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Statistically, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff had a terrific 2018 campaign. He threw for 4,688 yards, 32 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 64.9 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 101.1.
But thanks to a shaky second half of the season and a horrific Super Bowl performance in a 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots, some are actually questioning whether or not Goff is truly the Rams' quarterback of the future.
As a result, there actually is some pressure on Goff heading into 2019.
So, here are three last-minute predictions for Goff going into this season.
3. He'll Set a Career-High with 35 Touchdown Passes
Goff threw 32 touchdowns in 2018 with Todd Gurley being the focal point of the offense and with Cooper Kupp missing half the season.
Now, Los Angeles will almost surely cut back on Gurley's workload due to his knee issues, which will put more responsibility on Goff's shoulders. Also, Kupp is back from his torn ACL, so he is yet another weapon for Goff in the passing game along with Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks.
Given that Goff will probably throw more passes due to Gurley's status and with the Rams having three very capable wide receivers, I expect Goff to improve upon his touchdown total from a year ago and actually reach 35 touchdown passes in 2019.
It's not a huge jump, but it will hopefully be enough to silence some of the doubters who are wondering if LA should move forward with him as the starter after his contract expires at the end of 2020.
2. He'll Lead the Rams to Another NFC West Division Title
The Rams won 13 games en route to winning the NFC West this past year, and in 2017, they totaled 11 victories on their way to a division crown.
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With the rest of the division not looking all that hot, it would be somewhat surprising if Los Angeles did not come out on top yet again in 2019, with Goff at the forefront.
Remember: the past couple of years, it was really all about Gurley. Goff was good, but Gurley was the main attraction, stamping his name among the best running backs in the league and representing the No. 1 option in LA's offense.
But now, with all of the concern about Gurley's knee, Goff may find himself in the featured role for really the first time in his NFL career, as it might actually be up to him to lead the Rams to another NFC West title.
1. He'll Do Enough to Earn a Contract Extension
Goff has two years remaining on his current deal, so the Rams didn't really have to extend him this offseason.
It's entirely possible that Los Angeles was a bit perturbed by his shaky (to say the least) outing in the Super Bowl, and, as result, the franchise wants to wait before officially tagging him as its quarterback for the long haul.
But I find it hard to envision a scenario in which Goff doesn't convince the Rams he should be their signal-caller going forward by season's end.
Unless Goff has an absolutely disastrous year, Los Angeles will probably end up signing him to an extension next offseason.
You can say he's a system quarterback all you want, but the fact of the matter is that he has been really good thus far, and if you're going to let him go, you have to find a replacement, and the Rams should know better than anyone else how difficult it is to find a franchise quarterback.
