It's not often that a team has to replace a Hall of Famer in his prime, but that's what the Los Angeles Rams are faced with this season.
Here's everything you need to know about the Rams this season.
2024 Rams Odds
Odds via FanDuel and as of Aug. 17.
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Super Bowl | +3000 |
| NFC Champion | +1400 |
| NFC West | +330 |
| Make/Miss Playoffs | -115 / -105 |
| Win Total | 8.5 (-152 / +122) |
2023 Rams Betting Records
- 11-6-1 against the spread (+22.2% ROI)
- 9-9 to the over (-4.3% ROI)
Past Rams Win Totals
| Season | Win Total | No. of Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10.5 | 12 |
| 2022 | 10.5 | 5 |
| 2023 | 6.5 | 10 |
Important Rams Betting Stats
Thanks to playing most of his career with the Lions, Matthew Stafford is 97-111-6 against the spread in the NFL. Backup Jimmy Garoppolo is 40-28-1.
Sean McVay is a solid 66-56-4 in his career against the spread.
How Do the Rams Replace a Hall of Famer?
While most of these previews I’ve written for every NFL team have focused on the offense, this one is mostly going to be about the defense.
We’ll touch on the offense, though. Matthew Stafford proved he has plenty left in the tank last season, which is when the Rams got breakout seasons from Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams. This year, a healthy Cooper Kupp could unleash Los Angeles’ full potential as one of the NFL’s best offenses.
Now, about that defense.
Los Angeles ranked 22nd in DVOA last season, but that was with three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award-winner Aaron Donald. The future Hall of Famer retired in the offseason and leaves a massive hole on the Rams defensive line.
Los Angeles drafted Jared Verse and Braden Fiske from Florida State to bolster the front seven. Kobie Turner will likely take on most of Donald’s responsibilities in the middle of the defensive line after a stellar rookie season, while Bobby Brown also thrived as a pass-rusher.
The Rams secondary had some question marks last season, but safety Kam Curl and cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams were added. There is experience in the secondary and plenty of potential upside in the front seven.
Los Angeles bounced back from a down year after winning the Super Bowl last season by making the playoffs and nearly winning a Wild Card Round game against the Lions. Whether the Rams can build on that success will come down to Stafford’s health and how the team performs without Donald to anchor the defense.
How To Back the Rams This Season
If you think the Rams have added enough on defense and can perform well without Donald, the best way to back them this season is likely to make the playoffs.
Los Angeles is -115 to return to the playoffs this season, an indication that the betting market has slightly soured on it with Donald’s retirement. The pieces are there for success, though, so it’s not unreasonable to think Los Angeles is playing in mid-January and potentially beyond again this season.
2024 Rams Schedule Info
According to Action Network’s Sean Koerner, the Rams will face the 16th-hardest schedule in the NFL this season.
Obviously, two games against the 49ers will make a schedule difficult enough. The Rams will also face fellow playoff teams from last season in the Lions, Packers, Dolphins, Eagles and Bills this year.
Los Angeles opens with three of its first four games on the road, with the one game at home coming against the 49ers in Week 3 before hosting the Packers in Week 5.
Los Angeles' Week 1 Odds & Matchup
In a rematch of last year’s playoff game from the NFC Wild Card Round, the Rams are a similarly sized underdog.
Los Angeles is currently a 3.5-point underdog in Week 1 against the Lions, with a 51.5 point total that is the highest of the week’s slate. Last year in the playoffs, the Rams opened at +3.5 but moved to +3 during the week.
