The Rams open the 2025 NFL season at SoFi with new firepower, a healthy Stafford, and a showdown against Houston’s rising stars
The 2025-26 NFL season is finally upon us as our Los Angeles Rams face the fully-loaded Houston Texans. Led by electrifying quarterback CJ Stroud and star receiver Nico Collins, the Texans are aiming to bounce back from a disappointing, injury-riddled season. So what does that spell for our Los Angeles Rams?
With the massive off-season acquisition of 6-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams after a failed stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Rams now boast one of the best receiver cores in the entire league as Adams is now paired alongside our absolute stud of a wide receiver, Puka Nacua. Puka, who quickly garnered recognition as one of the elite offensive playmakers since his rookie season in 2023, will hopefully take the next step into becoming a fully-fledged superstar. Surely the dynamic duo of Davante and Puka will make for some wildly entertaining play calling, but the success of the offense truly lies in the hands of seasoned veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Stafford’s offseason has been anything but healthy, thanks to both an aggravated back injury involving a spinal disc and several blood clots that resulted in a month’s worth of absences from training camp. While he is certainly no stranger to injuries in his 16-year career, Stafford feels confident about being available to play in week 1 against the Texans. And should he hopefully stay healthy the entire season, he could achieve his best offense season to date, thanks to the staggering firepower at each side of the receiver position this year.
Coming off a career-high 14-touchdown regular season, running back Kyren Williams will once again spearhead an exceptional ground game for the Rams. Thanks to a fortified offensive line supporting him and a portion of the scoring pressure alleviated due to the team’s upgraded passing options, don’t be surprised if Kyren finishes as a top 5 running back in several offensive categories.
More importantly, it is essential that the Rams fire on all cylinders to make up for a mediocre 2024 season defensively, which resulted in being ranked 21st in total sacks and 26th in total yards per gain. Texans offensive leaders CJ Stroud and Nico Collins will put the pressure on the Rams’ secondary, either turning them to dust or into diamonds. And with their off-season addition of Nick Chubb, who will play the role of their productive workhorse in the absence of injured running back Joe Mixon, there is zero room for any mistakes. History has shown, the Texans’ offense can be difficult to control.
On the other side of things, emerging sophomore cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is set to make a big impact for Houston’s pass defense once again, which may cause a bit of a headache for Stafford and company. A 5-interception rookie season is nothing to laugh at, and will be a prime concern for the Rams’ offensive play calling coming into week 1. At the front lines, defensive end Danielle Hunter will remind everyone why he is one of the highest-paid players at that position next to fellow defensive titans Max Crosby and Miles Garrett. Last year, Hunter produced 12 sacks, which to most players would be considered a breakout season, but for Danielle, it was simply an “off” year, proving that the Rams have their work cut out for themselves.
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There’s a lot riding on Sunday’s game for both teams in terms of establishing dominance early on. As a mostly young core, the Texans will certainly want to silence the doubters who’ve been labeling Stroud’s remarkable rookie season as a fluke, and to show that the team’s offensive line has made great strides of improvement in the offseason after a disastrous showing last year. But for the Rams, it is much, much more. It is not simply about asserting dominance, but it is about returning to form as a Super Bowl contender. When you have stacked talent on both sides of the ball, the potential is great, but the expectations are even greater. Whether this will be evident off-the-bat in game 1 or may surface as the season progresses remains to be seen. But one thing is definite, it will be an absolutely fun shoot-out of a game this Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
Vahe Baghdoyan
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