When the Los Angeles Rams suit up at SoFi Stadium for Week 4, head coach Sean McVay will face a challenge that demands more than deep throws and fireworks. Los Angeles hosts the traveling Indianapolis Colts on its own turf, and could flip the script with a run-heavy approach right in front of the home crowd. It’s a strategic play; one likely to place running back Kyren Williams, not starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, at the centre of the action.

Three weeks in, and Stafford’s already thrown for 739 yards and 5 touchdowns. But against the Colts’ defensive front, McVay might opt for patience over spectacle. Indianapolis has boasted the NFL’s lowest sack percentage (2.2%) through three weeks. This has unlocked Colts quarterback Daniel Jones for 816 yards and a blistering 9.3 yards per attempt. As SI’s Matt Verderame noted, “For the Rams, the key to slowing down Jones might be time of possession and stopping the run. To achieve that goal, Los Angeles has to run the ball.”

For the Rams, the antidote to Indy’s pass rush is simple. Run with intent, lead with Williams, and play defense on offense. Williams has been a proven commodity over the past two seasons. His 1,299 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns from 2024 set the tone. Meanwhile, his 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns from the 2023 season back it up. Currently, he holds the 8th spot among NFL backs with 226 yards. On the other hand, Indianapolis carries a glaring deficiency that could bring the Rams an advantage.  

The Colts currently rank 24th in yards per carry allowed (4.8). On the other hand, their defense boasts 4 picks and 13 passes defended in the last three weeks. Following that pattern, Matthew Stafford’s passing game could be limited, and Kyren Williams’ role could be even larger than usual. Sean McVay would certainly look to exploit the Colts’ run defense and keep Stafford clean. The script then flips. Grind out yards, force Jones and the Colts into predictable passing situations, and play to the strengths of a Rams defense that’s already landed 12 sacks so far.

This Rams defense elevates McVay’s plan. Kam Curl, Byron Young, Tyler Davis, Jared Verse, Jaylen McCollough, Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, and Josaiah Stewart have all contributed to their sack total of the season. Meanwhile, if the ground game succeeds and keeps Jones out of rhythm, McVay’s calculated approach stands to transform Stafford from resource risk. And the stars who have shaped the run game so far certainly bring confidence to the table.

The run game: Sean McVay’s engine

Through three weeks, the Rams have already solidified their identity as a top-tier running team for the 2025 season. Kyrean Williams’ production isn’t a statistical blip. Los Angeles sits 10th in the NFL in yards per carry. The O-Line’s cohesion has let the Rams stack chunk plays and stay out of trouble.

The play calling is sharp, pacing the attack and giving Williams clear lanes to attack. Apart from Williams, running back Blake Corum has also accounted for 99 rushing yards and a touchdown, while wide receiver Puca Nacua also boasts 52 rushing yards and a touchdown.  Defenses looking to attack Stafford would get forced into a dilemma. Respect the run and open up passing windows, or gamble and risk losing time and yardage. Against the Colts, on a field where L.A.’s crowds expect fireworks, the grind might be the Rams’ best show.

The task for Sean McVay will be to control the clock and let his defense feast. And sacrificing arm talent for the ground game could be the subtle move that brings LA a win against a rejuvenated Colts’ corps that is heading 3-0 into Week 4. How will this play out? We’ll wait and see.