![The Los Angeles Rams look for a title in 2018. [image source: Mario957 - Wikipedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/5/17/660x290/b_502x220x82/the-los-angeles-rams-look-for-a-title-in-2018photo-by-mario957-via-wikipedia_1994891.jpg "The Los Angeles Rams look for a title in 2018. [image source: Mario957 - Wikipedia Commons]")
The Los Angeles Rams and second-year prodigy Sean McVay are poised to contend for the NFL title during the 2018 NFL Season. In 2017, they were the most improved team offensively in NFL history year over year. People were skeptical of a 30-year-old head coach and confident the Rams had made a terrible choice in selecting QB Jared Goff, number one overall in 2016 and expending significant draft capital to make the acquisition.
The jury was out on third-year RB Todd Gurley who struggled in 2016 during his second season. Newly signed WRs Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods were question marks at best while Arizona and Seattle were the contenders for the 2017 NFC West crown.
A Magical 2017 Season
The Rams promptly responded by winning the NFC West with an 11-5 record. They led the NFL in points per game at 29.9 after finishing dead last in the statistic in 2016 at 14 points per game. Second-year QB Jared Goff flourished under McVay’s tutelage, throwing for 3,804 yards, 28 TDs against seven interceptions while posting a QB rating of 99.3.
Todd Gurley led the NFL in total yards with 2091 from scrimmage and a league-best 19 total touchdowns. Rookie WR Cooper Kupp finished fourth among rookies with 64 receptions and tied for fourth place, in touchdowns, with four. Free agent left tackle acquisition Andrew Whitworth played the position at an All-Pro level at age 38. Although the Rams were defeated in the divisional round by the Atlanta Falcons, playoff football returning to Los Angeles was delightful and the Rams were the biggest surprise of the season.
A stacked roster in 2018
Despite all the success offensively in 2017, the defense struggled, especially against the pass. The Rams, in free agency, acquired shutdown corners Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters via trade. The Rams sent draft capital to Denver for Talib and Kansas City for Peters while letting their own twice franchised cornerback, Trumaine Johnson, walk.
The Rams traded their first-round pick in 2018 for New England WR Brandin Cooks who will take the place of Sammy Watkins.
Perhaps their biggest acquisition was DT Ndamukong Suh, signed on a one-year contract for $14 million, pairing him with the best DT in the history of the NFL, Aaron Donald. While Los Angeles is lacking true experience on the edge, the interior of Suh and Donald, coupled with Talib and Peters on the corners, will wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
The Rams did not select until the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft yet somehow ended up with 11 draft choices total, mostly defensive and offensive linemen. Measuring Sean McVay's success in the draft will be an enjoyable experience in what is poised to be one of the best NFL seasons ever.
