Week 1 in the NFL can be a total mirage, right? We might look back at the Los Angeles Rams’ opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia and just toss it out the window. But here we are after Week 2, and the Los Angeles Chargers are already staring down an 0-2 record, which means the stakes are through the roof for the Rams this week as they try to avoid a similar spiral.
Denver’s Rebound Shows the Way Forward for LA
The Rams definitely came out completely flat against the 49ers in Week 1, which was one of the most disappointing outcomes to start the season. But get this: the Denver Broncos, who looked completely inept against the Kansas City Chiefs in their opener, just turned things around. Denver rebounded with a 20-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had one of the most impressive Week 1 performances. That’s an encouraging sign for the Rams. They desperately need to bounce back on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants. Denver provides a proof of concept for LA, showing that a bad Week 1 doesn’t have to define your season. The real test will come when the Rams and Broncos clash on Sunday Night Football in Denver for their Week 2 showdown. We should get some real answers about both teams’ trajectories after that.
Justin Herbert’s Fall and What It Means for Stafford
Expectations were sky-high for the Rams heading into 2026, and to a lesser degree, most thought the Chargers would take a step forward too. Instead, the Chargers have fallen to 0-2. They dropped games to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, neither of which were even close to competent a year ago. It seems the expectations are absolutely getting to Justin Herbert. He looks emotional on the field and has clearly regressed at this stage of his career, even though he’s in his prime. The early results are not encouraging. And for Matthew Stafford, who posted one of the worst quarterback performances in Week 1, this is a huge warning. If Herbert can suffer a fall from grace, so can Stafford. Those two teams will meet in Week 8 at SoFi Stadium, with the Chargers as the road team.
The Bills Are Coming To Town, And Our Guy Sam Darnold Is Shining
Let’s not forget, the Rams host the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 5. The Bills may have the best offense in football, with Josh Allen looking unstoppable through two games. But man, their defense could be trouble. Buffalo allowed 31 points in their opener to a Texans team that managed just six against the Bengals, then gave up another 31 to the Lions on Thursday Night Football. That defense seems porous without Sean McDermott, making Buffalo clearly an offensive team now.
Meanwhile, while these other teams are figuring out their entire identity, our very own Sam Darnold just absolutely carved up the Arizona Cardinals, leading the Seattle Seahawks to a commanding 31-7 victory! This guy, after failing with the Jets and Panthers, rehabilitating his career with the 49ers and Vikings, and then leading our Hawks to a Super Bowl victory, he’s still making plays and showing the league what he’s capable of.
The Rams have a massive Week 2 ahead, first against the Giants on Monday Night Football, then the Broncos on Sunday Night Football. We’ll get real answers about their trajectory soon enough. As for us Emerald City faithful? We’ll be riding high with Darnold and the Hawks, ready for whatever the season throws at us!
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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