The Los Angeles Rams were a play or two away from competing in the NFC title game in 2024. Less than a year later, the roster looks almost the same except for a few additions and subtractions.
This is good and bad, as Matthew Stafford is 37 and is dealing with an injured back, while some of the positions of need haven’t been addressed. The addition of receiver Davante Adams creates a bit of excitement, though.
ESPN’s Ben Solak ranked all 32 teams by watchability this season and wasn’t too keen on tuning into the Rams in 2025. Solak looked at a team’s propensity for big plays, close games, star players and “cool scheme stuff.” L.A. ranked No. 27 on his list, mainly because of the uncertainty at quarterback between Stafford and backup Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Rams with Matthew Stafford at quarterback are extremely watchable. Everyone loves watching Stafford. Big arm, making tough plays, gritty dude, no-look passes, side-arm releases. Think about how fun that Rams team was to watch down the stretch last season, with fourth-quarter drives against the Eagles in the snow and the defensive line takeover moments.
The Rams with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback are still watchable, just in a much more grotesque way. Watching an offensive mastermind squeeze a functional offense out of Garoppolo lost its shine in the early 2020s, when Kyle Shanahan was authoring playoff runs that eventually ended when Garoppolo got hurt or exposed. Can McVay do the same four years later? I’m curious to find out, even if I’d prefer one last stouthearted Stafford year.
This will be a fun team with a healthy Stafford under center, much like they’ve been in the three years Stafford played the majority of games. But if he misses time, they’ll be as bad to watch as the 2022 version of the team that won just five games.
Things could easily change if Stafford is deemed good to go for Week 1 sooner rather than later. But as long as the team tip-toes around the subject in the days leading into the season, the closer the team gets to unwatchable status, per ESPN.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams ranked as one of the least-watchable teams in 2025
Reporting by Tyler Greenawalt, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
