The Los Angeles Rams are heading into Week 3 looking to build on that huge 28-6 victory over the New York Giants. They split their first two games, so a win here is massive, but there’s a catch: Puka Nacua is expected to miss another game. That means other players throughout the offense have to step up big time, and honestly, Terrance Ferguson just threw his hat in the ring as *the* guy.
Ferguson’s Volume Is About To Go Nuclear
Ferguson wasn’t just some side piece in Week 2; he showed Sean McVay he can be a legitimate offensive force. With Nacua sidelined, the second-year tight end hauled in six catches on nine targets for 54 yards and a touchdown. That’s a solid day! He finished the game with a 29% target share, which is wild, according to Sharp Football Analysis. That kind of performance is exactly why the Rams should be looking to feed him the ball even more against Denver.
What makes Ferguson so tough to defend is how he creates nightmare matchups. You try to cover him with a linebacker? Forget it. Ferguson’s got the athletic ability to just torch that defender vertically or create easy separation underneath. You put a smaller cornerback on him? The Rams can just use his size and physicality to their advantage. It’s like a pick-your-poison situation. Sosa Kremenjas said it best: “Loved how Terrance Ferguson was featured. Think he was targeted 7-of-9 times after going in motion. Seen him break those routes inside, outside, and sit them down. This target design was nice, like a switch release. McVay did a great job last night.” His versatility even lets McVay move him all over the formation. He ran 40% of his snaps from the slot against the Giants and picked up seven targets from that alignment, including his touchdown catch. While Davante Adams showed up in Week 2, the offense can’t just rely on one receiver. Ferguson is the dude to fill that void. They don’t need to force-feed him, but keeping up that kind of volume is going to be crucial for the game plan.
Defense Has to Hold the Line on Third Down
On the other side of the ball, the Rams defense has a clear path to locking down the Broncos. Denver’s offense is straight-up struggling on third down, ranking 29th in the entire NFL with just a 26.1% conversion rate. If the Rams defense can keep that trend going and hold them to 30% or less on third down conversions, they’re putting themselves in a prime position to win this game.
We saw a huge jump from Week 1 to Week 2. The Rams defense allowed a brutal 58.3% third down conversion rate in the opener, but they dropped that all the way down to a stellar 21.4% against the Giants. That Monday Night Football showing was a totally different beast. They put together four strong quarters because they got off the grass when it mattered most. Maintaining that kind of discipline and execution against the Broncos’ struggling third-down offense isn’t just a key to victory; it’s the whole damn lock.
The Rams are 1-1, and this Week 3 game against Denver is a chance to push above .500 and really set the tone early in the season. If McVay keeps the Terrance Ferguson show rolling and that defense keeps the Broncos in third-down purgatory, this team will be feeling good. It’s about consistency, and those two keys are exactly how they get it done.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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