Rams' first 2 games will test whether LA did enough on defense in offseason

The Los Angeles Rams will be taking on the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants in back-to-back weeks, kicking off the 2026 NFL season with two straight home games. For a Rams team with such high expectations, both matchups serve as early tests to see if their approach to the 2026 offseason was the correct one.

The Rams hope to at least return to the NFC Championship Game this season and they identified their defense and special teams unit as their critical weaknesses. As a result, the Rams revamped both units with new coaches and players. In the first two weeks of the season, the 49ers and Giants may be viewed as simple early-season contests. However, both teams have critical elements to their operation that will make it abundantly clear if the moves made by the Rams will pay off.

It's easy to get caught up in the hype of a new season, and there are many reasons why a team will be able to improve over the course of the year. With that being said, Kyle Shanahan's offense has historically dominated the Rams, especially if the 49ers are fully healthy. The Rams have also struggled in recent years against dual-threat quarterbacks, something the Giants have in Jaxson Dart.

The 49ers have primarily used an underneath passing attack paired with their zone blocking run scheme to advance the ball against the Rams. The 49ers' success would often come from the Rams' lack of dominant outside corners. When the 49ers defeated the Rams in 2025, they did so thanks to the deficiencies in the Rams' secondary. Mac Jones was getting the ball out quickly enough that the Rams' pass rush could not get home, despite Jones essentially playing on one leg.