NFL SOAP BOX WEEKLY REPORTS 3.10.2024

1. Sunday March 10, 2024 Covering all 50 states and 58 nations abroad! GridironGoose@msn.com
***COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: As of Sunday March 10, 2024, there are just 179 days remaining before the 2024 NFL regular season
kicks off! That breaks down to 25 weeks and 4 days, 4,296 hours, 257,760 minutes, and 15,465,600 seconds! Piece of cake.***
NFL LEAGUE TWO-YEAR AVERAGE COMPARISONS
CATEGORY 2023 2022 DIFF.
1,000 All-Purpose Yards 57 50 +7
1,000 Yd Rushers 12 15 -3
100-Yd Rushing Performances 82 113 -31
1,000 Yd Receivers 28 22 +6
100-Yd Receiving Performances 186 176 +10
4,000 Yd Passers 10 9 +1
300-Yd Passing Performances 106 93 +13
The chart above demonstrates how the league performed in 2023 versus 2022.
With most teams leaning more in favor of their respective passing games, the
number of 100-yard rushing performances declined considerably. After piling up
113 in 2022, that number sank to 82 for a reduction of 27%. Also, teams were
sacked an average of 3.6 more times than in 2022. Appearance wise, the
differences doesn’t seem to add up to much, but even the Chimbu Pygmies of
New Guinea know it takes just 1 sack to lose your franchise quarterback for the
season. Toss in turnovers produced by sacks, and pop goes your weasel. 570 of
734 turnovers (77.8%) in 2023 were committed by quarterbacks, including 140
lost fumbles and 430 interceptions.
NFL LEAGUE TWO-YEAR AVERAGE COMPARISONS
CATEGORY 2023 2022 DIFF.
First Downs 327.4 333.3 -5.9
Rushing 109.5 115.2 -5.7
Passing 188.4 190.2 -1.8
Penalty 29.5 27.9 +1.6
Rushing Avg per Gm. 112.7 121.6 -8.9
Yards per Rush 4.2 4.5 -0.3
Passing Avg per Gm. 218.9 218.5 +0.4
Pct Completed 64.5 64.3 +0.2
Sacked 44.1 40.5 +3.6
Had intercepted 13.4 13.1 +0.3
Int Yards Opp Ret 170.2 168.7 +1.5
Opp TDs on Int 1.4 1.2 +0.2
Avg Yards per Punt 47.3 46.7 +0.6
Avg Punt Return 9.6 8.9 +0.7
Avg Kickoff Return 23.0 22.9 +0.1
Penalties 97.1 94.8 +2.3
Yards Penalized 800.6 780.5 +20.1
Fumbles 20.3 20.8 -0.5
Fumbles Lost 9.5 9.2 +0.3
Touchdowns 40.7 41.1 -0.4
Rushing 14.7 15.2 -0.5
Passing 23.6 23.4 +0.2
Returns 2.4 2.4 Even
Points Scored 370.1 370.6 -0.5
There were 55 different starting QBs, and 72
different starting RBs in 2023. As always,
injuries were the main culprit. Below is a look
at some of the more recognizable names,
who in worst cases, their injuries and time
lost either prevented their teams from
making a serious playoff push or, as in
Aaron Rodgers and the Jets case, ended
their season altogether.
QB PLAYER, TEAM GMS. LOST
Aaron Rodgers, NYJ 16 games
Deshaun Watson, CLE 11 games
Jimmy Garoppolo, LV 10 games
Kurt Cousins, MIN 9 games
Kyle Murray, ARZ 9 games
Joe Burrow, CIN 7 games
Ryan Tannehill, TEN 7 games
RB PLAYER, TEAM GMS. LOST
Nick Chubb, CLE 15 games
Jonathan Taylor, IND 7 games
De’Von Archane, MIA 6 games
Aaron Jones, GB 6 games
Josh Jacobs, LV 4 games
Alvin Kamara, NO *4 games
*- Suspended
WR PLAYER, TEAM GMS. LOST
Justin Jefferson, MIN 7 games
Cooper Kupp, LAR 5 games
Christian Kirk, JAC 5 games
Jaylen Waddle, MIA 3 games

2. MOST & LEAST IMPROVED- OFFENSIVE RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
TEAM 2023 2022 DIFF.
Miami Dolphins 135.8 (6) 99.2 (25t) +36.6
Arizona Cardinals 139.1 (4) 110.2 (22) +28.9
Los Angeles Rams 120.3 (11) 97.7 (27t) +22.6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 88.8 (32) 76.9 (32) +11.9
Indianapolis Colts 121.1 (10) 109.8 (23) +11.3
Houston Texans 96.9 (22t) 86.8 (31) +10.1
Detroit Lions 135.9 (5) 128.2 (11) +7.7
Los Angeles Chargers 96.6 (25) 89.6 (30) +7.0
San Francisco 49ers 140.5 (3) 138.8 (8) +1.7
New York Jets 96.9 (22t) 99.2 (25t) -2.3
Baltimore Ravens 156.5 (1) 160.0 (2) -3.5
Pittsburgh Steelers 118.2 (13) 121.9 (16) -3.7
Cincinnati Bengals 89.8 (31) 95.5 (29) -5.7
Denver Broncos 106.5 (18) 113.8 (21) -7.3
Minnesota Vikings 91.4 (29) 97.7 (27t) -6.3
Buffalo Bills 130.1 (7) 139.5 (7) -9.4
New England Patriots 95.7 (26) 106.6 (24) -10.9
Kansas City Chiefs 104.9 (19) 115.9 (20) -11.0
Green Bay Packers 112.1 (15) 124.3 (15) -12.2
New Orleans Saints 102.5 (21) 116.6 (19) -14.1
Tennessee Titans 108.6 (17) 125.4 (13) -16.8
Philadelphia Eagles 128.8 (8) 147.6 (5) -18.8
Dallas Cowboys 112.9 (14) 135.2 (9) -22.3
Carolina Panthers 104.1 (20) 130.0 (10) -25.9
Seattle Seahawks 92.9 (28) 120.1 (18) -27.2
Jacksonville Jaguars 96.8 (24) 124.5 (14) -27.7
Cleveland Browns 118.6 (12) 146.5 (6) -27.9
Las Vegas Raiders 90.7 (30) 121.1 (17) -30.4
Washington Commanders 93.6 (27) 126.1 (12) -32.5
Atlanta Falcons 127.0 (9) 159.9 (3) -32.9
Chicago Bears 141.1 (2) 177.3 (1) -36.2
New York Giants 110.2 (16) 148.2 (4) -38.0
AVE. OFF. RUSHING YPG. 112.7 121.6 -8.9
A major cog to Miami’s return to prominence is due in part to the two-headed
monster of RBs Raheem Mostert and rookie De’Von Archane.
Mostert piled up a career-best 1,012 on the ground and led the league with 18
rushing TD, with an additional 3 TDs receiving. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry
and it took him an average of 11.6 rushes to score each of his 21 touchdowns.
Despite sitting out 6 games with an MCL strain, Archane amassed mind-boggling
numbers, including averaging 7.8 per rush and 11 combined TDs (8 rush, 3 rec.).
It took the Texas A&M product an average of just 12.9 carries to score each of
his 11 combined TDs and his average of 16.6 fantasy points per game was 4th
highest among running backs behind Christian McCaffrey, Kyren Williams and
teammate Raheem Mostert. Not too shabby for someone who was selected 84th
overall in last year’s draft.
2024 GMS VS TOP-TEN RUSH DEFENSES
2023 TOP-TEN RUSH DEFENSES
RK TEAM
1 Chicago
2 Detroit
3 San Francisco
4 New England
5 Tampa Bay
6 Houston
7 Miami
8 Minnesota
9 Jacksonville
10 Philadelphia
2024 GMS VS TOP-TEN RUSH DEFENSES
TEAM H-A-T
Denver Broncos 0-1-1
Los Angeles Chargers 1-0-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 0-1-1
Cincinnati Bengals 2-0-2
Philadelphia Eagles 1-1-2
Kansas City Chiefs 2-1-3
Baltimore Ravens 1-2-3
Cleveland Browns 1-2-3
Las Vegas Raiders 1-2-3
New Orleans Saints 2-1-3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-1-3
Atlanta Falcons 1-3-4
Carolina Panthers 1-3-4
New York Giants 3-1-4
Washington Commanders 2-2-4
Miami Dolphins 3-2-5
Dallas Cowboys 4-2-6
New England Patriots 2-4-6
San Francisco 49ers 3-3-6
Arizona Cardinals 4-3-7
Houston Texans 4-3-7
Minnesota Vikings 4-3-7
Seattle Seahawks 3-4-7
Buffalo Bills 4-4-8
Chicago Bears 4-4-8
Detroit Lions 4-4-8
Jacksonville Jaguars 3-5-8
Los Angeles Rams 4-4-8
New York Jets 3-5-8
Indianapolis Colts 5-4-9
Tennessee Titans 4-5-9
Green Bay Packers 6-5-11
Before free agents Derrick Henry and Aaron
Jones decide to stick around with the Titans
and Packers, respectively, they might want
to take a good look at the long list opposing
top rush defenses they’d have to face this
upcoming season. Tennessee will be dueling
against 7 of the NFL’s top-10 rush defenses
in 9 separate games, including 3 of the top-
4. Last season, Henry squared off against 4
top-ten rush defenses in 6 separate games.
In those, Henry netted just one 100-yard
game, along with 3 TDs. Jones’ situation is
even worse (11 gms.). In his 7 games versus
the top-10 rush defenses in 2023, Jones was
able to squeeze out only two 100-yard
games, along with just 2 touchdowns (1
rushing, 1 receiving).

3. MOST & LEAST IMPROVED- DEFENSIVE RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
TEAM 2023 2022 DIFF.
Houston Texans 96.6 (6) 170.2 (32) -73.6
Chicago Bears 86.4 (1) 157.3 (31) -70.9
Detroit Lions 88.8 (2) 146.5 (29) -57.7
Los Angeles Chargers 113.2 (17) 145.8 (28) -32.6
Cleveland Browns 105.5 (11) 135.0 (25) -29.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 95.3 (5) 120.7 (15) -25.4
Minnesota Vikings 98.7 (8) 123.1 (20) -24.4
Philadelphia Eagles 103.4 (10) 121.6 (16t) -18.2
Dallas Cowboys 112.4 (16) 129.3 (22) -16.9
New England Patriots 93.2 (4) 105.5 (6) -12.3
Atlanta Falcons 118.2 (20) 130.2 (23) -12.0
New York Giants 132.4 (29) 144.2 (27) -11.8
Seattle Seahawks 138.4 (31) 150.2 (30) -11.8
Jacksonville Jaguars 103.1 (9) 114.8 (12) -11.7
Green Bay Packers 128.3 (28) 139.5 (26) -11.2
New Orleans Saints 119.9 (22) 130.5 (24) -10.6
Los Angeles Rams 106.8 (12) 115.1 (13) -8.3
Miami Dolphins 97.1 (7) 103.0 (4) -5.9
Las Vegas Raiders 118.5 (21) 122.8 (19) -4.3
Indianapolis Colts 123.8 (24) 124.1 (21) -0.3
Carolina Panthers 122.4 (23) 122.6 (18) -0.2
New York Jets 124.0 (25) 121.6 (16t) +2.4
Buffalo Bills 110.6 (15) 104.6 (5) +6.0
Kansas City Chiefs 113.2 (18) 107.2 (8) +6.0
Pittsburgh Steelers 115.1 (19) 108.1 (9) +7.0
San Francisco 49ers 89.7 (3) 77.7 (2) +12.0
Washington Commanders 126.8 (27) 113.3 (11) +13.5
Baltimore Ravens 109.4 (14) 92.1 (3) +17.3
Cincinnati Bengals 126.2 (26) 106.6 (7) +19.6
Arizona Cardinals 143.2 (32) 118.6 (14) +24.6
Denver Broncos 137.1 (30) 109.8 (10) +27.3
Tennessee Titans 107.7 (13) 76.9 (1) +30.8
AVE. DEF. RUSHING YPG. 112.7 121.6 -8.9
Everyone in Houston is going ga-ga over young quarterback CJ Stroud, and
rightfully so. If his time as a Texans is going to be anything like he was as a
Buckeye, then Houston will have every reason to celebrate for many years to
come. Still, the Texans have more than Stroud to thank for last year’s amazing
turnaround. You can also throw in their vastly improved rush defense. After
statistically being the league’s worst at stopping the run in 2022, they finished
6th-best in 2023. The playoff bound Texans allowed the opposition just 96.6
rushing ypg. instead of 170.2 from two years ago. That’s a reduction of 43.5%.
Like an injured animal, the end of Tennessee’s dreadful season was seen as an
act of mercy. Poor Titans fans. Their offensive ranked 3rd worst passing the ball
and 13th worst running the ball. Their defense ranked last versus the pass and
next-to-last versus the run. Speaking of which, by comparing these last two
seasons, no team gave up more rushing ypg. than Tennessee’s defense (+30.8
ypg.). To make matters worst, 10 of their starting 22 players are free agents.
2024 GMS VS TEN-WORST RUSH DEFS,
2023 TEN-WORST RUSH DEFENSES
RK TEAM
23 Carolina
24 Indianapolis
25 N.Y. Jets
26 Cincinnati
27 Washington
28 Green Bay
29 N.Y. Giants
30 Denver
31 Seattle
32 Arizona
2024 GMS VS TEN-WORST RUSH DEFS,
TEAM H-A-T
Chicago Bears 3-4-7
Minnesota Vikings 4-3-7
Philadelphia Eagles 4-3-7
Pittsburgh Steelers 3-4-7
Arizona Cardinals 3-3-6
Atlanta Falcons 3-3-6
Dallas Cowboys 3-3-6
Los Angeles Rams 3-3-6
Miami Dolphins 2-4-6
New England Patriots 3-3-6
New Orleans Saints 3-3-6
New York Giants 3-3-6
San Francisco 49ers 3-3-6
Seattle Seahawks 4-2-6
Tennessee Titans 4-2-6
Baltimore Ravens 3-2-5
Buffalo Bills 2-3-5
Carolina Panthers 3-2-5
Cleveland Browns 2-3-5
Denver Broncos 2-3-5
Detroit Lions 2-3-5
Los Angeles Chargers 2-3-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-2-5
Washington Commanders 2-4-5
Cincinnati Bengals 2-2-4
Houston Texans 1-3-4
Indianapolis Colts 0-4-4
Jacksonville Jaguars 3-1-4
Kansas City Chiefs 2-2-4
Las Vegas Raiders 2-2-4
New York Jets 3-1-4
Green Bay Packers 2-1-3
Four teams, Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota,
and Philadelphia, all share the top spot for
most games against the NFL’s ten-worst
rush defenses. Not to seem ungrateful but
neither ‘Da Bears nor the Vikings have what
would be considered potential top-10 running
back material. But, based strictly on what ‘is’
is, we should see some surprising moments
out of them. For the Eagles, with D’Andre
Swift and Kenneth Gainwell, and the
Steelers’ Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren
this year’s setup, with so many horrible rush
defenses, is ripe for the pickin’s. Yet will
either team get enough help from their
passing games? Will Jaylen Hurts stop
hogging the ball like he did late last season
and are Mason Rudolph and/or Kenny
Pickett the next Big Ben? Stay tuned.

4. BACK IN THE POSTSEASON
• Green Bay (37) is tied with New England for the most
postseason wins in league history.
• The Packers are tied with the Cowboys for the most all-time
postseason appearances with 36 each.
• Dating back to realignment (2002), Green Bay leads the
NFC with 16 playoff appearances and 23rd playoff appearance
in the last 31 seasons (1993-2023).
• The 2023 Packers were the fourth-youngest team to make
the playoffs since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. With a weighted
age of 25.58, Green Bay is the youngest playoff team since the
1974 Buffalo Bills (25.56). The other two younger teams were
the 1970 Bengals (25.22) and the 1970 Dolphins (25.44).
• Green Bay entered the postseason with a combined 74
games of playoff experience, the fewest for the Packers since
the 1993 team that had 67 games of postseason experience
entering the playoffs.
• For the first time in team history the Packers made the
playoffs after winning three or fewer games in their first nine
contests.
• The Packers have a 38-26 all-time record in the postseason,
a .597 winning percentage.
REGULAR-SEASON NOTES
The Packers finished the regular season with 117 explosive
plays (12-plus-yard runs and 16-plus-yard passes) on the
season, the most under LaFleur and the most since 2018
(120).
Green Bay recorded seven-plus explosive plays in each of the
final 10 regular-season contests (Weeks 9-18), the Packers’
longest single-season streak since 2014 (10 games).
The Packers registered at least six explosive plays in each of
the last 11 regular-season games (Weeks 7-18), the second-
longest streak in the NFL this sea- son behind only Miami’s 13-
game streak (Weeks 1-9, 11-14). Dating back to 2000, it was
the third-longest single-season streak by Green Bay.
The Packers recorded at least five explosive passing plays
(16-plus yards) in 10 straight games (Weeks 7-16), the longest
single-season streak by Green Bay dating back to 2000 and
the longest current streak in the NFL. From Weeks 9-18, the
Packers ranked near the top of the league in both explosive
plays (12-plus-yard runs and 16-plus-yard passes) and
explosive pass plays.
In Weeks 15-18 of 2023, Green Bay led the NFL with 16 sacks.
The Packers ranked No. 9 in sacks/pass attempt (8.6 pct.) in
2023 and had three players with at least seven sacks each, the
team’s most since 2007 (three players).
Green Bay tied for No. 11 in the NFL in QB hits (102) during
the 2023 regular season.
The Packers allowed 20 or fewer points nine times during the
regular season, tied for No. 10 in the league.
Green Bay’s defense allowed 34 points after giveaways (18),
3rd fewest in the NFL (Stats Pass).
The Green Bay defense finished 9th in red-zone per- centage
(50.88) in the 2023 regular season and ranked 4th in opponent
red-zone third-down percentage (25.0, 9-36).In addition, the
Packers’ defense tied for No. 7 in the NFL in fumble recoveries
this season (10).
Dating back to the 2022 season, the Packers have not allowed
a touchdown on an opening drive in 20 of their last 22 games.
Green Bay finished the 2023 regular season ranked 3rd in
sacks allowed (30) and 4th in sacks allowed/pass attempt
(5.16). It is the second time in the last four seasons that the
Packers finished in the top three in the league in sacks allowed
(tied for No. 2 in 2020 with 21
The Packers were one of only two teams in the NFL (San
Francisco) to rank in the top six in the league last season in
sacks allowed (No. 3, 30), giveaways (t-No. 6, 18) and third-
down percentage (No. 5, 47.1).
Green Bay finished the season with a TD percentage of 95.0
(19-20) in goal-to-go situations. That is the top single-season
mark by any NFL team dating back to 2000.
Green Bay ranked in the top 10 in the following categories this
season:
• 20-Plus Yard Runs: 13 - t-No. 7
• Pct. of Runs Gaining 4-Plus Yards: 46.5 - No. 8
• Takeaways Via Fumble - 11 - t-No. 8
• Yards Per Play: 5.58 - No. 8
• Fumbles Lost: 7 - t-No. 9
• Rushing Yards Per Play: 4.32 - No. 9
• Passing Yards Per Play: 6.83 - No. 10
The Packers did not punt in Week 18 and committed only one
penalty. It marked just the second time in team history (since
1950) that Green Bay did not punt in a game and committed
one penalty/zero penalties (vs. Tennessee, Dec. 27, 2020).
The Packers were only the seventh team to accomplish the
feat in a game since the 1970 merger.
The Packers finished the 2023 regular season tied for No. 1 in
the NFL in opponent drives started inside the 20-yard line after
kickoffs (12).
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5. PATRIOTS IN 2023
The New England Patriots finished the season with a 4-13
record and a last place finish in the AFC East, the first time the
team finished last in the division since 2000.
The Patriots defense finished with the 7th-ranked total
defense, the 11th time since 2000 that the team finished with a
top 10 defense. The Patriots defense finished fourth against
the run, allowing 93.2 yards per game, their best finish since
allowing 88.6 yards per game in 2016. The Patriots defense
allowed 3.3 yards per rush, the lowest in the NFL in 2023 and
the lowest mark for the Patriots since the merger in 1970. The
previous lowest mark for the Patriots was in 1974 when the
team allowed 3.4 yards per rush.
The Patriots hold the third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the
highest pick since the team acquired the 10th pick overall in
2008. That year the Patriots drafted LB Jerod Mayo with the
selection.
HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN MEN’S MAJOR
AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, 1994-PRESENT
Since the 1994 season, the Patriots have won 66.3 percent of
their regular season games (320-163), which is the highest
winning percentage in men’s major American professional
sports over that period. Since 1994, there have been 148
franchises that have fielded teams in the five major American
sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS) and
completed more than two full seasons of competition. On the
women’s side the Toronto Six (29-5-3) and the Boston Pride
(90-29-10) of the PHF hold the two highest winning
percentages of all women’s professional sports teams.
(Regular Season – Includes National Football League, Major
League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National
Hockey League and Major League Soccer)
Records updated through games completed on January 7,
2023
RK TEAM PCT.
1 New England Patriots NFL .663
2 San Antonio Spurs NBA .638
3 Green Bay Packers NFL .634
4 Vegas Golden Knights NHL .632
5 Pittsburgh Steelers NFL .628
6 Los Angeles FC MLS .604
The Patriots allowed just 3.3 yards per rush, the lowest in the
NFL in 2023 and the lowest in team history since the 1970
merger, and finished fourth in the NFL in 2023, allowing 93.2
yards rushing per game. It is the third lowest in team history
since the 1970 merger. In addition, the defense finished with
the 7th ranked total defense, and has finished in the top 10 for
defense 11 times during Bill Belichick’s reign as head coach of
the Patriots. It is also the third straight year the team finished in
the top 10 in total defense.
New England has 28 undefeated months since 2000, most in
the NFL over that span. Green Bay is second with 21.
The 2023 Patriots had three players finish with 100 tackles in
2023 with LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (114), LB Jahlani Tavai (107)
and S Kyle Dugger (107). It is the fourth time since 2000 that
the Patriots have had three players reach 100 tackles. In 2006,
LB Tedy Bruschi (124), DL Ty Warren (117) and LB Mike
Vrabel (101) reached 100 tackles. In 2004, S Rodney Harrison
(138), LB Tedy Bruschi (128) and LB Tedy Johnson (112)
reached 100 tackles. And in 2003, S Rodney Harrison (140),
LB Tedy Bruschi (137) and LB Roman Phifer (133) reached
100 tackles.
The Patriots had 11 rookies on the opening day roster. It is the
sixth time during Patriots former head coach Bill Belichick’s 24-
year tenure that he had had at least 10 rookies on the opening
day roster.
QB Mac Jones had a 66.5 completion percentage through his
first two seasons, the second-highest in a quarterback’s first
two NFL seasons, behind the 68.2 completion percentage that
Joe Burrow recorded in 2020 and 2021.
10- The number of conference championships the Patriots
have won since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994, the
NFL record for most conference championships as an owner.
19- The number of division championships won by the Patriots
since Kraft purchased the team in 1994.
22- The number of playoff berths earned by the Patriots in the
30 seasons since Robert Kraft purchased the team.
49- The number of playoff games the Patriots have appeared
in since 1994, the most in the NFL. Green Bay is second with
41.
353- The number of games the Patriots have won, including
playoffs, since Robert Kraft purchased the franchise in 1994.
Prior to Kraft’s ownership, the team had won 225 total games
in its entire 34-year history from 1960-93.
2024 OPPONENTS
The Patriots 2024 opponents have been determined. In
addition to playing each of the other AFC East opponents
twice, the Patriots will play one game against each of the AFC
South and NFC West teams. As the fourth-place team in the
AFC East, the Patriots will play the fourth-place team of the
AFC West (L.A. Chargers), AFC North (Cincinnati) and NFC
North (Chicago).
Home: Buffalo, Miami, NY Jets, Houston, Indianapolis, L.A.
Chargers, L.A. Rams, Seattle
Away: Buffalo, Miami, NY Jets, Arizona, Cincinnati, Chicago,
Jacksonville, San Francisco, Tennessee
Thanks for the memories,
COACH BELICHICK!

6. Rams Head Coach Sean McVay coached his 100th career
regular season game (in Week 2). He had a record of 61-39
and the fifth-highest winning percentage amongst active head
coaches in their first 100 regular season games. Under McVay,
the Rams are also 22-14 in the regular season against NFC
West opponents. The Rams finished 6-0 in the NFC West
during the 2018 season. The last time an NFC West team
accomplished the feat was the Cardinals in 2008. It marked the
first time the Rams swept the NFC West since 1999.
The Rams are 11-5 in NFC West road contests since the start
of the 2017 season. The most recent road win was against the
San Francisco 49ers, 21-20, at Levi Stadium in Week 18. The
Rams’ record in the NFC West this season was 5-1, sweeping
the Seahawks and the Cardinals. In Week 18 of the 2023
season, the Rams defeated the 49ers in the regular season for
the first time since 2019.Coach Sean McVay has 13 victories
over the Arizona Cardinals since 2017, the most for any coach
against an NFC opponent during that span.
QB Matthew Stafford finished the regular season completing
326-of-521 passes for 3,965 yards and 24 touchdowns and
ended with a passer rating of 92.5. He passed many
milestones in his 15th season. In Week 2 of the 2023 season,
he passed Peyton Manning for the most passing yards by a
player in his first 200 regular season games (52,723 yards in
193 games). In Week 4, he became the 11th player in NFL
history to throw for 53,000 career passing yards. He also
passed Fran Tarkenton for 11th-most all-time in the NFL in
passing touchdowns. Additionally, he moved up the ranks in
Rams franchise history. He passed Vince Ferragamo for
eighth-most passing touchdowns in franchise history and
finished in the top 10 for best passing seasons (yards) in Rams
history. After completing a game-winning drive in Week 11
against the Seahawks, Stafford is seventh all-time in game-
winning drives (44) and ranks sixth all-time in fourth quarter
comebacks (35). He ranks first among active quarterbacks in
both categories.
WR Cooper Kupp has had 20 games in the past three seasons
with at least 100 receiving yards, trailing only Minnesota
Vikings Justin Jefferson in that span. With a touchdown in the
second quarter of Week 14 against the Ravens, Kupp (49)
passed Henry Ellard for fourth-most in franchise history.
Since coming to the Rams, QB Matthew Stafford quickly found
a reliable target in WR Cooper Kupp. This connection grew so
strong that Kupp became the fourth player in NFL to win the
receiving triple-crown in 2021. Last season, when quarterback
Stafford targeted Kupp, he had a 77.4 percent completion rate,
8.74 yards per attempt (YPA), 45.2% first down rate, 58.1%
success rate and a 106.6 passer rating. Through Week 9 of
2022, and among receivers with at least 75 targets, Stafford
and Kupp ranked first in completion percentage, fourth in the
NFL in yards per attempt, and fourth in first down rate. Through
Week 7 of 2023, the Stafford to Kupp connection had the
highest rating when targeting a receiver since 2021 (121.4).
The spotlight was on rookie WR Puka Nacua in his record-
shattering first season. He broke NFL and Rams records
almost every week of play, the biggest coming in Week 18. He
is now the NFL record holder for most receiving yards in a
single season by a rookie (1,486), passing Bill Groman who
broke the record in 1960. Additionally, he is the NFL record
holder for most receptions (105) by a rookie in a single season.
Nacua (181) now holds the NFL rookie record for most
receiving yards in a playoff game. He earned All-Pro accolades
for his outstanding season.
The Los Angeles Rams offensive line did not allow a single
sack in Week 1 versus the Seattle Seahawks, Week 12 against
the Cardinals, and Week 13 against the Browns. Additionally,
1.0 sack was allowed in Week 2 versus the San Francisco
49ers and in Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints. The
Rams finished the season ranked seventh in the NFL in QB
sack rate (5.5%). The offensive line also propelled the run
game significantly through the season. The Rams offense
rushed for a total of 2,045 yards with 18 rushing touchdowns.
In Week 12, the Rams offense finished with the most rushing
yards (228) since Week 7 of the 2002 season.
Many players had breakout seasons, including RB Kyren
Williams, LB Ernest Jones, and rookie NT Kobie Turner.
Williams finished the season with career-high numbers in
carries (228), rushing yards (1,144), rushing touchdowns (12),
scrimmage yards (1,350), and offensive touchdowns (15). After
Williams record year, he earned All-Pro accolades for the first
time. In Week 17, Jones broke the franchise record for most
tackles in a single season despite missing a game due to injury
and sitting out in Week 18. Turner made a name for himself
this season. With 9.0 sacks on the season, he tied Aaron
Donald for most sacks by a rookie in franchise history. He
became the only rookie in franchise history to finish the regular
season as the team’s sack leader.
After another dominant season by Donald, he made NFL Pro
Bowl history by becoming the first defensive tackle since 1970
to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons. Finishing
the regular season with a defensive PFF grade of 90.9, he has
never earned a grade below 90.0. Additionally, he was
nominated to the AP All-Pro first-team for the eighth time.
tackle in franchise history (since sacks became an official
statistic in 1982). A 2021 and 2022 Pro Bowl defensive tackle,
Allen has recorded 38.0 sacks, the sixth-most among
defensive tackles since 2018. His 57 tackles for loss are the
fifth-most by a defensive tackle since 2018. His 36 tackles for
loss since 2021 are tied for second-most by a defensive tackle
during that span.
Among the 2023 draft class, Byron Young and Kobie Turner
finished the season in the top 10 in tackles, sacks, pressures,
hurries, and quarterback hits.
After Week 4, according to Pro Football Focus, DB Ahkello
Witherspoon allowed the second-lowest passer rating in
coverage among all cornerbacks this season (33.3).