The Los Angeles Rams hoped to start out hot in Week 1. But that never happened in the first half. Whether the play-calling leaned too conservatively to make use of all weapons, or the Houston Texans’ defense was simply prepared to stop the offensive stars, the team did not mount much offense. Starting quarterback Matthew Stafford appeared to be a pale shade of his former self.
It was a frustrating first half for fans who hoped to witness offensive fireworks. What they got instead was a defensive struggle, a contest of two formidable defenses imposing their wills. For the Rams defense, that meant keeping the Texans out of the end zone through the first two quarters.