The Los Angeles Rams may have fallen just short of an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2024, but one Hall of Famer believes they’re on the cusp of something special in 2025. In an interview with DJ Siddiqi of RG.org, legendary running back Jerome Bettis voiced strong belief in the Rams’ trajectory—and issued a challenge for them to take the next step.
“They have a great quarterback,” Bettis said. “They’ve got some really, really outstanding receivers. The running game is going to be solid. They’re maybe a cornerback away, an impact secondary guy away from being really, really special.”
Bettis, who began his Hall of Fame career with the Rams, didn’t stop there. While he acknowledged that the NFC West will be competitive, he thinks L.A. holds the upper hand.
“In their division, they are the favorites,” he added. “I think the Niners are going to be good, but not great. The Rams definitely have an advantage on that side.”
The Los Angeles Rams’ Real Test: Stopping Barkley and the Eagles
For Bettis, the true barometer of Los Angeles’ success isn’t in their division—it’s in Philadelphia.
“I think the team they’re going to have to beat is going to be the Eagles,” he said. “They’re built to beat the Eagles, and if they can slow down the running game, they’ve got a chance.”
That’s no small task. The Eagles’ Saquon Barkley is coming off a historic season: 2,005 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns, and a playoff total of 2,504 yards—the most ever. He dominated the Rams in their playoff matchup, torching them for 205 yards and two long scores. The Rams lost, 28–22, despite a late comeback attempt.
A Defensive Revamp
With that postseason loss still fresh, Rams GM Les Snead went to work. The front office invested heavily in run defense, bringing in veteran DT Poona Ford, rookie Ty Hamilton, and linebacker Nate Landman. The team also expects second-year star Jared Verse to take another leap after logging 4.5 sacks as a rookie. Former NFL tackle Terron Armstead recently called Verse “different,” predicting he’ll be a future Defensive Player of the Year.
“You know that it’s coming. You brace yourself. He’s different,” Armstead said. “I’m OK with never seeing that young man again in my life.”
It All Starts Up Front
Bettis made it clear: if the Rams want to dethrone the Eagles, it starts in the trenches.
“They need some big plays [on defense],” he said. “Do they have the playmakers defensively to change the tide? That’s the question.”
Between a retooled front seven, the development of Kyren Williams, and the steady hand of Matthew Stafford, Bettis believes L.A. has the formula. But only one thing will tip the scale in their favor: slowing down Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ ground game.
If they can do that, the Rams might not just contend—they could control the NFC.
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