For as well as the Los Angeles Rams have played through four games, they could be even better if the defense forced a few more turnovers. The Rams have just two takeaways up to this point, which is tied for the fifth-fewest in the NFL.
As a result, the offense’s average starting field position is their own 26.4-yard line, which is also the fifth-worst in the league. Defensively, teams are starting at their own 32.3-yard line on average against the Rams, which ranks 30th in football.
Buy Rams TicketsSo not only are the Rams starting drives with awful field position on a weekly basis, but the defense is also being put in tough spots because of turnovers by the offense and missed field goals by Brett Maher.
In fact, Los Angeles is the only team in the NFL that hasn’t started a single drive in its opponent’s territory. The Bills, meanwhile, have had eight such drives, the most in football.
The Rams are the only remaining team in the league that has not had a drive start in the opponent's territory.
The Bills have had eight, the most in the league.
— Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) October 2, 2023
It’s honestly impressive the Rams are even 13th in points scored and 15th in points allowed despite these troubling stats. The way they’ve overcome it is with efficient play on offense and long, sustained drives.
The Rams have run the most plays in the NFL (286) through four weeks, average the second-most plays per drive (7.02), the sixth-most yards per drive (36.5) and the eighth-most points per possession (2.3). Of their 43 offensive possessions this season, 48.8% have ended in points, which is the sixth-best rate in the league.
What’s helped Los Angeles maintain these long possessions is a high conversion rate on third down, moving the chains 43.9% of the time, which ranks eighth in football.
It may not seem like a major accomplishment to rank 13th in points scored through four weeks, but when you’re starting deep in your own territory as often as the Rams are, it makes that stat all the more impressive.
At some point, the defense will have to increase its takeaway count. Los Angeles only has one interception, a miraculous play by Ahkello Witherspoon against the Bengals, and one fumble recovery, which came against the Colts.
If the defense can start forcing more turnovers and giving the offense some short fields to work with, the Rams will put up even more point and hopefully lead to more wins.
