The Los Angeles Rams were supposed to be Super Bowl LXI favorites, but after Week 1, that balloon’s already got a leak, big time. Dropping a brutal 27-7 loss to the 49ers in Australia, losing their “offseason prize” pass rusher Myles Garrett to knee surgery on injured reserve, and staring down a brutal schedule, Week 2 is already feeling absolutely make-or-break for a team with championship aspirations.
Rams Offense Stalls, McVay’s Plan Backfires, and Panic Is Brewing
Listen, falling to 0-2 isn’t the total coffin nail it used to be with playoff expansion, but it sure as heck makes for an uphill battle. The doubt starts to creep in fast, and for the Rams, it’s already a full-on nightmare. Sean McVay’s plan of flying in just a day before their international showdown with the 49ers? Yeah, that blew up in his face as L.A. completely fell flat. Not only are they 0-1 and dealing with a 15-hour flight home, but they also placed Myles Garrett on injured reserve due to that knee injury requiring surgery. Talk about a gut punch.
Now they’re back stateside, hosting the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football” to close out Week 2. The Giants are riding high after an upset win against the Cowboys in their opener, but the Rams are still a sizable home favorite, laying a full touchdown. This is a game the oddsmakers believe L.A. should win with relative ease, and they absolutely need to pile up these types of victories while they can. Because if they lose this matchup and the offense continues to look stagnant like it did in Melbourne, the panic level will almost certainly reach a fever pitch. And why wouldn’t it? After this, the Rams hit the road to visit the Denver Broncos in Week 3 and then the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. Those are two of the toughest road environments in the NFL, and with the pressure of still searching for their first win in both those contests, things could get really tight in that locker room. Even after that road trip, they face the Buffalo Bills in Week 5 back at SoFi Stadium, so there is no letup whatsoever in the early portion of this schedule.
Broncos Defense Collapses After Hype Train Derailed
It’s not just the Rams feeling the heat. Over in Denver, the Broncos came into the season with a reputation for having one of the league’s top defenses. Well, that notion got completely dispelled, at least for one night, when the Kansas City Chiefs absolutely demolished them 31-10 on Monday night. Their defense? According to Next Gen Stats, they missed a staggering 28 tackles against Kansas City. Twenty-eight! That’s not just bad, that’s alarming for a unit expected to carry the team.
This Week 2 showdown is huge for both these teams. Can the Rams offense finally find its footing back home against the Giants? Or will McVay’s Super Bowl favorites sink to 0-2, with their brutal schedule staring them down? And can the Broncos’ supposedly elite defense show up against the Jacksonville Jaguars, or will the missed tackles continue to haunt them? You know we’ll be watching every snap!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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