After an eventful offseason and summer time, the Los Angeles Rams formally start the 2024 NFL season with a Week 1 matchup towards the Detroit Lions at Ford Discipline.
It marks the groups’ first assembly since this previous January, when the Lions edged out a slim 24-23 win over the Rams within the NFC Wild Card spherical.
Each groups’ rosters look a bit of totally different now, however they’re as soon as once more anticipated to be professional contenders within the NFC this season.
Since Sean McVay was employed as head coach, the Rams are 6-1 in season openers, with their solely loss coming towards the Buffalo Payments throughout the 2022 season. L.A. additionally owns a 2-1 file towards Detroit since McVay took the helm in 2017.
Maybe the most important storyline is Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff dealing with off for the third time for the reason that blockbuster commerce in 2021.
Stafford and the Rams took the primary assembly with a 28-19 win over the Lions in Week 7 of the 2021 NFL season. Goff then led the Lions to a nail-biting victory over the Rams within the NFC Wild Card spherical, which was the crew’s first playoff win since 1992.
The Rams will probably be lacking a number of key gamers of their season opener towards the Lions as Tyler Higbee stays on the bodily unable to carry out (PUP) listing and goes to overlook a minimal of 4 weeks.
The Rams are additionally with out beginning left deal with Alaric Jackson, who was suspended two video games for violating the league’s private conduct coverage.
Feed Puka Nacua
Nacua had his means towards the Lions within the NFC Wild Card spherical, catching 9 of his 10 targets for a career-high 181 yards and a landing.
It was the completion on top-of-the-line rookie seasons for a large receiver in NFL historical past, and Nacua will now look to choose up the place he left off as he begins his sophomore marketing campaign.
How will Rams exchange Aaron Donald?
The Rams misplaced one among their biggest gamers in franchise historical past when Aaron Donald retired this previous March, however the crew’s line of defense ought to nonetheless be a energy this season.
Kobie Turner and Byron Younger are each coming off promising rookie campaigns, whereas the additions of Braden Fiske and Jared Verse give the crew loads of depth up entrance.
Rob Havenstein vs. Aidan Hutchinson?
Havenstein is listed as questionable for the Rams in Week 1 after being on the harm report with an ankle harm.
The veteran’s presence will probably be key in containing Professional Bowl defensive finish Aidan Hutchinson, who generated 4 pressures and a sack within the Lions’ playoff win over the Rams. If Havenstein is unable to go then the Rams could be with out each of their beginning tackles, which wouldn’t be supreme towards Hutchinson and the remainder of that line of defense.
