Heading into this season, the Rams were viewed as the heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl. Some people in the NFL world thought Los Angeles was so good they were calling them a superteam before the season.
Yet, after six weeks, the Rams have a 2-4 record and are just coming off a shocking loss to Arizona. They entered this past Sunday as 12.5-point favorites, and the Cardinals were a +560 underdog. This begs the question: why is Los Angeles not living up to the hype?
Matthew Stafford Is Regressing To A Concerning Level
Oct 18, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks to pass in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Coming off winning MVP this past season, Matthew Stafford was expected to play at the level of a top ten quarterback again. Instead, the 38-year-old quarterback is showing more signs of father time catching up to him.
During the 2025 season, Stafford had an EPA per dropback of 0.207, ranking third out of 45 qualifying quarterbacks per Sumer Sports. Along with recording good marks in shotgun EPA per dropback at 0.25 and 0.27 in EPA per dropback vs man converge.
So far this season, Stafford has dropped in those aforementioned categories by a good amount. In six games, Stafford has produced an EPA per dropback of 0.066, ranking 16th out of 30 qualifying quarterbacks. Stafford’s shotgun EPA per dropback has cratered to a 0.03 mark, and vs man coverage his EPA per dropback has fallen to 0.13 per Sumer Sports.
Rams Struggles With Separation May Be Getting Worse
Rams veteran signal caller struggles more than most quarterbacks when throwing under pressure and against the blitz. Due to his lack of mobility, Stafford doesn’t have the necessary physical capabilities to create once protection fails.
This isn’t something new with Stafford; there was a stark difference when he threw under pressure vs a clean pocket even during last season. What’s different is the Rams’ wide receivers are having issues creating separation.
In their game against Arizona, the Rams averaged 2.9 yards of separation per Next Gen Stats. This was the worst mark in the league for Week 6, and this has been a reviver group that’s been near the bottom of average yards of separation all year.
Now, with Davantae Adams being out for 6 to 10 weeks after rupturing his left hamstring muscle. In addition to Puka Nacua potentially being out for this week and going forward after sustaining a calf injury during practice yesterday. A position group already lacking in creating separation is getting even worse.
Rams Are Having An Injury Crisis
Los Angeles is not only dealing with injuries on offense but on defense and special teams as well. Starting nose tackle Poona Ford is out for the rest of this season after rupturing his triceps.
Their kicker, Blake Grupe, who they just signed last week after cutting kicker Harrison Mevis, is now out for the year with a torn ACL. Starting defensive tackle Kobie Turner is out four to six weeks with a groin injury.
To make matters worse, Myles Garrett, who’s been on injured reserve since week two after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Is still not ready to come back into the lineup.
End Of Why Rams Are Falling Apart Rant
You combine all of this along with Los Angeles having the worst special teams unit in the NFL and Sean McVay being below his standards as a playcaller, especially against Arizona, and this is how the Rams stand where they are today. Is it possible for Los Angeles to turn it around? It most certainly is.
Nacua may not miss any time; they’ll be getting back Turner, Adams, and Garrett at some point this season. McVay can regain his mojo as a playcaller, and Stafford can return to playing at a top-10 quarterback level.
Yet, after six weeks into their season, the superteam expectations placed on them will not be met. Also, it’s in question whether they can reach the Super Bowl, let alone the NFC Championship Game.
