The 2025 season kick-off emerged victorious for the Los Angeles Rams against the Houston Texans, marking their triumph over CJ Stroud’s crew by 14-9. This winning streak was articulated by some decisive Pro Football Focus (PFF) figures, ratings, and progressive metrics that underpin LA’s prowess over the Texans.
The offensive top-tier grades were dominated by Xavier Smith, with a remarkable 95.1 score. Even though Smith participated in only one snap that caught a 36-yard pass from Stafford. Criteria for listing a player require a minimum of five engagement snaps.
Emerging at the top among quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford netted an outstanding grade of 92.9. Despite LA’s notably weak pass blocking team grade of 33.3 and Stafford himself being constantly under high pressure, he demonstrated remarkable gameplay leading the Rams to victory.
Amidst concerns regarding Stafford’s health, he impressed with his outstanding five big-time throws – the highest in any individual game from the previous season – without a single turnover at risk. The receivers added credit to his name, with three drops which boosted his adjusted completion percentage to a high of 88.9%.
However, with Stafford facing consistent pressures (13 times or 41%), resulting in three sacks, it necessitates that the Rams fortify their quarterback protection for preserving Stafford’s health throughout the offseason. This concern was further exacerbated by numerous injuries the interior offensive line incurred on Sunday.
Coming second in offensive prowess was Puka Nacua, a wide receiver with an impressive 91.6. Nacua was the center stage of the Rams’ offensive strategy during the initial half, accounting for a majority 60% of their total production. His 20-yard catch and run sealed the game by allowing LA to exhaust the remaining game time. Nacua ended the game with 10 catches out of 11 targets for a total of 130 yards, out of which 47 came post the catch stage.
Right Guard Kevin Dotson garnered the third highest pass blocking rating for the Rams, coming at 75.4. However, an injury reduced his snap participation to 45 out of 60 and raises question marks for his fitness ahead of Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans.
Interior offensive lineman Beaux Limmer filled the fourth spot with a grade of 70.7. Initially replacing Steve Avila at left guard, he then shifted to the right to cover for Dotson. Limmer played 44 snaps, with splittings of 29 on the left and 15 on the right. Despite stellar performance in the run game of 89.9, his pass protection was a glaring weak point with a score of just 27.6.
Securing the fifth position was left guard Steve Avila with a score of 69.7. Despite playing only 31 snaps, Avila ensured balanced performances in run and pass games, and not allowing any pressure in pass protection.
In other offensive achievements, Colby Parkinson, despite a potentially game-costing fumble in the fourth quarter, netted positive scores as a blocker in both run and pass plays. Despite continuing struggles of the tight end position, Parkinson showed promise with grades of 70.0 and 72.4 in run and pass respectively.
Defensively, the first rank belonged to middle linebacker Nate Landman who scored an impressive 91.7. His forced fumble in the final stage of the game was critical to the Rams’ victory. Landman’s powerful presence was felt all over the field, finishing off with team-leading six run stops and impressive coverage of 90.8. Landman’s future performance will be highly watched based on his initial showing.
The Edge spot was dominated by Jared Verse with a grade of 90.6. Though his on-field presence was overshadowed by Byron Young, Verse consistently proved his worth and was a formidable participant against Houston. He ended his game with a lead of four pressures for the Rams, despite a single run stop.
Cornerback Cobie Durant racked up an 87.7, taking the third spot despite playing only 25 snaps and being limited to clear passing situations due to his tackling struggles. On the four occasions he was targeted, Durant allowed three receptions for 33 yards and snapped up an interception that resulted in a low passer rating of 59.4.
Byron Young, another edge defender clinched the fourth rank with a score of 78.5. His contributions to the game were well-rounded with three pressures and five stops, showcasing that he might be entering into a breakout phase.
The fifth rank belonged to defensive back Kamren Kinchens with a 66.4 grade. Although his performance didn’t spotlight any standout attributes, his grade indicated above-average gameplay. However, he missed one tackle and allowed three catches out of four for a total of 38 yards.
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