As reigning champions, the Rams will of course be a team to watch this year. For the 2022-23 season the Los Angeles Rams have brought the band back, except for Von Miller, who is now with the Buffalo Bills, and Odell Beckham Jr., who is still recovering from an ACL injury.
Despite those departures, the Rams still have enough firepower to reach the playoffs and will be worth backing to do so if you can find the right price in NFL betting markets. However, repeating as Super Bowl champions can be difficult, and it will be tough for the Rams this year given the roster upgrades carried out by other teams.
The Rams are struggling to score going into the 2022 NFL season, especially in the fourth quarter, where they only managed three points from the first four games. That’s uncharacteristic of a team that had no trouble scoring during last year’s playoffs. But their defense is strong, keeping them in games and allowing them to win matches.
The Rams will likely find their rhythm at some point in the season. That’s how four of their last five seasons unfolded, ending in postseason berths. They have been to two Super Bowls in four years, but lost Super Bowl LIII to the New England Patriots. Meanwhile, their victory in Super Bowl LVI marks the first time they won the championship while based in Los Angeles.
The franchise was established in 1936 and was originally known as the Cleveland Rams. They initially operated until 1942 but ceased a year later due to a shortage of players brought about by World War II. They returned in 1944 and stayed in Cleveland until 1945.
In 1946, the franchise moved to Los Angeles and stayed there until 1994. They then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1995 and remained there until 2015. The Rams have been back in Los Angeles since 2016.
Aside from Super Bowl LVI, they’ve won Super Bowl XXXIV with a high-powered offense known as “The Greatest Show on Turf” to cap off the 1999 season.
Aside from those titles, the Rams also won NFL Championships in 1945 and 1951. They also have eight conference championships and 18 division titles.
The Rams play their home games at SoFi Stadium, a venue they share with the Los Angeles Chargers. It was opened in 2020 and has a capacity of 70,240 during football games. Given that Los Angeles attracts several million tourists and workers from all around the world every year, Rams games attract mixed crowds. Aside from their fans, supporters of the visiting team also flock in droves.
Therefore, it’s difficult for the Rams to feel a home-field advantage, especially if popular NFL teams are going on the road. That unfortunate situation rings true during their games against the San Francisco 49ers because it’s just a six-hour drive between the two cities. Still, football fans enjoy going to SoFi Stadium due to its state-of-the-art facilities.
The Rams have notable rivalries with the teams that share Los Angeles. They had the so-called “Battle of Los Angeles” with the Raiders until the Rams moved to Missouri in 1995. The feud was revived when the team moved back to the city, and the Chargers transferred from San Diego.
The Rams have also had a rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys, especially during the 1970s and early-to-mid 1990s. The Rams have a 5-4 edge in postseason matchups, and the overall series is at an 18-18 tie. The Rams won their last meeting back in 2020.
Aside from those teams, the Rams have intense battles with their fellow NFC West squads. Their rivalry with the Arizona Cardinals dates back to 1937, and they lead the overall series 48-39-2. Los Angeles also won in their playoff matchups and is on a three-game winning streak versus the Cardinals.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks hold a slight edge in their all-time series, 25-24. However, the Rams won their last three meetings. Finally, the Rams and the 49ers had an intense rivalry that was renewed last season. While San Francisco won their regular season meetings, the Rams had the last laugh after beating them in the NFC Championship Game.
The Rams roster is full of star power. Matthew Stafford won the Super Bowl in his first year with the squad. They also have Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr. from the backfield. Meanwhile, 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp leads their receiving corps with Allen Robinson II, Ben Skowronek, and Van Jefferson. Tyler Higbee is also a dependable target on short completions and third down.
Backing them up, the Rams have three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald on defense. Supporting him in the pass rush are A’Shawn Robinson and Leonard Floyd. The Rams added All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner and still have cornerback Jalen Ramsey to lead their secondary. Matt Gay remains their placekicker, while Riley Dixon is their punter.
