The Los Angeles Rams are facing a challenging start to the 2024 NFL season. In their first five games, they will go up against three teams that made the playoffs last year, including the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers. This was highlighted by USA Today writer Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, who pegged the Rams as a team poised to stumbled of the gate this seas
“The offensive line hardly seems settled, with starting left tackle Alaric Jackson serving a two-game suspension, right tackle Rob Havenstein hobbled by an ankle injury and Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson flipping positions at left guard and center. “Chris Shula, who replaces Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator, will be responsible for maintaining thin groups at inside linebacker and in the secondary. Additionally, there is the small issue of continuing without Aaron Donald, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and his unmatched pass rush force. While those problems are manageable during the season, expecting Matthew Stafford to get past them in the opening week may be asking a bit too much of him.
In between those two games, the Arizona Cardinals pose a threat for an upset. “The Detroit Lions (Week 1) and San Francisco 49ers (Week 3) have the offensive firepower and tenacity along the lines to throw the Rams off their game. It is not surprising if Los Angeles takes a month or so to reach its peak performance.” The Rams had a difficult start to the previous season, going 2-3 throughout their first three games. They had a rough beginning, but they finished 10-7 and earned a playoff spot. But with the schedule coming up, it is unclear if they can avoid starting out slowly again.
Due to injuries and suspensions, key players on the Rams’ offensive line are in flux. Their performance could be hampered by this inconsistency, particularly when playing strong opponents with excellent offensive powers like the 49ers and Lions. There is further uncertainty because the Rams will also be transitioning to a new defensive coordinator. They play the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, and if quarterback Kyler Murray is healthy, they might be a formidable opponent.
In Week 4, the Rams will also play the Chicago Bears; this matchup could be more advantageous for the Bears because of their rookie quarterback’s continuing development. Even though the Rams have a lot of expectations for this season, a sluggish start does not always indicate disaster. As the season goes on, they still have a chance to turn things around if they act fast to make the necessary adjustments. How effectively they handle their early setbacks will be crucial.
