The Week 1 scenario that would send Rams fans into utter chaos

The 2025 NFL season finally kicks off this week, and the Los Angeles Rams will get things started on Sunday, hosting the Houston Texans. As exciting as the start of the season is, it’s even more exciting for Rams fans after the news that Matthew Stafford will start the game.

The veteran quarterback missed most of training camp with a back injury, and since the team was so secretive about details, no one was really sure if he’d be on the field in Week 1.

Fortunately, he will be, and Stafford and the Rams will try to put this entire back situation behind them. While that’s the optimistic outlook for Sunday’s game, fans must also consider a scenario that evokes panic. That scenario is Stafford’s back visibly bothering him, or the quarterback just playing badly after being sidelined for weeks.

Matthew Stafford could cause Rams fans to panic if he doesn’t look good or healthy in Week 1

The coverage of Stafford’s injury hasn’t been straight forward at all. The team consistently downplayed it, but the quarterback was sidelined for multiple weeks. When Stafford didn’t initially return when Los Angeles said he would, it led everyone to believe the back issue was more severe than the team was letting on, and something fans should actually be worried about.

However, the veteran quarterback has since returned to practice and is set to start, so he will be on the field in Week 1. That will be the fans’ opportunity to really see where he’s at. Hopefully, he’ll look like the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback who helped the Rams win a Super Bowl.

Unfortunately, it’s also possible he could look like he’s playing with a bad back. Even if that’s not the case at the start of the game, the Rams are facing off against a potentially elite Texans defense, with an aggressive pass rush. Is Stafford in position to withstand Houston roughing him up? Time will tell.

While it’s unclear how the veteran quarterback will look, it is clear there will be a sense of panic amongst Rams fans if Stafford looks unhealthy and like he’s clearly trying to play with a bad back.

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