3 things that could make or break the Rams' NFC West title defense
After returning to the playoffs in 2023, the Los Angeles Rams exceeded expectations in 2024 and reclaimed the NFC West crown for the first time since 2021.
Los Angeles now enters the 2025 season with momentum, but also with pressure to stay atop a division that saw only the Rams play in January off a 10-7 record following a 1-4 start and it wasn't until Week 14 that the team managed to get over .500.
To stay on top, Sean McVay's team must address three critical areas that could make or break their bid for back-to-back division titles.
Keep QB Matthew Stafford clean on the blind side
The Rams' offense goes as far as Stafford can take it, but only if he's upright. The 37-year-old signal caller was protected fairly well last season, having been sacked 38 times, which was tied for 13th fewest, but questions now swirl around the left tackle spot.
Alaric Jackson, who signed a three-year, $57.75 million contract extension back in February, is battling blood clots that have now cast doubt on his availability.
While D.J. Humphries was signed as insurance, he's two years removed from an ACL tear suffered late during the 2023 season and also injured his hamstring as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs last year. Behind him, depth is thin. This means the Rams must either trust Humphries or veteran David Quessenberry, who the Rams signed back in May to a one-year deal, to be a full-time solution.
If the left tackle position becomes an issue, Stafford's efficiency and this offense's explosiveness could take a hit.
Get the Stafford-Adams connection rolling
The Rams made one of the splashiest moves of the offseason by bringing in All-Pro WR Davante Adams. But a bold move only pays off if the chemistry follows. Replacing a franchise great in Cooper Kupp isn't about swapping targets, it's about recalibrating the offense. Adams thrives in isolation routes, crisp timing, and red-zone precision. That demands a new layer of McVay's playbook and fast-track chemistry with Stafford.
Suppose the Rams can't quickly build a rhythm between Stafford and Adams. In that case, they risk becoming predictable, or worse, inefficient, against elite defenses like San Francisco, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, who all loom on L.A.'s 2025 schedule.
Reinforce the secondary
While the front seven has promising talents like Jared Verse, last years defensive rookie of the year, Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner, the Rams' secondary remains a glaring concern.
In the defensive backfield, they've ranked 20th the past two seasons in passing defense, allowing 231.1 yards per game in 2023 and 223.1 yards in 2024, while also ranking middle of the pack in passing yards allowed per attempt at 6.7 last season and despite having a pair of solid veterans in Ahkello Witherspoon and Darious Williams, they have yet to land a proven CB1 for 2025.
The options? Bring in a veteran like Stephon Gilmore. Make a splash by trading for Jalen Ramsey, or bank on internal growth from players like Cobie Durant, who finished with 40 tackles, eight deflections, and an interception last season. Without a stable boundary presence, the Rams could continue to be vulnerable against the NFC West's improved passing attacks.
Bottom Line
The Rams have the roster to run the West. But every contender has soft spots. If L.A. can patch the left tackle situation, turn Adams into an every-week weapon, and fix their secondary leaks, the road to the NFC West still runs through Inglewood. If not? The door could swing wide open for the 49ers, Seahawks, or Cardinals to crash the party.
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