The 2023 Los Angeles Rams largely exceeded preseason expectations with much thanks to exciting play from quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Puka Nacua and nose tackle Kobie Turner.

Each was a finalist for NFL honors awards (Comeback Player Of the Year, Stafford: Offensive Rookie of the Year, Nacua: Defensive Rookie of the Year, Turner.)

The Rams finished with a 10-7 record with a surprise playoff push. The future looks bright in L.A. and Sports Illustrated picked L.A.’s offensive and defensive fronts as one of the NFL’s biggest overperforming units. The list is created by comparing the final figures to preseason expectations of specific position groups/units and an entire team has never been selected before.

“….The Rams were an extremely difficult read heading into the 2023 campaign, seeing how they didn’t have a first-round pick (again) and Cooper Kupp began the season in injured reserve, among other factors,” writes SI.

“Who could have anticipated the rookie campaigns we’d see out of WR Puka Nacua (who struggled with injuries in college), DT Kobie Turner, and OLB Byron Young — not to mention, the transcendent Year 2 from RB Kyren Williams? All of that helped propel a team few believed into 10 wins and a playoff appearance.”

The Rams have the pieces to build and go deeper in the playoffs next year. Stafford confirmed that he is back for at least one more season, as he has jokingly said the Rams are “stuck with him.”

The other overperforming units in the NFL the season? The Detroit Lions offense, Tampa Bay Buccaneers passing offense, the Houston Texans entire team and the Kansas City Chiefs defense.

On the flip side, the underperforming units: the New England Patriots passing offense, the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line, Los Angeles Chargers’ secondary, Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary and the Atlanta Falcons’ passing offense.

Now, the Rams join the other 29 NFL teams in watching the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers battle to earn the Super Bowl LVIII title on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Winners of the Super Bowl two seasons ago, L.A. hopes to build on the surprisingly successful season and look for their productive rookie class to make the second-season leap. In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Rams have a first-round pick for the first time since 2016.