NFL record predictions for the 2018 regular season
By Ian Cummings
Los Angeles Rams
Say hello to your new NFC West juggernaut.
First, let me clear the air by saying that I’m not as high on the 2018 Los Angeles Rams as other people might be. Often, when NFL teams go all in on game-changing talent, one of two things happens. They either reach their full potential, and become the team to beat, or it all crumbles after the pieces refuse to coalesce in an effective manner.
I think the Rams of 2018 will do neither. With as much talent as Les Snead added to an already competent team, the Rams have to have a floor as a wild card team in the NFL. Their defensive line rotation is one of the best in the league, and their secondary has the talent to be elite.
Amidst the hype, it’s worth mentioning that Aqib Talib is well past 30 years old, and even the best players regress once they get old enough. Furthermore, Ndamukong Suh, who was released by the Dolphins earlier in the offseason, was rumored to be a locker room cancer. These are little factors, but they could add up, to some degree, and pose a threat to the Rams’ dream team. Wade Phillips is a very good defensive coordinator; He’ll keep his guys in line to the best of his ability. But when heightened expectations like those of the Rams unfurl and uncap so quickly, those expectations can bear a heavy weight, especially on teams with history like the Rams.
There is little doubt that the Rams will be a playoff team in 2018. Their offense has too much firepower, and under the innovative mind of Sean McVay, who won NFL Coach of the Year in 2017, Jared Goff and Todd Gurley should only continue to wreak havoc on opposing NFL defenses. But how long will this revamped defense hold together? How well will they respond to the expectations placed upon them? It’s all about risk and reward. The Rams put all their chips in. They want to win it all in 2018. They’ll get the chance. They just need to capitalize.