How Much Did the Rams’ Front Over Perform on Offense and Defense?…

Thanks in large part to their impressive performances, quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Puka Nacua, and nose tackle Kobie Turner helped the 2023 Los Angeles Rams surpass preseason projections.

All three were finalists for the NFL Honors (Turner, Defensive Rookie of the Year; Nacua, Comeback Player of the Year; Stafford, Offensive Rookie of the Year).

The Rams had an unexpected postseason push and concluded with a 10-7 record. Sports Illustrated named Los Angeles’ offensive and defensive fronts as one of the NFL’s largest overperforming units, and the team’s future appears bright. The list is made by contrasting the final numbers with the preseason projections for particular position groups or units, and no team has ever been chosen in its whole.

The Rams were a very tough pick going into the 2023 season because, among other things, Cooper Kupp started the season on injured reserve and they lacked a first-round pick, according to SI.

“Who could have predicted the breakthrough seasons from OLB Byron Young, DT Kobie Turner, and WR Puka Nacua (who battled injuries in college)—not to mention, the outstanding performance by RB Kyren Williams in Year 2? All of these aided a squad that not many people thought would win 10 games and make the playoffs.”

The Rams have the pieces to develop and advance further in the upcoming postseason. Having jokingly stated that the Rams are “trapped with him,” Stafford has now confirmed that he will be around for at least one more season.

The other NFL teams that are performing too well this season? The passing attack of the Tampa Bay Bucs, the entire Houston Texans club, the Detroit Lions offense, and the Kansas City Chiefs defense.

Conversely, the underperforming units are the passing offense of the New England Patriots, the offensive line of the Carolina Panthers, the secondary of the Los Angeles Chargers, the secondary of the Philadelphia Eagles, and the passing offense of the Atlanta Falcons.

The Rams will now watch the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers battle for the Super Bowl LVIII championship on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET alongside the other 29 NFL teams.

Los Angeles, the Super Bowl winners two years ago, will try to capitalize on their unexpectedly good season and hope that their productive rookie class will help them jump up a level in the second season. For the first time since 2016, the Rams will have a first-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.