Could the Los Angeles Rams be the worst defending Super Bowl champions in NFL history?
From injuries to key players, to a quarterback switch midseason, it’s been a terrible time for the Rams this season and it most definitely shows.
Few could have predicted the Rams season would go the way it has following their Super Bowl triumph this year. At this stage, it’s now clear that a lot of hard questions will need answering when the offseason arrives.
Los Angeles Rams eliminated from playoff contention
As we consider the situation that the Los Angeles Rams now face, let’s take a look at how it all started. It was back on September 9th, in Week 1 when the Rams fell 10-31 in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. At the time, some predicted that this season would be anything but smooth sailing for the Super Bowl champions, however, it goes without saying that none could have foreseen the absolute disaster that has been the 2022-23 campaign.
On Monday night, the Rams lost to the Packers and with that, officially posted its first double-digit losing season in almost ten years, while simultaneously tying the Denver Broncos for the earliest playoff elimination of any defending Super Bowl champion. Not the kind of history they would have wanted to make. Denver you will recall, posted a 6-10 record back in 1998 following their Super Bowl victory the season before. The Rams, in similar fashion are now 4-10 following their loss on Monday. Incidentally, their 10 losses are also even with the Broncos for worst total by a reigning Super Bowl champion. To be clear, there are three games left in the NFL regular season.
The Rams can make even more history for the wrong reasons
To further cement just how rare this occurrence is, there are only three other moments in NFL history when a defending champion has been eliminated from playoff contention with more than a single week left in the regular season: the 1986 49ers who posted a 3-6 record in a season shortened by strikes and the 1981 Raiders who put up an abysmal 7-9. The Rams are of course now destined to be included, but could actually top the list with the worst record ever, if they fail to win another game this year, which would mean a 4-13 finish.
Ultimately, it should be said that this is not just a clear-cut case of subpar performances. In truth, the Rams have been dealt a tough hand this season with the likes of starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald all missing several games due to injuries. Even worse, none of those high-profile players are expected to return this year. At this point, the only thing that can be done in Los Angeles, is to place focus on the future.