Rams Reacts: Fans were very confident about team’s direction before loss

Posted by Admin September 11, 2026 NFL

Ahead of the Los Angeles Rams‘ 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, many fans expressed their confidence in the team’s direction. Following a 20-point loss to begin the season, it’s fair to wonder how those fans feel now, especially when the Rams were perceived as a heavy Super Bowl contender entering the game.

In the most recent SB Nation reacts poll, which was conducted just ahead of the season opener, a sizable chunk of the fanbase (93%) expressed confidence that the team was moving in the right direction.

Heading into the season, that shouldn’t have surprised anyone, considering LA has the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year on its roster. This offseason, the front office had seemingly put the team in position to make another potential Super Bowl run, or so many around the league expected.

Now, a horrible loss in the first game of the season has undoubtedly dampened things. Remember, it’s a long season, and on the plus side, the Rams have yet to lose on American soil. Joking aside, there are reasons for optimism amid the darkness cast by the Week 1 loss.

For starters, some fans believe the team is positioned for long-term success even after the front office’s blockbuster moves this offseason, signifying a desire to win immediately. With the post-Matthew Stafford world approaching in the near future, one fan shared that the team seems well-built to succeed whenever the veteran quarterback calls it a career.

Ty Simpson will have enough solid, young pieces around him on offense and defense to find success in the post-Stafford era. Players like Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Terrance Ferguson, Byron Young and several others should grow alongside him as he develops. In theory, they should also keep the team in contention for quite some time, as long as the front office continues to hit on those late-stage draft picks and those key pieces are re-signed.

In the survey’s comment section, fans believed the team should always be in good shape as long as Sean McVay roams the sidelines. And they should be, considering the Rams have won a Super Bowl under his watch and LA has finished with one losing record since he took over in 2017.

Yes, losing in blowout fashion, to a division rival no less, is a rough way to begin the season, but that shouldn’t cause the fanbase to lose hope. The Rams still have McVay and an array of young talent to move past most challenges in their way. LA is still a Super Bowl contender and has 16 more games to live up to those lofty expectations and regain the fans’ confidence.

Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook if there’s a Rams-related bet you’d like to place ahead of the 2026 season!