The box score is a liar. If you just glance at the L A Rams stats from the past season, you see a team that oscillates between offensive genius and defensive "what just happened?" moments. But football isn't played in a spreadsheet. Since Sean McVay took over, this franchise has basically been a high-speed laboratory for how to build—and rebuild—a roster on the fly.
People always talk about the "Stars and Scrubs" approach. Honestly, it worked. They got a ring. But now, the numbers are telling a much weirder story. We’re looking at a team transition that most pundits didn't see coming. It’s about the massive gap left by Aaron Donald and the unexpected efficiency of a quarterback everyone tried to retire three years ago.
The Matthew Stafford Efficiency Paradox
You can't talk about L A Rams stats without starting at QB1. Matthew Stafford is a fascinating case study in "expected" vs. "actual" production. While his raw yardage remains high, the way he's getting those yards has shifted. He’s holding the ball longer. He’s taking more shots into tight windows because, frankly, he has the arm talent to ignore what the coverage says he should do.
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Look at his Adjusted Net Yards per Pass Attempt (ANY/A). It’s the stat that actually matters because it accounts for sacks and interceptions. In the Rams' Super Bowl run, Stafford was elite. Last year, that number dipped, not because he got worse, but because the offensive line was a revolving door of injuries.
- Stafford’s EPA (Expected Points Added) per play remains top-tier when he has more than 2.5 seconds in the pocket.
- The connection with Puka Nacua changed the math.
- Cooper Kupp's gravity still pulls safeties, even when he isn't the primary target.
The volume is there. But the efficiency is what keeps McVay’s scheme afloat. If Stafford’s completion percentage stays above 65% while maintaining an average depth of target (aDOT) over 8.0 yards, the Rams stay in the hunt. It’s a razor-thin margin. One bad hit and the whole house of cards wobbles.
Life After 99: A Defensive Identity Crisis
For a decade, the Rams' defensive strategy was basically: "Aaron Donald will ruin their life, and everyone else just clean up the mess." Now? That safety net is gone. When you look at the L A Rams stats on the defensive side of the ball, the pressure rate is the most alarming metric.
Without a generational talent demanding triple-teams, the young front seven has to win with scheme. Kobie Turner and Jared Verse are the new faces of this pass rush. Turner’s rookie sack numbers were actually historic—matching some of Donald’s early career metrics—but can he do it when he’s the one being game-planned for?
Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus (PFF) both noted a significant drop in "Quick Pressure" (pressure within 2 seconds) once Donald retired. The Rams are now forced to blitz more. That’s a gamble. It leaves a young secondary exposed. If the Rams' defense allows a passer rating over 100 on third downs, it doesn’t matter how many points Stafford scores. They’ll just be trading touchdowns until they lose.
The Puka Nacua Statistical Outlier
What Puka Nacua did as a rookie wasn't just good. It was broken. It shouldn't happen. A fifth-round pick shouldn't break the rookie receiving yards record (1,486 yards) and the receptions record (105).
Why did it happen? It’s the "McVay Effect."
- Target Share: Nacua saw a target share north of 28% in games where he was the primary option. That is elite, Davante Adams-level usage.
- Yards After Catch (YAC): He wasn't just catching flares. He was punishing people. His YAC per reception was among the highest for wideouts with over 100 targets.
- Versatility: He lines up everywhere.
Usually, players see a "sophomore slump" because defenses get a full year of tape on them. But Nacua’s L A Rams stats might actually stay stable because of how the Rams use him as a blocker. Because he’s such a physical blocker, it sets up the play-action pass. The defense has to respect his hit, which opens up the deep crosser. It’s a symbiotic relationship between the run game and the pass game that most teams can’t replicate.
The Ground Game: Kyren Williams is the Engine
Kyren Williams is the most underrated part of the Rams' statistical profile. People see a smaller back and assume he’s a third-down specialist. Wrong. Williams became the focal point because he doesn't miss blocks.
In 2023, Williams averaged over 5.0 yards per carry. That’s the "magic number" for this offense. When the Rams run for more than 120 yards as a team, their win percentage skyrockets to nearly 80% under McVay. It keeps the defense off the field and keeps Stafford out of third-and-long situations where he’s prone to "hero ball" interceptions.
Red Zone Woes and Successes
If you want to know why the Rams lose games they should win, look at the Red Zone TD percentage. There were stretches where they moved the ball between the 20s like a hot knife through butter, only to settle for field goals.
Brett Maher’s struggles earlier in the season highlighted how much a kicker can derail L A Rams stats. A missed 40-yarder isn't just three points; it’s a momentum killer that shifts field position. The Rams have historically invested very little in special teams, preferring to spend on "stars." That philosophy is being tested. They need a kicker who is 90% plus from inside 45 yards, or the offensive efficiency won't matter.
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Coaching Analytics: The McVay Aggression Factor
Sean McVay is a bit of a reformed conservative. Early in his career, he’d punt on 4th and short. Lately? He’s following the "Aggressiveness Index." The L A Rams stats show a team that goes for it on fourth down significantly more often in plus-territory.
This isn't just gambling. It’s math.
The expected value (EV) of going for it on 4th and 2 at the opponent’s 45-yard line is almost always higher than punting into the end zone for a touchback. McVay has embraced this, and it’s why the Rams' offense often feels like it's "always on the field."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rams' Roster
There’s this myth that the Rams have no draft picks and no future. Actually, they’ve transitioned into a "middle-class" roster. They have a lot of guys on rookie contracts who are playing like veterans.
- Steve Avila: A rock at guard. His blown block rate is incredibly low for a young player.
- Byron Young: A speed rusher who provides the "bend" necessary to flush QBs toward the interior push.
- The Secondary: This is the weak link. The "yards allowed per completion" stat is ugly. They play a lot of "bend-don't-break" zone, which leads to high completion percentages for opposing QBs.
Real-World Actionable Insights for Following the Rams
If you're tracking L A Rams stats for fantasy football, betting, or just because you’re a die-hard fan, stop looking at total yards. It’s a garbage stat. Instead, watch these three specific metrics:
- Pressure Rate Without Blitzing: If the Rams have to send five or six guys to get to the QB, they will get shredded by elite passers like Mahomes or Purdy. They need the front four to win.
- Stafford’s Interception-to-Attempt Ratio: When Stafford gets bored or frustrated, he forces balls. If he’s throwing a pick every 25 attempts, the Rams are in trouble. If it’s one every 45, they’re a playoff lock.
- Success Rate on 1st Down Runs: The Rams' offense is built on "staying on schedule." If Kyren Williams gets 4 yards on 1st down, McVay has the entire playbook open for 2nd and 6. If it’s a 1-yard gain, the defense can pin their ears back.
The Rams are in a weird spot. They aren't the Super Bowl favorites, but they aren't bottom-feeders. They are a high-ceiling, low-floor team that lives and dies by the health of three or four specific players. Keep an eye on the injury report—specifically the offensive line—because that’s the "stat" that actually dictates whether the rest of the numbers even have a chance to exist.
Pay close attention to the snap counts of the rookie defensive linemen. Their development isn't just a "nice to have"—it is the literal foundation of the post-Donald era. If those sack numbers don't materialize by week 6, expect the Rams to be active in the trade market for a veteran edge rusher, even if it costs them more of those "precious" draft picks they finally started using again.