The vibe around the Los Angeles Rams’ 2026 season? It is starting to mirror the crushing outcomes we saw back in 2020 and 2022, collapses that always led to big changes for the team. But if this season ends up being a washout, there is a totally different feeling around what comes next for LA. This time, the future might already be here.
From Goff to Donald: The Collapse Playbook
Remember 2020? The offense was just flatlining. The Rams finally hit the end of the road with Jared Goff, shipping him and a pile of first-round picks to Detroit for Matthew Stafford. Stafford injected some serious life into the passing game, letting Sean McVay really open up the playbook. Then came 2022, and it was a whole new kind of disaster. The offensive line was an absolute mess from day one, and it never got better. Stafford was getting clobbered and eventually went down with an injury himself. Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald were not far behind. The fix that time was not a flashy QB trade, though. The front office had a real heart-to-heart with cornerstone Aaron Donald, realigning expectations and completely rethinking their draft strategy. Donald bought in, agreeing to stay and help build the next era, but only if he was surrounded by guys who truly loved the game and played for the right reasons. That shift brought in a wave of fresh, “home grown” talent like Steve Avila, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, Puka Nacua, Braden Fiske, Jared Verse, and Kamren Kinchens. What a haul, right?
Why 2026 Isn’t The Same Old Story
We do not know for sure if 2026 is a lost season yet, but things are definitely pointing that way. Still, if the Rams drop out of contention soon, this collapse is built different. LA has already laid the groundwork for the future. Sure, there would be more big moves, but the framework is already in place this time around. The real game-changer here is Ty Simpson. A losing season would almost certainly mean the end of Matthew Stafford’s run. His individual performance has seriously slipped from his MVP year. Whether the Rams can actually find a new home for Stafford is up in the air, but making a move with a quarterback in his late 30s, clearly in the twilight of his career, would be the logical first step in any roster reset. The future is already on their roster.
The path ahead for the Rams is clear: win eight of their final 11 games to even sniff a wildcard spot. That is a massive ask right now. Dropping games they really should be winning over the next month would only speed up that quarterback change. While losing usually means total chaos, the 2026 and 2027 Rams actually have a blueprint. This time, that is a wild card in itself.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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