Rams vs Texans - Pre-Game Discussion Thread

[Jacksnow]

Yes 4 months away, but opening day worries me due to Rams slow starts due to rust on starters.

The Texans have been a playoff team in each of the last two years under C.J. Stroud’s leadership and they’re expected to be contenders again this season. Despite all the promise Houston shows, the Rams are still home favorites against them in the opener.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Rams are 3.5-point favorites over Houston in Week 1.

The betting lines favors Rams because of home field advantage. Really? When do the Rams ever have home field advantage?

The one good thing stated is that the Texans may have a weaker o-line due to loss of veterans.

[Claremontram]

Nothing worries me this season since I am predicting (again) that Rams will go 17-0.

Blissful optimism is my new season mantra.

Smash the Houston Texans!

[49RH8R]

Yes 4 months away, but opening day worries me due to Rams slow starts due to rust on starters.

The Texans have been a playoff team in each of the last two years under C.J. Stroud’s leadership and they’re expected to be contenders again this season. Despite all the promise Houston shows, the Rams are still home favorites against them in the opener.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Rams are 3.5-point favorites over Houston in Week 1.

The betting lines favors Rams because of home field advantage. Really? When do the Rams ever have home field advantage?

The one good thing stated is that the Texans may have a weaker o-line due to loss of veterans.

Good question, yes. Every year I'm worried about rust in the first game or two because we don't play starters in the preseason at all. Not even top backups.

It affects the offense more but thankfully that is a veteran group with Stafford, Williams, Higbee, Adams, and Nacua. Corum got some work last year but Hunter and Ferguson are green as grass. I think it will take a while for them to make an impact.

[DelMar]

It usually takes teams a few games to shake out the kinks, true...(look at our first 5 games then compare those to the 5 game thereafter, last season) but that being said I do think this is the perfect first match up for us, Texans are a playoff team, and Rams also have had issues containing the mobile QB's. Stroud is a phenomenal QB and if we lose this game, we will have lots of tape to work with and figure things out.

Unlike playing a Cleveland team, where we should roll and dont have a lot of tape to learn from... The Texans will give us a ton of tape to watch, in turn, ,makes us better, and faster.

Bottomline, I like being tested immediately.

[Commish]

I'm always worried about opening-day losses, going back to the Rams' upset defeat by the Saints in their 1971 season opener, that was a year in which they ultimately missed the playoffs by half a game in the standings.

I'm especially recalling our team's crushing one-sided losses to the Eagles in 2008, the Vikings in '14 and the Bills in '22... :? ;) :x

RAM SEASON!!

--The Commish

[Jacksnow]

Yes 4 months away, but opening day worries me due to Rams slow starts due to rust on starters.

The Texans have been a playoff team in each of the last two years under C.J. Stroud’s leadership and they’re expected to be contenders again this season. Despite all the promise Houston shows, the Rams are still home favorites against them in the opener.

According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Rams are 3.5-point favorites over Houston in Week 1.

The betting lines favors Rams because of home field advantage. Really? When do the Rams ever have home field advantage?

The one good thing stated is that the Texans may have a weaker o-line due to loss of veterans.

Good question, yes. Every year I'm worried about rust in the first game or two because we don't play starters in the preseason at all. Not even top backups.

It affects the offense more but thankfully that is a veteran group with Stafford, Williams, Higbee, Adams, and Nacua. Corum got some work last year but Hunter and Ferguson are green as grass. I think it will take a while for them to make an impact.

good point about the D. The D may win this game for Rams.

[CierraRam]

Well, if half of the OL doesn't go down against the Lions, the Rams win that game. Then they lose more OL the following games. The Rams ran out multiple OL combos the first several games. That was the direct reason for the slow start. Combine that with a still raw defense to compound that issue.. there you go. Avoid the multiple injuries to one position group and I predict this Rams team wins 13 games including Houston

[Commish]

Rams 21, Chicago Cardinals 0
Rams 54, New York Yanks 14
Rams 27, Baltimore Ravens 10
Rams 34, Chicago Bears 14

Four impressive opening-day performances by our team... 8-) :idea:

RAM SEASON!!

--The Commish

[Ramsfan08ny]

It's the NFL. Every game worries me, especially week one against a dynamic QB, and the unknown factor of how good that opponent is going to be in a new season. That's why I dont get too worked up either way over "strength of schedule". Teams go from worst to first in the NFL more often than any other sport.

I feel if the Rams play their game they best anyone, but all it takes is a few mistakes to give any team a chance to win.

[Bulldawg]

No. We win 27-17 with a late TD by Texans. As Delmar likes to say...Book It.

[NorCal RF]

Nope. It is one of 17…………..

[GlendoraRam]

With the Rams kicking off the 2025 NFL season against the Houston Texans, let's start the discussion for the opening game on September 7.
For the Texans, their offensive line received one of the lowest PFF grades in the NFL for the 2024 season, ranked 25th overall. This poor performance was characterized by a struggle to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud, leading to the second-most sacks in the league, and an inability to run the ball effectively. The team subsequently traded key veterans, Laremy Tunsil and Shaq Mason. They added Cam Robinson, Trent Brown, and Jake Andrews. They used a second-round pick on Aireontae Ersery from Minnesota, and their offensive line is now a significantly different and potentially improved group for the upcoming 2025 season.

The Texans' overall defensive grade of 74.9 placed them among the league's elite defenses for the 2024 season. With Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter providing a solid pass rush, and the secondary with players like Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter making key contributions to the team's strong pass defense.

Keys for the Rams:
1.) Start fast and establish the running game.
2.) Protect Stafford with short, quick throws to the edges.
3.) Use two TE sets for both running and passing plays.
4.) Load the box and protect the edges to contain C.J. Stroud's off-schedule plays.

The Rams are favored by 2.5 pts.
I think the Rams win this game with a predicted score of 24-17

Your thoughts?
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[Jacksnow]

Again, still worried about opener. Issue- Stafford and lack of play. How fast will team start?

[Jacksnow]

Bookie says Rams.
The Rams are a 2.5-point favorite over the Texans in NFL Week 1 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.

Los Angeles is -140 on the moneyline, while Houston is +118. The over/under (point total) is set at 44.5 points.

[DelMar]

I think Rams are going to roll. I have a good feeling about this game/season (if) we can keep our guys mostly healthy

[bigklein]

I worry about every game, even this one with the Mixon-less Texans. Too often, even last year, some opposing player would have their best game or their breakout game. And there’s also been a brutal pattern with the Rams giving up 3rd and crazy long; the defense was better on 3rd and short. Plus, last year the Rams offense was not good converting 3rd downs.

I’ll worry less when these patterns change for the better. Hopefully that change will start this Sunday.

[Idaho_Ram]

I worry about every game, even this one with the Mixon-less Texans. Too often, even last year, some opposing player would have their best game or their breakout game. And there’s also been a brutal pattern with the Rams giving up 3rd and crazy long; the defense was better on 3rd and short. Plus, last year the Rams offense was not good converting 3rd downs.

I’ll worry less when these patterns change for the better. Hopefully that change will start this Sunday.

100% - the Rams' last two Septembers have me worried about opening day, regardless of who the opponent is. Sure would be nice to actually start strong.

[RonMac]

Rams under McVay are historically slow starters and no change to protocol to prevent this has occurred- with margins so tight losing games due to failure to come out prepared and with proper due diligence may be quite costly. Late season desperate runs to the playoffs will catch up to the Rams. Start early - ready and with a sense of urgency.

[Bulldawg]

Devonte Adams will open some eyes this weekend. I hope they try to double cover Puka.

[STL Woody]

We do historically start slow, how ever there are two times that really defined a This is a special year moment. 1st one was McVay’s first season when our Rams took it to the Colts. 2nd Mathew’s beautiful toss to Van Jefferson. This season even before we get started feels the same. There’s only one other time I felt it from another team. The night OUR dynasty was derailed. When the Pats were introduced as a team a few months after 9-11. The story wrote its self. The “patriots “ in red white and blue take down the Juggernaut star studded Rams as a team.

[49RH8R]

With the Rams kicking off the 2025 NFL season against the Houston Texans, let's start the discussion for the opening game on September 7.
For the Texans, their offensive line received one of the lowest PFF grades in the NFL for the 2024 season, ranked 25th overall. This poor performance was characterized by a struggle to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud, leading to the second-most sacks in the league, and an inability to run the ball effectively. The team subsequently traded key veterans, Laremy Tunsil and Shaq Mason. They added Cam Robinson, Trent Brown, and Jake Andrews. They used a second-round pick on Aireontae Ersery from Minnesota, and their offensive line is now a significantly different and potentially improved group for the upcoming 2025 season.

The Texans' overall defensive grade of 74.9 placed them among the league's elite defenses for the 2024 season. With Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter providing a solid pass rush, and the secondary with players like Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter making key contributions to the team's strong pass defense.

Keys for the Rams:
1.) Start fast and establish the running game.
2.) Protect Stafford with short, quick throws to the edges.
3.) Use two TE sets for both running and passing plays.
4.) Load the box and protect the edges to contain C.J. Stroud's off-schedule plays.

The Rams are favored by 2.5 pts.
I think the Rams win this game with a predicted score of 24-17

Your thoughts?
New to our forum? Join the discussion - Register Here.

I agree with those 4 points. In summary, run the ball and rely on the defense to win it. Stafford and the starters need about 2-3 games to knock the rust off. I wish we had Tennessee first then Houston but you gotta play the hand you're dealt.

[malibu]

This team is more seasoned than last year. Especially the dline and secondary. I only worry about the lack of playing time in the preseason by the starters. It seems to show minimally for a half or so.

I have a really good feeling about this team barring injuries.

[sanbagger]

I like the under 44 and I also like the Rams to cover 2.5...I like 22-14 Rams

[GlendoraRam]

[FelixTheStonerCat]

All jokes aside lol, I dont see us losing this game. If the D-Line does its job and the O-Line protects Stafford, we have a great chance. If we want that ring, we gotta come out swinging in every game. This defense is light years better than it was last year, so we'll see.

[FelixTheStonerCat]

Also, F the Texans! Everything may be big in Texas, but not their dreams of being SuperBowl contenders.

[DelMar]

Injury report. Looks like half the Texans Team have issues going on...

[Jacksnow]

Injury report. Looks like half the Texans Team have issues going on...

Wow good report Delmar! What does that say? Bad luck? Bad fitness program.

[Jacksnow]

Let's all be glad that Ceedee Lamb won't be lining up for the Rams. If that was me I would be on suicide watch.

[STL Woody]

As much as I don’t understand the Troy Reeder love this is the second time I’ve heard an opposing coach speak of him being a bull/load.