Can Rams passing attack get back to its 2021 level?

PFF says that the Rams lethal passing attack should give them reason for optimism.

When quarterback Matthew Stafford joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, he and head coach Sean McVay took the NFL by storm. Over the first eight weeks of the season, the Rams offense led the NFL in dropback EPA per play by nearly a full point.

However, from 2022-2024, the Rams dropback EPA per play and success rate has been just 16th. There have been stretches in which the Rams have dealt with injuries to the quarterback position, skill positions, and offensive line. At the same time, it is also a general reflection of the health of the passing offense.

For the Rams to take that next step in 2025, the passing attack will need to be more consistent. The good news here is that with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, this is a passing attack that has the potential to overwhelm defenses. Pro Football Focus recently listed a reason for optimism for each NFL team. For the Rams, Dalton Wasserman listed their potentially lethal passing attack. Said Wasserman.

“When given a clean pocket, Matthew Stafford is still fully capable of shredding opposing defenses. His 90.6 clean-pocket PFF passing grade in 2024 ranked seventh in the NFL. He also has the benefit of working with the league’s highest-graded wide receiver group from last season. Led by Puka Nacua, who topped the NFL with a 92.6 PFF receiving grade last season, the Rams will be a nightmare for opposing secondaries. The group may have even improved with the addition of Davante Adams, who earned a solid 76.8 PFF receiving grade last season.”

PFF

Over the past two seasons when the Rams have ranked inside the top-10 for the week in EPA per pass, they have a 9-2 record. The two losses have come against the Detroit Lions in Week 1 last year and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 of 2023.

The key here is obviously health. When the Rams have had a top-rated offensive line and that offensive line has been healthy, the Sean McVay offense has been at its best. However, Stafford also needs to find a level of consistency that he hasn’t had since 2021.

Heading into 2025, the Rams offense has been built in a way that should give it every chance to succeed. Nacua and Adams are one of the top wide receiver duos in the NFL. Those two will make life much easier for Stafford in the same way that Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham did during the 2021 playoff run. This is also a Rams offense that has found a consistent run game. While the offensive line does have some depth concerns, if it can stay healthy, there is potential for it to be a top-10 unit. McVay remains a top-three play-designer and play-caller.

Heading into the 2025 season, it could be Rams’ best shot at making another deep playoff run with Stafford and McVay leading the way. There’s no guarantee how many good years Stafford has left and the Rams need to take advantage of them. With the weapons that the Rams have put around Stafford, the passing attack should have every chance to get back to a level of dominance.