Though the Los Angeles Rams are opening their season at home for the first time since 2022, it’s by no means an easy start to the year. They’re hosting the Houston Texans in Week 1, a team that has not only made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons under DeMeco Ryans, but won a postseason game each year, too.
The Texans are going to be a tough out for the Rams to open the season and Sean McVay is fully aware of that. He’s not looking past this team in the slightest bit, explaining on Monday what makes Houston such a “great challenge” for the Rams.
“They’re a great team. I think they take on the personality of their head coach and DeMeco is a guy – they’re physical, tough, they play smart, they toe the line. I think that’s reflected in all three phases,” he said. “They have continuity in the defense and on the special teams where they’ve been excellent. Then I think they’ve been really dang good the last couple years on offense. Obviously took a little bit of a step back, but we know what a great coach Nick Caley is. They kept a lot of their great coaches that were already in place. He and Jerry Schuplinski are really the only new guys as far as I know. It’s excellent personnel. There’s a style of play. There’s a reason why they’ve been a top eight team each of the last couple years. Winning their division and then being able to advance into the Divisional Round. They are excellent. We got a chance to practice against them a year ago, but everything that they are about is what I respect. That’s why we know it’ll be such a great challenge and that’s what you love about the league.”
The Rams are currently slight favorites against the Texans in Week 1, which is mostly just because of their home-field advantage. On paper, Los Angeles might look like a better team but the Texans also have the makings of a group that could go on a deep playoff run if healthy.
Where the Rams have an advantage is up front on defense. Their defensive line could give the Texans’ revamped offensive line fits on Sunday, given the talent Los Angeles has with its pass rush.
The Texans couldn’t protect C.J. Stroud last season, which is why they overhauled their O-line by trading away Laremy Tunsil and parting ways with former starters Shaq Mason and Kenyon Green.
Where Houston could challenge the Rams is with wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. Rookie Jayden Higgins is another threat on the outside, with Dalton Schultz always being a weapon at tight end. It helps that the Rams won’t have to face Joe Mixon but this Texans offense is still high-powered.
And defensively, Houston is as good as anyone with Derek Stingley Jr. at cornerback, and the tandem of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter at edge rusher. That trio will try to make life difficult for Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Sean McVay explains what makes the Texans ‘such a great challenge’ for the Rams
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
