Can Rams defense accomplish this feat for 2nd time in Coach McVay's tenure?

On September 16, 2018, the LA Rams defeated the Arizona Cardinels by a rather lopsided score. It was the team's second win of the season, and the second victory in what would ultimately prove to be an eight game winning streak. The teams would go on to finish 2018 with a 13-3 record, earning the top-seed in the NFC In the 2019 NFL Playoffs. That would launch the team into their first of two Super Bowls under HC Sean McVay.

In many ways, the Rams 2018 season accomplished many things that the team has not replicated again.

One such feat in 2018 was the fact that the Rams defense completely shut down and shut out the Arizona Cardinals in the second game of that season by a score of 33-0. It was the last time that the Rams defense would hold an opponent scoreless.

The year is now 2024, and the Rams have hired a brand new leader of the defense in Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula. While he has a lot on his plate in reconfiguring the defense after the retirement of All-Pro DT Aaron Donald, will he have any better luck at stymying opposing offenses?

While there are other NFL teams that have waited just as long or longer for their next shutout, the Rams must compete with the San Francisco 49ers, a team that recorded their last shutout in 2022, a 13-0 victory against the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, both the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals are making progress in improving their teams as well.

To sum it all up, the team simply does not have the luxury of sitting back and pondering ways to improve this defense. Despite just being promoted to DC, Chris Shula would love nothing better to put up a shutout this season. After all, despite the highly respected group of defensive coordinators under HC Sean McCay, only Wade Phillips' defense put up the goose egg.

Can DC Chris Shula surprise an NFL team with a shutout in 2024? Don't put it past him. After all, he has a very young and hungry set of players to work with.

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