Rams' improbable worst-case scenario is one every team would envy

Imagine a worst-case scenario that still results in the Los Angeles Rams making the NFL playoffs and winning a game or two. That would be a major disappointment, but then, it's "worst-case" for a reason. Try as he might, that Rams outcome is about as dire as it gets for Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox. As far as catastrophes go, that's not so bad.

Indeed, compared to other worst-case circumstances, this one could slide in as a best-case scenario for more than half the league.

""If Stafford and Adams experience a substantial drop-off in 2026, the Rams are still likely to be playoff contenders, but they might not be legitimate Super Bowl contenders.""

Bleacher Report Kristopher Knox

Here's the more important thing. While a drop-off from Stafford and Adams would create a difficult season, it's also unlikely to happen.

Stafford-Adams connection has yet to peak

Quickly revisit the 2025 preseason. Stafford sat out training camp with a mysterious back injury that threatened his season. The Rams faced a legitimately terrifying worst-case scenario of starting Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback.

Then Stafford won MVP and would have led the Rams to another Super Bowl berth if the secondary could only hold its weight. Did anyone check in with the preseason skeptics afterward? Whatever pessimism exists about a potential "fall-off" in 2026, it can't hope to rival the actual crisis the Rams appeared to face a year ago.

Stafford's absence from training camp did, though, negatively impact the team in one real way. It prohibited any opportunity to develop chemistry with incoming receiver Davante Adams. It's easy to forget, but it wasn't until around Week 6 that the pair began to connect on a consistent basis. Unfortunately, injury forced Adams to the bench for the final three games of the season.

The short version? Stafford's and Adams' health injuries adversely affected more than half their season together.

Let's face it. Coming off the best year of his career at age 37, Stafford is at some risk of regression. Bullish as it might sound, it's also true that he and Adams could reach new heights this season. Even as the latter led the league in receiving touchdowns, it was, by his standards, a down year.

Yes, Adams will be a year older, like Stafford, and entering his 13th season. But, aided by a more thorough connection with his future Hall of Fame QB, he can absolutely return closer to his recent late-career production. Disrupted by a midseason trade, Adams had his last 1,000-yard campaign in 2024 catching passes from guess-the-Raiders-QB and a geriatric Jets Aaron Rodgers.

Now he has No. 9. Reproducing similar numbers could be as simple as Adams staying mostly healthy through all 17 games. In that case, LA's offense will be a strong contender to repeat as the NFL's top-scoring unit.

To that point, for Knox, the Rams' best-case scenario means simply staying on track. Steady as she goes. No breakout seasons. No dominoes all falling in synchrony. Just a team that was oh-so-close in 2025 playing at a similar level in 2026.

Not convinced? Well, sit tight and get ready to reconsider.

As always, thanks for reading.

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