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Rams aim for return to Super Bowl after dismal showing

By Dan Parzych

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during Super Bowl LIII between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots on February 3, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during Super Bowl LIII between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots on February 3, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Rams reached the Super Bowl last season for the first time since 2001. Now, they aim to get back after the ultimate disappointment.

Best-case scenario

Knowing what it feels like to reach the Super Bowl, Sean McVay’s team uses this as motivation to return to the big game. Only this time with better results. Watching the Rams fail to score a single touchdown against the New England Patriots was embarrassing for everyone involved, but it was a learning experience. With Jared Goff continuing to get better and Aaron Donald motivated to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors for a third straight year, returning to the Super Bowl could very well happen for Los Angeles.

Worst-case scenario

Todd Gurley’s knee continues to be the popular topic of discussion. While the Rams have done everything in their power to monitor Gurley’s knee this offseason with a set schedule, what if he struggles as he did in the postseason? No one needs to explain the importance of a healthy Gurley in this high-powered offense, and if the knee continues to be an issue, it could prevent Los Angeles from living up to its true potential.

Confidence level (Low, medium or high)

High.

Once again, the Rams have every reason to feel confident heading into the season. What McVay has accomplished in such a short period has been incredible. Even though there are serious concerns about Gurley, Los Angeles still has plenty of reliable depth at numerous positions. The NFC is loaded with talented teams which will give the Rams a run for their money, but with McVay running the show, the confidence deserves to be high.

X-Factor

Josh Reynolds did a nice job filling in when Cooper Kupp went down with a torn ACL. As a result, Reynolds is expected to see a larger role on offense in the passing game. He could easily turn this into the best year of his NFL career if all goes according to plan.

Turning point

With a difficult first month of the regular season, the Rams kick off October in Week 5 with a very tough matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Before Los Angeles emerged as the team to beat in the NFC West over the last two seasons, that title belonged to Seattle thanks to Russell Wilson playing at a MVP level and the defense always being one of the league’s best. The circumstances are a different this time around, but after the Seahawks emerged as a Wild Card team in 2018, the Rams should view them as their biggest threat within the division.

Best moment in team history

In 1999, the St. Louis Rams earned the nickname of being The Greatest Show on Turf as Kurt Warner led the team to a Super Bowl victory. That year, Warner earned MVP honors with 41 touchdown passes while taking advantage of offensive weapons such as Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. The NFL has seen plenty of feel-good stories over the years, and there’s no question Warner emerging from grocery store stockboy to MVP ranks atop the list.