NFL Win Totals: Will the Rams Reach 9-Plus Wins in 2024?
The Los Angeles Rams are coming off a 2023-24 campaign where they overachieved in a year where many expected them to be amid a rebuild. Thanks to a rookie class that contributed plenty alongside a handful of notable veterans, the Rams went 10-7 and suffered a narrow loss to the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card Round a season ago.
Similar to most years under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams have undergone a bevy of changes to their roster and coaching staff this offseason. The most notable changes were All-Pro Aaron Donald announcing his retirement and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris becoming the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
With months to go until the 2024-25 NFL season kicks off, you can find the Rams' and other team's NFL win totals at FanDuel Sportsbook. Ahead of another year with the McVay-Matthew Staffordpairing, let's take a look at the odds and discuss how many wins the Rams could achieve next season.
All NFL odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, and they may change after the article is published.
Los Angeles Rams 2024 Win Total Odds
Rams Over/Under 8.5 Wins
- Over: -144
- Under: +118
Odds to Make the Playoffs: -105
Odds to Win the XXX XXX: +330 (2nd)
Odds to Win the NFC: +1300 (7th)
Super Bowl Odds: +3000 (14th)
Key Offseason Coaching Changes:
- Lost defensive coordinator Raheem Morris
- Chris Shula replaces Morris as new defensive coordinator
- Giff Smith replaces Eric Henderson as defensive line coach/run game coordinator
Why Rams Could Win Over 8.5 Games
- The offense took on a new -- and improved -- identity in 2023
- Matthew Stafford is still playing at an elite level
- Sean McVay has a proven track record of success
When the Rams acquired Stafford, they immediately had him attempt 601 passes across 17 starts in 2021-22 en route to a Super Bowl victory. Stafford would proceed to throw 303 passes in 2022-23 during an injury-riddled campaign where Los Angeles finished with a dismal 5-12 record.
In the hopes to prolong Stafford's career -- and put him in better situations to succeed -- the Rams have made a concerted effort to become more of a balanced offense. During last season's somewhat improbable playoff run, Stafford attempted 521 passes while Kyren Williams and the entire rushing attack carried the ball a combined 477 times.
McVay and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur put together an offense that could beat teams in a variety of ways last season. With the Rams continuing to bolster their offensive line while adding Blake Corum -- who offers a similar skill set as Williams -- via the draft, makes it clear they want to maintain a balanced approach.
Even with Stafford not needing to air the ball out as much, he is still capable of making eye-popping throws through tight windows. According to NextGenStats, Stafford finished with formidable marks in expected points added per drop back (0.08) and passing success rate (47.5%) a season ago.
Having an elite quarterback can always give a team a chance to win plenty of games, and Stafford is proving he still has plenty left in the tank despite dealing with injuries in recent years.
Outside of the 2022-23 season where the Rams won just five games, McVay has helped lead Los Angeles to nine-plus wins in the other six years at the helm. Considering the Rams have achieved double-digit wins in five of the seven years with McVay as head coach, there is decent value in taking them to win nine-plus games at -144 odds -- assuming Stafford can avoid being sidelined.
Why Rams Could Win Under 8.5 Games
- The departure of Aaron Donald could loom large for the defense
- There is a lack of wide receiver depth if Cooper Kupp/Puka Nacua can't remain healthy
- The NFC West figures to be an ultra-competitive division in 2024
It goes without saying that replacing Donald is going to be easier said than done for the Rams. Donald was an eight-time All-Pro and three-time Defensive Player of the Year who was the player every team game planned against each week when facing Los Angeles.
With Donald out of the picture, Kobie Turner and rookie Braden Fiske will be asked to wreak havoc in the interior. Not having Donald on the field certainly puts more pressure on the edge rushers and allows teams to deploy fewer double teams along their offensive line.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Rams undoubtedly have a talented receiver duo with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Kupp won the triple-crown in 2021-22 while Nacua exploded for 105 receptions, 1,486 yards, and six touchdowns as a rookie in 2023-24.
Despite Kupp and Nacua forming a dynamic pairing, there is a lack of depth at the position behind them. Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, and rookie Jordan Whittington don't possess the same skill sets as Kupp or Nacua if either of them were forced to miss time.
The NFC West has long been an ultra-competitive division, and that remains true entering the upcoming season. The San Francisco 49ers are tied for the shortest odds to win the Super Bowl (+600), the Seattle Seahawks are entering an exciting new era with first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, and the Arizona Cardinals finally have a true No. 1 wideout for Kyler Murray to target upon drafting Marvin Harrison Jr..
Winning games in the NFC West were already a challenge for the Rams in recent years. But with the alterations to the coaching staff and Donald no longer dominating in the trenches, the margins are even thinner for Los Angeles.
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