Alright, so the buzz out of LA is absolutely deafening this week, with everyone losing their minds because Aaron Donald just came out of retirement. Yeah, the Rams are suddenly being touted as Super Bowl LXI favorites, with some folks claiming you’re “just trying to be different” if you pick anyone else. But let’s be real, Seattle. While the rest of the league is busy handing out crowns in August, the Emerald City knows exactly who’s still wearing *the* crown: your Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
LA’s Shiny New Toys Still Have To Earn It
Look, we gotta give credit where it’s due. The Rams, despite finishing last season as the NFL’s second-best team, went hard this offseason. They fixed their cornerback problem in March, trading for Trent McDuffie and signing Jaylen Watson, making McDuffie the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback at one point. Then, over the summer, they pulled off what’s being called the “greatest defensive line combination in league history” with the return of Aaron Donald. Think about it: Donald, back at 35 after two years off, teaming up with Myles Garrett, who just set the NFL’s single-season sack record last year. If teams double Garrett, Donald will eat. If they double Donald, Garrett will eat. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was the NFL’s MVP last season, is back with his receiver duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. The Rams were even fourth in defensive DVOA last season before adding these beasts, and Sean McVay, a Super Bowl champion and Coach of the Year, is still calling the shots.
But Are They “Championship-Level” If They Can’t Beat The Champs?
Here’s the kicker though: for all that hype, the Rams aren’t perfect. Their special teams were awful last season and could be again. The offensive line has depth concerns. That receiving room is super reliant on Nacua and Adams staying healthy. And a major injury to Stafford, who’s 38, would sink them completely. Every team has worries, but the real obstacle for the Rams isn’t some phantom injury bug. It’s in their own division. That’s right. Your Seattle Seahawks won last season’s Super Bowl, and guess who we beat in the NFC Championship game to get there? The Rams. Every single one of our three games against them last season could have gone either way, but when it mattered most, the Seahawks, that “well-coached, deep team that was a historically strong champion,” got the crown.
The league can crown the Rams in August if they want. We know the truth. We’re the reigning champs, and we’re looking forward to proving it again, starting Week 1. This season is about defending our title, and every game, especially against those guys down south, means everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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