Not too long ago, the Los Angeles Rams seemed to be leading the NFL. On November 24, they had just taken down the Buccaneers, holding a strong 9-2 record, and it looked like they were heading for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But, fast forward a few weeks, and the situation has shifted dramatically.
The Rams have stumbled to a 2-3 record in their last five games, suffering notably disappointing losses to the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. Sure, injuries have affected the team—particularly with Davante Adams sidelined—but that shouldn’t derail a team of Los Angeles’ caliber. It’s hard to say whether they eased off too early, were conserving energy for the playoffs, or simply underestimated some weaker teams while eyeing tougher opponents. Regardless, the outcome remains harsh: they might be risking a lot of what they built this season.
Loss of No. 1 seed
These lackluster performances have cost the Rams a shot at both the NFC West title and the coveted No. 1 seed. Now, instead of a bye, they face a Wild Card weekend and must navigate their way through the playoffs. This isn’t ideal for a couple of reasons. For one, Davante Adams, a crucial part of the Rams’ red zone offense, gets less time to recuperate. Then there’s the added challenge of traveling across time zones to prepare for games.
If the playoffs were to kick off today, the Rams would find themselves heading to Chicago to take on the Bears, rather than playing at home against the Packers. Chicago is currently one of the strongest teams in the division, while Green Bay is on a three-game losing streak.
Matthew Stafford’s MVP candidate took a big hit.
Stafford’s passing yards are climbing, yet so is his interception count. Back on that November day, he had impressive stats: 30 touchdowns to only two interceptions, which greatly bolstered his MVP candidacy. Fast forward, though, and he’s thrown six interceptions in just five games, holding a total TD/INT ratio of 42/8. While this year remains strong, Drake Maye, with a 30/8 ratio, is gaining traction with a weaker supporting cast. What once looked like a secure MVP opportunity for Stafford is now uncertain.
Losing to the Falcons did a lot of damage to their own draft picks.
A big highlight of the 2025 NFL Draft was the Rams trading their No. 26 pick to the Falcons, who picked James Pierce Jr. Had they won that game in Atlanta, the Rams would now have an eighth pick. Currently, they sit at No. 12, and it’s very likely that pick could drop to No. 20.
The possibility of snagging a top quarterback for the future has all but vanished. Without the chance to trade up, acquiring a premier passer seems pretty unlikely, which is unfortunate. They really needed some wins in Atlanta, not just for the playoffs, but for the future.
NFC South strangely found a way to solve Puka Nacua
This is particularly concerning given the potential of a playoff matchup in the NFC South without Davante Adams. Nacua has struggled against these opponents, failing to reach 100 receiving yards in nine games this season, including all four against the NFC South teams.
Nacua averages significantly more—about 120 yards—against teams outside the NFC South. A major factor here could be the division’s tendency to implement three-deep zone coverages that help limit explosive plays, diminishing the Rams’ passing game.
It’s worth keeping an eye on, especially if the Rams manage to grab the No. 5 seed to challenge the winner of the Panthers vs. Buccaneers.
One might be tempted to scrutinize every individual loss and think, “Well, they’re still pretty good.” This is partly accurate, but it doesn’t cover the entire picture. With five games lost, it’s essential to analyze what went wrong, especially offensively.
Los Angeles is a team that climbed quickly, boasting the NFL’s top scoring offense. Yet, in four of their losses, a common thread is clear: they didn’t meet their average points. The only exception came in their game against the Seahawks, where they fell short of scoring even a touchdown in overtime.
Clearly, Sean McVay is among the top coaches in the league. A strong coach can learn from mistakes and adapt strategies following a loss.
Rams are still really good…I think
This team is what will define the 2025 season. Just when it seems like they’ve established themselves, they find a way to surprise you. There’s still a lot of belief that Los Angeles can compete at an elite level and chase a Super Bowl, yet there are certainly noticeable fissures.
Without Davante Adams, the offense falters, and the defense appears shaky against lesser opponents. It’s puzzling, to say the least. However, it’s evident that the Rams have significantly harmed their chances over the past five weeks, and this could have lasting effects long into 2025 and beyond.
