Rams hold Texans to 9 points in physical Week 1 win: Key takeaways

By The Athletic NFL Staff
Jourdan Rodrigue, Nate Atkins and Ngwa Numfor

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6608958/2025/09/07/texans-rams-score-result-takeaways-nfl-week-1/

The Los Angeles Rams started the season 1-0 with a physical 14-9 win over the Houston Texans. The game featured late drama, as Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair forced a Colby Parkinson fumble with four minutes left, halting a late Rams drive at the 12-yard line, to give Houston one more possession and a chance to steal a victory.

However, Chris Shula’s defense would not be outdone as new Los Angeles defender Nate Landman forced a fumble of his own, punching the ball out of the hands of running back Dare Ogunbowale, to give the ball back to Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense to seal the victory. The fumble was only the second lost fumble of Ogunbowale’s nine-year NFL career.

After the game, Stafford said Landman “called his shot” in team meetings in the week leading up to the game, saying “he was going to get one.”

A physical affair

The game got extremely physical early on, as Rams receiver Davante Adams took a massive hit while converting a third down (the incidental contact of which sent Texans star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. to the medical tent for a checkup before he re-entered the game). Texans left tackle Cam Robinson and Jake Andrews, their center, left the game in the third quarter with injuries as did Rams left guard Steve Avila (first half) and right guard Kevin Dotson (second half), though Robinson and Avila eventually returned. Rams receiver Puka Nacua, at one point, was bleeding from above his eyebrow after a hit, and he was evaluated for a concussion and cleared but re-entered, exited, and re-entered the game again to adjust a bandage placed over the wound. There were personal fouls, face masks and kidney shots.

For a Week 1 game, this was a bruiser in which both offenses, even though they feature two of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, had to scratch and claw for every yard. — Jourdan Rodrigue, senior NFL writer

Bringing the heat

The Rams threw all the pressure they could at C.J. Stroud and his rebuilt offensive line, the subject of much angst last season.

From overloading different sides to pick on their tackle of choice (including Fiske stacking over the right side with Byron Young against rookie right tackle Aireontae Ersery) to a safety blitz that resulted in a sack, Stroud and his front had to navigate as much as they’ll see all season.

When Stroud had his starting offensive line intact (through the first three quarters, before Robinson and Andrews exited with injuries), the Texans gave up 12 pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. The group handled early-game pressure well, with a mix of quick throws and Stroud forcing an over-rush by the edge players and then escaping into a running lane. It’s a long hill to climb for an entire game, though.— Rodrigue

Knocking off the rust

The returns of Stafford (back) and Alaric Jackson (blood clots) from lengthy absences required some time to kick off the rust and get into gear. But once Stafford settled in, from the pocket, and had time to look downfield, he looked like his former self again. He nailed strikes to Nacua in traffic and lofted rainbows along the left sideline to Xavier Smith and Davis Allen to key back-to-back touchdown drives in the “middle eight” minutes of the game.

Stafford acknowledged this week that his back injury is the type he’ll have to manage consistently at age 37. He appeared to be playing with that awareness Sunday, dirting passes when pressure arrived rather than trying to evade and reset or shed sacks the way he used to in his younger years.

It all puts more pressure on Jackson, the Rams offensive line and the offensive plan for coach Sean McVay and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to give their quarterback just enough time to operate as a true pocket passer right now. The playmakers are still there, but the ability to adjust to danger off the snap might not be. — Nate Atkins, Rams beat writer

Rams defensive changeup

The Rams changed up their secondary looks, benching cornerback Darious Williams for Emmanuel Forbes and playing a good amount of safety Jaylen McCollough.

The plan worked, as McCollough was able to score a key third-down sack from a safety alignment to kill a red-zone drive. Stroud had a hard time finding open receivers without the use of his legs to extend plays. Superstar wide receiver Nico Collins finished with just three catches for 25 yards. And the Texans never found the end zone.

But it is a curious usage of the veteran Williams, who played 69 percent of the Rams’ defensive snaps last season and has 66 career starts. — Atkins

wv wrote:

Also an important Falcon loss. I believe the Rams have their first pick, yes?

They did. But they traded it for Troy Reeder.

HIGHLIGHTS: Rams Top Plays In Week 1 Win vs. Texans: Nate Landman’s Peanut Punch & More

CJ Stroud was impressed by the Rams’ defense, particularly its deceptive pre-snap looks before jumping into Cover-2, Tampa-2 concepts: “We got a lot of exotic looks we did not expect.” pic.twitter.com/PwBZp8kaAn

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) September 7, 2025

Stafford9@LAR9MS
Matthew Stafford now has the most consecutive week 1 starts in NFL history. (17)

Surpassing John Elway (16)

Gary Klein@LATimesklein
The Rams went into season counting on Byron Young to become consistently productive finishing. He’s off to a good start.

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Matthew Stafford’s back must be feeling OK because the Rams just ran a QB sneak, which they NEVER do

J.B. Long@JB_Long
After starting the game with 45 yds of offense & 3 straight punts, Matthew Stafford went 15/17 the rest of the way against one of the best defenses in the NFL.

The win is huge. But QB1 in fine form with swagger might be the best offensive takeaway given the summer concern.

Greg Beacham@gregbeacham
The Rams have held 5 of their last 7 opponents under 10 points, and that includes the Seattle game with backups last year. That is wild.

Brock Vierra@BrockVierra
Byron Young quietly having the game of his NFL career

COBIE DURANT OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!pic.twitter.com/NFfFY1n52K

— Ethan Shirazi (@Ethanshirazi24) September 7, 2025

Credit the Rams defense for their entire performance today.

The ultimate bail out moment of Nate Landman game saving punch out! And Braden Fiske with the max effort recovery! pic.twitter.com/20xxxwBwtH

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) September 7, 2025

zn wrote:

Inactive….RB Jarquez Hunter

That’s interesting. Schrader was promoted from the practice squad and is active.

I had some doubts about Hunter based on what I saw in the pre-season.

Schrader in contrast was very effective in the pre-season

Rams Bros.@RamsBrothers
Texans defensive front is as good as it gets. Havenstein, Jackson, Higbee, Parkinson will be tested all day.

Matthew Stafford has started his team’s first game in all 16 of his NFL seasons. According to Elias, that's tied with John Elway for the longest streak to begin a quarterback's career since 1950. Stafford is expected to start on Sunday against the Texans.

— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) September 3, 2025

MAGAS NOW COMPLAIN pic.twitter.com/81J5rHcyRW

— Fernando Oliver, Esq. (@Fernand46357857) September 6, 2025

.@Chiefs @PatrickMahomes no one teaches anyone how to make this throw..The competitor in him allows him to make this great play. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/Q5iwqs3N5a

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 6, 2025

Bucky Brooks@BuckyBrooks
Every NFL coach, scout or personnel executive that I’ve worked with loves multi-sport players. Other sports build skills that translate well to the football field. Whether it is wrestling (strength, power and leverage), basketball (hand-eye coordination, agility and footwork), baseball (hand-eye coordination, ball skills and tracking) and track (speed, explosiveness, strength and power), a player benefits immensely from participation. That doesn’t include the competitiveness and/or toughness (mental and physical) that’s also revealed when playing other sports.

"They do a lot of things lousy franchises do. And they did it again last night."@colincowherd reacts to the Eagles undisciplined performance in the win over the Cowboys pic.twitter.com/28ipJqfIQK

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) September 5, 2025