By admin 
It’s compelling how fast a narrative around one team can change.
This offseason, the Los Angeles Rams received out-of-control hype similar to the peak Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, with arguably the league’s most talented roster and the shortest Super Bowl odds in nearly two decades.
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Excitement around the NFL’s latest superteam has faded after the Rams’ embarrassing 27-7 Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, where they were outplayed in all three phases.
Three days later, after Myles Garrett recorded a virtually nonexistent performance in his Rams debut, where it was clear he wasn’t 100 percent healthy, it was announced that the reigning Defensive Player of the Year will have arthroscopic surgery. That will sideline him for at least the next four games against teams with high-powered offenses.
Ahead of the Week 2 home opener against the New York Giants, the Rams defense will be without its prized offseason acquisition, Garrett, while scrambling to find answers why arguably the league’s most talented defense performed like one of the worst.
There was no pass rush from one of the league’s best fronts, with Garrett, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske also struggling to stop the 49ers’ run game. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula faced heat for playing so much zone coverage, with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson added to the secondary this offseason to take away opposing teams’ top receivers.
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Aaron Donald could make his season debut on Monday Night Football in Week 2, his first action in two-and-a-half seasons. He’ll need time to return to the dominant force he used to be.
Rams defensive problems bigger than just one game
“But the bigger concern is that the issues that surrounded this one game — and remember, it is just one game — were the sort of problems that could dismantle this promising Rams season if they continue,” Graziano said, adding it wouldn’t be an overreaction for the Rams to miss the playoffs.
“The two cornerbacks the Rams acquired in the offseason — Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson — are good but could be miscast if the Rams intend to play as much zone as they did in Week 1. Donald getting on the field should help, but he was supposed to be a luxury piece. The Rams don’t want to count too much on a 35-year-old who took the past two years off.”
The undefeated talk is over. The fawning has tapered. It’s too early to panic, but how the defense performs without Garrett will factor in whether the Rams meet expectations.
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This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 1:27 PM.