The Los Angeles Rams defense looked like they were going to be absolutely *nasty* after bringing in Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Myles Garrett, and Aaron Donald this offseason. Seriously, they were pegged to finish 2026 with the league’s best defense. But the injury bug didn’t just bite, it took a huge chunk out of them. Somehow, despite 8.5 games missed by those massive talents, they’re still absolutely dominating, and their Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 85.0 is numero uno by a *mile*.
The Injury Bug Went Nuclear
It’s wild, right? Of those four huge offseason additions, only Trent McDuffie has played all four games so far. Jaylen Watson got hit with a shoulder injury and has missed a game and a half, and he’s not even a lock to play against the Bills on Monday night. Myles Garrett is on injured reserve after knee surgery and has to sit out at least one more game, which will make it four total games missed for him. And the GOAT himself, Aaron Donald? He missed Week 1 and Week 4 with a back injury, though there’s a chance he’s back for their next outing. You throw in the two games Kam Kinchens has been out, and you’re looking at a staggering 8.5 games missed by these key defensive players. We’ve barely even seen this new-look defense at full power!
So How Are They Still Balling Out?
Despite being short-handed, this unit is playing out of its mind. They’re only giving up 20.8 points per game, which is ninth-fewest in the NFL, and their 247.5 yards allowed per game is second-fewest overall. They’re second against the pass and eleventh against the run. And talk about clutch: opponents are converting only 33.3% on third downs, seventh-lowest in the league, and the same rate on fourth downs, ninth-lowest.
But here’s the kicker, and what should really get our attention here in the Emerald City: Pro Football Focus handed them an overall defensive grade of 78.9, the absolute highest in the NFL. And their coverage grade? A mind-blowing 85.0, which is number one by a mile. Who’s second, you ask? Our very own Seahawks, clocking in at 75.0. That 10-point gap is no joke. They’re also fourth in defensive DVOA and third in EPA/play allowed. Now, 21 points per game is still a bit high, but let’s be real, it’s not all on the defense. Matthew Stafford’s interceptions and some special teams blunders have meant opponents are starting with great field position, 31st worst in the league. Still, after giving up 379 yards to the 49ers in Week 1, they’ve only allowed 182, 257, and 172 yards in their last three games, even if those QBs were Jameis Winston, Bo Nix, and Jalen Hurts.
Coach Shula’s Secret Sauce and What’s Next
Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula deserves a ton of credit here. He’s had guys like Josaiah Stewart and Wesley Bailey stepping up for Garrett, Jaylen McCollough filling in for Kinchens, and Josh Wallace taking over for Watson. And the defense has barely skipped a beat. Shula’s been making aggressive adjustments: more man coverage, more blitzing, just a flat-out more in-your-face approach. The crazy part? We still haven’t seen Garrett, Donald, and Byron Young rush the passer together. We only saw Kinchens and Watson in the secondary for one game! If and when Shula gets all his stars back on the field, the sky is truly the limit for this Rams defense. They could be a nightmare for every offense in the league.
So, as they gear up for what’s next, keep an eye on those injury reports. If Donald comes back for their next game and Watson can somehow suit up against the Bills, this already-stellar defense could seriously crank it up another notch. When they finally hit full strength, this unit might just become one of the scariest in the NFL, and everyone, including us, will be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply