The Los Angeles Rams entered the season as clear Super Bowl favorites but now sit at 2-4 after a surprising 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. That defeat marked their largest upset loss as a 13.5-point favorite in about three years and deepened doubts about their ability to recover in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions.
The Rams' offense, led by reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, has not maintained the explosiveness that carried them last year. Stafford, who led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns in 2025, has struggled to connect on deep throws this season. He ranks 14th in completions of 20 yards or more, completing just 13% compared to 19% last year. His downfield performance targeting wide receiver Puka Nacua has been particularly weak, with Stafford completing only eight of 20 attempts beyond 10 yards, throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions. When throwing 20 yards or more downfield to Nacua, Stafford has two completions and two interceptions.
Despite these struggles, the Rams rank third in the NFL for total yards per game at 401.3, alongside the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers. However, their scoring offense is 20th in the league at 22.5 points per game, trailing teams like the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers. The lack of big plays has put pressure on head coach Sean McVay to adjust the offense.
Special teams have been a glaring weakness for Los Angeles. The Rams hold the worst special teams expected points added (EPA) in the NFL this season at minus 35.8, meaning their special teams have cost them roughly 36 points over six weeks. No other team has a special teams EPA worse than minus 16.9. This is the worst special teams showing through six games since Washington posted minus 41.5 in 2013.
Field goal kicking has been especially poor, with the Rams converting just 60% of attempts this season. Over the last two seasons, they have made only three of seven field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime, the worst rate in the NFL. Their kickoff and punt return units also rank in the bottom 10 for average yards, and their starting field position averages rank third-worst at 28.0 yards, while opponents average starting at the 34.5-yard line.
The defense, expected to be a strength after acquiring Myles Garrett and coaxing Aaron Donald out of retirement, has been hindered by injuries and underperformance. Garrett has yet to play alongside Donald due to knee surgery after just 40 snaps in the season opener. Donald has not recorded a sack in his first four games, marking the first time in his Hall of Fame career he has gone four straight contests without one. He has recorded only two quarterback hits and seven pressures so far.
Injuries are mounting for the Rams. Davante Adams, a key wide receiver, along with defensive tackles Poona Ford and Kobie Turner, have all been sidelined. These absences add to the challenges of turning the season around.
The Rams have dropped from 90.1% to 26.0% in playoff probability since the start of the season, according to SportsLine projections. Their Super Bowl odds have fallen from 16.3% to 1.5%. At DraftKings Sportsbook, they are no longer favorites but are tied with the Seattle Seahawks for the fifth-shortest odds at +1200. Those odds remain better than those of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, and undefeated Minnesota Vikings.
Historically, only four preseason Super Bowl favorites have had losing records through six games in the past 50 seasons, and none reached their conference championship game. The lone NFL team to win a Super Bowl after being under .500 this late was the 2001 New England Patriots. That year, Drew Bledsoe’s injury led to Tom Brady’s unexpected rise, with New England finishing the season strong and defeating the Rams in the Super Bowl despite being two-touchdown underdogs.
The Rams face a steep climb, with their offense lacking the deep threat it had last year, special teams dragging down their overall performance, and injuries piling up. The team has yet to field all of its star players together, leaving some room for hope, but the latest results have raised serious questions about their championship credentials this season.
According to CBS.
