The Los Angeles Rams have a goal on their again this season because the overwhelming favorites to win the Tremendous Bowl. Quentin Lake even admitted, “All these different groups in all probability hate us,” and he is not unsuitable. Not less than their fanbases do.
They went all-in with Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Myles Garrett and now Aaron Donald, constructing on a roster that reached the NFC title sport (and practically gained) final season. Theoretically, the Rams ought to be higher in 2026. But when they do not win a Tremendous Bowl, all of this may have been for nothing.
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An NFC West crown, nor a convention championship, might be sufficient. They want a hoop. And as nice as they appear on paper, there are some things that might derail their probabilities of successful all of it. Listed below are 5 of them.
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Offensive line depth
This has already developed into a priority for the Rams. Keagen Trost and Justin Dedich are at present on injured reserve and slated to overlook a minimum of 4 video games. That gave method to Dylan McMahon and Invoice Murray making the 53-man roster. The issue is, the Rams are sorely missing depth at offensive sort out.
Alaric Jackson could possibly be suspended, which we’ll get to in a bit. If he’s, David Quessenberry is the subsequent man up. For context, Quessenberry was behind D.J. Humphries on the depth chart final season, and all of us noticed what occurred when Humphries stuffed in in opposition to the Falcons final 12 months.
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As promising as Trost is, he performed one quarter of preseason soccer earlier than getting harm. The Rams do not have a confirmed swing sort out like they did final 12 months with Warren McClendon Jr.
Positive, the inside is okay with Dedich (when wholesome), Beaux Limmer and even Murray and McMahon, however the sort out spot is worrisome.
Stafford is as wholesome as will be heading right into a season. He did not miss any practices this summer time attributable to damage, a stark distinction to final 12 months when he sat out all of camp with a again problem. The Rams managed his workload to maintain him recent and feeling good, too.
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However he is nonetheless 38, with the again of a 38-year-old. Regardless of how a lot therapy and relaxation he will get, he may nonetheless be one hit away from his again flaring up.
Now, you would say that about any quarterback no matter age. And also you would not be unsuitable! However the older a participant will get, naturally, the extra injury-prone he turns into. And for the Rams, neither Stetson Bennett nor Ty Simpson has ever taken a regular-season snap within the NFL.
If Stafford goes down for any purpose, the Rams’ season could possibly be in large bother.
Potential suspensions
There are two Rams gamers who may face potential suspensions, and each of them are extremely necessary to the crew’s success: Puka Nacua and Alaric Jackson. Neither participant has been positioned on the commissioner’s exempt listing, which is an effective first hurdle, however they’re nonetheless topic to potential suspensions relying on the NFL’s findings.
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Jackson’s suspension will surely be longer if the NFL arms one down. He was suspended two video games in 2024 for an off-field incident, and with this summer time’s arrest, it could be a second violation. Plus, he was arrested, whereas Nacua wasn’t.
Both method, the Rams will take a significant hit if one (or each) of them is suspended. Nacua is the engine of the offense, whereas Jackson is a cog on the O-line – and a troublesome participant to switch (once more, see: Rams-Falcons in 2025).
Tremendous Bowl-or-bust stress
There is not a crew within the NFL underneath extra stress than the Rams. They’re going to welcome it, however there isn’t any doubt each loss might be amplified and every hiccup might be blown out of proportion. Sean McVay is nearly as good as anybody in relation to holding his crew targeted, however with seven prime-time video games and a star-filled roster, the Rams might be within the highlight rather a lot.
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There is no purpose to consider McVay and the Rams will not be capable to deal with the stress. There are lots of large personalities within the locker room, too, similar to 2021, however that was by no means an issue for his or her Tremendous Bowl-winning squad that 12 months. It will not be this season, both.
The Rams are accustomed to having excessive expectations. That they had them in 2021, and once more in 2022 after including Bobby Wagner and Allen Robinson. These two seasons ended very in another way. Which end result will this 12 months’s crew face?
Particular groups
Ah, sure. Good ol’ particular groups. If not for this unit final 12 months, the Rams would possibly’ve been taking part in yesterday because the defending Tremendous Bowl champions. However as a result of Joshua Karty struggled to kick subject targets increased than the helmets of his blockers, and since Xavier Smith failed to carry onto a late punt in opposition to the Seahawks, the Rams fell quick.
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McVay overhauled that group by committing to the regular Harrison Mevis and by signing Grant Stuard and Joe Cardona. He additionally employed Bubba Ventrone as his particular groups coordinator. It stays to be seen it these modifications might be constructive ones, however it might’t be any worse than 2025 … proper?
If the Rams do not enhance on particular groups, it may price them a number of wins once more.
This text initially appeared on Rams Wire: 5 issues that might derail Rams’ Tremendous Bowl hopes this season
