The Los Angeles Rams have a prime-time matchup ahead as they take on the Denver Broncos this week, and the game will serve as a barometer for where their special teams unit stands this season. At this point last year, Week 3 of the 2025 season, the wheels came off the Rams' special teams permanently.
Despite their lead in Philadelphia, the Eagles stormed back to retake the lead late. Matthew Stafford launched a full-scale comeback that placed the Rams in perfect position to kick the game-winning field goal. Except it was blocked and returned for a touchdown.
We don't need to go down the ugly history that was last season, culminating in their loss in the NFC Championship Game, but for a team whose entire season ended because of special teams, their approach
starting 2026 has been underwhelming.
New long-snapper Joe Cardona has seemingly fit in well, but everything else has suffered. There are still questions about Xavier Smith's efficiency as a returner, while Harrison Mevis' range and Ethan Evans' consistency are under evaluation.
Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone is only two regular-season games into the job, and it would be unfair to cast judgment on him so soon. But Sean McVay said it, and everyone agrees: The unit needs to be better. But that's not the real question. The real question should be answered this Sunday.
Did the Rams do enough to win a Super Bowl? I think the answer is yes, but not as much as they think they did. The Rams went through extraordinary efforts to improve their team and address weaknesses. There's nothing they did wrong. This isn't a year-long problem; it's the trickle-down result of neglecting the unit for years.
No consistency at kicker, continued failures, continuous rotation with practice squad players. They have lacked consistency. So far, the issues have been there, but not to the point of derailing winning efforts. In a game that should be close, could this be where the special teams unit finally proves themselves? Or will the letdowns of last week serve as an omen for the season?
McVay added Ventrone for a reason. He believes Ventrone can overcome all those issues. Things like this never look pretty early, but his New England Patriots background could be the difference later on, as it once was for Bill Belichick as soon as snow started falling.
Ventrone gets his first real chin check this week, and it’s time to see if McVay's hire is truly paying off.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Week 3 will be barometer for Rams’ struggling special teams
