The Los Angeles Rams’ defensive front has been getting after it since the bye week, racking up sacks and tackles for a loss in bunches. In the past four games since their break, the Rams have totaled 16 sacks, including a remarkable seven versus Seattle.
A far cry from their first five games, the Rams’ have recorded 66.6% of their total sacks on the year in the past four weeks alone, showing a renewed vigor and determination up front.
Jared Verse, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske have turned it on, with each player having a signature performance in the last four games. In total, they have accounted for 17.5 of the Rams’ 24 sacks this season.
Turner and Young, who finished first and second in rookie sack totals in 2023, are experiencing deja vu as Verse and Fiske sit first and second in 2024.
The “core four” looks like it could be the franchise’s most dominant defensive line since “The Fearsome Foresome” as they prepare to face the Patriots on Sunday.
Pass block and run block composite ratings
Thinking about the highly-drafted QBs, it’s somewhat amusing that we’ve heard 1000x more about the Bears’ offensive line issues than the Patriots’ given how horrible NE’s has been all season pic.twitter.com/he9iU6Qj18
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) November 13, 2024
According to the numbers, New England has the worst offensive line in the NFL. They’re so bad, their lead running back Rhamondre Stevenson is only averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Before this year, his average was 4.5 yards per carry through 41 games played.
That pales in comparison to their pass-blocking, giving up 32 sacks in 10 games, more than three per game.
This is great news for the Rams as they’ve been averaging four sacks per game in the last four weeks. Considering Seattle gave up seven sacks to Los Angeles and they have a better offensive line than New England, it will be a lot of fun to watch the Rams play defense.
That’s unless you’re Drake Maye.