LA Rams: Look for the team to own the NFC West

The NFC West Division might be interesting in 2022. But its fate has already been cast. The LA Rams are securely in the driver’s seat with few challengers to unseat them. And as the defending Super Bowl Champions, the LA Rams should be enjoying their 2022 season.

It wasn’t always this way. The Seattle Seahawks were on top of the division for 18 seasons. From 2004 until 2020, Seattle dominated the West, winning nine division titles. Now, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is content with entering the 2022 season without a bonafide starting quarterback. The consensus is that they are content to tank and rebuild.

Out in the desert, the Arizona Cardinals looked to be on the precipice of breaking out. With young quarterback Kyler Murray, everything seemed possible. From division titles to championships, the Cards looked to be the next big deal in the West. It just didn’t happen.

“Pay me” Murray looking for a megadeal

Murray, who is still looking for a new contract, could be a distraction the Cardinals don’t need. Unfortunately for Kyler, the Cards can be notoriously slow with getting a deal done. Unfortunately for the fans in Arizona, 2022 could end up being a bust.

That really only leaves the San Francisco 49ers as the only team who could pose a threat, if you can call it that, for the Rams. Head coach Kyle Shanahan is not unlike Sean McVay. Both are young, well qualified to succeed, and can find a way to win games. While the quarterback position remains fluid in San Francisco, this is a team not to overlook. Will it be young QB Trey Lance or veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo? Not even the team can say with any certainty at this point.

With all that said, it is hard to see a scenario where the LA Rams don’t repeat as NFC West champions. Even if they suffer the almost inevitable Super Bowl hangover, this team has few if any significant holes on the roster.

As for a second consecutive Lombardi Trophy, that’s an entirely different conversation. The Rams have a very large target on their back, and while they have been a contender for a few years now, Super Bowl championships can be elusive. But stay tuned . . .