L.A. Rams Futures Odds: Rams Projected to Contend for Playoffs in 2024

After five straight winning seasons under head coach Sean McVay, including Super Bowl appearances in 2018 and 2021, the L.A. Rams became the latest team to fall victim to the NFL’s post-Super Bowl hangover curse in 2022.

Following a 5-12 campaign in ’22 in which quarterback Matthew Stafford was limited to nine starts, the Rams appeared to be on their way to another losing season a year ago. But after a 3-6 start to the 2023 season, the Rams caught fire last November, with seven wins in their last eight regular-season games.

That earned McVay’s team its fifth trip to the playoffs in his seven-year tenure. In the playoffs, L.A. nearly upset Detroit on the road in the Wild Card round, losing 24-23 to last year’s eventual NFC runner-up.

With 15-year NFL vet Stafford entering his age-36 season, the Rams are an intriguing contender for a wild-card spot in the NFC this season.

Los Angeles Rams 2024 Futures Odds

While the Rams have a real chance to return to the playoffs, they’re seen as longshots in the Super Bowl, NFC and even the NFC West futures markets. Interestingly enough, while the Rams’ record improved substantially from 5-12 in 2022 to 10-7 in 2023, they finished with the same ranking in opponent-adjusted total DVOA (No. 17) in both ’22 and ’23.

Oddsmakers, who consider the Rams a coin flip to make the playoffs this year, expect L.A. to be around league-average — or slightly above-average — for the third consecutive year in 2024.

Los Angeles Rams 2024 Betting Outlook

How will 36-year-old Matthew Stafford, L.A. offense fare in 2024?

• PFF OL Unit Ranking: No. 16
• PFF Receiving Unit (WRs/TEs) Ranking: No. 8
• PFF RB Unit Ranking: No. 11

The Rams did not benefit from the best year of Stafford’s career last season, but he was excellent down the stretch.

The veteran had just eight passing TDs and seven interceptions through eight games last season. He was a different player after missing a Week 9 loss to the Packers, though.

Following the Rams’ well-timed bye in Week 10, he returned in Week 11, with 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions over the next seven games. L.A. went 6-1 in that stretch and had a playoff spot wrapped up entering its Week 18 battle with San Francisco. Thanks to their 7-1 finish, the Rams ended 2023 with the No. 7 offense in the NFL, according to DVOA.

Two young players had a huge role in the offense’s success: RB Kyren Williams and WR Puka Nacua.

With 105 catches for 1,486 yards, the fifth-round rookie receiver out of BYU finished second behind C.J. Stroud in the NFL Rookie of the Year vote. Williams — a second-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2022 — exploded in his second year in the league, with 15 total TDs and over 1,300 yards from scrimmage.

With 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp back in the mix, and reportedly healthy in training camp after missing time in 2022 and 2023, Stafford will have a talented supporting cast that will include third-round rookie Blake Corum alongside Williams in the backfield.

The Rams will also benefit from continuity on the O-line, where former Lions guard Jonah Jackson joins a group featuring four returning starters.

Can L.A.’s defense hold up without Aaron Donald?

• PFF DL Unit Ranking: No. 23
• PFF Linebacker Ranking: No. 25
• PFF Secondary Unit Ranking: No. 26

Anyone wondering why a team with as many quality pieces on offense as L.A. is considered a slight longshot to reach the playoffs can find the answer on the other side of the football.

This defense was below-average the last two years (No. 21 in defensive DVOA in 2022, and No. 22 in 2023). Now, it has to replace future Hall-of-Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald and coordinator Raheem Morris, who left L.A. this offseason to become head coach of the Falcons.

The Rams have some exciting young talent, though, including one of the best young defensive lineman in the league. Last year’s third-round pick, Kobie Turner, finished third behind Houston’s Will Anderson and Philadelphia’s Jalen Carter in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race after piling up nine sacks.

He’ll be joined up front this year by rookie first-rounder Jared Verse and second-round DT Braden Fiske, who were teammates at Florida State a year ago.

The young DL might need to be dominant for this defense to hold up, and that’s a massive ask following Donald’s retirement.

The Rams’ LB and DB units are mostly unproven, even after the offseason signing of former Bills Pro Bowl CB Tre’Davious White. In addition to White, who signed a one-year deal with the Rams in April, free agent pick-ups Darious Williams and Kamren Curl are also expected to start in the overhauled secondary.

Los Angeles Rams 2024 Best Bets

Rams win total under: 8.5 (best odds: +140 at bet365)

The Rams don’t lack for promising second- and third-year players, but they might need some luck to return to the playoffs this season. Stafford’s play late last year was outstanding, but he’s not the player he was a few years ago, and his health is a concern given his age — though he has stayed healthy in three of the last four seasons.

At plus-money to make the playoffs, the Rams would be extremely tempting.

But assuming the favorites in the NFC in their respective divisions (the 49ers, Lions and Eagles) live up to the hype, the Rams would need to have a better record than the Packers, Cowboys and Bears in the wild-card race. On paper, all three of those teams have fewer holes than L.A., which makes the Rams’ playoff odds unappealing, especially at minus-money.

An eight- or nine-win season seems well within reach for this team, but the over 8.5 wins odds are so juiced (-150 or shorter) that Under 8.5 wins is actually more enticing.

McVay and this offense probably deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point, but this team is dealing with substantial turnover on defense after struggling in 2023 with a healthy Aaron Donald.

Throw in the concerning backup QB situation for the Rams behind their 36-year-old starter under center, and Under 8.5 wins at +140 is hard to pass up.

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