The Los Angeles Rams can move the ball, but they can’t finish drives. Through five weeks, Los Angeles has left 55 points on the field, one of the worst marks in the league.
Out of 21 red zone trips, they’ve come away with 11 touchdowns and 5 field goals while failing to score five times. For a team that has spent most games moving up and down the field with ease, that’s a major problem.
The offense ranks near the top of the league in total yardage at 401.8 yards per game, right behind Dallas and ahead of Buffalo. The production shows the Rams are capable of marching down the field, but too often those drives end in frustration.
The Los Angeles Rams Have A Red Zone Problem
Inside the 20, protection breaks down, play calls tighten, and execution slips. Sean McVay’s offense has found rhythm early in games but repeatedly stalls when it matters most. Two of the last three games, in particular, have included heartbreaking losses while about to score.
The lack of balance has only made things worse. The Rams have struggled to run the ball consistently, and without that threat, defenses sit on Stafford’s dropbacks. The offensive line has done a decent job keeping him upright in space, but has struggled in short yardage, where small breakdowns turn touchdowns into field goal attempts.
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Kyren Williams hasn’t been too flashy in the first five games, and Blake Corum hasn’t shown anything amazing either.
That same inconsistency shows up on special teams. Second-year kicker Joshua Karty has gone 9 for 12 on field goals and 12 for 14 on extra points, but the numbers don’t tell the full story. Several misses have occurred when defenders break through the protection for blocks.
The best teams in football finish drives. The Eagles (87.5%), Dolphins (76.92%), and Lions (76%) are all at the top of the league in terms of red zone touchdown efficiency.
The Los Angeles Rams are among the top in red zone opportunities, but towards the bottom in conversion rate. The Rams sit at 52.38%, far behind, and it’s already cost them in close losses to San Francisco and Philadelphia.
Sean McVay needs to get more creative in the red zone play calling, and whether that means involving Terrance Ferguson, better play design, or something else, the current trajectory won’t get them very far.
This offense has the talent to score with anyone. Stafford is still sharp, Nacua and Adams are both producing, and Kyren Williams gives them balance when the blocking holds up. But until the Los Angeles Rams start turning yards into touchdowns, the numbers won’t mean much.