10 NFL teams doomed to be worse in 2016

The 2016 Los Angeles Rams may have a new franchise quarterback in No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, one of the three best tailbacks in football in second-year star Todd Gurley, and a potential top-10 defense, but don’t be surprised if these prodigal football sputter during their first year back in L.A.

Indeed, there has been so much attention surrounding the Rams’ move from St. Louis to Los Angeles that it will be exceedingly difficult for the 53-man roster to adjust to the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, why with L.A. now the subject of HBO’s Hard Knocks and and select players slated to appear on E!’s Hollywood & Football.

What’s going to hurt the 2016 Rams is that expectations are way too high for what is, in essence, a middle-of-the-pack NFC team that is reportedly prepared to start Case Keenum over Goff at quarterback to start the year. While Goff is clearly the future in Los Angeles football, the Rams are almost certain to have one of the worst passing offenses in football.

Ultra-conservative and defensive-minded head coach Jeff Fisher isn’t going to throw Goff into the fire of elite NFC West defenses right out of the gate. If their mediocre offense line doesn’t hold up, Keenum and then Goff will be eaten alive in what stands to be another rough year for the long-woebegone Rams.

For L.A. to make the NFC Playoffs for the first time since 2004, Gurley will have finish at or near the top of the rushing ranks, like so many Rams greats before him (Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Stephen Jackson). On the other side, All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald will need to emerge as one of the bar-none best defensive player in football.

Still, even two dominating individual seasons from Gurley and Donald may not even be enough to get the Rams to .500. As things stand today, expect Los Angeles (6-10, at best) to finish third in the NFC West behind the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, but ahead of the San Francisco 49ers.

Next: 3. Carolina Panthers.