Chris Russo claims LA Rams will suffer “Super Bowl Hangover”

Did my eyes deceive me? Did ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith just defend the LA Rams? Well, either the forecast in the religious hot place is calling for a blizzard right now, or there must have been one helluva good reason to do so.

Shock jock Chris Russo made the absurd claim that the LA Rams will suffer from a Super Bowl Hangover, and did so in the presence of Stephen A. Smith. While the pair have seldom agreed on many topics (that’s their call to ESPN fame, disagreement with common sense), Smith rose to the occasion and defended the NFL Champions.

As well he should. It’s easy to set up an either-or claim to the outcome of the LA Rams season, and then choose the least favorable side, but that’s all that is. There was never any semblance of what defines a Super Bowl Hangover for the LA Rams. Do the Rams suffer from a hangover if they win just 11 games? Do they suffer a hangover if they fail to win Super Bowl LVII? Is it a hangover if they fail to win the NFC West, one of the most competitive NFL divisions in the past five years?

Rams repeat? Don’t bet against it

There could be a case made against the LA Rams winning Super Bowl LVII. Just look at recent history. The combination of the tougher schedule, attrition of coaches and players in the offseason, the last draft position of the team of all 32 teams, and the challenge of remaining hungry for that title have been almost impossible to overcome for defending NFL Champions.

But these are the LA Rams. The entire 2021 NFL season was a case study of adversity and overcoming insurmountable odds. And the team is only now enjoying the second season of quarterback Matthew Stafford, the potential of WR Allen Robinson, and the stymying defensive prowess of ILB Bobby Wagner. So are the Rams players drunk with success? Or is there something else going on with this team?

When Chris Russo speaks, bet against him

Could these LA Rams witness the challenge of making history by being the last NFL team to repeat as Super Bowl victors since the Denver Broncos last accomplished the feat in 1998 and 1999?

I wouldn’t want to bet against this team. Comparing this team with the LA Rams team that opened the 2021 NFL season, we would assert that the quarterback, wide receivers, defensive line, inside linebackers, and secondary are in better shape. The areas of concern are the offensive line, tight ends, running backs, and the outside linebackers.

But we have a full training camp ahead of us. We know that the front office will continue to improve the roster well into the start of the 2022 regular season, and we know that the coaching staff has a solid record of coaching young players up.