Every NFL season, there’s always a team that goes from last place to first, but on the first Sunday of November, the Los Angeles Rams could pull it off in just one day.
The NFC West is the only division where all four teams are within a single game of each other. While we’ll cover the schedule and playoff implications later, here’s what matters now: despite their rough 1-4 start, the Rams could return from Seattle on Sunday night leading the division—with a little help from the Chicago Bears. But it all begins with securing their first road win of 2024 against the Seahawks.
It’s hard to believe that the last time the Rams were in the Pacific Northwest, Kyren Williams had yet to score an NFL touchdown. Now, just 14 months later, he leads the league with 25 touchdowns, despite missing five games.
And then there’s Puka Nacua. How much more can we say? Few Rams fans had him on their fantasy teams before Week 1 of 2023, but his electrifying debut—10 catches for 119 yards—made him a fan favorite, with “Puka Shells” becoming a popular team name in 2023.
On defense, Kobie Turner and Byron Young combined for their first career sack, taking down Geno Smith. They’ve since led all NFL rookies with nine and eight sacks, respectively. Heading back to Lumen Field in 2024, they bring a fresh rookie class looking to tip the scales in the division.
With or Without You (Coop and Puka)
Equally significant, the Rams will have Cooper Kupp back this time.
I knew it, but seeing it confirmed this week was still surprising: Eastern Washington’s star has only played 18 offensive snaps against the Seahawks since 2022. He missed both matchups in 2022 (ankle), was on IR in Week 1 of 2023 (hamstring), and was injured early in Week 11.
The last full game he played against Seattle was in Week 15 of 2021, at the peak of his Triple Crown run, when he recorded nine catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
The impact of his presence on Matthew Stafford and the Rams is undeniable. When both Kupp and Nacua play, Stafford has 26 touchdowns to eight interceptions across 13 games. Without one or both, those numbers drop to five touchdowns and eight picks.
ESPN captures this in another way: Stafford’s QBR jumps by over 25 points when Kupp and Nacua are available.
Here’s how we see it: with Stafford, Williams, Kupp, and Nacua all in the lineup, the Rams are an elite offense. With this core, they lead the NFL in offensive EPA, total yards, and are in the top five in both scoring and yards per play.
