Rams' rebound starts with stuffing the run and restoring fear in opposing defenses

What a difference a year makes. After a 2025 season that ended with the Los Angeles Rams seemingly oh-so-close to greatness, they failed to carry over anything that worked a year ago. Was it jet lag, poor focus, overconfidence?

Whatever the root cause, the Rams are no longer feared as an invincible juggernaut. In fact, they may not even be respected. LA was lethargic on an international stage, and that is a difficult sight to unsee.

Still, it was only one game, and the first of the season at that.

The Rams have to fix their worst issues immediately. Of course, they have time to troubleshoot the entire list of gaffes and miscues. But some failings were so fundamentally flawed that the path to success must start there. Which were the worst? Here are three areas in which the Horns must show significant improvement in Week 2 against the New York Giants.

Rams' rebound starts with these 3 fixes

1. Shoring up a porous run defense

Did the Rams give up too quickly on rookie nose tackle Tim Keenan? It's impossible to imagine he would have played as poorly as Poona Ford and Ty Hamilton. Of course, Week 2 is a chance for both veterans to show improvement, and they have no choice. If they fail to deliver against the Giants, the defense will face a steady diet of runs.

Defending the run requires tremendous physicality, something LA lacked in Week 1. As the team pivots to Week 2, defensive coordinator Chris Shula may alter his rotation, including sliding Kobie Turner to nose tackle. The Rams won't win games until they stuff the run. That's not hyperbole, just the harsh reality.

2. Getting Matthew Stafford on track

Forget his age for a moment. Stafford was abysmally ineffective, completing 60 percent of his passes for 155 yards. Target wide receivers, he was merely 8-of-15 to for 100. Sigh.

LA shortened the field in Week 1, and the 49ers defense followed them into the box. Without a deep threat, more commitment to the run, and a better showing from Stafford himself, this offense will remain at the bottom of the NFL. Stafford must step in a major way, and he is painfully aware of that fact.

3. Putting explosive plays back into the offense

Finding a way to connect with speedy receivers Tutu Atwell and/or Xavier Smith would go a long way toward forcing defenses to be more honest. The Rams had no deep threats in the season opener. Atwell wasn't even active. That has to change.

The rushing attack didn't help either. Despite steady production from running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, the longest gain between them was only 13 yards. A stagnant rushing attack was a huge problem in 2024. The offense needs explosive plays from the ground game, too.

As much as fans may love the 12- and 13- offensive formations, this offense will sputter with so many tight ends that defenses don't fear the deep pass. Without significant adjustments, defenders will simply crowd the box and outnumber Rams playmakers.

As always, thanks for reading.

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