Superstar's return from injury could spark a deep playoff run for Rams and completely transforms their new-look offense

Puka's return could finally unlock Rams' offense

The Rams' offense hasn't had much of an issue moving the ball. They sit sixth in yards per game, ninth in EPA/Play, and 11th in scoring. However, the offense can still be better overall, particularly on the ground. The run game, which has always been a strength of a McVay offense, has been rather brutal. LA sits 25th in rushing yards and 28th in EPA/Rush, just barely ahead of the Tennessee Titans. Running back Kyren Williams has yet to break 100 yards in a single game, and the Rams as a whole haven't broken 100 yards on the ground since hitting 102 on the Colts in Week 4.

Even their passing game has taken a step back with Puka out. After huge days on the Colts and 49ers where Stafford almost eclipsed 400 yards through the air, he threw for just 181 on Baltimore and 182 on Jacksonville. It helps that the defense gave them several short fields (and Stafford still did throw for five touchdowns on the Jaguars), but relying on turnover luck isn't totally sustainable and the offense has to be able to make plays against the 49ers, Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Lions in the next six weeks.

Puka's return changes everything the Rams want to do offensively, and his impact is always noticeable in every facet of the game. With Puka on the field this season, the Rams have averaged a .09 EPA/Play, which would rank just behind the Dallas Cowboys for fifth in EPA/Play, and 6.7 yards per play, which would lead the entire NFL. When he leaves the field, those numbers fall to .03 EPA/Play (10th) and 4.81 yards per play (29th!). That matches up with his entire tenure with the Rams. From 2023-2025, the Rams went from 0.08 EPA/Play and 6.15 yards per play with Puka on the field to -0.06 EPA/Play and 5.04 Yards Per Play with him off.

This year, the Rams' rushing success rate has fallen from 45.4% (5th) with him on the field and 4.99 Yards Per Rush (7th) to 40.3% (24th) and 3.08 yards per play (dead. last.) with Puka off the field. Puka's return could see the resurgence of LA's highly-effective rushing attack.

Last game against the Jaguars, the Rams unveiled a completely new offense , and it was one that we have been hoping for since they drafted Terrance Ferguson in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Rams showed off a heavy tight end package for the first time in the Sean McVay era, using 13 personnel on 24 plays (38.7% of offensive snaps) after calling it just six times from 2021-2024. McVay was slicing and dicing the Jaguars, as their tight ends caught eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Three of the Rams’ touchdowns came out of 13 personnel, including a deep shot up the seam to Ferguson

Now with the addition of Nacua, whose blocking essentially makes him a pseudo-TE on the field, the Rams can now dress up a whole slew of different looks and personnel packages. Puka and Ferguson can align everywhere on the field and draw defenders away. If the Rams wanted to go into 13-personnel, they can draw up so many looks with the players they have and the boost they get from Puka's return adds another element to the offense they didn't have with him out.

Even in a traditional 11-personnel look, the return of Puka on top of players like Whittington and what (hopefully) seems like an increased role for Ferguson opens up so many possibilities for the Rams' offense to align in all sorts of different looks and groupings that defenses constantly have to adjust for.

If the Rams are really set on embracing this philosophy shift, as we've seen them do midseason in the past, then the next half of the season could be tremendously exciting for fans to watch, and it's all thanks to Puka Nacua returning to the lineup.