Entering the 2021 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams were firmly expected to be in the Super Bowl 56 picture. However, despite being one of the favorites to win the NFC, the season did not always go smoothly for the Rams. Let’s look back at the Rams’ path to Super Bowl 56.
Los Angeles Rams’ road to Super Bowl 56
Before the season began, the Rams had the fourth-best odds when it came to Super Bowl futures (+1200). With a projected 10.5 win-loss over-under, the Rams were tied with four other teams, including three from the NFC. However, even with those lofty expectations, they have still managed to exceed them by winning 12 games and making it all the way to the Super Bowl. Let’s take a look at how they got to this point.
The Rams roared out of the gate with only one hiccup in the first eight weeks
The first eight weeks of the season could barely have gone much better for the Rams. They went 7-1 and won six of their games by a margin of more than one score. Their toughest two games came in Weeks 2 and 4. In Week 2, they let a 17-6 lead slip and had to outscore the Colts 10-3 in the last 13 minutes in order to claim what would turn out to be a crucial win.
Week 4 saw the Rams’ Super Bowl challenge take somewhat of a hit. Against the division rival Arizona Cardinals, they found themselves down 24-13 at the half. In the second half, the Rams could only manage a late touchdown pass to avoid being shut out in the second half of the game. The Cardinals won comprehensively 37-20 and raised serious questions about the legitimacy of the Rams’ Super Bowl credentials.
The Rams season took a slide either side of their bye week
Coming off comfortable wins against the Lions and Texans to round out the first half of the season, the Rams faced a tough three-game stretch on either side of their bye week. The 6-2 Tennessee Titans came into Los Angeles and pulled out a hard-fought 28-16 victory despite the absence of Derrick Henry. Then, in the following week, the Rams missed the chance to deliver the knockout blow to the 49ers’ season as San Francisco stunned them 31-10.
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Most concerning for the Rams’ Super Bowl aspirations in that two-game period was how their offense was limited to just 26 points. Meanwhile, their defense had given up 59 points. Coming off the bye, the Rams faced a tough matchup with the Packers in Green Bay. Green Bay ran away from the Rams in the third quarter with 16 unanswered points. The good news for the Rams was their offense was back on track, but in a three-game stretch they had given up 95 points.
The arrival of some much-needed reinforcements
While things were not going to plan on the field, the Rams were making moves off the field to strengthen both sides of the ball. They made an audacious move to add Von Miller ahead of the trade deadline. Miller was in his final season in Denver and the Rams spent two Day 2 picks to add a top-tier pass rusher.
Meanwhile, the sudden breakdown in the relationship between Odell Beckham Jr. and the Cleveland Browns presented a unique opportunity. Rarely does a player of Beckham’s quality become available as a free agent during the season. The Rams were able to convince Beckham to sign with them and bolster their offense. The addition of OBJ became even more important when Robert Woods was injured during practice.
The Rams got their Super Bowl charge back on track
While Miller and Beckham could not make an immediate impact to stop the slide, their presence did start to be felt as the team turned things around in Week 13. Los Angeles comfortably beat the Jaguars 37-7 before getting a crucial win against the Cardinals to split the season series with their NFC West rivals.
Sitting at 9-4, the Rams needed to win at least three and potentially all four of their remaining games. If they did, they would clinch the division and potentially the No. 2 overall seed. They got wins against the Seahawks (20-10), Vikings (30-23), and, in a hard-fought game, the Ravens (20-19).
One last win in Week 18 would ensure the Rams would win the NFC West and clinch that No. 2 seed. Despite jumping out to a big lead over the San Francisco 49ers, they would lose 27-24 in overtime. That loss was crucial for a number of reasons. The Rams slipped from the second seed to the fourth seed while missing another chance to end the 49ers’ season.
Fortunately, a Week 18 loss by the Cardinals in Week 18 meant the Rams still won the division. Therefore, LA hosted the Cardinals in the Wild Card round, rather than having to travel to Glendale.
Things broke nicely for the Rams in the playoffs
It could not have gone much better for the Rams in the playoffs. They handled their business nicely against the Cardinals with a 34-11 victory. However, the 49ers upsetting the Cowboys meant the Rams avoided a trip to Green Bay. Instead, the Rams traveled to Tampa Bay in the Divisional Round. In the two seasons since Tom Brady arrived, the Rams were 2-0 against the Buccaneers.
Things looked like they were going perfectly for Los Angeles. The 49ers went into Lambeau Field and upset the Packers. Thus, whoever won the game in Tampa would host the NFC Championship Game. The Rams led 27-3 midway through the third quarter before things started to go wrong. The Buccaneers roared back to tie the game up with 42 seconds to go. Matthew Stafford stayed cool under pressure and found Cooper Kupp deep to set up the game-winning field goal from Matt Gay.
That all meant the Rams hosted the NFC Championship Game. Unfortunately, they faced a 49ers team who had beaten them twice already during the regular season. At the end of the third quarter, the 49ers led 17-7 with LA’s offense struggling for traction. A dropped potential interception by the 49ers gave the Rams hope and they roared back to win 20-17 thanks to another late Gay field goal.
That victory sent the Rams to Super Bowl 56. Incredibly, after the Buccaneers became the first team to play in their home Super Bowl, the Rams achieved the same feat just a year later. Even more incredible is that the Rams became the first team to host both a Championship Game and the Super Bowl.
