The Los Angeles Rams are favorites by a massive 12.5 points over the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday afternoon, but let’s be real, a simple win to get to 3-3 just doesn’t cut it. This team, five games into the 2026 season, still has no idea who they are on offense. They need more than a win; they need to show some serious signs of life and a clear identity, or the optimism around them is going to flatline.
Where Did the Rams’ Offensive Identity Go?
Heading into 2026, the Rams were all in on being a heavy 13 personnel team. Then, Terrance Ferguson, their key vertical tight end threat, got hurt after playing “a little over two games” and is now on injured reserve. That injury looms large, because ever since, their deep passing attack has completely disappeared. Matthew Stafford, usually known for airing it out, has attempted a mere 22 passes beyond 20 yards through five games. And get this: he’s completed just seven of those. Seven! Even worse, opponents have picked him off four times on deep throws, and he’s only got a single touchdown to show for it. His adjusted accuracy rate on those plays is a brutal 36.4%. No other receiver with significant playing time seems capable of truly stretching the field vertically, except for Puka Nacua, and you can’t ask one guy to carry that entire load. Tutu Atwell might be getting ready to take over the third receiver spot, but using him vertically often becomes way too predictable. Defenses are straight up taking away the deep ball, and the Rams haven’t found a way to innovate or create explosive plays against it. Will they just give up on pushing the ball downfield, or can they find some new magic?
Sean McVay’s Abandonment Issues with the Run Game
The deep pass isn’t the only head-scratcher. The running game is actually *working* when they commit to it. So what does Sean McVay do? He bails on it at the first sign of trouble. Stafford has averaged a wild 53 pass attempts over the last three games. Think about that for a second. In the *only* game where the Rams actually led for most of the contest, Stafford threw just 33 passes. It’s partly a result of them constantly playing from behind, sure, but it’s also just inexplicable sometimes. Meanwhile, Kyren Williams has not carried the ball more than 16 times individually in any game, even though he’s had games with 15 and 16 carries. You’ve got a working run game, but it feels like McVay just refuses to embrace it. This time last year, the Rams stumbled into that 13 personnel movement that lit up the NFL. Now, they’re searching for their next stroke of offensive genius.
This Sunday against the Cardinals is their moment. Arizona’s defense is one of the weakest in all of football. The Rams *should* be able to do whatever they want out there. If they can’t figure out who they are against *this* Cardinals team, then honestly, it’s probably not happening this season. They need to find that recognizable branding, and they need to find it now.
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.
Leave a Reply