Tag: SoFI Stadium

Causes for concern as the Bills face the Rams in Week 14

Causes for concern as the Bills face the Rams in Week 14

The Buffalo Bills will travel across the country to take on the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Week 14.

The Bills (10-2) and Rams (6-6) are both playing good football as of late. The Bills are riding a seven-game win streak while the Rams have won five of their last seven.

Even though Buffalo is favored to win the game, there are always a few things that make winning difficult each week. The Bills will need to be wary of them.

Here are three causes for concern for the Bills against the Rams in Week 14:

Matt Stafford is on a heater

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The Rams have recovered from their 1-4 start to the season in large part because quarterback Matt Stafford has been playing better as of late. The offense has bounced back in a big way.

Over the last six games, Stafford has thrown for 14 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. He’s averaging over 265 pass yards per game over that stretch.

Now, the Rams are back in the mix for the NFC West title and they are playing at home with a ton to prove. This is a team better than its 6-6 record.

Elite skill players to keep tabs on

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Another major reason for the Los Angeles offense’s turnaround this year is that Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are now both healthy after missing a large portion of time at the beginning of the year.

Stafford now has one of the league’s best wide receiver tandems ready to roll and they have provided a big boost. Since Week 8, Stafford has the third-most completions of 10+ yards in the NFL.

It’s not just the elite weapons in the passing game that the Bills have to watch out for. Kyren Williams can get cooking in the running game as well. They don’t run it a whole lot, but he is more than capable of impacting a game. Over the past four outings, he has averaged over 5.3 yards per carry.

Sean McVay and Matt Stafford have a trio of high-level skill players that can hurt the Bills in a blink if they’re not careful.

Rams have their backs against the wall

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The Rams are remarkably still in the mix to win the NFC West after starting the year 1-4. Still, they have an uphill climb to make the playoffs. They currently have a 23% chance of making the postseason.

They still have three divisional games remaining, including a trip to San Francisco next week. If they want to make a run this year, stacking a win before their end-of-the-season NFC West gauntlet would be huge to have in their back pocket.

This is one of just three remaining home games for the Rams, and coach McVay will be trying to pull all the levers to give his team a chance at the postseason. The Bills are in a race of their own trying to reach the one-seed in the AFC, but they are nowhere near as desperate as the Rams to get a win at this point.

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Bills at Rams: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 14

Bills at Rams: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 14

The Buffalo Bills will travel across the country to face the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Week 14.

For this cross-conference battle between Sean McDermott’s Bills (10-2) and Sean McVay’s Rams (6-6), it will be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Bills-Rams contest:

CB Taron Johnson vs. WR Cooper Kupp

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The battle in the slot will feature All-Pro caliber players who have been around the NFL for a while. Taron Johnson is in his eighth year and is coming off of his first-career All-Pro selection last year (second-team). Cooper Kupp is in his ninth year and has an All-Pro selection under his belt as well (first-team in 2021).

Kupp continues to see the majority of his snaps in the slot. According to Pro Football Focus, Kupp has seen 278 slot snaps and 151 wide snaps this year.

Johnson will have his hands full. Not only is Kupp still a reliable route runner and pass catcher, but he has the ultimate trust and chemistry with quarterback Matt Stafford. The two won a Super Bowl together in 2022 and connected for the go-ahead touchdown in that game. A few wins from either side of this matchup could make a big difference.

Bills offensive line vs. Rams defensive line

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Both the Bills offensive line and the Rams defensive line have had outstanding seasons to this point. Both have outperformed their expectations this year.

Heading into Week 14, both the Bills O-line and Rams D-line rank as the sixth-best unit on their respective side of the ball according to PFF.

Los Angeles has posted the league’s best quarterback pressure rate (39.8%) according to Next Gen Stats. Buffalo, on the other hand, has allowed the league’s fewest sacks this year (13), including zero over their last two games.

Something has to give. The battle in the trenches when the Bills have the ball will be one of the better matchups around the NFL and will play a big role in the outcome of the game.

RB James Cook vs. Rams front-seven

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If the Bills can get running back James Cook rolling on the ground like they did last week (107 yards on 7.6 yards per carry), then it will keep the Rams’ impressive pass rush honest. And, although the Rams can get after the quarterback, they have their holes in the run game.

They rank 21st in the NFL in defense rushing DVOA, while ranking 22nd in EPA/rush. On top of that, they allow the fifth-most yards after contact per rush (3.25), according to Next Gen Stats.

Buffalo and offensive coordinator Joe Brady have found a lot of success on the ground this year (4th in rush DVOA). If they can get going once again, it will be worrisome for Los Angeles.

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Rams fans projected to be outnumbered at home again on Sunday vs. Raiders

The Rams won’t have much of a home-field advantage Sunday when the Raiders come to SoFi Stadium

The Rams have had so much success on the field since moving from St. Louis to Los Angeles, winning three division titles, making the playoffs five times and winning a Super Bowl ring in 2021. Yet, all those victories still haven’t translated to a home-field advantage in Inglewood.

SoFi Stadium is frequently taken over by visiting fans and that’s likely to be the case again on Sunday when the Las Vegas Raiders come to town. According to Vivid Seats’ Fan Forecast, the crowd is expected to be 61% Raiders fans.

This is only the Rams’ third home game of the season and in the previous two against the 49ers and Packers, the crowd was mostly visiting fans. It may not seem like a big deal, but it does actually impact both the offense and the defense.

When the Rams are on offense, they’re forced to use the silent count because they can’t communicate easily with the noise of the visiting fans. On defense, fans can’t make enough noise to disrupt the opposing offense.

Fans of the 49ers, Packers and Raiders all travel well, and it’s not exactly a long trip for the 49ers and Raiders to Inglewood, but the Rams may never have much of a home-field advantage at SoFi.

49ers fans projected to take over SoFi Stadium once again on Sunday

49ers fans have flooded SoFi Stadium in recent years and Sunday’s game is expected to be much of the same

The Los Angeles Rams haven’t had much of a home-field advantage at SoFi Stadium when the rival San Francisco 49ers come to town. The red and gold jerseys always flood the Rams’ building in Inglewood for these NFC West matchups and Sunday’s contest is expected to be much of the same.

According to Vivid Seats’ Fan Forecast, 62% of the stadium is expected to be represented by 49ers fans. That’s a large number for a visiting team and it could have an impact on the game when the Rams are on offense.

Typically, a home stadium is loud when the team is on defense and quiet when the offense is operating, but it could be just the opposite on Sunday if 49ers fans fill the stadium like they’re expected to.

It probably won’t get to the point where the Rams are using a silent count at home, but they’ve had to use one before. Last year, they went to a silent count against the Eagles and though Matthew Stafford isn’t bothered by it, he would certainly prefer to use a traditional snap count.

“Doesn’t bother me, per se, but it’s definitely easier when I can go on my own cadence at our home games and be able to dictate the tempo a little bit better, but it is what it is,” he said last October.

Hopefully Rams fans are loud when the 49ers offense is on the field to give the home team even the slightest advantage at SoFi.

Rams to play all 2028 preseason games away from SoFi Stadium due to Olympics

With SoFi Stadium hosting swimming events for the 2028 Olympics, the Rams will have to get creative for their preseason games

The Los Angeles Rams will be looking for a new home stadium to host their preseason games in 2028 when the Summer Olympics are held in North America. That’s because SoFi Stadium will be used for swimming events that summer, forcing the Rams to play elsewhere.

Rams COO Kevin Demoff confirmed the Rams won’t have any home preseason games in 2028 because of this scheduling conflict, but luckily, it’s only the preseason and the Rams are scheduled to have just one home exhibition game that year.

They have plenty of time to come up with a contingency plan and Demoff is looking for suggestions from fans on where they can play their home preseason game in 2028. With Aloha Stadium in Honolulu being demolished, that’s not an option, though Demoff wishes it was.

Might the Rams consider going back to the Coliseum for a game? Or maybe the Rose Bowl? Luckily, there are a lot of options in California (and elsewhere).

SoFi Stadium to host 2026 World Cup opener for U.S. Men’s National Team

The U.S. Men’s National Team will play its opening match in the 2026 World Cup at SoFi Stadium

When Stan Kroenke brought the Rams back to Los Angeles and built SoFi Stadium, he had visions of it becoming one of the top venues in the world. It’s already hosted a Super Bowl and a college football national championship, and in 2026, it’ll play host to multiple World Cup matches.

FIFA announced that while SoFi Stadium wasn’t awarded the World Cup Final, it will host the United States’ opening match on June 12. It’ll be the venue for two of the U.S. team’s three group stage matches, with the third being played up in Seattle.

In total, eight matches will be played at SoFi Stadium, including two round-of-32 matches and a quarterfinal. SoFi Stadium’s eight matches are second only to AT&T Stadium, which will have nine played there.

The World Cup Final will be played at MetLife Stadium, which is home to the Jets and Giants.

SoFi Stadium will undergo some renovations in preparation for the World Cup two years from now. Retractable bleacher risers will replace concrete seats in the corners of the lower bowl so that they can be moved during soccer matches where the field is wider. Additionally, a temporary grass field will be installed for the World Cup, replacing the turf.

Cooper Kupp not excited to play on turf twice in 5 days: ‘I hate it’

Cooper Kupp hates playing on turf in general, but playing two games on turf in a short week makes it even tougher

SoFi Stadium is one of the best new venues in the NFL, and it should be after coming with a price tag of $5.5 billion. There’s one aspect of the Rams’ home stadium that Cooper Kupp hates, though: the turf.

It’s not just SoFi Stadium’s surface that Kupp loathes. It’s artificial turf in general.

He’s made this opinion known several times in the past, and he was asked about it again this week with the Rams playing back-to-back games on turf in a span of five days.

“As you know, I hate it. I’m not a fan of turf in general and it’s obviously tough going back-to-back on a short week,” Kupp said. “But it is what it is. I know people are certainly aware of it. If there’s going to be change that’s going to come, it’s not because people don’t know, you know? So it is what it’s. Like I said, it’s the same thing about playing Thursday night. Everyone’s got to do it. Everyone’s got to get it done on turf and just part of this game and you got to deal with it.”

Kupp isn’t the only player in the NFL who much prefers to play on natural grass instead of artificial turf, citing the greater toll turf takes on players’ bodies compared to grass. And the numbers are there to back it up, with turf causing more foot and ankle injuries than natural grass.

The Saints are dealing with the same thing this week, having just played on their own turf in the last three games. In fact, they haven’t played on natural grass since Week 5, so they’re used to playing on turf.

Matthew Stafford has ‘no idea’ if he’ll still be playing when Super Bowl returns to LA

The Super Bowl is returning to SoFi Stadium in 2027, but Matthew Stafford has no idea if he’ll still be playing by then

SoFi Stadium will host the Super Bowl for a second time in 2027, five years after the Los Angeles Rams won a ring in their home building. NFL owners voted to approve the stadium as the host site on Wednesday, which was exciting news for the Rams, Stan Kroenke and the city of Inglewood.

Matthew Stafford would love to win another Super Bowl with the Rams, and doing so at home again would be special, but he has no clue if he’ll still be in the NFL three years from now.

“Come on, man,” he said laughing. “I have no idea. That’s a long way away.”

Stafford will be 36 in February which means if he did play another three years and reached the Super Bowl in 2027, he’d have just turned 39 before the game. Again, that’s a long way out, but it’s not out of the question for the Rams quarterback to continue playing for another three seasons.

He’s certainly shown this season that his game hasn’t fallen off in the least bit at 35 years old, but he’s also dealt with a litany of injuries throughout his career that could cause him to consider retiring in the next year or two.

That being said, he’d love another opportunity to win a Super Bowl in his home building.

“Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely,” he said. “It was cool. Obviously, that’s the only one I’ve ever played in. It was a unique experience getting able to do that at home. Don’t know what it would be like anywhere else, but it sure was fun getting it done at our place.”

Super Bowl LXI to be played at SoFi Stadium in 2027

Super Bowl LXI will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California

The NFL works years ahead when it comes to Super Bowl venues. The league decided on Wednesday where the 2027 game will be played.

Super Bowl LXI will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The date is to be determined.

This will be the second Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium. In February 2022, the host Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

SoFi Stadium to host Super Bowl LXI in 2027

The NFL is bringing the Super Bowl back to Inglewood. The Rams’ home, SoFi Stadium, will host the big game in 2027.

SoFi Stadium is one of the newest stadiums in the NFL, but it won’t have to wait very long to host its second Super Bowl. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, NFL owners are voting Wednesday to make SoFi Stadium the host of Super Bowl LXI in 2027.

It’ll be the second time SoFi Stadium will host the big game, with the first being Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. The Rams, of course, won that game against the Bengals, becoming just the second team ever to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium. The Buccaneers were the first just one year prior.

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is considered one of the top stadiums in the NFL and being right next door to the league’s West Coast headquarters, its hardly surprising that the NFL is already bringing the Super Bowl back to Southern California.

The game isn’t for another three-plus years, but can the Rams become the first team ever to win two championships in its home stadium when the time comes in 2027?

Matthew Stafford may not be the quarterback by then, and Aaron Donald will probably be off in retirement, but the Rams have shown they can be contenders every year as long as Sean McVay is there.