Los Angeles is a beautiful city with nice beaches and phenomenal food. It is also home to two NFL teams: the Rams and Chargers. In recent years the Rams have been the dominant force, culminating in a Super Bowl win, but that has come at a cost with an ageing roster potentially in decline. On the flip side, Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers are viewed more positively by the offshore sportsbooks when it comes to their Super Bowl chances, but they will need to find a way to overcome the Chiefs on a consistent basis.
Let’s take a look at their realistic expectations for next season.
Rebuild or run for the title.
Let’s take a look at each team’s current situation and if they have what it takes to make a push to the Super Bowl or if they need to take a step back to rebuild.
Rams
It was only a few years ago the Los Angeles Rams were riding high. In 2021 they traded for Matthew Stafford, a quarterback held in high regard around the league, and he along with their abnormally young head coach Sean McVay led the team to a Super Bowl victory that same season. This momentum held strong for the next two seasons but they were unable to win another Super Bowl. In the latest season despite getting off to a slow start they were able to make a late-season push resulting in them winning their division, and making the playoffs. However, despite winning their first game they went on to lose in the divisional round to the Philadelphia Eagles.
This solid ending would convince most people that this team still has something left to give and could make a push for the playoffs. However, the bells of rebuilding are getting louder. Matthew Stafford has decided to play in the upcoming season , but they latest rumours suggest he could be traded. Add to that the future of their star wide receiver Cooper Kupp is still uncertain. Sean McVay is an outstanding coach, but their Super Bowl odds with the offshore sportsbooks will skyrocket next year if he’s left without talent.
If the team manages to bring back both players and with their young and solid defense there remains a chance their teams could make one final push for the playoffs. But with there being no guarantee of the team bringing back their key players they may be forced to rebuild with a new quarterback and wide receiver core they acquire in the draft.
Chargers
The Chargers since the arrival of Justin Herbert were always expecting to be a top-tier team but in Herbert’s first couple of seasons they were simply never able to meet their true potential, and a lot of the blame was placed on the head coach. That is why things were expected to change with the arrival of Jim Harbaugh who was coming off a NCAA national championship victory the year prior. He was known as a disciplined, hard-working, no-nonsense type of coach who was going to make an immediate impact on the team, and he did. The year before his arrival the team went 5-12. In his first season, the team went 11-6 losing to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round.
Coming off such a dramatic transition this team will not be looking to rebuild. Instead during this offseason, they will be looking to bring in a big-name wide receiver, re-sign their top running back J.K Dobbins, and find some youth to their secondary core which should be made easier with their immense salary cap space going into the offseason. With these additions, they would be set to make a push to the Super Bowl.
Conclusion
Both Los Angeles teams have shown they have capable players on their teams, but what makes them different is their prospects. The Chargers are a young, energetic team and have shown that with the right coach, they are a force to be reckoned with. With a team like this, there is no need to rebuild. The only thing they need to do is fill up those missing gaps in their defense and offense.
With the Rams however things are more complicated. Their quarterback is in the final years of his career and there is no guarantee he will end that career with the Rams. Their star wide receiver may leave, their offensive line needs help, and despite their youthful defense that side of the ball could also use some help. But ultimately the rebuild or push for the Super Bowl will depend on Matthew Stafford. If he chooses to come back then they may attempt to make one final push with him regardless of what happens to Cooper Kupp. If he goes somewhere else they will be forced to start over.
