Heading into Week 1, many Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles Rams fans were checking their expectations. Without Cooper Kupp, many feared that the team would start 2023 how 2022 ended. Instead, not only did the Rams avoid struggling against the Seattle Seahawks in their own building, but they also looked explosive. Cooper Kupp was seen by many as the beating heart of the team’s offense in recent years, but is that still the case?
Sean McVay’s Week 1 offense by the numbers
The team seemed able to move as easily as any in the league through the air, in direct contrast to what many had planned for. Puka Nacua had a whopping 10 catches for 119 yards. Tutu Atwell, who had mostly sat in the background until this game, was also explosive. In six catches, he also earned 119 yards.
On the ground, the team wasn’t exactly explosive but managed to get the job done in certain situations. Kyren Williams stole the show, totaling 52 yards on 15 carries and earning two touchdowns. Cam Akers had 22 carries for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Overall, it was a team effort, and above all, Matthew Stafford was efficient without Kupp, completing 24 of 38 passes and totaling 334 yards through the air. One could cautiously compare the performance with what Andy Reid was able to do last season after losing Tyreek Hill.
Put simply, Sean McVay deserves a ton of credit for the performance. If the Rams can continue to put up points as they did against the Seahawks without Cooper Kupp, one shutters to think what the offense can be when he returns. Of course, that also begs the question of what this means for the chances that the team trades Kupp.
Should the Los Angeles Rams consider trading Cooper Kupp?
Before the season, Stafford and Kupp were both named as potential trade candidates as many pundits around the country thought the team was beginning a complete rebuild. After the resounding Week 1 victory, those takes have been put on ice. At this point, it’s too soon to tell what’s in store for Sean McVay’s team, but it’s trending towards a season that sees Les Snead go all-in.
Snead is not a general manager to turn his back on a team if he believes he has a contender. If he believes there’s even a chance at the end of October in a weaker NFC, the odds are beyond high that he’s going to take it. Unless the team hits a wall and nosedive, Cooper Kupp appears to be safe. As it stands, his Week 5 return cannot come soon enough for all of the right reasons.