3 NFC Teams that can prevent LA Rams from returning to the SB

If you look at most betting sites, the LA Rams are among the odds-on favorites to reach Super Bowl LVII from the NFC. In what would be a rarity as of late, that would mean that a team not from New England making back-to-back Super Bowls.  On paper, it seems only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers really have a chance to stop the LA Rams but let’s break this down and see if they are truly the only threat.

I will undoubtedly upset some NFL fans out there, as they will not find their team on this shortlist. While there are a number of quality teams in the NFC, very few are at the level of the LA Rams.  Teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles are being tossed around as a potential playoff team, even Super Bowl team but sorry, pump the breaks on that.

I’m not sold on their quarterback Jalen Hurts just yet.  What they were able to do last season, in making the playoffs, was impressive, yes. But in this league, your quarterback has to be a really good passer, and Hurts has some work to do in that area.

How ’bout them Cowboys?

Other teams I left out from the NFC were the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.  These are two other teams I’ve seen mentioned a time or two as playoff contenders, perhaps more frequently.  For me, the Dallas Cowboys aren’t there and it’s not a knock on Prescott, I think he’s a fine quarterback.

That team needs to move on from running back Ezekiel Elliot and promote running back Tony Pollard to their feature back role. Pollard is ready for the increased workload and for whatever reason, Zeke is just not the same Elliot of years past.

The loss of both wide receivers Amari Cooper and Cedric Wilson will be felt as well.  Young WR Ceedee Lamb will likely become the Cowboys’ number one receiving target.  But can he carry that on his own?  Who is going to help take some of the coverage away?  I don’t know the answer to this question, and I’m not certain that the Cowboys do either. Before you say Michael Gallup or James Washington, Gallup can’t stay healthy, and Washington hasn’t proven he can contribute in a consistent, meaningful way.

S’Kol’ed in Minnesota

The Vikings are another NFC team.  While they did hire former LA Rams OC Kevin O’Connell to be their head coach, they just were not good on defense last year.  Yes, they brought in some new talent, but it remains to be seen if they can come together and improve significantly.

The signings of former Green Bay Packers DE Za’Darius Smith and former Buffalo Bills DT Harrison Phillips will help their defensive front; however, both players are coming off injuries from a season ago and will need to prove they can be what the Vikings need them to be.  Phillips showed promise down the stretch, but he’s struggled with injuries throughout his career.

So let’s go over the odds, shall we? We are using the latest betting odds from WynnBET for this article, and you can find the latest betting odds here, courtesy of WynnBET