​During the 2025 season, no team deployed “13” personnel — one running back and three tight ends on the field — as effectively as the Rams did under Sean McVay. This formation typically forces defenses into base personnel, usually a 3-4 alignment with three linebackers and four defensive backs, because the larger offensive bodies can overpower lighter DBs on the run. The real trouble for the defense begins when all those big targets can also catch passes.
With the Rams’ depth at tight end, McVay and Matthew Stafford were able to keep opposing defenses guessing all season. On the particular play in focus, Stafford had a wealth of options. Williams could be carried to the overloaded side, or a screen could be set up there. Any number of tight ends could run routes, and if Stafford preferred the matchup on the left side, he could take that route. In the instance shown, Terrance Ferguson motions left and a post-wheel concept is deployed.
Most teams rely on nickel defenses, with five defensive backs, to counter faster, lighter personnel packages. They seldom have three quality linebackers on the field, and in the game highlighted, with Fred Warner sidelined, San Francisco rolled out their third- and fourth-string linebackers for the majority of the contest. Unsurprisingly, the Rams capitalized on that mismatch.
But the Rams’ creativity doesn’t stop there. They frequently run “13” out of formations typically used for “11” personnel, spreading two or three tight ends as receivers. Add in McVay’s frequent pre-snap and at-snap motion, and defenses are left with little clarity about what’s coming next. When you review the box score from that game, you notice all four tight ends recorded receptions, totaling 144 yards, while eight different players caught balls. The rushing attack was equally impressive, with Williams and Corum combining for 129 yards on the ground. With 36 pass attempts and 30 rushing attempts, this was a remarkably balanced offense in action.
The familiar sight of a short-yardage situation featuring a heavy offensive package often prompts defenses to counter with their own heavy personnel. Yet, as the example above illustrates, relying on base defenses can be a vulnerability that McVay will happily exploit. Shanahan chose to keep his defensive base on the field for most of the day, and Stafford cut through them with methodical passes over the middle. Some opponents might opt to stay in nickel, but the Rams’ combination of size and speed would simply overwhelm that approach, as Kyren Williams and Blake Corum could carry the load on the ground. In any scenario, there’s always a seam or mismatch Stafford can attack, and when McVay is confident in the matchup, he can pivot to a quick, fluid hurry-up rhythm that leaves defenses scrambling and without adequate personnel swaps.
In the end, the Rams demonstrated a versatile and explosive approach, underscoring why “13” personnel can be such a weapon in their playbook. The combination of multiple tight ends, smart motion, and a quarterback who can diagnose defenses on the fly gave McVay and Stafford the leverage to keep opponents off balance and consistently productive. This approach isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a strategic framework designed to neutralize mismatches, sustain balance, and keep defenses guessing from play to play.