It used to annoy me every year when the pundits would "boldly" predict the most recent SB winner to repeat. They couldn't see how anyone could stop KC, New England, Seattle, NY Giants, etc. Wasn't Tampa the team to beat last year? Enough sportswriters said they would repeat at this time a year ago. Yet, nobody has picked the Rams as that team to beat. A few have said they would repeat simply because the NFC is weak in 2022 (and lose to the AFC in '23) but the glory of the last SB making them the favorites seems missing and now they will be worse than last year?!?

Fortunately the game isn't played on paper and LA, under McVay, seems to thrive on playing good teams, it's the poorer ones that have given them problems. So keeping the players motivated this year should be easier and McVay loves the challenge. At least nobody is going to be talking about a SB let down, this team (baring injuries) is as good or better than any Rams team I have watched in nearly 60 years.