3 dream scenarios and 2 nightmare scenarios for LA Rams in 2023

Could the Rams get back to the Super Bowl? Or could the wheels completely fall off?
LA Rams, Matthew Stafford
LA Rams, Matthew Stafford / Jayne Kamin-Oncea/GettyImages
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A couple of years ago, these LA Rams were on top of the football world. Actually, it was just a year and a half ago, roughly, that the Rams were celebrating with the Lombardi Trophy.

That 2021 campaign felt like a dream for fans. Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Von Miller, Aaron Donald, Sean McVay and company were sitting pretty atop the league.

Then, the 2022 campaign came and went with a whole lot of nightmare-filled news. Last season did not end positively. Yet, there should be reason for optimism this coming season.

Of course, we know what some more broad spectrum type of dream scenarios would be for the Rams. A playoff berth, a Super Bowl appearance or win; those are fairly obvious. But, for a team that no one is really giving much of a chance to contend with the NFC's elite, there are three specific scenarios that fans would love to see unfold.

Matthew Stafford looks like the player of old

Regardless of how he looked entering last season and how the season ended for Matthew Stafford, the fact is, just two years ago he threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns as the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl.

Stafford is 35 years old with a few years left in him, assuming health. Obviously, that's a big assumption with his recent injuries. But, if Stafford can play the entire season and look like the Stafford of a couple years ago, then this Rams team still has a very good chance at competing in 2023.

The defense also might be one of the bottom five or ten units in this league, therefore Stafford could be in for a big year by default. Let's say he's healthy. Is a 4,500-yard season realistic? How about 35 touchdowns? That seems very reasonable, especially if Cooper Kupp plays the whole year.