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Rams try to ride lightning with Matthew Stafford in 2021

By Nicholas McGee

Aug 28, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: C. Morgan Engel-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: C. Morgan Engel-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Rams made a blockbuster trade to improve their quarterback room, Matthew Stafford tasked with getting them over the hump in 2021.

Best-Case Scenario

For much of the Sean McVay era, the Rams have been a team held back by their quarterback. It is a testament to McVay and his staff that the Rams have only missed the playoffs once since he took over despite Jared Goff’s often uneven play.

Now, with Goff shipped to Detroit in the blockbuster trade that landed the Rams Matthew Stafford, this is a team that appears primed for a return to the biggest stage. They will enter the season looking to replicate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in winning the Super Bowl in their home stadium and have the firepower on both sides of the ball to achieve that feat.

Worst-Case Scenario

The belief is that Stafford, who rarely had the support around him in Detroit to go deep into the postseason, can elevate McVay’s offense to new heights with his arm strength and accuracy to all levels of the field. The dream for the rest of the NFC West is that Stafford struggles to mesh with McVay and their attack fails to reach the levels many anticipate.

The Rams still have the talent on defense to keep them in games in such a scenario, but they won’t be a dominant force without Stafford successfully adapting to a new scheme.

X-Factor – Darrell Henderson

The Rams cannot allow themselves to be one-dimensional even with Stafford’s arrival, but their running game suffered a blow when Cam Akers was ruled out for the season with a ruptured Achilles.

Despite a trade for Sony Michel, Henderson will likely be trusted to carry the bulk of the load in the backfield. Henderson averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season and delivered efficient production in the passing game, his 16 receptions going for an average of 9.9 yards. With Michel the sole experienced option behind him on the depth chart, Henderson must prove he can be similarly productive while essentially working as the bell-cow for the Rams.

Biggest game – Week 12 @ Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles should be in good shape by their Week 11 bye, with a largely favorable schedule that gives them a distinct opportunity to be in the mix for the number one seed in the NFC.

The bye comes either side of challenging road games with the San Francisco 49ers and the Packers and, with Aaron Rodgers playing at least one more year in Green Bay, the latter could have a massive impact on that race. The Rams’ 32-18 playoff loss to Green Bay last season was never particularly close, but Stafford will be expected to narrow the gap.

Bold Prediction – Cooper Kupp to top 1,200 receiving yards

Consistently a focal point of the Rams offense, Kupp has hauled in over 90 receptions in each of the last two seasons.

That number may decrease with the Rams adding Tutu Atwell to the mix with their first pick of this year’s draft while also acquiring DeSean Jackson to offer an experienced deep threat, but he and Robert Woods should remain the top two receivers.

Kupp averaged 12.1 yards per reception in 2019 when he racked up 1,161 yards and, due to Stafford’s superior arm and greater aggressiveness, he is in an excellent spot to surpass that career-high mark.