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2026-08-15T203307Z_1558278262_MT1USATODAY29592213_RTRMADP_3_NFL-LOS-ANGELES-RAMS-AT-KANSAS-CITY-CHIEFS-1024x683.jpg

The Rams' special teams units had their share of challenges during a 2025 season in which they were one win from reaching the Super Bowl. Denny Medley / Imagn Images


By Nate Atkins
Sept. 4, 2026 Updated 4:17 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams are seven months from two muffed punts in the NFC Championship Game, a blocked punt in the wild-card round, a season of blocked field goals and penalties and explosive punt returns allowed by a special teams phase they left to the bottom of a top-heavy roster, only to pay for it when the lights were brightest.

Something had to change.

It started with a coordinator switch. It was followed by a couple of signings that fell way below the radar in an offseason headlined by Matthew Stafford’s return for an 18th season and blockbuster trades for All-Pro defenders Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie.

As Super Bowl favorites with a ticking clock on Stafford’s career, the Rams weren’t oblivious when the margins began screaming to them on special teams.

“I’m not going to run away (from the fact) that I haven’t done a good enough job of making that an emphasis,” coach Sean McVay said. “It’s cost us, and that is nobody’s fault but my own.”

This roster, this leadership, this system, this practice plan — it all had to be different than it was a year ago.

“We could be the reason why we win a game,” linebacker Shaun Dolac said, “but we don’t want to be the reason why we lose.”

A new man in charge

Last season went so off the rails on special teams, with mistakes offering daggers in nearly all of their six losses, that the Rams did something rarely seen from a team with a playoff spot locked up: They fired a coordinator with two games to go.

After dismissing Chase Blackburn, they did their best to patch things together with interim coordinator Ben Kotwica. They eliminated some penalty issues, and the kicking game continued to improve. But they couldn’t prevent some moments that defined their playoff run, from the blocked punt in the final minutes against the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round to Xavier Smith’s two muffed punts against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship.

It all led to one of the most important moves McVay would have to make this offseason in hiring new special teams coaches. He ultimately landed on a tandem in coordinator Bubba Ventrone and assistant Kyle Hoke, both from the Cleveland Browns. It was a bet on the pair to rebound from some miscues that sunk the Browns’ season last year — and to get back to the levels Ventrone has shown before.

“To me, every season’s different. Every team is different. Every game is different,” Ventrone said. “It’s a new season, and I’m coming in here with a clean slate for all the personnel on the roster of the guys that turned over.

“I think that if we can really incorporate our fundamentals in all six phases of the game for us in the kicking game, I think that we’re going to have positive and really good results.”

Ventrone was considered a rising star during his tenure as coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2022. His units regularly created explosive returns, blocked punts, blocked field goals and were precise in flipping field position. His process was to develop players from special-teamers into offensive and defensive starters who kept their third-phase focus. He hit on names such as All-Pro Ashton Dulin and Pro Bowlers Zaire Franklin and Kenny Moore II.

The development plan would have to be different on a team with immediate goals. But what still exists is Ventrone’s intensity and pedigree as a coordinator with eight years of experience and as a player who lasted a decade as one of the most physical and vocal special-teamers, including for four years under Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots.

“Bubba came in and showed his personality, he showed us who he is as a coach, and he’s been doing it for a long time as a player as well,” Dolac said. “He brings that intensity every single day into the meetings, and we love that from him. You get it every day from him.

“He does a good job being just a teacher, teaching us how to do things. We have the ability to ask questions, and he has the answers to every question that we have.”

A new voice in the room was one shift. But it would only matter if the players he coached were up to the challenge.

2026-08-24T045428Z_441641261_MT1USATODAY29650357_RTRMADP_3_NFL-NEW-ORLEANS-SAINTS-LOS-ANGELES-RAMS-JOINT-PRACTICE-2048x1365.jpg

Bubba Ventrone, who spent the last three years in Cleveland, is tasked with helping improve the Rams’ special teams.Kirby Lee / Imagn Images
A shifting roster

For all of last year’s special teams nightmares, the Rams felt they at least had a kicking game to bring back.

Ethan Evans had some electric punts last season, including the 50-yard boot against the Seahawks that landed at the 1-yard line in Week 11 to help seal a 21-19 win.

Harrison Mevis became a revelation after his midseason replacement of Joshua Karty, who kept falling victim to blocked kicks in addition to some misses. Between the regular season and playoffs, Mevis delivered on every extra point as well as 18 of 19 field goals, including a 42-yard game winner in the snow to beat the Chicago Bears in the divisional round.

But Evans’ second-half regression, and all of the issues that compounded in penalties and returns allowed and blocked kicks in crunch time, magnified a glaring issue in the foundation: The Rams were trusting too many young players on special teams. They tried to rectify it at midseason by bringing back 38-year-old long snapper Jake McQuaide. But what became clear was that a special teams unit that relied largely on first- and second-year players was doomed on the biggest stages against the best opponents.

So, the Rams went after two veterans in free agency: long snapper Joe Cardona and cover man Grant Stuard. Cardona, now in his 12th season, played his first three for Ventrone in New England. Stuard, now in his sixth season, spent a year with Ventrone in 2022 in Indianapolis after Ventrone sought him out in a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Ventrone relationship would mean plenty once Stuard was on the practice field cracking teammates, taking them to the ground and barking back at his coaches.

“If I say something to him or he bites at me, we’re familiar with each other,” Stuard said of Ventrone. “There’s no distaste.”

It has empowered Stuard to take charge of the goal he had when signing with the Rams, which was to become the leader of a special teams unit.

“Me as a player can be an acquired taste,” Stuard said. “… If you hate it, oh well, I’ll go somewhere else.”

The Rams have welcomed it, because they know that after last year, they aren’t in a spot to reject alternatives. In one practice, Stuard went at it with offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, who got on him about taking players to the ground. At one point in training camp, McVay came out to Stuard to talk him into a more middle-ground approach. But it wasn’t a rejection of his persona in a year with so much on the line.

That doesn’t mean everything changed. The Rams made a bold choice in bringing Smith back after he muffed the two punts in Seattle. They’ve worked with him to grow from it and were encouraged when he returned a 40-yard punt in the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“It’s not about how you react but about how you respond to those adversity situations,” Smith said, echoing a message McVay shares all the time.

A new emphasis

The Rams spent the majority of their training camp practices at Loyola Marymount University with a new approach: They began the day on special teams.

“It gives us a way to start off practice, and you can emphasize starting fast on special teams, which will then translate to how we practice the rest of the day,” running back Ronnie Rivers said.

Added Dolac, “We’re all just going at 100 miles an hour and making sure the younger guys see it. That’s the standard around here.”

They are playing more offensive and defensive players on special teams, including Konata Mumpfield, Tyler Higbee, Nate Landman and Kam Kinchens.

“You have guys who are starters on offense or defense who are in Year 11, 12, guys like Higbee who are going out there and giving great effort and who are concerned with doing the right stuff when that’s not conditional upon them making the team,” Stuard said. “He can suck on punt, but he’s going to be out there in 13 personnel. The collective wants to be good. It’s not, ‘What can I do to be available?’ It’s, ‘How can I make this unit better?’”

They all feel the weight of what went wrong last year. That’s true for a player with a second chance like Smith and a newcomer like Stuard, who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries McVay has in practice.

Whether it pays off when the margins are at their slimmest is what 17 games and the playoffs will tell. But they aren’t running from what has to be different — right here, right now, in a season with high expectations.

“The difference between this year and last year, holistically as an organization,” Stuard said, “is we’re putting a lot of attention into special teams.”
]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 20:15:10 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251906,1251906#msg-1251906 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251906,1251906#msg-1251906
TIMECODES:
00:00 - Jourdan Rodrigue joins This Is Football!
02:58 - How the Rams built their roster
06:36 - How the Myles Garrett Trade went down
09:34 - Did the Rams have the Seahawks in mind with their offseason moves?
17:08 - What are the risk factors for the Rams?
27:14 - How will the Rams use Aaron Donald?The Rams have gone from a roster reset to one of the NFL’s biggest Super Bowl contenders. Jordan Rodrigue joins Kevin Clark to explain how Los Angeles rebuilt its roster, why Myles Garrett fits the plan, how the Rams are preparing for the Seahawks, and why the Eagles may still be their ultimate boogeyman.




]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 19:31:34 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251903,1251903#msg-1251903 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251903,1251903#msg-1251903
]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 18:47:58 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251884,1251884#msg-1251884 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251884,1251884#msg-1251884

Sean McVay: I look at Stetson Bennett, Ty Simpson as “2A, 2B”
link


By
Josh Alper



Published September 4, 2026 04:41 PM



The Rams released a depth chart that shows Stetson Bennett as the team’s second quarterback and first-round pick Ty Simpson as their third quarterback, but head coach Sean McVay said things are less clear cut than that would make it appear.

McVay said that he has not made a decision about who will be active for Thursday’s game against the 49ers because he views the two quarterbacks on equal footing when it comes to the competition to be the next man up behind Matthew Stafford.

“I’ll tell you when I decide who is going to be the actual two in the game,” McVay said, via the team’s website. “I’ve talked to the players about it, but that’s something that they’re both going to continue to train regardless of who it ends up being up and who is the emergency third. I look at it as both of those guys are going to play, but you saw, we listed Stetson as the two, Ty as the three. But I look at it as the 2A, 2B and we’ll see how we approach the game.”

McVay added that he doesn’t “want to necessarily say that whatever we do in Week 1 is how it stays throughout the year,” so the backup spot could be a fluid one and the Rams will be hoping that neither player sees the field outside of garbage time between now and February.]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comSat, 05 Sep 2026 06:30:36 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251880,1251880#msg-1251880 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251880,1251880#msg-1251880
Los Angeles Rams
430K subscribers

Sep 4, 2026 #LosAngelesRams #LARams #Rams
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke with the media on Friday ahead of Week 1. He breaks down the Rams' wide receiver depth chart, the off-field character of defensive end Myles Garrett and quarterback Matthew Stafford, Australia travel plans, and more.



]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 16:34:13 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251879,1251879#msg-1251879 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251879,1251879#msg-1251879
The Rams have 6 of NFL.com's top 25 free agents for 2027.

Including Naccua at no. 1

Going to be hard, really hard to keep most of them especially if its a SB season!!

So just need to enjoy it, ups and the downs.

[www.nfl.com]



1

Puka Nacua
LAR
WR
Nacua would already be paid long-term if not for his immaturity off the field. On it, he's off to one of the best starts to a career for any receiver in league history.
Rank
2

George Pickens
DAL
WR
The Cowboys don't sound particularly interested in paying Pickens beyond this season to be Robin to Ceedee Lamb's Batman. All signs from training camp point to Pickens backing up his breakout '25 campaign.
Rank
3

Tucker Kraft
GB
TE
Both the Packers and Kraft have expressed confidence that a deal will get done soon, despite last November's ACL tear. The 6-foot-5, 259-pounder has rare value as a complete tight end.
Rank
4

Kobie Turner
LAR
DT
The 89th pick of the 2023 draft, Turner has developed into one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL. Playing next to Aaron Donald should only help him.
Rank
5

Byron Young
LAR
Edge
Young is another great development story for the Rams, equally adept at bending the edge as a pass rusher and finishing plays in run defense. Last season, he had 29 QB hits and 12 sacks, numbers that should give him a higher profile.
Rank
6

Baker Mayfield
TB
QB
Mayfield has stabilized his career in Tampa despite his streakiness. He's going to be a starter next year and is likely to remain with the Bucs if he prospers in 2026.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht addresses quarterback Baker Mayfield's contract extension talks amid the 2026 season start on "The NFL Report".
Rank
7

Sam LaPorta
DET
TE
LaPorta is just a tick below the best tight ends in the league in blocking and athleticism. He'll get huge money if he puts the injuries behind him.
Rank
8

Quenton Nelson
IND
OG
An eventual Hall of Fame candidate, Nelson is coming off a strong season. He entered his 30s in March, but great guards often age well.
Rank
9

Brian Branch
DET
S
A top-10 safety immediately upon entering the league, Branch could climb even higher in these rankings if he can stay healthy in 2026.
Rank
10

Tuli Tuipulotu
LAC
Edge
While Tuipulotu doesn't wow you with any one elite trait, his strength and doggedness make him very productive. We ranked him as a top-25 edge defender on NFL Daily.
Rank
11

Steve Avila
LAR
OG
A starter at guard since his rookie season, Avila is an imposing threat who is equally stout as a run blocker and pass protector. Players with his strength and consistency get at least $20 million per year in today's market.
Rank
12

Kyler Murray
MIN
QB
This ranking is a hedge. Either Murray rejuvenates his career like Sam Darnold in Minnesota and makes $45 million-plus per year or he slips into the realm of permanent bridge quarterback.
Rank
13

Joey Porter Jr.
PIT
CB
Like a lot of great man-coverage cornerbacks, Porter knows how good he is. The Steelers have been with him through some ups and downs; they should want to retain him during his prime.
Rank
14

DJ Turner II
CIN
CB
Based on 2025 tape, Turner was a top-10 NFL cornerback. Maintaining that level at a volatile position could lead to a franchise tag in Cincinnati.
Rank
15

YaYa Diaby
TB
Edge
Diaby is one of the best pocket pushers in the NFL. He's also tough to move off his spot in the running game because he's so strong.
NFL Daily host Gregg Rosenthal reacts to the NFL Media's predictions on division winners for the 2026 NFL season on "The NFL Report."
Rank
16

Kevin Dotson
LAR
OG
The second interior offensive lineman from the Rams to make this list, Dotson is a favorite in Los Angeles for his attitude and aggression in the run game. Both he and Steve Avila were ranked in the top 15 at guard by PFF in 2025.
Rank
17

Riley Moss
DEN
CB
Look past the penalties last season and you'll see that Moss has developed into a plus starter at cornerback in Denver.
Rank
18

Chase Brown
CIN
RB
A three-down threat, Brown is underrated as a receiver and in escaping tight spaces. He's a complete back who could have a James Cook-like trajectory.
Rank
19

Moro Ojomo
PHI
DL
The Eagles can't pay everyone, so Ojomo could be the rare talented lineman to leave Philadelphia for more cash elsewhere.
Rank
20

Parker Washington
JAX
WR
One of the biggest surprises in Jacksonville last season, Washington is the type of do-everything receiver who can fit into any scheme.
Rank
21

Mike Onwenu
NE
OL
Onwenu took a surprising paycut to remain with the Patriots, but he's a versatile lineman who can play inside and out. His roller-coaster career has included some very high highs when he's been right.
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Rank
22

Josh Downs
IND
WR
Downs can be one of the league's best slot receivers when healthy.
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23

Jessie Bates
ATL
S
In a thin year for free-agent safeties, Bates still brings veteran know-how.
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Andrew Van Ginkel
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25

Davante Adams
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He may not win as regularly down the field these days, but Adams' release package still gets open in the red zone and on third down. This gives the Rams six of the 25 players on this list.


Also receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Mike Jackson, CB, Carolina Panthers; Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Tennessee Titans; Mac Jones, QB, San Francisco 49ers; Cody Mauch, OG, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Ja'Quan McMillian, NB, Denver Broncos; DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Dallas Cowboys; D'Andre Swift, RB, Chicago Bears; Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, New York Giants; Garrett Williams, NB, Arizona Cardinals; Riq Woolen, CB, Philadelphia Eagles.]]> OzRam RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 19:38:22 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251867,1251867#msg-1251867 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251867,1251867#msg-1251867
I googled which teams have a new OC that are on the Rams schedule. Here's what it said:

In total, 9 of the Rams' 17 regular-season opponents feature a newly changed offensive coordinator or playcaller for the 2026 season:

Seattle Seahawks (Brian Fleury replaces Klint Kubiak)

Arizona Cardinals (Nathaniel Hackett / Mike LaFleur moves)

New York Giants (Matt Nagy)

Denver Broncos (Davis Webb taking over playcalling)

Philadelphia Eagles (Sean Mannion)

Las Vegas Raiders (Andrew Janocko / Klint Kubiak HC)

Los Angeles Chargers (Mike McDaniel)

Washington Commanders (David Blough)

Kansas City Chiefs (Eric Bieniemy)

Buffalo Bills (Pete Carmichael / Joe Brady)

It mentioned 9 teams but actually listed 10. Lol!

I would guess it favors the Rams to go into these games without having a learning curve that these teams might experience, especially early on.]]> Killrazor RamsFootballFans.comSat, 05 Sep 2026 06:11:19 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251860,1251860#msg-1251860 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251860,1251860#msg-1251860
Hint: There have been no ties. :lol3]]> Shecky RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 20:56:31 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251841,1251841#msg-1251841 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251841,1251841#msg-1251841
More Rams Fans? More Whiner fans? If the latter, will it be an advantage?]]> Shecky RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 16:11:34 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251840,1251840#msg-1251840 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251840,1251840#msg-1251840
The same team that sent the 13th pick in the draft to the Rams in exchange for a guy who may never play NFL football again if the hugely serious allegations against him are true.

There are just teams that cannot seem to get out of their own way. The Browns have been one for years under their arrogant owner who thinks he's a talent evaluator, and the Falcons seem to have recently joined their ranks. They seem to just go to the recycled HC market to get a guy who of course does the same things he has always done. And, there is a reason he's available at all.]]> RockRam RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 12:19:19 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251792,1251792#msg-1251792 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251792,1251792#msg-1251792
Our draft is Monday.]]> ScRAM RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 13:40:55 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251780,1251780#msg-1251780 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251780,1251780#msg-1251780[attachment 15692 zzzzzdc3.jpg]
[attachment 15693 zzzzzdc1.jpg]]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comThu, 03 Sep 2026 19:25:44 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251774,1251774#msg-1251774 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251774,1251774#msg-1251774

man.....this team was two or three plays away from playing in the last two Super Bowls and most likely winning both of them!!!

makes you wonder what could have been if he never left :cry]]> Rampage2k RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 06:23:00 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251759,1251759#msg-1251759 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251759,1251759#msg-1251759
link

By Grant Young
Published Sep. 1, 2026, 1:21 p.m. ET

Puka Nacua’s off-the-field worries could be getting worse.

The football world is awaiting a verdict on whether the Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver will be suspended because of his offseason transgressions.

But now Nacua’s ex-girlfriend Hallie Aiono has made some concerning claims about elements of her relationship with him during a TikTok video that was published on Sunday night.

AP_Rams_Chargers_Football__2399-65f71-0.jpg

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua looks on from the sidelines during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Nacua’s personal life was in the spotlight last year, when he went through a paternity ordeal with Aiono, who is the mother of Nacua’s son, Kingston.

“I went from loving somebody so deeply for four years, I felt it in my bones, to experiencing extreme betrayal, abuse, complete neglect from them, in what felt like it happened almost overnight,” Aiono said.

“A lot of the things that were public affected my mental health. But honestly, the things that were happening in private are what completely crushed me and altered my brain chemistry. Those parts, what people never saw, or know of, are what broke me.”

Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-9.53.21-AM.png

Puka Nacua’s ex-girlfriend Hallie Aiono speaks about why she’s seeking professional help after her relationship with Nacua. (TikTok/@HallieAiono).

Aiono’s video was focused on explaining why she is deciding to seek professional help to address her mental health.

While Aiono didn’t make any specific allegations against Nacua in the video, the fact that she claimed she experienced abuse is troubling, especially given that Nacua is currently facing a civil lawsuit alleging physical assault and battery.

A woman named Madison Atiabi sued Nacua for assault, battery, gender violence, and negligence after alleging that he bit her shoulder on New Year’s Eve.

The Rams open the season on Sept. 10 in Australia against the 49ers in Australia — and there’s no telling if Nacua will be on the flight to Melbourne with his teammates.
]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comSat, 05 Sep 2026 07:42:05 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251752,1251752#msg-1251752 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251752,1251752#msg-1251752Cincy could score. They just couldn't stop the other team from scoring, too.
The Seahawks have a good O. But it was their D that stood out.
Against Seattle, the Rams could score. But they couldn't stop Seattle from scoring more.

The Rams achilles heel in 2025 was the Secondary and to a lesser extent STs. They did a good enough job rushing the passer, playing the run, but the Secondary broke down at the worst possible times.

The Rams have perhaps the premier D in the League right now. At least on paper. No need to go into detail about it, since it has been talked about endlessly.
If it is true that between the O and the D that the D is more important in the end, then it seems like the job of the O is to put up a decent amount of points, but not lose the game with turnovers.

I'd say that if the Rams O is 90% as good this year as last, then with the stars and depth we now have at all levels on the D, then barring injuries, we should be able to go to and win the Superbowl.]]> RockRam RamsFootballFans.comSat, 05 Sep 2026 06:00:32 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251748,1251748#msg-1251748 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251748,1251748#msg-1251748No. 1 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…

@RamsNFL DE Myles Garrett! @NFLFilms

Video-
[x.com]


[attachment 15684 zzzzz-top100.jpg]]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 12:17:03 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251745,1251745#msg-1251745 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251745,1251745#msg-1251745
Amidst all the focus elsewhere, a huge concern about the Rams’ 2025 performance slipped under the radar, and it could rear its head again in 2026.
AJ Schulte

Sep 03, 2026

The Los Angeles Rams have dominated headlines all offseason long. From the Trent McDuffie trade to the Ty Simpson selection to the Myles Garrett trade and now Aaron Donald’s un-retirement (insert Return of the King soundtrack here somewhere), the Rams have had wall-to-wall coverage since February.

They are the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl by a comfortable margin. Who could blame anyone for thinking so? They were a play away from beating the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, and they would have likely beaten the Patriots to win the Super Bowl last year (although perhaps not in as dominant a fashion).

Now that they’ve added superstars in Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett to the roster, it’s only natural to expect they’ll be right at the top of the NFC and thus at the top of the NFL.

That is assuming, of course, everything goes as well as it did last year. Which…is never a safe assumption in the NFL.

Lost amidst all the focus on their defensive woes were quite a few offensive red flags. Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay certainly mask a lot, but in an ever-evolving NFL, you can’t expect everything to hold year-over-year. Unfortunately, I think the Rams had that mentality in the offseason, and it could cost them in their Super Bowl hunt:

The Rams were downright dreadful on third downs last year, and I’m not sure how they figure to improve there.

Warren Sharp@SharpFootball

EPA on 3rd down in 2025:

0.51 - Brock Purdy
0.36 - Joe Burrow
0.35 - Jordan Love
0.21 - Drake Maye
0.15 - Daniel Jones
0.13 - Jaxson Dart
0.12 - Bo Nix
0.11 - Trevor Lawrence
0.10 - C.J. Stroud
0.07 - Dak Prescott
0.06 - Josh Allen
0.06 - Jared Goff
0.04 - Jacoby Brissett
0.04 -

Breaking down the third-down woes
Last season, the Los Angeles Rams finished 23rd in the NFL in third-down conversion rate at 37.12%, just ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles (who fired their offensive coordinator) and the Carolina Panthers (Bryce Young). In 2024, the Rams finished 25th.

This trend only got worse in games that challenged the Rams. In their close wins or losses (Houston, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, San Francisco #1, Baltimore, all three Seattle games, both Carolina games, Detroit, Atlanta, and Chicago), the Rams' third-down conversion rate fell to 33.3% (50/150).

Even in their blowout 35-7 win over the Jaguars, the Rams finished just 2-10 on third down. Against the Buccaneers in another 34-7 win, they were 4-10. Los Angeles had three games over a 50% conversion rate: Their New Orleans blowout win (7-14), their second matchup against San Fran (5-9), and the last game of the season against Arizona (9-16).

They couldn’t even muster that number against the Titans. They finished 5-12 on third down on the hapless Titans’ defense.

In the playoffs alone, the Rams went a whopping 9-for-37 on third downs. Yes, that includes games against the Panthers’ and Bears’ defenses (Carolina finished 30th in opponent third-down conversion rate). In the NFC Championship Game, the Rams went just 1-8 on third down.

This is a troubling trend in both 2024 and 2025. During their Super Bowl year in 2021, the Rams finished sixth in third-down conversion rate, and they were seventh in their rebound year in 2023. Even during the disastrous 2022 season when everyone was hurt, the Rams still finished higher, coming in 18th in the league.

What the heck is going on?

Full Article Behind Pay Wall
[cover4quarters.substack.com]]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comSat, 05 Sep 2026 06:27:12 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251743,1251743#msg-1251743 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251743,1251743#msg-1251743:
Timestamps:
* 0:00 – Intro
* 1:25 – Vibe check, Super Bowl pressure
* 5:47 – Quirky 2026 schedule
* 9:44 – Matthew Stafford's health
* 11:41 – Ty Simpson element
* 15:00 – TE usage, 13 personnel
* 18:18 – Puka Nacua's growth & future
* 21:14 – Offensive line health & depth
* 24:00 – Myles Garrett addition, overall defense
* 26:30 – Aaron Donald's return
* 30:09 – Trent McDuffie, secondary outlook
* 32:49 – Defensive sleepers
* 34:20 – 2027 Free Agents...



]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comThu, 03 Sep 2026 19:00:32 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251735,1251735#msg-1251735 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251735,1251735#msg-1251735
AD seemed to favor choking people and ripping the helmets off. lol

I am sure the whiners will be the first to "test" AD. They've done it before and are going into this game with a chip on their shoulders already saying McVay "requested" the whiners travel to Australia for this game. lol

I wonder what the Over/Under for AD "skirmishes" will be this season? I am sure you could bet it on kalshi or a similar app. I would guess it would be set at 2 and I will take the over! lol

A little history...

Preseason and practices...

AI Overview

There is no official or exact total count of every minor "skirmish" or push-and-shove pile-up Aaron Donald was in, because lower-tier training camp pushing and football shoving matches happen frequently and are rarely fully cataloged.

However, Donald was at the center of a few high-profile, widely-reported major practice brawls and scuffles over his 10-year NFL career:

The Cincinnati Bengals Joint Practice (August 2022): The most infamous incident occurred when Donald was caught on video ripping a helmet off an opponent and aggressively swinging it during a massive joint-practice brawl with the Bengals.

The Las Vegas Raiders Joint Practices (August 2019): Donald was heavily involved in a fiery, multi-person training camp scrap with Raiders linemen (including guard Gabe Jackson) that temporarily boiled over during joint workouts.

The Dallas Cowboys Joint Practice (August 2021): Donald ignited a heated scuffle during drills with Cowboys offensive lineman Connor Williams.

While he frequently set an ultra-intense tone that sparked competitive friction and occasional shoves in practices with teams like the Raiders and Cowboys over the years, only a handful erupted into major, documented mass brawls.

During the season...

AI Overview

During his 10-season NFL career, Aaron Donald was involved in at least four major physical altercations or skirmishes during the regular season (alongside one notable playoff incident and multiple infamous training camp brawls).

While he was frequently involved in standard post-play pushing and shoving common to interior linemen, his most notable regular-season incidents include:

1. The 2016 49ers Ejection
During a Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers, Donald lost his composure in the fourth quarter. He grabbed 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton by the neck, ripped off Patton's helmet, and subsequently made contact with an official. This resulted in Donald being ejected from the game and heavily fined.

2. The 2018 Post-Game Confrontation with Justin Britt
Following a tense game against the Seattle Seahawks, Donald took exception to a late hit out of bounds by Seahawks center Justin Britt. After the final whistle, Donald took off his shoulder pads, strapped his helmet back on, and ran back onto the field to aggressively confront and shove Britt. The NFL hit Donald with two separate fines totaling over $23,000 for the sequence.

3. The 2018 Devonta Freeman Scuffle
In a game against the Atlanta Falcons, Donald got into a heated wrestling match with running back Devonta Freeman. Freeman grew frustrated after a play and threw a punch at Donald's helmet. Donald lifted Freeman completely off the ground before teammates separated them, resulting in Freeman's ejection.

4. The 2021 Lucas Patrick Choke
During a regular-season game against the Green Bay Packers, Donald was caught on camera grabbing Packers offensive lineman Lucas Patrick by the throat. Though no flag was thrown by the referees during the game, the NFL reviewed the footage and fined Donald $10,300 for unnecessary roughness.

Postseason & Off-Field Context

2021 Postseason Choke: Donald had a nearly identical choking incident during the playoffs against Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman D.J. Humphries, which also resulted in a fine.

Training Camp Brawls: Donald's most violent fights actually happened outside of the regular season. This includes a 2022 joint practice brawl with the Cincinnati Bengals where Donald famously stripped away and swung dual Bengals helmets at opposing players. He also had notable training camp scuffles with the Dallas Cowboys (2021) and Las Vegas Raiders (2023).]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 20:32:49 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251731,1251731#msg-1251731 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251731,1251731#msg-1251731x.com]]]> CROMWELL21 RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 18:19:34 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251714,1251714#msg-1251714 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251714,1251714#msg-1251714Mike Sando@SandoNFL

[x.com]

Every year at this time I check in with #NFL execs for a snapshot of preseason expectations, knowing there will always be surprises

Here's one surprise: One of six execs took a flier on the #Bears to win the NFC

#Rams come out solidly on top, with #Seahawks and #Eagles next

#Saints get a couple votes to win NFC South

[attachment 15681 zzzzz-NFC.jpg]]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comWed, 02 Sep 2026 23:41:41 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251705,1251705#msg-1251705 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251705,1251705#msg-1251705
0:00 49ers & Rams’ outlook
5:34 Which team can win their first Super Bowl this season?
7:18 Eagles’ chemistry without A.J. Brown
11:14 Has the Bengals’ defense improved enough?




]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comWed, 02 Sep 2026 19:08:24 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251704,1251704#msg-1251704 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251704,1251704#msg-1251704
Rams' Week 1 Plan REVEALED! Did Sean McVay Make A HUGE MISTAKE?


LA Rams Report by Chat Sports
12.8K subscribers

Sep 2, 2026 #LosAngelesRams #RamsNews #NFL
Los Angeles Rams news breaks down the upcoming travel schedule controversy surrounding the team's trip to Australia for an early-season game. Sign up for PrizePicks with code: HMA and get $150 in bonus lineups if you win your first $5+ lineup! [link.prizepicks.com]. Rams rumors and updates examine the logistics of the flight, head coach Sean McVay's approach, and the franchise's historical success in international matchups. Additionally, the latest LA Rams news covers external criticism from social media regarding the trip and the team's rebuttal.

The countdown to Super Bowl 61 is ON! If you want the Los Angeles Rams to win it all at home, LIKE this video ]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 19:56:09 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251703,1251703#msg-1251703 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251703,1251703#msg-1251703
Byron Young's Rehab & Performance Playbook | Rams Training Days

Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams
427K subscribers

Sep 2, 2026 #LosAngelesRams #LARams #Rams
Go behind the scenes with Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Byron Young as he navigates injury recovery, training, and the discipline needed to perform at his best.



]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comFri, 04 Sep 2026 01:24:38 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251691,1251691#msg-1251691 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251691,1251691#msg-1251691
I figure since most of us assume we will win more than 10 games, what are the 2-5 games you have us losing?]]> kw13 RamsFootballFans.comThu, 03 Sep 2026 09:22:07 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251681,1251681#msg-1251681 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251681,1251681#msg-1251681How the 2026 Rams Measure Up to the 2021 Super Bowl Champions

With Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett in the mix, is this year’s team better than the one that beat the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI?


Gilberto Manzano

|https://www.si.com/nfl/2021-or-2026-debating-which-rams-roster-is-better


I hesitated to call the 2026 Rams the most hyped preseason Super Bowl favorite since the 2007 Patriots because the Rams had a star-studded roster not that long ago that won it all.

I still stand by my words because the hype wasn’t the same for the 2021 Rams, who acquired Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller later in the season, and Jalen Ramsey had already been in L.A. a couple of seasons.

For this year’s Rams, the hype has been building since they lost a thriller to the Seahawks in the NFC championship game. In case you forgot, which is understandable, considering all the moves the Rams have made since then, they opened the offseason by trading for Trent McDuffie in March. That was followed by the splash signing of Jaylen Watson, the blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett and now the return of Aaron Donald after a two-year retirement.

But now I’m thinking more about what I wrote in June. While the hype wasn’t the same in 2021, the star power might have been as bright when comparing the two rosters. So, here’s the question many football fans are thinking: Is this year’s Rams roster better than the one that won Super Bowl LVI against the Bengals?

I decided to examine both rosters to settle the debate. But before we do, here are some fun facts about the two rosters. Six players remain from the team that won it all in 2021 (it was only four a few days ago): Donald, Matthew Stafford, Coleman Shelton, Alaric Jackson, Tyler Higbee and Tutu Atwell, whose return to L.A. didn’t generate as much attention.

Keep in mind that Higbee and Atwell weren’t on the Super Bowl roster due to injury. For this exercise, I’m going only to compare the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI active roster and this year’s initial 53-man roster.

One more fact: Brian Allen and Robert Woods played for the Rams in 2021 and now are assistant coaches on the 2026 staff. (I should ask them which roster is better.)

Quarterback

2021: Matthew Stafford, John Wolford, Bryce Perkins

2026: Stafford, Stetson Bennett IV, Ty Simpson

Maybe it’s best to call it a draw when debating which version of Stafford is better. This year’s Stafford is coming off an MVP season, but the one who won the Super Bowl was five years younger.

Instead, let’s focus on the backups. Simpson was the No. 13 pick in April’s draft, and Bennett was a 2023 fourth-round selection who won two national titles at Georgia. Wolford and Perkins went undrafted, but Wolford did start a playoff game in a very brief appearance. Draft status gets the edge here.

Advantage: 2026 Rams

Running back

2021: Cam Akers, Sony Michel, Darrell Henderson Jr., Jake Funk, Buddy Howell

2026: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers

Akers was a reliable runner who brought physicality to the offense, but never quite played up to expectations as a 2020 second-round pick. The same can be said for Michel, a 2018 first-round pick of the Patriots.

Let’s put it this way: Akers, Michel and Henderson never rushed for 1,000 yards in a season nor had 10 rushing touchdowns in a season. Williams has accomplished both in three consecutive seasons.

Williams needs more respect for what he’s done for the Rams, but there’s a chance he loses touches to the talented Corum this season.

Advantage: 2026 Rams

Wide receiver

2021: Odell Beckham Jr., Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Brandon Powell

2026: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Tutu Atwell, CJ Daniels, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, Jordan Whittington

Now, this is a spicy debate.

Beckham and Adams both fit the description of former No. 1 receivers in the twilight of their careers. (Beckham now has a new description as a grizzled veteran who fought his way back onto an NFL roster after two seasons away.)

From the two groups, Kupp might be the top receiver based on what he did in 2021 as a triple crown winner. Still, Nacua is an elite playmaker and a handful for opposing defenses.

I’ll side with this year’s Rams due to their depth. Keep an eye on Daniels and Mumpfield this year. I would have given the 2021 Rams the edge here had Woods stayed healthy and been available for the Super Bowl.

Advantage: 2026 Rams


Tight end

2021: Kendall Blanton, Brycen Hopkins

2026: Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, Max Klare

Even if the 2021 Rams had Higbee, who got injured that season, this still wouldn’t have been a close race. It’s rare for a team to have this much depth at tight end.

Parkinson is an excellent blocker who emerged as a reliable pass catcher last season, with a career-high 43 receptions for 408 yards and eight touchdowns. You can say the same for Higbee and Allen.

As for Ferguson, he could be a breakout star based on his upside in the passing game. The 2025 second-round pick still needs to improve as a blocker, but he won’t be asked to do much of that as a hybrid playmaker who can also line up at wide receiver.

Advantage: 2026 Rams

Offensive line

2021: Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, Coleman Shelton, Alaric Jackson, Bobby Evans, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., David Edwards, Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein

2026: Jackson, Steve Avila, Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon Jr., Beaux Limmer, Dylan McMahon, Bill Murray, David Quessenberry

The Super Bowl winners get on the board here.

Whitworth was still viewed as one of the league’s best left tackles at the time, and Havenstein, who retired this offseason, was a longtime reliable right tackle. Quietly, Edwards has had a productive career as a standout starting guard for the Rams, Bills and now the Saints.

If there’s a weakness on this year’s Rams squad, it might be on the offensive line. A lot is riding on McClendon as the long-term answer to replace Havenstein, and Jackson could face a lengthy suspension due to his legal issues.

Advantage: 2021 Rams

Interior defensive line

2021: Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines, Marquise Copeland, A’Shawn Robinson, Bobby Brown III, Michael Hoecht

2026: Donald, Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton

Part of me wants to give the 2021 Rams the edge because Donald was in the midst of his prime and we don’t know whether he’ll be the same this season after a two-year retirement.

Still, it’s hard to overlook how much the Rams have at this position. They don’t need Donald to play more than 50% of the snaps. This group can get by most of the season with Turner, Fiske and Ford.

The 2021 Rams needed all of Donald and didn’t have depth as a luxury.

Advantage: 2026 Rams

Edge rusher

2021: Von Miller, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Chris Garrett, Terrell Lewis, Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins

2026: Myles Garrett, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, Wesley Bailey, Desjuan Johnson

Miller vs. Garrett is a good debate if we’re discussing which future Hall of Famer is better in their prime.

But Miller was in the back end of his prime when he was traded by the Broncos midway through the 2021 season. You could argue Miller had a rapid decline after leaving the Rams and signing a massive six-year, $120 million deal with the Bills in ’22.

With Garrett, it doesn’t seem his production is going to drastically fall off any time soon, especially after generating 23 sacks last year with the Browns. Additionally, this year’s Rams have plenty of depth with Stewart and Young, who had 12 sacks in 2025.

Advantage: 2026 Rams

Inside linebacker
2021: Travin Howard, Ernest Jones IV, Troy Reeder, Christian Rozeboom

2026: Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Shaun Dolac, Grant Stuard

Maybe I’m trying to make this a fair fight by reaching for a win for the Rams of five years ago. But there’s not much to choose from here since the Rams have never really prioritized the inside linebacker position under GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay.

However, Jones was an impactful rookie who had an impressive performance in the Super Bowl against the Bengals, with seven total tackles and one sack. L.A. would have been better off keeping him because Jones went on to become a starting linebacker for Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks. But with so much star power, the Rams couldn’t afford to prioritize every position. They did, however, find a gem in Landman last season.

Advantage: 2021 Rams

Cornerback
2021: Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Dont’e Deayon, David Long Jr., Blake Countess, Grant Haley

2026: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Josh Wallace

Here’s another close one. It’s star power vs. depth.

I’ll side with a prime Ramsey, who might have been the league’s best cornerback at the time. Ramsey shifted from inside to outside to defend that week’s No. 1 wide receiver.

Expect McDuffie to do the same this season. I’ll regret siding with the old Rams if Watson turns out to be a legitimate No. 2 option. He had his ups and downs in Kansas City.

Advantage: 2021 Rams


Safety
2021: Eric Weddle, Taylor Rapp, Terrell Burgess, Nick Scott, Jake Gervase

2026: Kam Curl, Kamren Kinchens, Quentin Lake, Jaylen McCollough

Once again, it’s numbers against notable names.

While the Rams’ current safeties group doesn’t have any big names, there’s plenty of talent with Curl and Lake, two defensive backs who got second contracts from the team this offseason. But Kinchens might be the best player from the bunch.

The Rams don’t win the Super Bowl if Weddle hadn’t come out of retirement that season. He knows exactly what Donald is about to face in his comeback season.

Advantage: 2026 Rams

Specialists
2021: Punter Johnny Hekker, kicker Matt Gay, long snapper Matthew Orzech

2026: Punter Ethan Evans, kicker Harrison Mevis, long snapper Joe Cardona

I still have several questions about the Rams’ special teams after how poorly this unit played last season in key situations.

It’s not a given that Mevis is the starting kicker all season. He joined the team halfway through the 2025 season to provide some stability at the position.

However, Gay was an accurate kicker, going 32-of-34 on his field-goal attempts in ’21. Hekker was a four-time first-team All-Pro and one of the best at his position for a decade-plus.

Advantage: 2021 Rams

Final score: 2026 Rams 7, 2021 Rams 4]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comWed, 02 Sep 2026 17:06:10 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251679,1251679#msg-1251679 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251679,1251679#msg-1251679
NFL Insider Tom Pelissero joins Jason Fitz and Caroline Fenton on Yahoo Sports Daily to break down Donald’s shocking return to the Los Angeles Rams ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.

The crew dives into Donald’s expected snap count, Puka Nacua’s status and pending mega-extension, and injury updates on Christian McCaffrey and Nick Bosa.

00:00 Rams vs 49ers
01:43 Aaron Donald's return
03:04 Latest on Puka Nacua
05:43 49ers injury updates
07:18 Will Lamar Jackson remain with the Ravens?
10:06 Joe Burrow and the Bengals
11:52 Under the radar storyline



]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comWed, 02 Sep 2026 14:34:41 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251619,1251619#msg-1251619 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251619,1251619#msg-1251619Wow
Best Rams D Ever?

[attachment 15680 zzzz-RamsD.jpg]]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comWed, 02 Sep 2026 02:42:55 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251615,1251615#msg-1251615 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251615,1251615#msg-1251615Where's the best place to get one? (I don't want to have to give a pint of blood either)]]> ScRAM RamsFootballFans.comThu, 03 Sep 2026 11:42:34 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251610,1251610#msg-1251610 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1251610,1251610#msg-1251610Aaron Donald, an unrelenting force, makes the superteam Rams feel inevitable

Jourdan Rodrigue
By Jourdan Rodrigue
Aug. 31, 2026

[www.nytimes.com]


LOS ANGELES — For so many seasons, Aaron Donald did the impossible while reminding us that he is inevitable.

The Future Hall of Fame defensive tackle’s decision to come out of retirement this summer, made official on Sunday afternoon, is of the same ethos: It feels impossible. It has felt inevitable.

Donald has been preparing behind the scenes for a return for months, working out at the Rams’ facility and staying in close communication with head coach Sean McVay (who in turn has not been able to keep much of a poker face about the whole thing). Coaches plotted together about how they would utilize him in the event of his return. (Spoiler: a player who already was historically hard to game plan for now has an unpredictable snap count from game to game.)

His eventual return was set in motion by the Rams’ trade in June for another future Hall of Famer, defensive end Myles Garrett. Garrett was a player the franchise had long dreamed about — even inquiring as to the possibility of a trade in 2022, as they discussed how they’d build their Super Bowl-defending roster.

Back then, Donald was also due for the extension that we now know had flexibility built into it on the chance he decided to retire after the 2023 season; there were even reports of a letter of intent to retire that Donald submitted to the Rams that they ultimately tore up.

Pairing Garrett with Donald, organizational leaders knew, would extend the Rams’ window at that time and give them a real shot at repeating as champions. Of course, what actually happened was very different: Garrett was not available; the Rams pursued other options in free agency while extending Donald, quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp; and their 2022 season was a disaster in large part because of injuries. After serving as a bridge for the roster overhaul that followed in 2023, Donald decided he was, in his words, “full.” He stepped away.

But “away” ultimately meant there was a path back. Now, Donald, Garrett, and cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson all count as “offseason acquisitions” on a superteam that still features Stafford, receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and defensive linemen Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Byron Young and Poona Ford. That, my friends, is quite a sentence.

It’s so difficult to win a Super Bowl, even as the favorite. Even before Donald’s reinstatement, the Rams had the best odds to do so. Their chances are still just 15.5 percent, according to Austin Mock’s NFL Projection Model; the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens are the next-closest at 7.8 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively.

Last year’s winner, the Seahawks, were given just a 2.1 percent chance of winning, according to the model, while the Bills, Ravens, Chiefs and Eagles ranked among the highest odds (none of them advanced beyond the divisional round, and the Ravens missed the playoffs entirely). In fact, over the last 24 seasons, only four times has the preseason betting favorite (or co-favorite) won the Super Bowl.

All of this to say, the margins for success are slim, and it’s far more likely that things go wrong than right. Careful planning as the Rams have done — turning the sprint-rebuild of 2023 again into a multi-year contender, preserving Stafford’s health and contract, drafting and developing a stellar new core before acquiring resources they ultimately turned into premier players at premium positions (just like in 2021) — only goes so far.

The few players on this Rams roster who have been in the big game before know: It’s the intangible things that also have to go right in November, December, January.

Last time they made a Super Bowl run, it was a different star pass rusher paired with Donald in Von Miller, who sat next to Donald on the plane rides back from road games deep into the season and told him stories about what it was like to win it all. What it felt like to lift the Lombardi Trophy into the lights and confetti on the field afterward, what it felt like to cradle it in his arms in the days and weeks that followed. Garrett does not need any motivation, after the hope-sucking void of many of his years spent in Cleveland with no glimmer of the postseason in sight. But how fitting, now, that Donald will do for Garrett what once helped even the most intrinsically driven player find his extra gear?

That Donald clearly wanted to return before the start of the regular season shows he wants to be a part of that intangible, constant push the team will need to feel every day to reach its championship goals. No surprise there, as that specific type of mental and physical strain is simply Donald’s way of being.

Right now, this is fun. In a few weeks it will be hard.

Maybe the challenge of this is in part why Donald decided to come back. Maybe it’s living in the specific thrill that will come from this team — now one of those “superteams” they make documentaries about — facing these odds and still having a target on its back all season. It will take some luck; any veteran player, coach, executive will tell you that. It will also take some taking-of-chances, another truth everyone in the NFL knows but many will never live by.

There’s a route that the Rams and others have typically built into some of their pass concepts that is called “for the love of the game.” It mostly means that the receiver running it is in charge of executing a deep over route that draws one or more defenders with him, with the intent of clearing out space for other players underneath. Ninety-nine percent of the time he doesn’t get the ball.

But there is that 1 percent …

The Rams lived in those odds once, on a throw from Stafford to Kupp on a “for the love of the game” route that set up a game-winning field goal to win a divisional-round game, then a fateful match against the rival San Francisco 49ers, then an equally fateful march to Super Bowl LVI. That risk was worth everything.

It’s one of the most famous plays in Rams history, of course superseded by Donald closing out the Super Bowl itself with a hit on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. It is even rarer than winning a Super Bowl that a defensive player gets to make the game-sealing play.

People often forget about the play before it, during which Donald stopped running back Samaje Perine on third-and-1 and set up his own pass-rush opportunity on fourth down.

Donald, the inevitable force, called his shot at that moment. And now, for the love of the game, for the chance at achieving what in football often feels impossible, he is doing it again.]]> RamBill RamsFootballFans.comWed, 02 Sep 2026 09:41:56 -0400