The Los Angeles Rams came into the offseason looking to find a way to become the first team since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004 to win back-to-back Super Bowls. A couple of teams have made it back, in the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs, but neither were able to repeat as champs. It's obviously a big challenge. Teams and players can naturally get complacent after winning a title. There are usually a number of big-name free agents who will be looking for paydays, ultimately heading out of town. The number of reasons why it is so difficult goes on and on. Yet, the Rams aren't listening to all that noise. They are going all-in, again in 2022.

On Thursday, news broke that the Rams signed eight-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner to a five-year $50 million deal.

The deal is reportedly worth up to $65 with incentives. That is such a massive signing and cannot be understated. Future Hall of Fame defensive end Von Miller left for the Buffalo Bills in free agency. That was a tough blow. This move more than makes up for Miller's departure.

Los Angeles was clearly not kidding when they said at the parade they wanted to run it back. Even without Miller, here are the three reasons the Rams should be considered the favorites to win Super Bowl LVII in 2023.

3 Reasons the Los Angeles Rams Should be the Favorites to Win Super Bowl LVII

1. MATTHEW STAFFORD WITH ONE MORE YEAR

Last year, there was so much pressure on Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to produce. Not only did he need to play well, he had to win a championship. It was looked at as championship or bust. After all, the Rams made the Super Bowl with Jared Goff a couple years prior. Granted, we all know there is no comparison between these two quarterbacks.

Nonetheless, he had to put them over the top. That's why they traded for him. But Stafford did more than take them to a title. He vindicated himself to all those haters who questioned him all year, saying “well, he's never won a playoff game.” Ummm, hello, he played for the Detroit Lions. I cannot tell you how many games I watched Stafford play unbelievably well, only to watch his defense give up a game.

Entering the 2022 season, Stafford has put all of that B.S. to bed. This is the year he firmly puts his name into Hall of Fame consideration. When he retires, he will undoubtedly have the numbers for it. He's likely going to retire in the top five of almost every single passing category.

But with another year in Rams head coach Sean McVay's offensive system, I expect him to play even better this year. Last season, he had that stretch where he was seemingly throwing pick-6's every game. That's not going to happen again. I expect Stafford to put his hat in the ring this year for league MVP at season's end.

2. All Three Levels of Defense Arguably Have League's Best Player

After the Rams signed linebacker Bobby Wagner, they filled the hole everyone has been talking about for five years. Aaron Donald is a seven-time First-Team All-Pro defensive lineman. After the Super Bowl, people are putting him in the conversation with Lawrence Taylor as greatest defensive players ever. Outside of Miller, the rest of the D-Line is returning. Ok, so defensive line, check.

The level of linebacker has long been a problem with the Rams. They certainly helped that area when they brought in Leonard Floyd a few years ago. But now with Wagner joining him, it is suddenly a point of strength for Los Angeles. Wagner in his 10th season last year, racked up 170 tackles. He's a tackling machine. His six First-Team All-Pro selections are second in the NFL since he entered the league. Only player with more, Aaron Donald.

Ok, well then the secondary is going to be the weakness. Wrong. The secondary was one of the better units in the NFL last year and they are all coming back again. That includes arguably the best cover corner in the entire NFL in Jalen Ramsey.

It's possible the Rams have the best defensive lineman, the best linebacker, and the best cornerback in the entire league, playing together.

Keep in mind, those stats in that tweet are only from 2016 when Ramsey entered the league. Both Donald and Wagner's resumes are even better going back further.

3. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Arguably, the most important reason the Rams should be considered the favorites to repeat is where they play. Los Angeles is in the NFC. You know, that conference where there might be three good teams, maybe. The only two you can actually count on are the Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Tom Brady.

The Green Bay Packers, in part thanks due to Aaron Rodgers' greed, lost a handful of key players. That includes their best weapon, Davante Adams, who headed to the AFC. As did future Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson.

It would be an easy argument to make that 11 of the 13 best teams in the entire NFL are in the AFC. Those teams would be the entire AFC West, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Baltimore in the AFC North, Indianapolis and Tennessee in the AFC South, and Buffalo and Miami in the AFC East.

Now, I am the last person that will ever count Brady out. I actually am a massive fan of his on the field. But the reality is he is going to be 45 years old. The defense likely is losing Ndamukong Suh, who is primarily responsible for their run defense being dominant every single year. Basically, I think the Bucs still have some questions.

The Rams, they just have answers.