Matthew Stafford continues to chase records
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford continues to chase NFL career records.
During last last week’s 24-18 defeat by the Chicago Bears, Stafford moved past Eli Manning into 10th place in career passing yardage.
Stafford, with 57,025 yards passing, probably won’t be able to reach ninth place this season: New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has passed for 59,904 yards and counting.
Stafford, however, could displace Manning again for career touchdown passes. Manning passed for 366 touchdowns, which ranks 10th. Stafford has passed for 359.
Stafford is 10th in completions with 4,923. Hall of Famer Dan Marino is ninth with 4,967.
Will Mike LaFleur help Rams prevail over his older brother and the Packers?
In what is becoming an almost annual event, Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur on Sunday will be scheming to help defeat his brother, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
Matt LaFleur, 44, was the Rams’ offensive coordinator under coach Sean McVay in 2017. Mike LaFleur, 37, is in his second season with the Rams.
“It’s kind of getting old hat now,” Mike LaFleur, who was previously on coaching staffs with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets, said of the matchup against his brother. “It seems like we play every year right now…. The only thing I look forward to, outside of the challenge that we have on Sunday, is getting to see my nephew that gets to come into town.”
In 2023, the Packers defeated the Rams at Lambeau Field.
Mike LaFleur said he spoke with his brother early in the week but refrained from discussing schematics. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula probably was thinking more about Matt, Mike said.
“I’m thinking more about having to go against that [defensive] personnel that they got that’s really talented, athletic and the scheme that they’re doing,” Mike said.
But what about extended family members?
“I don’t think my mom likes it,” Mike said, “but again, I said that last year too and I probably said that the year before that.
“We’re playing all the time. I think everyone’s just getting used to it. I don’t think anyone really enjoys it that much. We got a job to do, and we know what we want as a result.”
So if Matthew Stafford throws a long touchdown pass to Tutu Atwell on Sunday, how will Lafleur’s mother react?
“My mom likes me more,” Mike joked, “so she’s cheering for me.”
Tre’Davious White among the inactives for Rams against Packers
Rams cornerback Tre’Davious White, who started the first four games, is inactive for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. A team official said it was not injury related.
The Rams signed White, who played seven seasons for the Buffalo Bills and was coming off Achilles tendon surgery, with the hope that he could start opposite Darious Williams.
But Williams suffered a hamstring injury on the second day of training camp. He was placed on injured reserve and is set to make his season debut against the Packers.
Here are the players who will not be playing for the Rams and Packers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium:
Rams: WR Cooper Kupp, QB Stetson Bennett, CB Tre’Davious White, RB Cody Schrader, OL Geron Christian Sr., DL Desjuan Johnson
Packers: WR Christian Watson, CB Jaire Alexander, DL Brenton Cox Jr., OT Jordan Morgan, OT Travis Glover, DL Devonte Wyatt
Darious Williams set to make his long-anticipated return to Rams
The Rams are finally getting a key player back from injury.
Cornerback Darious Williams, a projected starter who was on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, was a full participant in practice on Friday and is expected to play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, coach Sean McVay said.
“He’s feeling good, he’s locked into the preparation,” McVay said, “so we’re excited to have him back.”
Williams, 31, played for Rams from 2018 to 2021 before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Rams re-signed him last spring, aiming to start him opposite Tre’Davious White.
But Williams suffered the injury on the second day of training camp practice.
So he is excited about returning to the field.
“Oh my gosh, it’s great,” he said. “Obviously, it’s been a journey but nothing better than being out with the guys.”
Before the season opener against the Detroit Lions, Williams had appeared to be on the verge of returning. But he suffered a setback and was placed on injured reserve.
Williams said he missed competing and building chemistry with teammates on the field, but he remained sharp by watching film and taking mental reps during practices.
“Everything plays out for a reason,” he said.
Jared Verse looking to achieve more despite impressive start to rookie season
Rams edge rusher Jared Verse was named the NFL defensive rookie of the month for September.
Just about everyone with the Rams was impressed — except Verse.
“It’s like more inspiring than anything, because I did not have a good month,” said Verse, who had four hits on quarterbacks and five tackles for losses, including a sack. “I missed a lot of plays. I missed a lot of tackles. I missed a lot of sacks.
“I missed a lot of opportunities to make our team better, to improve us as a whole…. Once all those plays start getting made and everything like that, OK, there’s going to be a lot more than that.”
Verse, the No. 19 pick in the NFL draft, is making the transition from playing defensive end at Florida State to outside linebacker for the Rams.
In college, Verse encountered “clean edges” that required him to beat only a tackle, defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. In the NFL, playcallers such as Rams coach Sean McVay have “a lot of different ways” to make it tough on pass rushers, Shula said.
“A lot of that is to slow these guys down, these elite players because they’re so good and they’re so talented that if you just give them a clean edge, it’s going to be tough,” Shula said.
Verse said he worked with outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio this week to correct mistakes and refine new techniques such as rushing from a stand-up position and dropping into coverage.
“All I want to do is just get better, and be a better version of myself than I was yesterday,” Verse said.
Verse knows he must remain patient.
“I think it should be an immediate thing but I also understand it’s not, that some things are just going to take a little bit of time to get built,” he said.
Vulnerable Rams’ defense needs complete turnover to compete with Packers
The Rams are searching for answers. With an injury-depleted lineup, they must reverse their 1-3 start and avoid falling out of the playoff race before it truly begins.
The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Jordan Love are coming to SoFi Stadium on Sunday, and they will face a Rams defense statistically ranked at or near the bottom of the NFL.
The Rams are second to last in total defense, giving up 385.3 yards per game. They are last in rushing defense (165.5 ypg), 20th in pass defense (219.8 ypg) and second to last in scoring defense (28.8 points per game).
Field goals aplenty, but Rams need red-zone offense to kick in: ‘It’s cost us so far’
Despite an offense missing star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and several starting linemen, the Rams have enjoyed opportunities aplenty to finish drives with touchdowns.
The problem for the 1-3 Rams: Instead of reaching the end zone from inside the 20-yard line, they are kicking field goals.
The Rams have scored only seven touchdowns in 17 opportunities from inside the 20. That places them at No. 28 in the NFL for red-zone touchdown percentage, 41.2%, according to teamrankings.com.
So, while rookie kicker Joshua Karty is tied for sixth in the NFL with nine field goals, coach Sean McVay, his staff and players are, well, kicking themselves.
Rams vs. Green Bay Packers: How to watch, prediction and betting odds
After losing to the Chicago Bears last Sunday, the Rams are in danger of falling to 1-4 heading into their off week.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford has played well in an offense still missing star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and several starting linemen. The Rams, however, need to score touchdowns, not field goals, when they are inside the 20-yard line.
Cornerback Darious Williams, who has been sidelined because of a hamstring injury, might be available to play for the first time this season. Regardless, the Rams need more than Williams to neutralize Packers quarterback Jordan Love.