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Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals: PFM Team Comparison

The Los Angeles Rams hold a major overall advantage over the Cincinnati Bengals in the current PFM ratings. Los Angeles separates itself through the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense.

Current PFM Team Scores

Major edgeLAR

Los Angeles Rams

90.2PFM Team Score#2 NFL
CIN

Cincinnati Bengals

79.5PFM Team Score#16 NFL
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Los Angeles Rams Higher

The staff edge favors the Los Angeles Rams. Sean McVay gives the team steadier direction than Cincinnati has on the sideline. Cincinnati's strongest counterargument is QB Stability. Quarterback is where the Cincinnati Bengals have their cleanest advantage. With Joe Burrow, the offense has a better floor when the first answer stops working.

Los Angeles also brings the stronger defense. Los Angeles adds the bigger big-play threat. The Los Angeles Rams still deserves the higher PFM rating.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Los Angeles vs. Cincinnati Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

LARLos Angeles Rams
CINCincinnati Bengals
Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Los Angeles Rams 86.0, Cincinnati Bengals 88.5, edge CIN +2.5; Offense: Los Angeles Rams 88.0, Cincinnati Bengals 84.8, edge LAR +3.2; Defense: Los Angeles Rams 86.0, Cincinnati Bengals 74.2, edge LAR +11.8; Coaching Direction: Los Angeles Rams 87.6, Cincinnati Bengals 73.8, edge LAR +13.8; Roster Depth: Los Angeles Rams 83.8, Cincinnati Bengals 80.3, edge LAR +3.5. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
Hover or tap a team to focus that profile. Use Show Both to bring the overlay back.
THE COUNTERARGUMENT

Cincinnati Bengals’ Best Argument

The Cincinnati Bengals ask fewer questions at quarterback because Joe Burrow sets the floor of the offense. That stability matters when a game moves away from the opening script. The QB Stability advantage is a real point in Cincinnati's favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Cincinnati is that Los Angeles counters with the stronger coaching operation and the stronger defense.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

LAR90.2
Los Angeles Rams 90.2
CIN79.5
Cincinnati Bengals 79.5
Major Los Angeles Rams edge

Overall NFL Rank

LAR#2
Los Angeles Rams #2
CIN#16
Cincinnati Bengals #16
Los Angeles Rams ranks higher

QB Stability

LAR86.0
Los Angeles Rams 86.0
CIN88.5
Cincinnati Bengals 88.5
Clear Cincinnati Bengals edge

Roster Strength

LAR83.8
Los Angeles Rams 83.8
CIN80.3
Cincinnati Bengals 80.3
Clear Los Angeles Rams edge

Coaching Direction

LAR87.6
Los Angeles Rams 87.6
CIN73.8
Cincinnati Bengals 73.8
Major Los Angeles Rams edge

Recent Performance

LAR90.7
Los Angeles Rams 90.7
CIN70.8
Cincinnati Bengals 70.8
Major Los Angeles Rams edge

Offense

LAR88.0
Los Angeles Rams 88.0
CIN84.8
Cincinnati Bengals 84.8
Clear Los Angeles Rams edge

Defense

LAR86.0
Los Angeles Rams 86.0
CIN74.2
Cincinnati Bengals 74.2
Major Los Angeles Rams edge

Franchise Direction

LAR77.5
Los Angeles Rams 77.5
CIN74.7
Cincinnati Bengals 74.7
Clear Los Angeles Rams edge

Explosiveness

LAR90.0
Los Angeles Rams 90.0
CIN81.3
Cincinnati Bengals 81.3
Clear Los Angeles Rams edge

Conference Rank

LAR#2
Los Angeles Rams #2
CIN#9
Cincinnati Bengals #9
Los Angeles Rams ranks higher

Division Rank

LAR#2
Los Angeles Rams #2
CIN#2
Cincinnati Bengals #2
Even rank

Outlook

LARSuper Bowl FavoriteCINIn the Playoff Mix
Stronger outlook: Los Angeles Rams
TEAM CONSTRUCTION

How These Teams Are Built Differently

Los Angeles Rams

Strongest Rating
Explosiveness
Category Edge
Coaching Direction
Biggest Matchup Concern
QB Stability

Los Angeles' clearest category edge is Coaching Direction. Sean McVay is the coaching difference against the Cincinnati Bengals. Los Angeles has the more dependable answers when the first answer stops working. The biggest problem in this matchup is QB Stability, where Cincinnati owns the clearer advantage.

Cincinnati Bengals

Strongest Rating
QB Stability
Category Edge
QB Stability
Biggest Matchup Concern
Coaching Direction

Cincinnati's clearest category edge is QB Stability. Quarterback is the clearest separator. Joe Burrow gives Cincinnati more certainty than the Los Angeles Rams have at the position. The biggest problem in this matchup is Coaching Direction, where Los Angeles owns the clearer advantage.

SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Los Angeles Rams

Full schedule rank: #3

Toughest stretch: Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Strongest opponents: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers

View Los Angeles Rams Road Ahead

Cincinnati Bengals

Full schedule rank: #30

Toughest stretch: Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars

Strongest opponents: Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars

View Cincinnati Bengals Road Ahead

Los Angeles has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 3. The strongest opponents include Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Francisco 49ers. Cincinnati gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while Los Angeles still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated September 8, 2026. Schedule data updated June 29, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams