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The Los Angeles Rams' 2018-19 campaign may have ended in heartbreak with a 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, but there is no question that they had a fantastic season overall.
So, can the Rams make it back to the Super Bowl this coming season and potentially win it this time around?
Obviously, getting back to the Super Bowl after losing the year before is never easy, and aside from the Patriots doing it this past year after falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2018, it is actually incredibly rare.
What can Los Angeles do to avoid falling victim to the curse?
Well, here are three X-factors for the Rams heading into 2019.
3. The Recovery of Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp played in just nine games this past season before tearing his ACL. When he was on the field, he was very productive, hauling in 40 receptions for 566 yards and six touchdowns.
The question is, can Kupp reach that level again after such a serious injury?
Think about how incredible the Rams' receiving corps will be if Kupp makes it back healthy. Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, and Kupp? Are you kidding me?
Both Cooks and Woods registered over 1,000 yards in 2018, and Kupp was on pace to come close to doing so had he not gotten hurt.
If he can get back to where he was pre-injury in 2018, Kupp will add another layer to an already dynamic Los Angeles offense that certainly could have used some extra pop in the Super Bowl.
2. Can Greg Gaines Replace Ndamukong Suh?
The Rams didn't even really make much of an effort to re-sign Ndamukong Suh in free agency, as the defensive tackle ended up inking a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Suh may not be the same player he once was, but he was still very productive alongside of Aaron Donald this past season, registering 59 tackles and 4.5 sacks and helping Donald rack up 20.5 sacks of his own. Suh was also a force in the playoffs.
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Can rookie defensive lineman Greg Gaines step in and fill that gap?
Los Angeles' defense was not all that great as it was in 2018, so losing Suh could end up hurting if the Rams can't find a way to replace his production. However, they seem to be very high on Gaines, whom they took in the fourth round of the draft out of Washington.
Of course, Donald will get his no matter what, but it will make Donald's job a heck of a lot easier if Gaines can take advantage of Donald getting double-teamed, or be so effective that opponents won't even be able to double team Donald.
1. Todd Gurley's Knee
One of the biggest mysteries in the NFL right now is the status of Todd Gurley's left knee.
Gurley has been coy about his health this offseason, only giving vague updates. He originally hurt his knee back in Week 15 and missed the final two games of the regular season, and although he gashed the Dallas Cowboys for 115 yards and a couple of touchdowns in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, he was a non-factor in both the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl.
Is Gurley finally 100 percent?
Well, we really don't know for sure, as he is not even participating in organized team activities. So, we may not get to truly know Gurley's status until training camp in July.
One thing is for sure, though: if Gurley is at all compromised, the Rams' offense will have some issues, as Gurley is the foundation of it.
