Rams Collapse to 2-4 as Special Teams Failures and Injuries Derail Super Bowl Hopes
The Los Angeles Rams, once the clear Super Bowl favorites, have fallen to a 2-4 record after a 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The defeat was defined by a catastrophic special teams unit, which cost the team approximately 36 points through six weeks, and a quarterback who has struggled to replicate his MVP performance. Key injuries to Myles Garrett and Davante Adams, along with a lack of explosive plays, have left the team dead last in the NFC West and facing steep odds for a playoff run.
Key points
- The Rams lost to the Arizona Cardinals 18-16, a 13.5-point upset that left them 2-4 and last in the NFC West.
- Special teams have been the worst in the NFL, with a negative EPA of -35.8, costing the team roughly 36 points through six weeks.
- Matthew Stafford’s deep passing efficiency has dropped significantly, ranking 20th in the league for attempts over 20 yards, compared to third last season.
- Myles Garrett is on injured reserve after knee surgery, and Aaron Donald has recorded zero sacks in his first four games back from retirement.
- Davante Adams is out for 6-10 weeks with a hamstring injury, and the Rams have not fielded all their stars in a single game this season.
- The Rams’ playoff odds have dropped from 90.1% to 26.0%, and their Super Bowl odds have fallen from 16.3% to 1.5%.
Background
The Rams entered the 2026 season as the consensus Super Bowl favorite, bolstered by the addition of Myles Garrett and the return of Aaron Donald. Previous coverage of the NFL season highlighted the high expectations for the team, but the current slump marks a sharp decline from those early projections. The team’s struggles stand in contrast to other NFC West teams, such as the 5-0 San Francisco 49ers, who have taken control of the division.
How outlets are covering it
CBS Sports emphasizes the statistical decline of Matthew Stafford and the unprecedented failure of the special teams unit, noting that the Rams have the worst field goal percentage and return averages in the NFL. The Guardian highlights the specific chaos of the Cardinals game, where the Rams were left without a kicker after Blake Grupe was injured, forcing them to rely on punter Ethan Evans for extra points. Sports Illustrated takes a more critical stance, arguing that the Rams will never become a 'superteam' this season and that the preseason hype was laughable, pointing to the team’s inability to generate explosive plays despite having a top-three total offense.
Why it matters
The Rams’ collapse illustrates the fragility of NFL 'superteams' when key players are injured and special teams units fail. With the Rams now 2-4 and facing a tough division, their playoff and Super Bowl prospects have diminished significantly, shifting the focus to whether Sean McVay can adjust the offense or if the team will become a mid-tier contender.
What to watch
The Rams will face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, with the Chargers moving to 0-6 and facing the Rams in two weeks. The team must address its special teams issues and hope for the return of key players, though the odds for a playoff run have dropped sharply.
- Are the Rams cooked? A look at why Sean McVay's team is so disappointing, and if they can bounce back CBS Sports
- What has gone wrong for the 2-4 Rams after 'superteam' hype? Can they fix it? ESPN
- Upon Further Review: Just How Off We Were On Rams, Chargers; Ashton Jeanty A Bust? FOX Sports
- The Rams have managed to transform themselves from a superteam to a midteam The Guardian
- NFL Week 6 Lessons: It’s Laughable to Say the Rams Were a Super Bowl Favorite Sports Illustrated
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