The Los Angeles Rams offense looked solid in their 14-9 victory over the Houston Texans this past Sunday, and with offensive guru Sean McVay at the helm, that was to be expected. However, what was more impressive was the showing of Chris Shula’s defensive unit on the other side of the ball. LA was able to hold Houston scoreless in the second half while also not allowing the Texans to make it past the Los Angeles 15 yard line the entire game. This stellar defensive play, which really began to stand
out during the back half of 2024, seems to have made it’s way to 2025 and it begs the question, have the Rams become a defense first team?
Don’t get it twisted, Los Angeles boasts one of the most powerful offenses in the league. That makes it hard to question LA’s commitment in any way to that side of the ball, especially when you see names like McVay, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Matthew Stafford being involved. Still, if you really look at the numbers, the Rams strength of the team has been their defensive unit.
Since Week 15 of 2024, The Rams defense has be suffocating, holding their opponents to single-digit scores in all but two games, one of which they were resting starters vs. Seattle and the other being against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the playoffs. Over the same seven game span, they had five interceptions and a staggering 29 sacks, with nine against the Vikings and seven against the Eagles in the 2024 playoffs.
It’s not just the immediate success the team is having that makes it feels like LA could be building a championship caliber defense for a long time to come – it’s the youth that’s at the core of their defense.
Long gone are the days of “F those picks” and superstar acquisitions of players who are in, or slightly past, their primes. No, the Rams are building long term from within, with young building blocks like Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, and Omar Speights, all of whom are in their sophomore year and under contract through 2026 at a minimum. Kobie Turner, Byron Young, Quentin Lake and Cobie Durant are all still on their rookie deals. In fact, out of all the Rams starters on defense from Sunday, only Nate Landman, Poona Ford, Kam Curl and Ahkello Witherspoon weren’t on rookie deals.
Analyst Colin Cowherd spoke about the Rams success on defense as of late on his FS1 show “The Herd”:
“They’ve held opponents under 10 points in four straight games when the starters are playing,” Cowherd said. “I believe their defensive line and their defense as a whole could be the best in the league right now because a lot of these good teams, like the Bills and the Ravens, they gave up a lot of yards on the back end.”
On the flip side, from Week 15 of 2024 to now, The Rams offense have averaged about 19.7 points per game counting the playoffs. Over those same seven games, they scored 14 points or less in over half of them. While the Rams can play up to tough opponents and have an explosive 44 point game like they did vs the Buffalo Bills last season, their consistency in the ability to dominant on offense has yet to solidify. Even Sunday against the Texans, the Rams were able to move the ball effectively all day, but at the end of the game only walked away with 14 points total. LB Nate Landman effectively saved the game by punching the ball out with just 1:33 on the clock after a fumble by TE Colby Parkinson gave Houston the ball back with around four minutes left.
LA’s offense is not exactly being carried by their defense, but with the ability to theoretically hold opponents to under 14 points game in and game out, they also no longer have the added pressure of needing to score every drive. With the defense holding teams to their side of the 50, along with the booming leg of punter Ethan Evans, the Rams may have found a formula for success by getting a lead early and then playing keep away with the recently extended RB Kyren Williams. This is huge for a veteran quarterback like Matthew Stafford, who now may be able to lower his attempts per game, which will only help longevity and health as the season continues.
The Rams offense is not lacking nor a weak point on the team, and that needs to be reiterated, but while they can be great, the defense feels like it can be special. The unit still has to prove it’s ability to play at this level over the course of an entire season, but if they can in 2025, it could be the key to Los Angeles hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.
