 2022 and a slow 3-6 start last year. It was that red hot offense that powered the team to close out the 2023 NFL season with a 7-1 finish to buoy their record to 10-7 and allow them to claim the sixth-seed in the NFL in the 2025 NFL Playoffs.

But the real scoring threat for the Rams happened when the team was able to send both veteran starting quarterback Matthew Stafford and featured running back Kyren Williams were able to suit up and start in the same games. That is a fact that did not escape the attention of ESPN's NFL expert Mina Kimes, and became one of the reasons that she cited to project the Rams offense as the second-ranked projected offense for 2024.

Yes, it's time once again for Mina Kimes Ranking the Top 10 offenses for 2024. This is an annual review and projection of the NFL's most capable offenses, and the reasons behind the ranking. Unlike some NFL rankings that seem to overlay last years production or expectations, change some dates and some facts, and regurgitate the same old stuff, Kimes digs into current events, 2023 trends, and a whole lot of roster changes to reformulate her conclusions.

I have to say that I am rather impressed with her reasoning.

To give you the overview of The Mina Kimes Show video podcast topics, you can refer below to the table of contents that cites which NFL team offenses she plans to discuss, and at which time she discusses them. As you can see, the Rams come up at the 9:50 mark, and for the rest of this article, that will be the topic of our article.

• 00:00 Welcome to the Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny!
• 00:35 Steven Ruiz joins the show
• 00:55 Top 10 Offenses
• 03:45 San Francisco 49ers
• 09:50 Los Angeles Rams
• 15:05 Kansas City Chiefs
• 21:00 Houston Texans
• 27:45 Baltimore Ravens
• 36:10 Detroit Lions
• 40:45 Green Bay Packers
• 46:20 Miami Dolphins
• 52:30 Cincinnati Bengals
• 58:20 Buffalo Bills
• 1:05:35 The Best of the rest

Kimes cites these reasons for ranking Rams offense so highly

The LA Rams offense finished in 2023 as the seventh best offense in terms of offensive yards gained. Flipping to the offensive points scored, the Rams offense finished in 2023 as the eighth most effective offense last season. But keep in mind that starting QB Matthew Stafford played in 15 games, WR Cooper Kupp played in only 12 games, and featured running back Kyren Williams only played in 12 games.

The LA Rams final five starting offensive linemen only took the field together in seven games in 2023. So the offense finishing so highly last season is an amazing accomplishment. So what factors does Mina Kimes cite as reasons to project this offense so highly in 2023?

III: Stafford/Williams together matched 49ers offensive output

Kimes showcases her command of analyzing NFL teams by casually stating how dominant the Rams offense was in 2023 when both QB Matthew Stafford and RB Kyren Williams took the football field together. It makes sense too, as the pair amplified the strengths of one another, resonating the offensive option to pass against a run defense and to run against a pass defense. Because the pair was capable of taking advantage of the wrong defensive formation, the Rams offense was nigh unstoppable.

II: Rams run game sawed through Ravens defense on the road

When the LA Rams traveled across the nation to take on the Baltimore Ravens in a downpour, the expectation was that the Rams would be outclassed in all three phases in the football game. Despite allowing Ravens QB Lamar Jackson to run roughshod all over the football field, the running game of their offense held their own. Williams ran 25 times for 114 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry in what amounted to some of the worst NFL field conditions possible.

I: Rams run into light boxes, and are effective when doing so

The sudden appearance of the running game in this offense in 2023 was such a boost to the offense, and to the career of QB Matthew Stafford, that I am a bit dismayed that this was not a strategy that the team employed in 2022. Of course, the team struggled with the injury outbreak among offensive linemen that season, but the presence of the running game seems to be the great equalizer in terms of slowing down opposing pass rushers and giving the team's defense a chance to catch their breath.

This was the first time that the Rams seemed to lean into the running game at key moments of the game, and the ability to run with the football delivered. That ability to dictate the terms of an NFL game on the ground was a surprise last season. In 2024, I believe it will become the team's bread-and-butter strategy.

While Kimes showed comprehensive understanding of the Rams rising offense, there are some points that were either glossed over or mentioned as a side note that I believe should take center stage for the rising offensive optimism.

Reason 3: Rams receiver room boasts two NFL record setters

The LA Rams offense has never been without dangerous weapons, particularly in the receiver room. But while I have admired the team's ability to recruit, sign, and draft incredibly talented receivers to this team, I cannot feel that this year's receiver room is the best since the team hired HC Sean McVay.

We know that the last time that veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp was healthy and played all 17 games, he set the single-season record for receivers in Rams history, and flirted with the All-Time NFL Single-Season Receiver Record, falling just shy of the record set by former Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson. That occured in 2021. Two years later, rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua roared into the NFL by setting the All-Time Rookie Receiver Record.

Now both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are back, are healthy, and are taking aim at NFL defenses for the 2024 NFL season. Best of all, they are not alone. The team will pair the duo up with tough veteran WR Demarcus Robinson, with speedy WR Tuta Atwell, and tough-minded rookie WR Jordan Whittington. Of course, the team has options in the tight end room as well.

Durability remains a concern for the team, and if one or more receivers falls to an injury this year for any length of time, the offense will suffer as a result. But the team has a complementary overlap of receiver skill sets as well as enough variety to ensure this offense can threaten defenses with an aerial assault. This could prove to be Matthew Stafford's career best season.

Reason 2: Rams rushing offense became significantly better

When RB Kyren Williams suited up for the team in 2023, the offense enjoyed a potent ground attack that forced defenses on their heels. The problem is that Williams suited up for just 12 games last season. The other five games forced the team to scramble for a suitable running back replacement, even compelling the team to re-sign formerly released running back Darrell Henderson Jr. to come in to handle some of the workload last season.

The team's inability to strategize a feasible succession plan in 2023 in the unlikely circumstances that Kyren Williams fell to injury was an unforeseen weakness that surfaced after the start of the season. If you recall, the team started the season with RB Cam Akers and Kyren Williams, intending to alternate between the two rushers. But Akers was disgruntled with the load-sharing strategy, and moaned and groaned himself onto the trading block.

He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings for a conditional future draft pick. The conditions were not met, so the Rams unloaded him for nothing. But his departure pushed the Rams RB depth into peril, and when both Williams and backup RB Ronnie Rivers fell to injury, the front office signed a number of running backs to determine which, if any, might fill the void in Williams absence.

By drafting RB Blake Corum and signing veteran RB Boston Scott, the Rams have:

1. Upgraded the backup RB position with a staring-calibre player (Blake Corum)
2. Deepened the RB depth with significant talent
3. Situated the team's 2024 running backs to benefit from training camp
4. Created an optimal workload committee at the position

Conceivably, this running back room could feature Williams as the starter, Corum as the game alternative, and use Scott in a special teams role that sustains him on the game roster as an emergency third running back. However else the season plays out, the RB room is strategically positioned more favorably in 2024.

Reason 1: Offensive line could be best in NFL

Even as the Rams offensive line galvanized into one of the NFL's best blocking units in 2023, the team proactively took steps to ensure that the 2024 offensive line would be even better. As we had cited in a previous slide, the ultimate five starters on the team's offensive line would only take the field together in seven games in 2023.

Without the speculation that the team's reconfigured offensive line will perform better in 2024, the continuity of returning offensive linemen for 2024 is a huge plus in the right direction. If the team can keep all five offensive linemen healthy this season, they would certainly end up among the Top 3 offensive line groups in 2024.

With the team adding veteran LG Jonah Jackson, and shifting Steve Avila from left guard to center, the Rams could easily boast the best offensive line in the NFL. Let's run down how Pro Football Focus graded the team's offensive linemen in 2023 who are expected to start for the team in 2024:

If the above numbers are duplicated for the team in 2024, the Rms offensive line will lead the league in fewest quarterback sacks allowed, and the team's ability to run the football will be very impressive as well.

Keep in mind that the offensive line was forced to commit to a number of iterations and configurations last season due to a number of minor injuries that forced the team to play without the services of one starter or another. With clear starting roles assigned already, the team has the benefit of establishing chemistry and cohesion early in training camp.

Don't sleep on this Rams offensive line in 2024. The group has been the focus of the team's offseason efforts, and the investments could result in the best OL unit in the NFL this year.

ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes got it right, which is rare for analysts this time of year. There are many reasons for an optimistic outlook this season.

As always, thanks for reading.