The Los Angeles Rams are entering the 2026 NFL season with one goal in mind: win the Super Bowl.
After an aggressive offseason, the Rams have transformed themselves into one of the most talented teams in the NFL. Los Angeles added superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett and made perhaps the biggest surprise move of the offseason by bringing Aaron Donald back from retirement.
Those moves have made the Rams one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LXI.
Stafford Still Running the Show
At 38 years old, Matthew Stafford remains the centerpiece of Sean McVay’s offense.
Stafford is coming off an MVP season and enters 2026 with one of the league’s best collections of weapons. His connection with Puka Nacua gives Los Angeles a dynamic passing attack, while the Rams will also look to their running game to keep defenses from simply dropping into coverage.
The biggest question is whether Stafford can maintain his elite level throughout another long season.
If he does, the Rams’ offense should be among the NFL’s best.
A Terrifying Defense
The Rams’ defense could be the biggest reason this team has Super Bowl aspirations.
Garrett recorded an NFL-best 23 sacks in 2025 before arriving in Los Angeles, giving McVay an elite edge rusher to pair with an already talented defensive unit.
Then there is Donald.
The future Hall of Famer officially returned to the Rams after originally stepping away from football following the 2023 season. However, he will not play in the season opener against San Francisco as the team takes a cautious approach with his return.
When Garrett and Donald are both healthy and on the field, the potential is frightening.
The NFC West Battle
The Rams won’t have an easy path to the playoffs.
The Seattle Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl champions, while the San Francisco 49ers remain a dangerous opponent. Arizona is also looking to take another step forward.
Still, many around the league believe Los Angeles has enough talent to win the division.
Anything less than a deep playoff run would likely feel like a disappointment.
Super Bowl or Bust?
The Rams have pushed their chips into the middle.
They have an aging superstar quarterback, a returning Hall of Fame defensive tackle and one of the best defensive players in football. They also have young stars like Nacua who could become even bigger pieces of the offense.
There are certainly risks, especially when it comes to the health and age of Stafford and Donald.
But if everything comes together, the Rams could be nearly impossible to stop.
Los Angeles isn’t hiding its expectations. This is a Super Bowl-or-bust season.
