Are the playoffs the only definition for Rams success in 2017?

With the NFL world seemingly at the feet of the Los Angeles Rams, it’s curious to wonder what defines success for LA in 2017.

The Los Angeles Rams lead the NFC West, are nearly a lock for the playoffs, and are more and more a trendy pick for a potential Super Bowl run.

Who knew that after being a 4-12 team who would blow up on the launch pad in 2016, they’d be rapidly moving up the NFL pecking order with a quarterback trending more towards bust than league MVP, and a 31 year old first year head coach younger then some on his active roster.

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That right there is your 2017 Los Angeles Rams.

With promise quickly realized, maybe a year or so early, it all seems to be working in LA. and with the holiday season upon us, EVERYTHING is working for the Rams.

Los Angeles takes its 8-3 record to the Arizona desert, and given the state of the Cardinals, a win is all but expected.

But what would happen if the Rams went on an unexpected and devastating five game losing streak beginning in Week 13?

Suddenly, they’d be looking at 8-8, and the playoffs in a tough NFC, would likely become something that would have slipped through their hands.

Granted, it’s a hard scenario to imagine, but the bigger question is would 8-8 and missing the playoffs suddenly make  the 2017 NFL campaign a failure?

Given the quantum leap forward the team has made thus far, it likely would.

But to recall the predictions from this summer, everything from a can’t be any worse than 4-12, to a pie in the sky 6-10 and some incremental improvement from Jared Goff, 8-3 heading into December seems like a daydream come true.

Next: 3 predictions for Rams at Cardinals Week 13

So, with five games to go this season, and a division title and playoff run in the offing, whether or not the Rams are, or are not a year early, becomes irrelevant.

This team is here now, and everything seems possible as the holidays roll around in the NFL.