After a lackluster season-opening loss, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said he will not be thinking about Australia for a very long time.

The Rams played division rival the San Francisco 49ers and fell 27-7 in Melbourne, Australia.

“We’re not playing in Australia ever again, I hope,” McVay told reporters Thursday. “Not because it wasn’t a great atmosphere; that’ll get taken out of context.” 

As of now, no teams are scheduled for a future matchup; the NFL has a multiyear agreement to return to Australia. The Rams are one of four teams, along with the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders, to hold marketing rights in Australia through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. A future trip to Australia is likely for the Rams.

Heading into the game, the Rams were scrutinized for their travel decision as they would arrive the day before the game. The 49ers traveled to Melbourne a week in advance. McVay and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan tried to downplay the travel factor after the game.

“It’s almost like you try to do the ‘Men in Black’ thing where you say, ‘Hey, I don’t remember what happened. That was so long ago,'” McVay said Thursday. 

In preseason, the Rams were betting favorites to win the Super Bowl after trading for defensive end Myles Garrett, who won the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award and holds the record for the most sacks in a regular season. With Rams legend Aaron Donald coming out of retirement, the Rams defense is expected to give offenses across the league nightmares.

The Rams won’t let the loss affect them as they prepare for their Week 2 game against the New York Giants. Only four teams have started the season 0-2 and gone on to play in the Super Bowl. The last team to do so was the 2007 Giants.

Aaron Donald conducted an official workout with the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday, a session the league’s transaction wire formally classified as a tryout and one that head coach Sean McVay treated with a mix of humor and genuine optimism about a potential return.

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year, who hasn’t played since retiring after the 2023 season, worked out at the Rams’ facility using team equipment, which required the session to be reported to the league since he wore a helmet.

Donald did not wear pads. Asked afterward whether the workout amounted to a tryout, McVay didn’t hold back his enthusiasm, telling NFL Daily reporters, “Best tryout we’ve ever had,” and adding, “I think he could make the team.” McVay had signaled last week that no formal decision from Donald would arrive during training camp but described the situation as “trending upwards.”

Speculation about a possible Donald comeback has built steadily since June, when the Rams acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in a trade with Cleveland. Donald has said the move got him thinking seriously about rejoining the franchise where he spent his entire ten-year career, which included a Super Bowl title following the 2021 season and ten Pro Bowl selections. He was spotted running conditioning drills at the team’s Woodland Hills facility as early as mid-July, fueling further speculation ahead of Wednesday’s more formal workout.

Should Donald return, he’d join a defensive line already featuring Garrett alongside Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford and Byron Young — a group that would immediately rank among the most talented fronts in the league. It remains unclear how much can be read into a non-padded workout for a 35-year-old defensive tackle, and no timeline has been set for an official decision from Donald on whether he intends to return for the 2026 season.

The Los Angeles Rams stunned the entire league when commissioner Roger Goodell announced Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft.

Draft experts are calling this the biggest reach of the draft, and some expected the former Alabama quarterback to not hear his name until day two of the draft.

The draft pick seemed to even shock Rams head coach Sean McVay, as he did not seem too pleased with the pick in his post-draft interview.

The Rams currently have the reigning league MVP, Matthew Stafford, returning for at least another year, but this could indicate a shift in his timeline and future with the franchise.

McVay confirmed to reporters that he did speak with Stafford about the draft pick, but did not reveal exactly what he said: “I’ll keep that between us.” McVay also added that Simpson will be “going to compete with Stetson [Bennett]” as the team’s backup quarterback.

If any coach in the league can get the most out of Simpson and development, McVay is the guy for it, as he developed Jared Goff and got the absolute most out of Stafford.

The Rams’ situation is almost identical to what the Green Bay Packers did in the 2020 draft, when they selected Jordan Love in the first round and stunned the entire league and Aaron Rodgers himself. It turned out to be a fantastic pick for the Packers because not only did they find their franchise quarterback after Rodgers, but Rodgers went on to win back-to-back MVPs after they drafted his replacement.

Simpson, similarly to Love, is deemed a project and will almost certainly sit for a couple of seasons before seeing his opportunity on the field.

The Rams had a rocky start to the 2024 season filled with injuries before making the playoffs and winning their division for the first time since 2021. The Rams were led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay once again and beat the Vikings in the wild card round before losing to the Eagles in the divisional round 28-22. The Rams had another great season but with Stafford aging and the roster needing some improvements the team headed into the offseason knowing they needed to improve.

>GET DEALS ON L.A. RAMS TICKETS NOW!

The biggest move of the offseason was signing wide receiver Davante Adams from the Jets. Adams had 1,063 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2024 despite being traded from the Raiders to the Jets midseason. Adams pairs up with Puka Nacua to form one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL adding even more weapons to their offense. The Rams also signed other free agents like defensive lineman Poona Ford, center Coleman Shelton and linebacker Nate Landman. They also had some departures including offensive lineman Jonah Jackson who was traded to the Chicago Bears. Also wide receiver Cooper Kupp, defensive tackle Bobby Brown III and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore left in free agency.

The Rams went into the NFL draft without a first round pick and didn’t pick until the second round where they selected tight end Terrance Ferguson out of Oregon. Ferguson adds to the tight end position where the Rams have been thin for the last couple of seasons. They also drafted linebacker Josiah Stewart, running back Jarquez Hunter, defensive tackle Ty Hamilton, linebacker Chris Paul Jr. and wide receiver Konata Mumpfield.

The Rams are in a position to be competing for the Super Bowl next season and will have an easier path than most with the 17th hardest schedule in the NFL. The Rams host the Houston Texans week one before taking on the first overall pick Cam Ward and the Titans in week two. The biggest game of the season will come in week three however against the Philadelphia Eagles, who ended the Rams season last year and won the Super Bowl. Some of the other key games for the Rams include vs. the Ravens, 49ers, Buccaneers, Lions and Seahawks.

LOS ANGELES RAMS SCHEDULE & TICKET DEALS

• Week 1: Sept. 7 vs. Houston Texans (SoFi Stadium)
• Week 2: Sept. 14 at Tennessee Titans
• Week 3: Sept. 21 at Philadelphia Eagles
• Week 4: Sept. 28 vs. Indianapolis Colts
• Week 5: Oct. 2 vs. San Francisco 49ers (Thursday Night Football)
• Week 6: Oct. 12 at Baltimore Ravens
• Week 7: Oct. 19 at Jacksonville Jaguars (London – International Series)
• Week 8: Bye Week
• Week 9: Nov. 2 vs. New Orleans Saints
• Week 10: Nov. 9 at San Francisco 49ers
• Week 11: Nov. 16 vs. Seattle Seahawks
• Week 12: Nov. 23 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday Night Football)
• Week 13: Nov. 30 at Carolina Panthers
• Week 14: Dec. 7 at Arizona Cardinals
• Week 15: Dec. 14 vs. Detroit Lions
• Week 16: Dec. 18 at Seattle Seahawks (Thursday Night Football)
• Week 17: Dec. 29 at Atlanta Falcons (Monday Night Football)
• Week 18: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Los Angeles Rams Season/Game Odds

Los Angeles opens the season with +2200 odds of winning the Super Bowl for the first time since 2021. They also have +1000 odds of winning the NFC championship and open the season as -3 point favorites at home vs the Texans. 

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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp will not go on injured reserve after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2. Though he may end up missing four weeks anyway, Rams head coach Sean McVay explained that the team’s Week 6 bye could allow him to return ahead of schedule. In any case, the injury is not season-ending.

“We don’t necessarily need that [roster] spot,” McVay said. “So because of the amount of injuries that we have, if there is a chance … neither one of those other two (guard Jonah Jackson and and safety John Johnson III) that we put on would’ve ever been able to be back before that four games … so for us, that was kind of what went into not necessarily putting [Kupp] on there yet.”

Kupp’s past injury issues led many to believe that he was certainly headed to the IR, with some even worrying that his season was over. Though he may not be back to full speed for some time, it will nevertheless be a relief to the Rams that he could be back within a month’s time. Other setbacks on the roster may make his return necessary for the season ahead.

With young wide receiver Puka Nacua already on the IR, the Rams will be extremely short-staffed on offense for the next month or so. Even with Kupp avoiding a more serious setback, the team will still have to keep the season afloat with other options for a time.

Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is most likely to take on a leading role, as quarterback Matthew Stafford has already established a connection with him after Nacua’s departure. With both top receivers out, Tyler Johnson and tight end Colby Parkinson could also receive more work. The team will also lean more heavily on running back Kyren Williams out of the backfield.

The injury news for the 0-2 Los Angeles Rams continues to get worse as WR Cooper Kupp left Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals in a walking boot before ESPN reported that he would miss time with a high ankle sprain. On Monday, head coach Sean McVay did not put a timeline on the injury but mentioned his All-Pro wide-out would miss multiple weeks.

“I don’t want to put any expectations on — I know he’s going to want to be back as soon as he can, but I don’t want to put any expectations or unnecessary things on him. He’s going to do everything in his power to get back, whenever that is.”

ESPN also reported on Thursday that Kupp would not go on injured reserve, which would cause him to miss at least four games. This increased optimism that he could be back in a few weeks.

The Rams will be counting down the days until Kupp re-takes the field as their injury issues continue to mount. Along with Kupp, second-year WR Puka Nacua went on IR with a nagging lower-body injury that has bothered him since camp. McVay’s team also misses three of its top five offensive linemen with various alignments, placing two on IR. Veteran pass-catchers Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson will be the starting WRs on Sunday.

Coming off of a Wild Card berth last season, the Rams were expected to make the playoffs and push the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC West title. However, Los Angeles does not look like the same group as last year after getting blown out by the Arizona Cardinals on the road last Sunday. For the Rams to avoid falling to 0-3, they must beat the 49ers in San Francisco, where Hard Rock Bet lists McVay’s team as a touchdown underdog.

There is never a dull moment in the NFL off-season.

Even when the kickoff of the season’s first game does not happen for over 100 days, the politicking and grandstanding never switch off, and Matthew Stafford heated up the rumor mill this week.

The Rams quarterback made it clear to Les Snead and the front office that he wants more guaranteed money for the final two years of his deal. While the Super Bowl champion signed a four-year $160 million deal a couple of years ago, the language in the contract makes it easy for Los Angeles to move off him without creating much dead cap space. The former Georgia quarterback turned 36 years old in February and has dealt with injuries, making it even more critical for him to restructure his contract.

Although he feels concerned about his professional life off the field, he did not let it interfere with the Rams’ title hopes on it. Unlike most players with contract disputes, Stafford chose to attend the start of the voluntary OTAs in May. Los Angeles fell to Detroit in the Wild Card last season and is playing its first year without future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald to anchor its defense.

The signal-callers sentiment could have also begun after seeing new deals for quarterbacks across the league. The Lions just gave Jared Goff a four-year, $212 million, a quarterback that the Rams traded away to get Stafford on their team. Kirk Cousins also received four years and $180 million with $100 million guaranteed from the Atlanta Falcons when he hit the market during free agency last March. Cousins is only a year younger than Stafford but without much postseason success, so his deal could be looked at as one of two sides base their negotiations on.

Head coach Sean McVay spoke to reporters yesterday and will keep all contract conversations “private” and “in-house.”

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that he regrets the way that his team treated quarterback Jared Goff before trading him to the Detroit Lions. Goff will play the Rams in the first round of the NFL Playoffs this weekend.

“I’ll never run away from that. But the further you get away from it, the more that you try to grow as a man, as a person, as the leader that you want to become — he deserved better than the way that it all went down. I’ll acknowledge that,” McVay told reporters. “And I think he knows that, too. And you know, and I’m not afraid to admit those things. But, I think we’re all better, being able to look back on those things. And I do have more appreciation for him as time goes on.”

In their first playoff game in nearly a decade, it is poetic that Goff and the Lions are facing the McVay and the Rams in the first round. A trade between the two teams three years ago defined their franchises to this day, sending two quarterbacks on vastly different trajectories that will briefly converge again this weekend.

Despite leading Los Angeles to four straight winning seasons between 2017 and 2020, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 2018, Goff was traded away to the Detroit Lions before the 2021 season. At the time, McVay and others in the Rams organization simply did not believe in his ability to lead the team going forward. Goff’s replacement, longtime Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford, led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory the following year.

While McVay and Stafford caught fire immediately and won a championship, Goff struggled during a tumultuous rebuild in Detroit. In his first season with the Lions, they went 3-13-1. Over time, however, Goff and Lions head coach Dan Campbell have worked together to cultivate one of the most exciting teams in the NFL.

“Until you’re around [Goff], like I’ve been around him, I don’t want to say it surprised me, but yet, you really get to understand just how resilient he is and how his ability to bounce back – he can look at a situation and take it for what it is,” Campbell said of his quarterback at the end of the 2023 regular season.

In 2023, Goff led an offense featuring star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. Running backs David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs both thrived in the backfield as well. Goff threw a career-high 407 completions for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns, leading Detroit to a 12-5 record and its first division title since 1993.

As the third seed in the NFL Playoffs, the Lions will host their first playoff game against McVay and the sixth-seeded Rams. It will be Stafford’s first game at Ford Field since his 2021 departure.

“The opportunity happens to be in Detroit, which is fun for me on a personal level,” Stafford said Wednesday. “It is going to be rocking there. They haven’t had a playoff game there in about 30 years or whatever it is. So it will be a great atmosphere.”

As for Goff, the once-disrespected quarterback leading another team to the playoffs, he told ESPN that he will never forget the trade that sent him to Detroit. But more than anything, he went on to say that he is playing this weekend to win a playoff game for a franchise long overdue for one.

“I so badly want to win a playoff game for this city that hasn’t had one in so long,” Goff said. “We’ve got a home playoff game for the first time in so long and that’s so much more important than anything personally for me. I want to be a part of this win and do my job the best of my ability.”

The Los Angeles Rams traded running back Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings Wednesday for a swap of sixth-round draft picks in 2026. Akers began the season with the starting job for Los Angeles but was a healthy scratch in Week 2 as the team quickly turned to backup Kyren Williams.

After ruling Akers inactive ahead of Week 2, head coach Sean McVay said earlier in the week that the team was looking for interested trade partners for the former second-round pick out of Florida State. The Vikings, struggling with their own underperforming run game, agreed to terms quickly.

“I think he did a lot of really good things and I think Cam is a quality player,” McVay told reporters Monday. “I think sometimes it boils down to, alright, is it a fit? What are some of the best opportunities based on putting together what you think is the best way to circumvent or be able to organize your team? And so this isn’t an indictment on any individual.”

Akers’ fate may have been sealed after Williams’ performance Sunday against the 49ers, as the 2022 fifth-round pick ran for 54 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and caught six passes out of the backfield for another 48 yards and a second touchdown. He has now scored four times in two games, despite splitting work in Week 1. In that game against the Seahawks, Akers found the end zone but only ran for 29 yards on 22 carries.

Though the Rams seem to have found their new starting running back, the Vikings are far from certain after a disappointing early start from Alexander Mattison. The longtime backup and replacement for Dalvin Cook, has not yet capitalized on his first opportunity to lead Minnesota’s backfield, rushing for 62 yards across two games. Akers will likely come in to share part of the workload and at least contend with Mattison, who has had very little competition for snaps since the season started.

“I really care a lot about Cam and I’m appreciative of some of the challenging things that we’ve gone through and where we ended up getting to in terms of our relationship and our ability to communicate clearly, which is why it’s kind of tough for me to hear that there is confusion but I know that I’ll wish him nothing but the best,” McVay went on to say Monday. “I think he’s got a lot of ability and that’s really all I want to be able to add on that, but I am grateful for the many contributions that he made over the course of his career as a Ram.”

Los Angeles wide receiver Cooper Kupp will miss Week 1 due to a hamstring injury he sustained at practice several weeks ago. He could soon be headed to the IR until further details about his setback are revealed.

Head coach Sean McVay did not seem to have many answers for reporters Wednesday after the team announced that Kupp would not start the season with the team. The star receiver who had 1,947 receiving yards in 2021 but missed the second half of the 2022 season with a high ankle sprain.

“It wasn’t the normal thing. There’s just a lot of gray behind this,” McVay said of his most recent injury. “I’m not a doctor, so I can’t really answer anything more about that. I just know it doesn’t follow the standard protocol for when you’re reaggravating a soft-tissue injury. (We are) trying to continue to get a grasp on exactly what it is so he can get back to feeling like the Cooper that we know and love. Hopefully, we’ll do that.”

McVay also said Wednesday that the team was not yet aware of the nature of his issue, a concerning admission for team personnel just before the season. Kupp recently saw a specialist in Minnesota to better evaluate the injury.

“I would just say this, it’s trying to just figure out what’s going on with him,” McVay said when asked Kupp’s recent visit to Minnesota. “Again, I’m kind of speaking out of turn. I just know that we’re trying to open up every avenue in regards to figuring out what’s going on, why is he feeling some of the sensations and things like that in his hamstring. Is it soft tissue? Is there something nerve-wise? And I would be speaking out of turn.”

Kupp was an integral member of the Rams’ 2021 Super Bowl team, and when he and quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered injuries in 2022, Los Angeles regressed immediately. His status will be of extreme importance to McVay and his staff as the season progresses. Without him on the field, Stafford will have to spread his passes to many more receivers in order to compensate for Kupp’s massive workload.

A free agent on Monday and backup quarterback at gametime, Baker Mayfield was the hero nevertheless on Thursday Night Football for the Los Angeles Rams this week. With two days to prepare, Mayfield went on to stun the Las Vegas Raiders in a 17-16 upset, leading a game-winning 98-yard drive in the final two minutes.

“I don’t know if you could write it any better than that,” Mayfield said after the game.

Last week, Mayfield had been named the third-string quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, causing him to request his release. Once the Cleveland Browns’ franchise hopeful, he left the team in an unceremonious trade before the season and never adjusted well in Carolina. In desperate need of a quarterback after Matthew Stafford landed on the injured reserve list, Los Angeles announced Tuesday that the team had claimed Mayfield off waivers.

Because he was learning on extremely short notice, the Rams did not confirm that Mayfield would start Week 14 against the Raiders. Instead, John Wolford, who was also questionable with a neck injury before the game, appeared for the team’s first offensive possession but did not make any passing attempts. The team turned to Mayfield for the second possession.

Over the course of the game, Mayfield obviously struggled to adjust on the fly to the Rams’ offense and went on to complete 22 of 35 passes for 230 yards, a statistic aided heavily by his late-game heroics. Opposing quarterback Derek Carr and the Raiders’ offense scored 10 points in the first quarter but stalled for the rest of the game, and a field goal early in the fourth only put Las Vegas ahead 16-3.

With 12:20 remaining, Mayfield led the team on a grueling 17-play drive which culminated in a one-yard touchdown for running back Cam Akers. After the score, a well-rested Rams defense got a huge stop, forcing the Raiders to punt with just 1:45 remaining. Mayfield and the offense moved down the field from their own two-yard line, and with 10 seconds remaining, he found receiver Van Jefferson in the end zone for what would go on to be a game-winning 23-yard touchdown.

When Mayfield requested his release, there were a number of spots he could’ve landed as many teams continue to search for backup options at quarterback. But a starting job in Los Angeles on Thursday Night Football was probably the greatest challenge he could have faced. He exceeded every expectation one could have had for him, except maybe Sean McVay.

“Just like we drew it up,” McVay said after the game.

In an interview Wednesday, Los Angeles Rams star defender Aaron Donald downplayed the severity of his actions in a joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals last week. During an altercation between the two teams that resulted in a halt to the practice, Donald was seen swinging a Bengals player’s helmet near other players.

“It was just a practice. It was football,” Donald told the AP Pro Football  podcast. “I don’t really wanna go back to nothing negative that happened and talk about something that happened in a practice. My main focus is Buffalo.”

Donald was not the only one implicated, as a number of players on both teams were involved in multiple skirmishes across the field. Photos and video of Donald during the fight gained the most attention, however, as the seven-time All-Pro is a leader on the Rams as well as the league.

Donald said that he had already come to terms with Head Coach Sean McVay and his teammates since the skirmishes.

Because teams, not the league, are typically responsible for player conduct at practice, it is unlikely that Donald or others involved will face disciplinary action for the incident. The two teams played against one another in their final preseason game last weekend without incident.

Following the altercation, McVay did not seem concerned with disciplining his players, but instead expressed concern about self-inflicted setbacks for players.

“You just never know what can occur,” McVay told reporters. “And my biggest concern is just unnecessary injuries for people that we’re counting on.”

Tension between the two teams likely stemmed from their Super Bowl matchup last year, when the Rams defeated the Bengals 23-20. Both teams are widely considered postseason contenders as the regular season approaches, though their paths won’t cross again this season unless both teams make it to the Super Bowl.

Addressing his main focus going into the season, Donald told AP that he was looking to make the most of the time he has left in the league.

“Being an older player, 31 years old, being able to have the work ethic I got, the one thing that I needed to do a lot better is recover and take care of my body,” Donald said. “That’s my main focus. I’ve got the work ethic and now making sure I have the recovery part so I can play at a high level.”

As Donald mentioned, the Rams will take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 on September 8.

“Run it back!”

That’s the phrase that was jokingly used by Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay at the team’s Super Bowl victory parade to stave one of the greatest defensive players off from potential retirement.

Indeed, on a makeshift stage in front of thousands of fans outside the L.A. Coliseum, with the Olympic torch lit, McVay playfully McVay gestured to Aaron Donald as the Rams defensive tackle was finishing a speech.

“We built a super team, we can bring the super-team back,” Donald said. “Why not run it back? We can be world champs again!”

The scene seemed to diffuse rumors that the 36-year-old McVay, who’s reached two Super Bowls in five seasons, and three-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Pro heading into his age-31 season Donald would retire or jump ship after the team’s 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

McVay responded cryptically to a question Monday about returning in 2022 with, “We’ll see,” sparking rumors of an exit. On Wednesday night, though, his fiancée, Veronika Khomyn, posted a photo of McVay to her Instagram story with the caption, “And no. He is NOT retiring!!!”

With regards to Donald, prior to the Super Bowl, former NFL safety and current NBC analyst Rodney Harrison said that there’s “a strong possibility” Donald retires if the Rams win the Super Bowl—even with three years remaining on his contract.

“You saw Sean on stage today,” Rams COO Kevin Demoff said. “He’s ready to go defend our title.”

The team filled four double-decker buses on a 1.1-mile parade route that began at the Shrine Auditorium and went down Figueroa Street before reaching the Coliseum—the Rams’ home for nearly 40 years.

The Rams became the third major L.A. sports team to win a championship in a span of 16 months (Dodgers, Lakers; though they didn’t have a parade due to COVID-19 restrictions).

Andrew Whitworth, the 40-year-old left tackle who won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, was not as adamant about returning, saying, “We’ll save that conversation for another day.”

Von Miller, the 32-year-old Pro Bowl linebacker who is venturing into free agency, was not, “Man, we ain’t going nowhere.”

Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford and star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. both (finally) recorded their first career playoff win Monday night as the Los Angeles Rams easily handled the Arizona Cardinals, 34-11, at SoFi Stadium to close out the NFL’s Super Wild Card weekend.

Stafford, of course, spent the first 12 years of his career with the Detroit Lions before landing in L.A. this season. He threw for 202 yards, two touchdowns and ran for another score in the rout.

Beckham signed with the Rams midway through this season after leaving the Cleveland Browns. He played the first five years of his career for the New York Giants, then 2.5 injury-plagued years in Cleveland. He caught his first career playoff touchdown and threw a 40-yard pass on a trick play. Rams receiver Cooper Kupp added a touchdown catch on 61 yards receiving.

L.A. jumped out to a 28-0 lead and never looked back. After the game, Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke volumes of Stafford.

“I thought he did a great job leading the way,” McVay said. “He’s still the same great player to me, and he always was before this game. I think it’s good so you guys don’t have to talk about that anymore. So pleased to be able to do this with him. He’s our leader out there, and we wouldn’t be here without him.”

L.A.’s offense was humming so well that the team’s stout defense was overshadowed. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray was under constant pressure and threw two interceptions, one of which was returned by Rams linebacker David Long for a three-yard score—the shortest pick-six in postseason history.

LB Von Miller notched six tackles and a sack in his first postseason appearance since winning MVP at Super Bowl 50 with Denver. Rams safety Eric Weddle played in his first game since coming out of retirement.

Murray completed 19 of 34 passes for 137 yards with two interceptions and a 40.9 passer rating. Afterwards, he called the performance “disappointing.”

“It’s disappointing that we didn’t make it a game and come out and play the football we know we’re capable of playing, that’s really the most disappointing part,” Murray said. “Losing is one thing, but when you don’t even make it competitive, it’s another thing.

“I put a lot on my shoulders, put a lot on myself and to dream of this moment and then be in the playoffs, the first game of the playoffs and then to play the way I did, to play the way we did, it’s—like I said—disappointing.”

The Cardinals were the last unbeaten team during the regular season and the first to record 10 wins.

The Rams will head to Florida to face the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The winner gets a spot in the NFC title game.

SoFi Stadium will be the site of Super Bowl LVI next month.

The Los Angeles Rams are already in the playoffs but will be looking to clinch the NFC West title for the third time in five years with a win against the San Francisco 49ers at home in Week 18. To do so they’ll have an old friend returning in the backfield: running back Cam Akers is expected to play on Sunday for the first time since tearing his Achilles in July.

“I think you let him go. You know, he did a great job these last couple weeks,” head coach Sean McVay said, though he wouldn’t divulge his workload. “To say that he’s not ready, I don’t know that it’d be accurate. I think that he’s ready.

“I think he probably would’ve been ready to go last week. But we’re operating with the expectation and anticipation that Cam Akers is going to make his Rams debut in the [2021] season after Achilles surgery this week. I think he’s got a chance to be able to contribute. And this is a pretty cool story.”

The type of injury Akers suffered usually takes more time to heal, which isn’t surprising as McVay noted that Akers is a “special player” who should give the team a boost.

“Most importantly, it’s because he’s earned the right to come out and help us as a team,” said McVay. “What a great reflection of his mental toughness. The way he attacked the rehab … Cam deserves a lot of credit.”

Prior to the injury, Akers was set to be L.A.’s lead back in his second year in the NFL. As a rookie, he totaled 748 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns in 13 games played.

Cam Akers, a critical part of the run game for the Rams, will miss the entirety of the 2021 season after tearing his Achilles. Akers suffered the injury during a workout; he underwent testing to confirm suspicions of the tear.

The Rams publicly announced his injury but did not provide information on a timetable for his return.

Akers was a critical cog in the backfield for the Rams during his rookie campaign. The budding superstar averaged 113.1 yards from scrimmage per game in the final seven games of the year. In the postseason, Akers recorded two touchdowns and a total of 272 yards from scrimmage.

Head Coach Sean McVay said that Los Angeles will attempt to replace Akers through those already on the roster before turning to the free-agent market. “We’ve got some young backs on our roster that I’m intrigued about seeing how they handle this opportunity. I don’t know that the veteran route is something that we’d rule out, but it’s not something we’re immediately looking to address right now,” said McVay.

Possible signings, should the Rams turn to veteran runningbacks, include Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell, LeSean McCoy, Devonta Freeman, Duke Johnson and former Rams running back and fan-favorite Todd Gurley.

Akers sent out a tweet discussing his injury and his motivation to come back stronger than ever.

This is a big blow to a team that looked like they could make a Super Bowl run, especially after acquiring Matthew Stafford earlier in the offseason from the Detroit Lions. The Rams cannot be counted out by any means, however, their path to the Super Bowl just got a lot more difficult with the loss of their three-down running back.

Last season, the Los Angeles Rams surprised many by making it to the divisional round of the playoffs. Quarterback Jared Goff led the team to a Wild Card playoff win, but the team fell to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round. Despite the disappointing end of the season, it was still a successful one for the team. Unfortunately, due to inconsistent performances by Goff, the Rams traded him to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Los Angeles sent Goff, a 2021 third-round pick, a 2022 and 2023 first-round pick to the Lions for Stafford.

Not only that, but the team will be under a new coaching staff. The Rams lost key staff members in the offseason to other teams. However, they still have head coach Sean McVay. So, the team will hope that the new staff under McVay and Stafford will lead the team to another playoff berth.

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Los Angeles Rams Schedule:

• Week 1: Sun 09/12 vs Chicago Bears
• Week 2: Sun 09/19 at Indianapolis Colts
• Week 3: Sun 09/26 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Week 4: Sun 10/03 vs Arizona Cardinals
• Week 5: Thu 10/07 at Seattle Seahawks 
• Week 6: Sun 10/17 at New York Giants
• Week 7: Sun 10/24 vs Detroit Lions
• Week 8: Sun 10/31 at Houston Texans
• Week 9: Sun 11/07 vs Tennessee Titans
• Week 10: Mon 11/15 at San Francisco 49ers 
• Week 11: BYE
• Week 12: Sun 11/28 at Green Bay Packers 
• Week 13:Sun 12/05 vs Jacksonville Jaguars
• Week 14: Mon 12/13 at Arizona Cardinals
• Week 15: Sun 12/19 vs Seattle Seahawks 
• Week 16: Sun 12/26 at Minnesota Vikings
• Week 17: Sun 1/02 at Baltimore Ravens
• Week 18: Sun 01/09 vs San Francsico 49ers

NFC West: The Rams are going to compete with the Seahawks for the division title. Last season, Seattle remained atop the division standings, but the Rams finished just behind them and clinched a Wild Card berth. The Rams have a chance to win the division since they are the second-best team in the division. However, it won’t be easy. The Cardinals and 49ers are both improving. This is going to be a very competitive battle for the division title.

Matchups: The Rams begin their season with a tough five-game stretch. From Week 6 to Week 10, they have much easier matchups (outside of their Week 9 contest against the Titans). Following their Week 11 bye, the Rams face a mixed bag of strong and weak teams. Some of the Rams’ key matchups will be against the Seahawks, Colts, Packers, Ravens and Bucs.

Overall: The Rams brought in an upgrade at the quarterback position with Stafford, and second-year running back Cam Akers should improve significantly after a year of experience under his belt. With a solid tandem at the wide receiver position in Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, the Rams’ offense should be much improved in 2021.

Prediction: The Rams will finish with a 10-7 record.

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As protests take place across the United States in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Numerous members of the sports community have spoken out and given their thoughts. While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that he will support any on-field demonstrations his players want to make this season.

Protesting on the field would not be something new for the Rams organization, as in 2014 while the Rams were still playing in St. Louis, a few players walked out of the tunnel prior to a game with their hands held above their heads. This came following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. 

NFL teams and the league as a whole will be faced with the challenge of how they will handle protests by familiar prior to games in this coming season as when Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem. 

On the Rams’ website, there is a 21-minute video posted with McVay speaking about how players and staff have reacted to the protests. You can watch that video here.

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

The NFC Champions and Super Bowl runners-up Los Angeles Rams are entering this upcoming season with a few question marks. Head coach Sean McVay lost a number of staff members who went to lead other teams, such as Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers and Zac Taylor with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Lead running back Todd Gurley has been battling a continuous knee injury that saw him struggle in the late Super Bowl run, and had some examinations that he would struggle to see the field this year. McVay shut down the rumors, saying Gurley will be good to go come this season.

“He’s good. I think he’s feeling great,” McVay said Thursday,according to Pro Football Talk. “One of the things about Todd is, he’s a great competitor. I think he’s earned the right to be able to have the plan we had this offseason. I can’t wait to get him back going and I know he’s ready to go and it’s going to be fun for the Rams this year.”

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – IN MEMORIAM SLIDESHOW 

Gurley was an All-Pro running back last year, summing up 21 touchdowns in 14 games with a total of over 1,800 yards. In the playoffs, he failed to show those regular season numbers and lost an immense amount of playing time to backup CJ Anderson. Gurley had just 47 total yards against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship and in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. He only got 16 touches in the two big games due to a knee problem.

There is good news for Rams’ fans, as Gurley is an essential player to the team, but they found footing in their offense without him. They beat Drew Brees and the Saints, but struggled against a locked-in Patriots defense in the Super Bowl. No matter the condition of Gurley’s knee, the Rams’ offense should be superior to other teams.

Former Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday was asked to give predictions coming into the new NFL season. On ESPN’s NFL Live, he said that he believes that Los Angeles Rams‘ defensive lineman Aaron Donald will win the regular season MVP.

“This guy is the best player in football, how he has not won the MVP… I get (Patrick) Mahomes, I get everyone loves points and I (was) an offensive player,” Saturday said on ESPN’s NFL Live. “What this guy has done from the position has been absolutely astounding for me.”

Donald was dominant to say the least last season. According to Pro Football Focus, the Rams player finished first in the league in sacks, with 20.5, first in the league for tackles for loss, with 25, and first in the league for hits on the quarterback, with 41. He also topped all NFL defensive linemen with 106 pressures on the quarterback.

According to USA Today, Donald is the third player in the NFL to record at least 20.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss in 16 regular season games, joining the company of JJ Watt and DeMarcus Ware.

As well as Donald played last year, breaking multiple defensive line stats, he still got swept in the MVP voting section, not receiving a single vote. So what would Donald have to do this season in order to win it?

Adam Schein of NFL.com seems to agree with Saturday on this one. About Donald’s MVP run this year, he said, “the Rams‘ stud is the single best non-quarterback in the NFL and the best defensive player in the league, bar none. He wrecks games. He’s unstoppable. No other interior defensive lineman has ever posted as many sacks in a season as Donald’s league-leading 20.5 last year,” he continues, according to NFL.com. “Donald will be my pick, as per usual, for Defensive Player of the Year, an award he’s won two years running. Now, his MVP candidacy does suffer from the fact that he plays defense, at a position that is not commonly associated with gaudy stats, as well as the fact that Donald’s head coach, Sean McVay, leads a sensational and explosive offense for the Rams. But never get it twisted. This cat is the truth.”

With more exposure to his name this year, and having won the defensive player of the yer back-to-back now, surely Donald will receive some support for this year’s MVP if he continues to play at the level he’s been playing at.