Where Do the Los Angeles Rams Land in ESPN's Way-Too-Early Power Rankings?

The Los Angeles Rams exceeded expectations in 2023 but couldn't escape the NFC Wild Card Round. How does that shape their standing heading into 2024?

The San Francisco 49ers dominated the NFC, running away with the division and ultimately the conference after two come-from-behind victories. Seemingly everything went right, from a clean bill of health to the ascension of quarterback Brock Purdy.

And yet, it wasn’t enough. They fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, reaffirming just how hard it is to win without a star quarterback. It’s one of the few things that the Los Angeles Rams have over their California counterparts, and it keeps their Super Bowl window open.

Yet, getting bounced in the Wild Card Round by a superior Detroit Lions team – that came so close to a Super Bowl appearance – means that there is work to be done. If quarterback Matthew Stafford is going to win his second ring, Los Angeles must improve.

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As such, ESPN’s way-too-early power rankings found the Rams to be the 12th-best team in the NFL.

In the NFC alone, they fell behind the 49ers, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers. While positioning can be fairly fluid in the second tier of NFC playoff contenders, it’s easy to see why Philadelphia’s star-studded roster and Green Bay’s upward trajectory land them ahead of Los Angeles.

Perhaps the biggest reason for this ranking is the defensive regression the Rams must stave off. Head coach Sean McVay will be effective with Stafford, his dynamic duo of receivers, and running back Kyren Williams. Nobody has doubts about that unit aside from its ability to stay healthy. But few, if any, defenses exceeded expectations like Los Angeles’ defense, and that’s hard to count on year-over-year.

“Although defensive coordinator Raheem Morris got a lot out of the inexperienced unit in 2023, there are still holes for new DC Chris Shula to fill,” Sarah Barshop wrote.

The Rams were essentially a league-average defense, ranking 20th in expected points added per play and 11th in success rate. They accomplished this with an adequate, but not elite, rookie as their best edge rusher and with little to write home about at cornerback. In today’s climate, that’s a hard way to make a living.

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Luckily, the offseason will offer Los Angeles the chance to be aggressive, given their cap and draft resources are healthier than in years past. General manager Les Snead has built a winner out of late-round picks, but keeping that momentum is arduous, making the team’s first Day 1 draft pick since 2016 that much more important.

This is a roster that – despite its successes – is feeling the after-effects of a Super Bowl run. Making another will count on the offense staying healthy and the defense being infused with talent for Shula to weaponize.