Rams Emerge as Top NFC Threat Heading Into 2025

closer to toppling the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in last year’s playoffs than the Los Angeles Rams. In a dramatic divisional-round showdown, the Rams battled back late, reaching the red zone in the final minutes with a chance to complete a stunning comeback. Ultimately, they fell short, 28-22—but the message was clear: the Rams weren’t far off. As the 2025 season approaches, this Rams team looks stronger, deeper, and more confident than the one that nearly shocked the football world last January. With a year of development under the belts of their young defenders and key veteran additions to the roster, Los Angeles is shaping up to be a legitimate contender—and one of the few teams built to knock off Philadelphia.

NFL Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis certainly thinks so. “In their division, they are the favorites,” Bettis told DJ Siddiqi of RB.org. “I think the Niners are going to be good, but not great. The Rams definitely have an advantage on that side. I think the team they’re going to have to beat is going to be the Eagles. They’re going to be right back at it again. They’re built to beat the Eagles, and if they can slow down the running game, they’ve got a chance.”

Much of the Rams’ optimism stems from a rapidly improving defense led by reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse. Verse, who terrorized offensive lines in 2024, headlines a front seven that added veteran defensive tackle Poona Ford and rookie Ty Hamilton this offseason. Ford brings experience and run-stuffing consistency after recording 39 tackles and three sacks last year, while Hamilton’s raw power and upside provide even more interior depth. The defensive improvements are exactly what Los Angeles needs to take the next step. Against Philadelphia, they were able to hang tough, but containing the Eagles’ multidimensional ground game proved to be the tipping point. With a beefed-up interior and more mature edge rushers, that might not be the case in 2025. Stafford, McVay, and a loaded offense

On the other side of the ball, the Rams are led by veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, still playing at a high level and surrounded by a dynamic supporting cast. Wideouts like Davante Adams and Puka Nacua offer a blend of route-running precision and explosive playmaking, while the backfield looks poised to carry a bigger load this season. “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. When you’ve got a really good coach and a good quarterback, you’re going to be in the conversation.”

What makes the Rams particularly dangerous isn’t just their talent—it’s how that talent matches up with the defending champs. Philadelphia relies heavily on physicality in the trenches and a devastating ground game. The Rams now have the personnel to counter that, and with an elite quarterback-coach duo, they’re one of the few NFC teams that can go blow-for-blow with the Eagles. “They’re built to beat the Eagles,” Bettis repeated—a bold statement, but one that may soon be put to the test again come January. And this time, the Rams may not come up short.