Great listen. This dude is arguably the best thing to ever happen to our franchise.

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And a GUARANTEED Rams win!

Second best news of the day? We know they wait on this still, a holdover from the Fisher era. Glad to see this done.

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Will the NFL ever have a running back like Marshall Faulk again?​

It’s hard to believe it now, but Marshall Faulk’s Hall of Fame trajectory did not even really begin to take flight until after five seasons and a trade from the Indianapolis Colts to the St. Louis Rams in 1999. These days, it is all too common for fans to assume that running backs are not physically capable of playing more than four years in the league, but ironically many would amend that statement if the player is capable of also catching passes.

Somehow if you’re purely a runner, your career lifespan is assumed to be shorter and less valuable than if you’re also (and mostly) a receiver.

Well, Marshall Faulk could do both at an elite level. Did something happen to running back bodies from the Jim Brown era to the Walter Payton era to the Marshall Faulk era to the Adrian Peterson era that suddenly made it impossible to handle a full workload for more than one or two seasons?

Payton, for example, averaged 370 touches per season from age 22 to age 27, covering years 2-7 in his Bears career. But he also averaged 381 touches per season from age 29-32, covering years 9-12 in his career. Payton played a 13th season in 1987, which is when he did start to show signs of decline.

Faulk started 121 games over his first eight years in the NFL, averaging 338 touches per season and he played in all 16 games five times in that span. Faulk also played in another 12 career postseason games and was heavily utilized most of the time. He was a starter for the Rams in 2004 at the age of 31, then a backup in 2005 before retiring after that season.

Is it really impossible for a running back can be good into his 30s anymore?

Writers at Sharp Football Analysis recently had a discussion about one of the top running backs in the NFL today, Christian McCaffrey, and said that he was “This era’s Marshall Faulk.”

But is that even possible anymore? McCaffrey still has a long ways to go to prove something like that.

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McCaffrey didn’t miss any games over the first three years of his career, culminating in a 2019 season in which he had 403 touches (287 carries for 1,387 yards, 116 catches for 1,005 yards) and scoring 19 touchdowns.

But McCaffrey missed 13 games in 2020 and 10 games in 2021. Over the last two seasons, McCaffrey has 10 starts, 158 carries, 54 receptions, and has scored eight times. He turns 26 on Tuesday and is hoping to revive his career with a strong season in 2022. If the Carolina Panthers are as bad as they presently appear to be with Sam Darnold at quarterback, could McCaffrey also be headed for a mid-career trade like Faulk?

He has a lot of catching up to do.

From 1998 to 2001, Marshall Faulk made 60 starts and averaged 272 carries for 1,360 yards with 11 touchdowns, plus 84 receptions for 887 yards and 11 more touchdowns. That is 357 touches and 6.3 yards per touch per season.

McCaffrey isn’t even close.

The NFL’s top running back of the era right now is Derrick Henry but he has not been able to challenge the question of whether or not running backs can still handle 350-400 touches in a season. Henry was in a committee with DeMarco Murray for the first few years of his career, not handling more than 200 touches until year three, and not getting 300 touches until year four. He had a career-high 397 touches in 2020, winning AP Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns (his second season in a row leading the NFL in yards and touchdowns), but Henry missed nine games last season.

He also doesn’t have the receiving prowess of players like Faulk and McCaffrey.

Can Henry, now 28, reasonably play another five years in the league?

What do you think? Is it possible for running backs to handle that kind of workload anymore? If not, why isn’t it? If it is presumably “easier” to run in the NFL as defenses load up on more pass-rushing defensive linemen and coverage-specialist linebackers, then why can’t more teams take advantage of high quality rushing abilities? And where are the players who can carry it 200 times and catch it 100 times?

Alvin Kamara seemed headed in that direction but he has not played in 16 games since his rookie campaign, missing a career-high four contests last season. Despite his best efforts, Kamara is nowhere near the abilities of Marshall Faulk.

Could anyone ever be again?

10/24/2021, The (5-1) Los Angeles Rams rally to beat the (0-6) Detroit Lions.

This was a gut-wrenching game last season for most of us Rams fans.

The Lions came out swinging and used a plethora of trick plays on special teams to give them every advantage possible.

This type of game usually ends with as a big upset over a huge favorite in the NFL.

The Rams scratched and clawed their way back to earn a victory.

It's games like these that tell a lot about a team's heart and ability to overcome adversity in the NFL.

(Any given Sunday) happens every week in the NFL.

This was one of those type of games, but the Rams kept punching and finally delivered a knockout late in the contest.

I was very proud of our Rams being able to keep their composure in a game that had all the breaks going to the other team.

I enjoyed watching this game again.

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I think it’s the trade of the decade and that might be a bit conservative.

And to think that some thought we overpaid.

Stafford’s talent turbocharged everything on O from McVay’s new options, to Kupp’s record setting year, to resurrecting OBJ’s career, to that incredible drama filled playoff run that drained all of us, and on and on…

All due respect to Kupp and AD, but Stafford was the real SB MVP.

Snead has made a lot of great moves as a GM, no doubt, but the Stafford trade was his second most impactful.

Here’s my top 4 Snead moves:

Hiring McVay is his biggest HR move, by far (yeah, he had help with this decision, but it was basically his to make)

Stafford trade
Drafting AD at pick 13
Ramsey trade (at lest gets an honorable mention on this elite list)

And in that order. Is it too early to call Snead a savant or prodigy?

The wedding was yesterday and seems like it was a good party.

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Snead with a new hairdo?

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How Bobby Wagner is aiding Ernest Jones' Year 2 development​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – When it comes to mentoring Rams second-year linebacker Ernest Jones, veteran Bobby Wagner is drawing on his own experience at that exact point in his own NFL career.

"Just putting myself back to Year 2, what are some of the things that I would have wanted somebody to teach me?" Wagner said after Thursday's OTA session. "What are some of the things that I want to spread?"

That answer, according to Wagner, centers around processing the game.

When Wagner works with Jones, he wants to teach him to slow the game down. In their first or second season, a player can feel like they need to "get everywhere fast." As they get older, they realize there's a lot of wasted motor movement – something Wagner learned and applied to the way he played.

"So when you watch me play, I don't waste no steps," Wagner said. "Like, if I only got to take two steps, I'm taking two – I'm not gonna take six. And so just slowing the game down, processing the game, understanding ... you want your mind to be fast, but your body to be slow."

Jones is doing his part and welcoming that feedback.

"He's so receptive, he comes in early, he's a hard worker," Wagner said. "Like I said, he's a guy that can really be very, very talented just because of his mindset, the way he carries himself and his hunger to be great."

At this point, traits like that are not new to Wagner, who was familiar with Jones prior to coming to Los Angeles. However, he did learn just how wide that age gap really feels.

"That he was born close to the 2000s," Wagner said, when asked what he's learned about Jones in the time they've worked together. "That's probably the biggest thing. Come into the (linebacker) room, and you do the whole introduction thing. And I don't know why we thought to say our age and what year you were born. So I was hearing '98, '99, then I had to say '90, and everybody was like 'Ooohhh.' I'm like, 'I got a nine in front of it just like y'all."

Wagner is not so old, though that those players – especially Jones – won't listen to the wisdom he imparts. He will be bridging that age gap by leaning own his own experience from a decade ago.

I'm thinking of planning a trip back to the US to take in a couple of games.

I was bummed that the weather delayed the opening of SoFi because I always planned on getting to a game before we moved back to the UK.

Then again it meant I got to see the last ever playoff game at the Coliseum (and a win over Dallas), so it wasn't all bad.

Even though I saw a couple of road games against the Cards I missed their new stadium by a year and baked my pasty tits off in the horrible monstrosity that was their home,

Anyway, I have suggested my 60th birthday which is this summer, as a reason/excuse to blow part of our retirement and was looking at the Atlanta home game and Cards road game as options.

Tickets look cheap and available for both, but (and I have done this a couple of times) would I be better waiting and buying outside on game day?

And, does anybody have any tips on where to avoid sitting at either stadium?

Rams could regret lack of investment in backup QB​

If everything goes according to plan for the Los Angeles Rams, backup quarterbacks John Wolford and Bryce Perkins would never see the field during the regular season or playoffs.

Even though Matthew Stafford battled through injuries during the 2021 season he did not miss any time as a result. Wolford took offensive snaps in three games, but this playing time came in blowout victories over the New York Giants, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

While the Rams were incredibly successful against these teams, Wolford was not - and his performance in this limited action should be cause for concern moving forward.



When backup quarterbacks come in during blowout victories the play calling is typically hyper-conservative and run-heavy; however, Wolford managed to throw an interception against the Giants on only two attempts - his only completion was to the other team.

It didn’t get better for the backup quarterback against the Texans - Wolford dropped back three times resulting in a 8-yard sack, a 5-yard completion, and turnover-worthy pass that fell incomplete.

In the only regular season start of his career, the Rams defense scored more touchdowns (1) than Wolford’s offense. He finished that game with a completion percentage of 58% and an interception.

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With Wolford sitting out of the 2021 preseason - he was recovering from appendicitis but also the Rams typically rest key players - it’s difficult to know where his develop currently sits. Has Wolford been better behind the scenes, earning the confidence of the coaching staff? Or is backup quarterback a ticking time bomb for a team that hopes to compete for a championship again in 2022?

The only realistic alternative this season is Bryce Perkins, who is far from a lock to make the team’s final roster.

While Perkins’ athleticism was impressive during the three exhibition games, he did not flash the ability to push the ball downfield on a consistent basis - and this is an extremely important element of LA’s passing attack.

It’s possible that the mobility of Perkins gives him a lower ceiling should the Rams need to replace Stafford in the short-term, though Wolford is a better fit from a traditional drop back perspective.

So what should have been the answer for the Rams behind Stafford - and what should the plan be moving forward?

Did the team need to acquire someone like Chase Daniel, Marcus Mariota, or Andy Dalton? Probably not.

But the Rams could have nabbed Trevor Siemian or Kyle Allen for around $2-2.5M per year. They could have selected a quarterback in the draft for the first time under head coach Sean McVay - and anyone drafted in theory would have offered more upside than the undrafted Wolford and Perkins.

Take Kansas State’s Skylar Thompson for example - drafted in the seventh round by the Miami Dolphins who had already signed Teddy Bridgewater in free agency. After drafting Thompson the Dolphins released Chris Streveler, who had previously served as the backup to Kyler Murray with the Arizona Cardinals. Thompson went later in the draft because he is already 24 years old. While he has all the traits you’d like to see in a big, strong-armed developmental quarterback, he was oft-injured at Kansas State.

This is just one way the Rams could have elevated their quarterback room, but instead they chose to stand pat.

After battling nagging injuries in 2021, Stafford isn’t throwing in OTA’s due to an injection in his throwing arm. He’s 34.

While no one wants to see him injured and miss time, 2-3 bad games from either Wolford or Perkins could be enough to prevent the team from making the playoffs. A backup quarterback isn’t going to take you to the Super Bowl if your starter misses the playoffs, but they can keep you on track long enough to earn you a spot in the tournament.

Hopefully we aren’t left reflecting on what could have been with the 2022 Rams team after an injury to their star signal caller. Los Angeles could regret their lack of investment in the backup quarterback position.

I think this undoubtedly applies to many other RBs around the league. RB is a tough position as we know well from our own RB room injuries every season. But it's nice to see a former RB center the discussion on the truth of needing to play through some types of injury:

Lions assistant Duce Staley underscores RB D'Andre Swift knowing difference 'between being injured and hurt'​

Published: Jun 03, 2022 at 08:47 AM

Kevin Patra
Around the NFL Writer

Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift owns the skillset to be a featured back, but first, his team needs him to stay healthy.
The former second-round pick has missed seven games in his first two seasons, including four in 2021 with an injured shoulder.
Running backs coach and assistant head coach Duce Staley challenged Swift heading into the season.

"Injuries happen, but one of the things Swift and I had a conversation about is you've got to be able to play through some of these injuries as a running back," Staley said via the Detroit Free Press. "We all know there's a difference between being injured and hurt. As soon as you step in this building as a running back, Day One training camp, you're not going to feel the same. There will be some things you have to fight through."

Staley, who played 10 NFL seasons with the Eagles and Steelers, noted that luck plays a factor in some injuries -- Swift missed two games in his rookie season due to a concussion -- saying playing running back involved "violent car wrecks."

"Playing running back, you're going to take your fair share of hits," Staley said. "You just have to make sure you protect yourself when it's the time to protect yourself and then there's going to be time to put it all out there."

In his first two seasons, Swift has shown flashes of playmaking ability but has yet to find consistency to hoist himself into the top tier of backs. He earned just one game with more than 15 carries in 2021 (33 totes for 130 yards in a tie in Pittsburgh). The 23-year-old reportedly bulked up this offseason in an effort to help avoid the dings and injuries that hurt him in the past.

The Lions have a solid top running back duo in Swift and Jamaal Williams, who possess complementary skill sets in a run-first offense. But if Swift can handle a bigger workload, it would make a growing offense that much more explosive.

"There's no doubt he makes us better, he's a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands and we're going to use him as such," Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said of Swift.

One day, perhaps soon, Aaron Donald will be gone. Some are pissed that he dared to ask for more money with years left on his current deal. Others recognize that he has outperformed his contract and he wants to be fairly compensated. This thread isn't about the AD debate so much, as it is about your philosophy about what you desire for the team.
I would rather have two Super Bowl wins for the current team by 2024, than seven years of good seasons and only one Super Bowl win. I think AD is that critical, but for the sake of this conversation, you could insert "All Time Great" for AD or ATG.

Trade ATG:
You get rid of a big salary, but now have a massive hole to fill. You also have to reevaluate the players around ATG who have been beneficiaries of his presence, because he has a history of getting less talented guys paid with his double and triple teams and they get single teams. OC's no longer have to be terribly aware of where ATG is in the defense. Sure, you probably get a bevy of draft picks, but the odds are there will be no player in the draft like ATG, because players like ATG only come around once in a generation or two. You draft some players who pan out and others who do not. You have more CAP space, but the overall play of the defense is no longer elite. The offense overcompensates because they have to score more points, but the team gets stymied in the playoffs by a team that plays physical defense. Sean McVay keeps getting offered a tv job, year after year......

Keep ATG:
Big contract upon which Les works his magic. The team is able to stay together for another couple of years and the NFL wonders if the Rams really work under a salary cap. ATG is a terror up the middle. The Rams offense does it's thing, but in the end it comes down to a final stop by ATG and his mates. There is a great chance for another Lombardi in the next two years, after which ATG probably retires. We have no draft picks for his loss, but we have a second Lombardi, followed by a possible rebuild and no playoffs for a while.

In this scenario, which would you rather have?

Maybe this was already discussed on the ROD Forum, and I simply don't recall the details?

If this was already posted, I don't remember seeing it or responding to the post.

I'm flabbergasted that an NFL referee in the Super Bowl (so late in a close game) would reach down to assist a player (Aaron Donald) after he makes a critical tackle with 48 seconds left in the game.

The Bengals are trailing 23-20 with the ball at the Rams 49-yard line on 3rd down with 1 yard to go for the first down.

Donald makes the tackle stopping the Bengals from getting the first down and while he's on his back.........

The referee reaches his down and pulls Donald up as if he was a player on the Rams defense.

Watching this clip (0:40/13:28) is like nothing I've ever seen in the Super Bowl.


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Just makes more sense than blowing up to many posters post.

2023 should be fun & personally I’m not that SuperBowl & done guy.I love The Rams & enjoy most the development of these young players & nobody pick ups out of no where.

Just having Troy Hill back & seeing what DT J.Williams does are just pure players to cheer for.

He was somewhat vague about when he was calling from. Something about temporal paradoxes or some other SciFi mumbo jumbo. He also said, for the same reason, that he could not give me too many specifics about the future.

What he was able to tell me was that I should not worry about the Rams’ contracts or cap. He said that, while kicking the can down the road would ultimately catch up with us, it would be worth it. The positive short term benefits will sustain me through the inevitable Piper paying years.

So I’ve got that going for me… which is nice.

I will be straight forward and honest. I followed the Lions all of last year. I wanted to keep watching Goff - who I liked in the draft. I wanted to keep following Aubrey Pleasant who I felt was instrumental in helping Staley grow his philosophy.

I also wanted to follow Brad Holmes and some of the ideas he had helped implement as far as building a team and a culture.

I think they had a fantastic draft.

I know Rams on Demand is not the place to discuss Detroit Lions.

I am reaching out to see if anyone knows of a good Lions forum I can kind of jump on and follow the team a bit better.

I originally found this forum through footballsfuture and I think I followed @jrry32 here. But Rams on Demand has been the best forum I have found for sharing Rams fandom with Rams fans.

Rams are my number 1 and only team but I am dug in about the Lions and the more people tell me they are just a trash franchise the more I want to dig in . . . reminiscing about all the years of Rams fandom.

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Damn.

This will be season three for the 2020 draft class and the old saying goes that you need 3 years to grade a draft. So what do we think about this class folks (yes this is a projection question!):

Rams 2020 draft picks:
RB Cam Akers, FSU
WR Van Jefferson, Florida
LB Terrell Lewis, Alabama
S Terrell Burgess, Utah
TE Brycen Hopkins, Purdue
S Jordan Fuller, Ohio State
LB Clay Johnston, Baylor
K Sam Sloman, Miami (OH)
G Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson

Talk about a group of guys who are all up to bat with runners in scoring position eh? The class is long on upside still I think, with Fuller being the early headliner and Jefferson serving as a valuable depth option thus far. But Fuller had a bit of a down year last season and Burgess is still pending. Kind of weird to say that I'm still sitting here hoping to see arrival for just about every one of them, and this class sort of revolves around whether Akers can stay on the field. If I had to give a grade right now I think we're looking at a C+, though it will look much better if Akers beasts and someone else steps up like maybe Hopkins or Jefferson and win more snaps.

Rams 2020 UDFAs:
QB Bryce Perkins, Virginia
DT Michael Hoecht, Brown
RB Xavier Jones, Southern Methodist
WR JJ Koski, Cal Poly
LB Christian Rozeboom, South Dakota St
DT Jonah Williams, Weber St

I will say right away that the UDFA group looks solid. The quality is primarily in the QB Perkins and DTs Hoecht and Williams, but they also got some core teamers like Rozeboom who found his way onto the field a bit last season. And if Perkins can challenge for or even win that QB2 role I have to say that would greatly affect how I see this class overall, just due to the difficulty of finding quality signal callers. Guessing that Jones, Koski, and Rozeboom time out this year and end up on the practice squad at best. Really looking forward to seeing Perkins/Hoecht/Williams in preseason.

It's difficult. We get that. There has been a new champion 17 straight years. That is the longest drought in the history of the Superbowl. It's only been done 8 times with the last time being 2004. But the chance has been there for the taking 3 times in the last 8 years. Seattle won and went back in 2014. New England won and returned in 2017. Kansas City won and got back in 2020. The opportunity to repeat is there once you win a Superbowl but previous to those three teams, over a 48 year span, getting back to the Superbowl has occurred after a win just 11 times and was accomplished in all but 3 of them. So yes, it's difficult to repeat but it would seem...lately....getting back there doesn't seem as difficult as it used to be.

2022 NFL season: 100 things to know with 100 days until Week 1 kickoff; News, notes and facts for all 32 teams​

If you're a Rams fan, you might still be basking in the glory of the team's 2021 Super Bowl run. But the race for the next Lombardi Trophy will be underway before you know it. In fact, the start of the 2022 season is now just 100 days away. And in case you missed it, this NFL offseason was maybe the wildest in recent memory. So what better way to anticipate the new year, while reviewing the craziness of the last few months, than by highlighting 100 things to know for the 2022 season?

Find a comfortable chair. Get yourself a beverage. And get ready to absorb all the factoids you could ever want:

1. The Rams are looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions after going 12-5 and beating the Bengals in February's championship. The last time they won the Super Bowl, in 1999, it took them only two seasons to return to the big game.
2. The Rams will open the new regular season on Thursday, Sept. 8, against the Bills in SoFi Stadium, the site of Los Angeles' Super Bowl victory.
3. The Bills are arguably the hottest preseason pick to take over the throne. Caesars Sportsbook has Buffalo as the early favorite to win Super Bowl LVII, just ahead of the Buccaneers and Chiefs, the most recent champs before the Rams.
4. Most of the Bills hype revolves around quarterback Josh Allen, who happens to be Caesars' preseason MVP favorite. The 26-year-old All-Pro went toe to toe with former MVP Patrick Mahomes in Buffalo's overtime playoff loss to the Chiefs in 2021.
5. The Bills have won at least 10 games in three straight seasons under Allen. They're looking to claim a third straight AFC East title in 2022, after the division belonged to the Patriots for 11 straight years.
6. Buffalo's defense, which includes stud starters like Tre'Davious White and Tremaine Edmunds, will now be headlined by Von Miller, the longtime Broncos and recent Rams linebacker who signed a lucrative deal to lead the Bills' pass rush this offseason.
7. The Chiefs have been the Bills' kryptonite during Buffalo's transformation to contender. Kansas City beat Buffalo in the 2020 AFC Championship, then edged the Bills 42-36 in the divisional round of the 2021 playoffs.
8. Unlike the Bills, who extended top wide receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason, securing Allen's favorite target for the long haul, the Chiefs enter 2022 with a remade pass-catching corps after trading perennial Pro Bowler Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins.
9. Miami is just one of several teams to enter the new year with a new No. 1 receiver. The Raiders(Davante Adams), Eagles (A.J. Brown), Browns (Amari Cooper), Cardinals (Marquise Brown), Titans (Robert Woods) and Jaguars (Christian Kirk) are all looking to new faces to lead their WRs out of the gate.
10. The Broncos are looking to snap a six-year streak of missing the playoffs with maybe the biggest addition of the offseason, longtime Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, acquired in a blockbuster trade at the start of free agency.
11. The last time Denver made the postseason, it won the Super Bowl. That was 2015, when Peyton Manning, the team's last supersized QB addition, started under center.
12. Broncos Nation will get its first look at Wilson in orange and blue on "Monday Night Football," when Wilson's old team, the Seahawks, is set to host a Week 1 tilt in Seattle.
13. No division enters with higher expectations than the AFC West, where Denver made the biggest splash at QB but the Chargers spent big around their own star QB, Justin Herbert; the Raiders did the same under new coach Josh McDaniels; and the Chiefs remain annual title contenders thanks to QB Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid.
14. The Chargers enter their second year under coach Brandon Staley with a reloaded defense. The biggest additions: Bears pass-rusher Khalil Mack, Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson and Rams defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day.
15. Like the Bills, the Chargers are mostly considered AFC muscle because of their QB. Herbert, 24, is the first player in NFL history to throw at least 30 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons.
16. The Raiders are banking on their own QB, Derek Carr, guiding a new regime, extending the 31-year-old through 2025 and paying up to land Adams, his old Fresno State teammate, from the Packers.
17. McDaniels, who's making his debut as Raiders coach, spent the last 10 years under Bill Belichick with the Patriots. He previously parlayed a New England job into a head coaching gig in 2009 but lasted less than two seasons with the Broncos.
18. After trading Hill, the Chiefs are looking to prove they're still a model offense, turning to several newcomers (JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore) to serve as outlets for Mahomes.
19. Oddsmakers still love Kansas City's chances of controlling the star-studded AFC. Mahomes is a top-two favorite to win his second NFL MVP award, and the Chiefs sit behind only the Bills in AFC title odds.
20. Under Reid, the Chiefs have won at least 12 games in five of their last six seasons. They've logged double-digit wins in eight of Reid's nine seasons atop the staff, as well as six straight AFC West titles and three straight AFC Championship appearances. They came within four points of appearing in a third straight Super Bowl in 2021.
21. The Bengals, who upset the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, are looking to defend their first AFC North title in six years. Although they didn't win the Super Bowl against the Rams, their march through the postseason confirmed them as one of the biggest turnaround stories in recent memory; they went just 6-25-1 under coach Zac Taylor the previous two years.
22. QB Joe Burrow is looking to return Cincinnati to the playoffs behind an improved offensive line, which has three new starters in ex-Patriots center Ted Karras, ex-Buccaneers guard Alex Cappaand ex-Cowboys tackle La'el Collins.
23. The Bengals might have one of, if not the best, skill-position group in the NFL between Burrow, running back Joe Mixon, and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. The latter three combined for 3,374 yards in 2021.
24. Despite their title bid, the Bengals could face stiff competition in the AFC North, where the rival Browns, Ravens and Steelers all appear improved. Not one of them has controlled the division for more than two seasons at a time since the 1990s.
25. The Browns made the biggest, if not unanimously celebrated, moves to improve in 2022. None was bigger than their trade for ex-Texans QB Deshaun Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler who still faces 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault or misconduct.
26. Watson's arrival effectively spelled the end of former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield's career in Cleveland. The Browns are still looking to trade Mayfield, who battled injuries during much of an iffy 2021 campaign.
27. It remains to be seen if -- and, more likely, how long -- Watson will be suspended in light of his alleged serial abuse. The Browns insist publicly they have reviewed their new QB's background, but NFL discipline is anticipated.
28. If/when Watson is suspended, the Browns are set to turn to journeyman Jacoby Brissett as their interim QB. Brissett's most recent stops include the Dolphins' and Colts' backup roles.
29. Outside of their QB uncertainties, the Browns boast some of the top talent in the NFL. Running back Nick Chubb, new receiver Cooper, pass-rusher Myles Garrett and cornerback Denzel Wardare all Pro Bowl-caliber starters.
30. The Ravens, meanwhile, are relying as much on familiar faces as new names to return to the playoff picture. They figure to be much healthier in 2022 after losing countless starters, including literally their entire stable of running backs, in 2021.
31. QB Lamar Jackson is the biggest name returning from injury for Baltimore. Despite MVP-level athleticism, he faces his own set of questions entering a contract year: Will his lack of a long-term deal affect his play? Will the loss of No. 1 wideout Marquise Brown hurt his passing development? Will the Ravens double down on a run-first approach around his legs?
32. Baltimore is looking to avoid a third straight year of regression. The Ravens have made the playoffs nine times in John Harbaugh's 14 seasons as coach, but their win total has decreased from 14 to 11 to eight the last three years.
33. The Steelers, who have never had a losing season under Mike Tomlin, are entering the year without Ben Roethlisberger at QB for the first time since 2003. His immediate successor could be first-round pick Kenny Pickett, from -- where else -- Pittsburgh.
34. Once the powerhouse of the AFC, the Patriots are looking to build on QB Mac Jones' encouraging rookie year and win their first playoff game in four years. They went 10-7 in 2021 but were blown out by the rival Bills in the wild card round.
35. New England appears more interested in winning the old-fashioned way, with efficient passing, a sizable ground game and physical defense. That's a strategy also set to be deployed in Seattle, where Pete Carroll tries to win without Wilson.
36. One of the few gambles the Patriots are taking at WR to help Jones in Year 2: DeVante Parker, the former Dolphins standout, acquired via trade before the draft. Parker is set to compete with the likes of Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor and rookie Tyquan Thornton for playing time.
37. Broncos castoff Drew Lock, part of the package that sent Wilson to Denver, is competing with veteran backup Geno Smith to start at QB in Seattle. The Seahawks' 7-10 finish in 2021 snapped their three-year playoff streak.
38. The Dolphins are also poised to lean on the run under new coach Mike McDaniel, a former top assistant to Kyle Shanahan with the 49ers. Miami added several backs, including ex-Cardinals starter Chase Edmonds, behind young QB Tua Tagovailoa and could also incorporate Hill in reverses and run-centric packages.
39. Speaking of San Francisco and running receivers, top weapon Deebo Samuel may or may not be in town as he seeks a trade, which adds uncertainty to an offense with a question mark at the most important position. Incumbent QB Jimmy Garoppolo is pricey and injury-prone, leaving former first-round pick Trey Lance as the tantalizing but unproven successor.
40. The 49ers have either been elite or lackluster under Shanahan, logging three losing records and two NFC Championship bids in five years. They spent big to draft Lance in 2021, but the NDSU product saw limited playing time as a rookie.
41. Back in the AFC East, another Shanahan disciple, coordinator Mike LaFleur, is looking to oversee a major step forward for Jets' former first-round QB Zach Wilson, who struggled mightily for much of his 2021 debut.
42. Few QBs enter the new season with a more improved supporting cast than Wilson, whose Jets added receiver Garrett Wilson, running back Breece Hall and lineman Laken Tomlinson. The team's defense also has lots of intriguing new faces, including rookies Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson II, and defensive backs D.J. Reed and Jordan Whitehead.
43. The reigning AFC South champion Titans are entering a make-or-break year for QB Ryan Tannehill, who helped turn Tennessee into a contender but is 0-3 in his last three playoff starts. Tannehill is expendable after 2022 and now faces long-term competition in rookie Malik Willis, widely considered the most electric QB prospect of his class.
44. The Titans are asking rookie receiver Treylon Burks to play a huge role out of the gate, drafting the big wideout to replace former No. 1 Brown, who was dealt to the Eagles on draft day. Tennessee's offense still figures to run through big back Derrick Henry, however, with Jeffery Simmons headlining their tough front on the other side of the ball.
45. The Colts are set to open the year with a new starting QB for the seventh straight season, with longtime Falcons standout Matt Ryan replacing Carson Wentz, who was dealt to Washington following a poor finish to 2021.
46. The 37-year-old Ryan is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Lions-turned-Rams star Matthew Stafford, another proven QB who found instant playoff success after relocating from his longtime NFL home to a win-now setup. Indianapolis' top pieces, including RB Jonathan Taylorand a stingy defense now led by Gus Bradley, figure to get him back in the postseason mix.
47. If Ryan goes down in Indy, the Colts' new backup is Nick Foles, who famously thrived under coach Frank Reich in Philadelphia, where Foles won Super Bowl MVP as the fill-in star for the Eagles' 2017 title run.
48. Speaking of ex-Eagles stars, Doug Pederson is hoping to rejuvenate the Jaguars after a year away from the game, replacing Urban Meyer as head coach. His top asset, QB Trevor Lawrence, got a slew of big-money investments this offseason, including receivers Kirk and Zay Jones, tight end Evan Engram and lineman Brandon Scherff.
49. The Jaguars will enter the season with the last two No. 1 overall draft picks: Lawrence and new DT/DE Travon Walker.
50. Jacksonville has made the playoffs just twice in the past 15 years, and the Jags have won just 15 games over the last four. Even a several-win improvement from their 3-14 finish in 2021 would likely be considered a success for their new staff.
51. The Giants have also been bottom-dwellers of late, making the playoffs once in the last 10 years. They are banking on a pair of former Bills leaders, new coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, to uproot a pricey, underwhelming roster.
52. Former first-round QB Daniel Jones is looking to earn additional time under center in New York, where the Giants declined his fifth-year option, making 2022 Jones' final audition to remain Big Blue's signal-caller. His new coach, Daboll, famously helped develop Allen from scattershot starter to steady playmaker in Buffalo.
53. Washington is hoping to strike its own kind of gold at QB, turning to Eagles and Colts castoff Wentz via trade. They've cycled through young and old QBs alike, and coach Ron Rivera hasn't won double-digit games since 2017, when he was with the Panthers.
54. This is the first season Washington will play as the Commodes. The franchise spent two years as Washington Football Team after retiring its longtime "Redskins" nickname in 2020.
55. The Cowboys enter as favorites to win the NFC East, which they did in 2021, but their own coach, Mike McCarthy, could be on the hot seat thanks to previous public pressure from team owner Jerry Jones.
    
    
56. Dallas scored more points than any team in the NFL a year ago, but QB Dak Prescott's offensive lineup will look different, with Collins, Cooper and Wilson Jr. all gone. Staples like Ezekiel Elliott, CeeDee Lamb and Dalton Schultz are still in town and figure to headline the group.
57. The Cowboys' defense, under the direction of Dan Quinn (a Jones favorite and potential McCarthy successor), features maybe the NFL's top young defensive playmakers in Micah Parsons, who racked up 13 sacks as a 22-year-old rookie; and Trevon Diggs, whose hit-or-miss coverage netted him an NFL-leading 11 interceptions.
58. Few teams are surging as potential division challengers quite like the Eagles, who finished 9-8 under new coach Nick Sirianni in 2021 and added a number of big names via the draft and free agency, including Brown, DE/LB Haason Reddick, DT Jordan Davis and CB James Bradberry.
59. Philadelphia is poised to lean more on the passing game after excelling as a run-heavy offense down the stretch in 2021, with third-year QB Jalen Hurts looking to secure a long-term job with Brown and DeVonta Smith as his top young targets.
60. If any division is up for grabs, it's the NFC East, where there hasn't been a repeat champion since 2001-2004.
61. If there's one division winner from 2021 that you can bet will lose its crown, it might be the Cowboys, not only because of the NFC East's parity but because Dallas hasn't had back-to-back seasons with double-digit wins since the 1990s.
62. While the 49ers and Seahawks are dealing with uncertainty at QB, the Cardinals might take the cake for NFC West drama. QB Kyler Murray is still engaged in a quiet contract dispute, star WR DeAndre Hopkins will miss the first six games due to suspension, and coach Kliff Kingsbury has job security on a new deal but has overseen late-season slumps every year.
63. In Green Bay, star QB and reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers will have to navigate his first season without Adams since 2013. Rookie Christian Watson, a second-round pick out of NDSU, could quickly become a go-to target on the outside.
64. With or without a deep receiving corps, the Packers are looking to make it four straight seasons with at least 13 wins under coach Matt LaFleur. They're also aiming for their fourth straight NFC North title.
65. One area in which Green Bay should be improved is on defense, where star corner Jaire Alexander is healthier and newly paid, and rookie newcomers Quay Walker and Devonte Wyattshould give the front seven more juice.
66. The NFC North runners-up, the Vikings, are hoping to get back in the playoffs to kick off a new regime, with former Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell replacing Mike Zimmer at head coach and former Browns executive Kwesi Adofo-Mensah taking over for Rick Spielman at general manager.
67. The biggest gamble of new Vikings leadership was the decision to recommit to -- rather than sell -- QB Kirk Cousins, who's yet to taste much big-game glory but has mostly offered top-12ish production under center. Cousins is now tied to Minnesota through 2023, but the idea is he'll be better utilized with an offensive mind running the show.
68. If Cousins doesn't inspire Vikings faithful, his weapons still should. RB Dalvin Cook and WR Justin Jefferson are arguably top-three players at their respective positions and should keep Minnesota explosive on that side of the ball.
69. The new-look Vikings are clearly interested in winning now rather than rebuilding slowly, as some of their biggest investments on defense, once a strong point under Zimmer, anticipate early results. New starters Jordan Hicks and Za'Darius Smith, for example, should pair nicely with holdovers like Danielle Hunter and Eric Kendricks to solidify that unit.
70. The Bears also addressed their defense ahead of 2022, swapping out aging assets like Mack for youngsters like Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker, and naming former Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus their new head man.
71. While Chicago's defense could still be feisty, the new Bears regime is asking an awful lot of second-year QB Justin Fields, saddling the former first-rounder with an iffy line and pass catchers. It's a potentially dangerous road to take, even if they plan to spend big in 2023, after just recently exiling another top QB pick they struggled to develop.
72. The Lions, who haven't won a playoff game since 1991, are looking to translate coach Dan Campbell's beloved demeanor into on-field results, after finishing his debut with just a 3-13-1 record.
73. Detroit will boast a lot more speed on offense, adding former Jaguars standout D.J. Chark and Alabama product Jameson Williams to an offense already featuring young playmakers like D'Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson. Their questions mainly lie on defense, where they used their top draft pick on edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson; and QB, where Jared Goff somehow managed to stave off any additions to the position with a single mediocre season as a stopgap.
74. The biggest story of the season might reside in Tampa, where the ageless Tom Brady will embark on his 23rd season (and third as the Buccaneers QB) after abruptly returning from his post-2021 retirement, which lasted all of 40 days.
75. Brady's return coincides with the return of plenty of other notable Bucs, including Super Bowl names like Chris Godwin, Carlton Davis and Ryan Jensen. He will not, however, play under Bruce Arians this time, with defensive coordinator Todd Bowles taking over as head coach after Arians' abrupt resignation in March.
76. Plenty have speculated that Arians' resignation as Bucs coach has to do with Brady's return (i.e. that the two were no longer working well together), but regardless, it's very possible Brady is entering his final season in Tampa Bay. His contract allows him to test free agency again after 2022, and the all-time great would undoubtedly have suitors.
77. As long as Brady is under center with the Bucs, though, it's hard to bet against Tampa Bay in the NFC, and especially in the NFC South, which arguably includes three other teams either blatantly rebuilding or struggling to admit they should be.
78. The Falcons are poised to put up the least amount of fight in the NFC South. Not only are they entering the season with new faces Marcus Mariota and/or Desmond Ridder at QB in place of Ryan, but their roster, save for a few promising young pieces like TE Kyle Pitts and CB A.J. Terrell, looks years away from contending.
79. The Panthers enter with an upgraded offensive line and have their own handful of young standouts, from D.J. Moore to Derrick Brown, but are set to live on yet another prayer at QB, where ex-Jets bust Sam Darnold and rookie third-rounder Matt Corral could compete for the Opening Day gig.
80. Carolina looks like one of the last logical landing spots for veteran QBs still on the trade market, namely Mayfield and Garoppolo. It's possible they could wait until deep into the summer or preseason to pull the trigger on such a move.
81. The Saints are acting as if they'll be back in the playoff mix in 2022, surrounding trial-run QB Jameis Winston with toys both old (WR Michael Thomas) and new (WRs Chris Olave, Jarvis Landry, OT Trevor Penning).
82. After allowing safety Marcus Williams to depart for the Ravens in free agency, and saying farewell to the retiring Malcolm Jenkins, the Saints are turning to former Chiefs star Tyrann Mathieu to lead their secondary.
83. New Orleans will be without Asshole Face on the sidelines for the first time since 2005, with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen taking over after Payton's indefinite departure from coaching. Allen has been with the Saints in some capacity for 12 different seasons, but his only time as a head coach, with the Raiders from 2012-2014, resulted in an 8-28 record.
84. In the event Winston goes down (the former Buccaneers QB has played a full season just once in five years), the Saints' new backup is Andy Dalton, the longtime Bengals starter last seen as a No. 2 in Dallas and Chicago.
85. If there's one team that can play spoiler against the stacked Bucs, it's the Saints, who have gone 4-1 against Tampa Bay since Brady's move from New England. In their last meeting, Allen was the interim coach and led a 9-0 shutout victory.
86. A dozen different teams will be featured in at least five prime-time games: the Bills, Bengals, Broncos, Buccaneers, Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Eagles, 49ers, Packers, Patriots, Steelers and Rams.
87. The last two Super Bowl champions have won the championship in their own stadiums: the Buccaneers, at Raymond James Stadium in 2020; and the Rams, at SoFi Stadium in 2021. The host this year: State Farm Stadium, home of the Cardinals.
88. The reigning champion Rams should remain one of the deepest offensive attacks in the NFL, adding former Bears WR Allen Robinson to a group already including Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, who led the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2021.
89. In the aftermath of the Rams' 2021 title, there was lots of speculation about the potential retirements of both coach Sean McVay and star DT Aaron Donald, each of whom hinted at stepping away from the game prior to the Super Bowl. Both McVay and Donald are back and on track to stick with the club for at least this year.
90. Games will officially begin Aug. 4, when the preseason kicks off with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. This year's opponents are the Jaguars and Raiders, both of whom will debut new coaches.
91. This year's International Series, featuring the NFL's annual overseas matchups, includes three games in London, one in Mexico City, and one in Germany, where the Buccaneers and Seahawks will square off in Munich.
92. For the 17th straight year, three different games will take place on Thanksgiving: Bills at Lions, Giants at Cowboys, and Patriots at Vikings.
93. Christmas Day will feature a special three-game slate for the first time in NFL history: Packers at Dolphins and Broncos at Rams (on CBS and Nickelodeon) in the afternoon, and Buccaneers at Cardinals on "Sunday Night Football."
94. Ten different teams will debut new head coaches: the Bears (Eberflus), Broncos (Nathaniel Hackett), Buccaneers (Todd Bowles), Dolphins (McDaniel), Giants (Daboll), Jaguars (Pederson), Raiders (McDaniels), Saints (Allen), Texans (Lovie Smith) and Vikings (O'Connell).
95. This will be the second 17-game, 18-week regular season in NFL history.
96. A new overtime rule will go into effect starting in the playoffs. Previously, the first team to score a touchdown (or score any points and prevent the other team from scoring as many on its ensuing possession) would win. Now, both teams are guaranteed at least one possession.
97. The NFL is still investigating the alleged conduct of Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who was named in a wide-spanning class-action lawsuit from Brian Flores, the team's former coach. Flores, now an assistant with the Steelers, has shed light on alleged racial discrimination in hiring and workplace practices around the league, and one of his allegations suggests Ross once offered him $100,000 per loss to secure better draft positioning.
98. "Thursday Night Football" will now stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and Twitch.
99. Several specialty broadcasts debuted in recent seasons will continue in 2022, including Paramount's family oriented Nickelodeon simulcast, which will run on Christmas Day; and ESPN2's "Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli."
100. Lead national TV broadcasters are now as follows: Jim Nantz and Tony Romo (CBS), Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen (Fox), Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth (NBC), Joe Buck and Troy Aikman (ESPN/ABC), Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit (Amazon).

State of the 2022 Los Angeles Rams: Repeat within reach?​

Published: May 31, 2022 at 11:41 AM

Adam Rank
NFL.com Writer

Where does your franchise stand heading into 2022? Adam Rank sets the table by providing a State of the Franchise look at all 32 teams, zeroing in on the key figures to watch and setting the stakes for the season to come.

Your Los Angeles Rams are the world champions of football, having won the first Lombardi Trophy in the franchise's L.A. history and the first professional football title for the city since Tommy Maddox led the Los Angeles Xtreme to the top of the XFL. (Not to brag, but I was at the Million Dollar Game.) Now, they'll try to repeat -- and they've got a great chance.

2021 rewind​

One high from last season: Winning the Super Bowl. Obviously. What could be better? But let me point this out, too: Beating the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game might have been even sweeter. The Rams lost six consecutive games to San Francisco going into that one. People were looking at Sean McVay like he was Kyle Shanahan's little brother. The Rams even tried to limit ticket sales outside of Southern California to stop a hostile takeover of SoFi Stadium by Niners fans. Winning that NFC title match was huge. Almost bigger than the Super Bowl. Almost.

One low from last season: Losing Robert Woods to a torn ACL in November. It's apparent how much the Rams loved Woods. He was on the podium when the team accepted the Lombardi Trophy. Cooper Kupp spoke glowingly of him. He was a huge part of that championship run, ranking second on the Rams in targets, catches, receiving yards and receiving TDs through the first nine weeks of the season. Football is a cold business, reflected by the fact that Woods has since been traded to the Tennessee Titans. But it was heartbreaking when he went down last year.

2022 VIPs​

Head coach: Sean McVay. This guy's been one of the hottest names in the NFL since taking over as a 30-year-old in 2017. He's never lost more than seven games in a season, and he led L.A. to the Super Bowl in Year 2; meanwhile, it seems like anybody who's ever spent time with him has gotten an NFL gig in the past few years. But going into 2021, there wasn't yet a great answer to anyone who asked what McVay had really ever won.
Well, now you can say Super Bowl LVI. And before accomplishing that, he dispatched his biggest rival in the NFC Championship Game, as I described above. McVay's star has never been brighter. The next challenge will be winning more titles -- we've seen a lot of coaches break through to capture that first Lombardi, then fail to ever get back there again. (Looking at you, Asshole Face.)

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford. The narrative around Stafford has forever changed. I mean, when the Rams shipped picks and Jared Goff to Detroit for the longtime Lions QB last year, there were people who questioned if it was even a good idea. Not me; I liked the move. But it clearly turned the question of "What could Stafford become on a talented team?" from a hypothetical what-if into something Stafford was going to have to answer. And, well, that's exactly what he did. He's a Super Bowl winner. (In fact, he has as many NFC titles and Super Bowl wins as another quarterback against whom he regularly competed in the NFC North. I'm just saying.)
Those of you who thought of Stafford as "Pat Stat-Ford," a fantasy producer who generated yards on a losing team, should find somebody else to pick on. And with a brand new extension, the 34-year-old has a real chance to cement his legacy and add some more hardware.

Projected 2022 MVP: Aaron Donald, defensive tackle. The quarterback is typically the easy choice for this slot, but I don't think there is a non-quarterback out there who is more important to his team than Donald is to the Rams. Think of the Super Bowl and how, prompted by some chirping from the Bengals, Donald seemed to come alive like one of those players who would literally burn in NBA Jam back in the day.
Donald has teased the possibility that he might retire, but we've also heard that he and the team are working on an extension heading into Year 9 of his NFL career. If, as I'm assuming at this point, Donald returns, locking up the seven-time All-Pro (and three-time Defensive Player of the Year) will be the most important move for the team this offseason, even topping the Stafford extension and additions of Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner. (And, not to brag, but I had Donald here last year.)

New face to know: Allen Robinson, receiver. I'm a Bears fan, and I would have liked to keep Robinson in Chicago, where he spent the past four seasons, but I loved this signing for the Rams. It's like breaking up with somebody who just wasn't that into you anymore; it's tough, but I'm going to take the mature approach and just be happy for him, because I can't think of a better landing spot. Robinson is coming off his worst statistical season, but I still contend he is a top-10 receiver (at least) in the right situation -- and this is absolutely the right situation. Robinson, Kupp and Van Jefferson comprise one of the best receiver trios in the league. I'm not afraid to say it.

2022 breakout star: Tutu Atwell, receiver. I'm a big fan of the Rams' second-round selection last year. Atwell didn't log a single target on offense as a rookie, though he looked good on special teams before ultimately being waylaid by a shoulder injury. The dude has got some skills. And with Kupp and Robinson commanding a lot of attention, he has the game-breaking ability to make some huge touchdown receptions. I know a lot of you are going to be tempted to take him in your fantasy drafts. I'm not sure he's going to have the target share to produce in that realm, but Atwell is going to appear on some highlight reels.

Matthew Stafford on Rams' 2022 schedule: 'I know we're going to get everybody's best shot

2022 roadmap​

Three key dates:

• Week 1 vs. Buffalo Bills (Thursday night). Everyone was secretly hoping this was going to be the 2022 NFL Kickoff Game, and the league delivered. I know a lot of people are thinking of this as a preview of Super Bowl LVII -- not me, but a lot of people.
• Week 12 at Kansas City Chiefs. Is this the game that I'm thinking is the Super Bowl preview? Nah. But it is a prime matchup (although it's not in prime time, which is kind of a shame).
• Week 15 at Green Bay Packers (Monday night). The Packers have finished like regular-season champs in each of the last two seasons. The Rams were actual champs last year. This one is in Green Bay. And it's not a playoff game. I might have to give the Packers the edge here.

Will the Rams be able to ...​

Be the first repeat champions since the Patriots in the early 2000s? This is easier said than done. The Buccaneers, winners of Super Bowl LV, had 22 returning starters -- which I'm surprised people didn't find a way to somehow mention more -- last year, including Tom Brady, the last quarterback to lead a team to back-to-back Super Bowl wins. And even that wasn't enough for a group that, let's be honest, was right there, despite dealing with injuries. So this is a legitimate question.

I will cite the excellent point that Willie McGinest made with me on NFL Total Access recently: The Rams do have a relatively fresh Super Bowl loss on their ledger (in Super Bowl LIII), which should help them fight complacency. And Stafford can surely still remember his dour Detroit days. So the Rams figure to have a strong shot here.

Weather the loss of Andrew Whitworth? Now, you could make the case that Joe Noteboom can certainly fill the void left by the retired Whitworth at left tackle. But I'm talking about more than the depth chart. Whitworth was the 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year. And his presence off the field might be the toughest for the Rams to replace.

One storyline ...​

... people shouldn't overlook: The Rams' release of longtime punter Johnny Hekker. I mean, this guy had come to seem like a Los Angeles institution, as reliable as a double-double from In-N-Out, having been with the team since it moved to L.A. in 2016, and for four seasons before that. But the Rams just let him go. Now, the 32-year-old did have the worst season of his NFL career in 2021. And nobody on a team that moves on without sentimentality from players like Woods and Goff is truly safe. I'm just saying I don't know many fan bases -- outside of the Colts' fans during Pat McAfee's years in Indy -- that include scores of people wearing jerseys of the punter. It will be wild to see Hekker, who signed in Carolina, with another team.

... people shouldn't overthink: The question of who will be the starting running back. I must admit that most people asking about this play fantasy football. The bottom line is, the Rams have a great running scheme, and it doesn't really matter who logs the most carries. Sony Michel is gone, having signed in Miami, but Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers are back, joined by fifth-round pick Kyren Williams. Henderson helped Michel pick up the slack while Akers recovered from a torn Achilles last season, then Akers returned to lead the Rams in carries throughout the playoffs. And they won it all with Akers topping the team in the Super Bowl with 13 carries ... for 21 yards. I guess what people want to know is if they should draft Akers in fantasy this year. And I'd say yes, as long as the price is right.

For 2022 to be a success, the Rams MUST:​

• Win the Super Bowl. 2021 basically couldn't have gone any better for the Rams as they continue to cement their presence in Los Angeles. They brought in a splashy QB and won it all, and in their own sparkling new stadium, to boot. And based on the increase in kids I see walking to my daughter's school wearing Rams gear (my daughter, of course, wears a Jay Cutler jersey), it seems to have helped. But if there's anything this town loves, it's a team that wins multiple titles -- and there's no better way for the Rams to burnish their Tinseltown bonafides than by making history with back-to-back Lombardis.

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