After five consecutive winning seasons under head coach Sean McVay, including Super Bowl appearances in 2018 and 2021, the LA Rams have become the latest team to fall victim to the NFL’s post-Super Bowl hangover curse in 2022.
After a 5-12 2022 campaign that saw quarterback Matthew Stafford limited to nine starts, the Rams appeared headed for another losing season a year ago. But after a 3-6 start to the 2023 season, the Rams bounced back last November, winning seven of their final eight regular-season games.
That earned McVay’s team its fifth playoff appearance in his seven-year tenure. In the playoffs, LA nearly upset Detroit on the road in the Wild Card round, losing 24-23 to the eventual NFC runner-up last year.
With Stafford, a 15-year NFL veteran entering his age-36 season, the Rams are an intriguing contender for an NFC wild-card spot this season.
2024 Los Angeles Rams Futures Odds
| FanDuel | DraftKings | bet365 | Caesars | |
| Super Bowl Odds | +3000 | +3000 | +3000 | +2500 |
| NFC Champion Odds | +1400 | +1500 | +1400 | +1200 |
| NFC West Odds | +330 | +330 | +350 | +350 |
| Chances of making the playoffs: Yes | -104 | EVEN | EVEN | -115 |
| Chances of making the playoffs: None | -118 | -120 | -130 | -105 |
| Total wins: 8.5 | -152 | -160 | -150 | -170 |
| Total wins less than: 8.5 | +122 | +135 | +120 | +140 |
While the Rams have a real chance to return to the playoffs, they are considered underdogs in the Super Bowl, NFC, and even NFC West futures markets. Interestingly, while the Rams’ record improved significantly from 5-12 in 2022 to 10-7 in 2023, they finished the same in total opponent-adjusted DVOA (No. 17) in both 2022 and 2023.
Bookmakers, who consider the Rams a toss-up to make the playoffs this year, expect LA to be league average — or slightly above average — for the third straight year in 2024.
2024 Los Angeles Rams Betting Predictions
How will 36-year-old Matthew Stafford’s LA offense perform in 2024?
- PFF OL Unit Ranking: No. 16
- PFF Receiving Unit Rankings (WR/TE): No. 8
- PFF RB Unit Ranking: No. 11
The Rams didn’t have the best year of Stafford’s career last season, but he was excellent late in the season.
The veteran threw just eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in eight games last season. He was a different player, though, after missing a Week 9 loss to the Packers.
After the Rams’ well-placed bye week in Week 10, he returned in Week 11, throwing 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions over the next seven games. LA finished 6-1 in that span and had a playoff spot secured heading into its Week 18 battle with San Francisco. Thanks to their 7-1 record, the Rams finished 2023 with the NFL’s No. 7 offense, according to DVOA.
Two young players played a big role in the offense’s success: RB Kyren Williams and WR Puka Nacua.
With 105 receptions for 1,486 yards, the fifth-round rookie receiver from BYU finished second to C.J. Stroud in NFL Rookie of the Year voting. Williams, a 2022 second-round pick out of Notre Dame, exploded in his second year in the league, with 15 total TDs and more than 1,300 rushing yards.
With 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp back in the mix, and reportedly healthy in training camp after missing time in 2022 and 2023, Stafford will have a talented supporting cast that will include third-round rookie Blake Corum alongside Williams in the backfield.
The Rams will also benefit from continuity on the offensive line, where former Lions guard Jonah Jackson joins a group of four returning starters.
Can LA’s defense hold up without Aaron Donald?
- PFF DL Unit Ranking: No. 23
- PFF Linebacker Rankings: No. 25
- PFF Secondary Unit Rankings: No. 26
Anyone wondering why a team with as many quality players on offense as LA is considered an underdog to reach the playoffs can find the answer on the other side of the court.
This defense has been below average the last two years (21st in defensive DVOA in 2022 and 22nd in 2023). It now has to replace future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald and coordinator Raheem Morris, who left LA this offseason to become the Falcons’ head coach.
The Rams do have some promising young talent, including one of the league’s top young defenders. Last year’s third-round pick, Kobie Turner, finished third behind Houston’s Will Anderson and Philadelphia’s Jalen Carter for Defensive Rookie of the Year after racking up nine sacks.
He’ll be joined up front this year by first-round rookie Jared Verse and second-round DT Braden Fiske, who were teammates at Florida State a year ago.
The young DL may have to be dominant for this defense to hold up, and that’s a huge ask after Donald’s retirement.
The Rams’ LB and DB units are still unproven, even after the offseason signing of former Bills Pro Bowl CB Tre’Davious White. In addition to White, who signed a one-year deal with the Rams in April, free agents Darious Williams and Kamren Curl are also expected to start in the revamped defense.
Best Bets for the Los Angeles Rams in 2024
Rams to win under 8.5 games (best odds: +140 at bet365)
The Rams have no shortage of promising second- and third-year players, but they may need some luck to get back to the playoffs this season. Stafford’s play late last year was exceptional, but he’s not the player he was a few years ago, and his health is a concern given his age — though he’s been healthy for three of the last four seasons.
By paying more to make the playoffs, the Rams would be extremely tempting.
But assuming the NFC favorites in their respective divisions (the 49ers, Lions and Eagles) live up to expectations, the Rams should have a better record than the Packers, Cowboys and Bears in the wild-card race. On paper, all three of those teams have fewer holes than LA, making the Rams’ playoff chances unattractive, especially at a discount.
An eight- or nine-win season seems well within reach for this team, but the over-8.5 odds are so inflated (-150 or less) that under-8.5 wins are actually more appealing.
McVay and this offense probably deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point, but this team faces significant turnover on defense after struggling in 2023 with a healthy Aaron Donald.
Add in the Rams’ troubling backup QB situation behind their 36-year-old starter under center, and wins under 8.5 at +140 are hard to pass up.
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