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The Los Angeles Rams were seen to have improved after manufacturing a trade to acquire veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions. In return, they sent a 2021 third-round pick, 2022 and 2023 first-round picks, along with former starting gunslinger Jared Goff.
It is undeniable that the Rams have a roster that is capable of competing with the league's best, especially after coming off a season with a 10-6 record. They even managed to have an appearance in the NFC Divisional Round before getting eliminated with a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
However, the team's quarterback served as an integral piece that contributed to the level of success that the Rams managed to attain in recent seasons. At the same time, it also seemingly held them back from reaching their full potential as Goff played inconsistently under center. He often looked like a franchise quarterback on most nights, but also played like a second-stringer at best, especially whenever he fails to gain momentum on the field during some games.
With the heightened expectations surrounding the team after the Stafford trade, the Rams are still not worthy of being tagged as the favorites to come out of the NFC.
Upon assessing the rest of the playing field, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remain to be the top contender in the conference. Tom Brady is set to return for his second year with the Bucs as he plays out the final season of his two-year contract in 2021. Regardless of the result of their impending trip to Super Bowl LV, the entire Buccaneers squad will certainly be hungry to get back in the championship stage once again next season.
On the other hand, the Packers remain to be another formidable team that will be looking to avenge their 2020 campaign in the upcoming year. A week ago, Green Bay was initially seen as the favorites to win over the Buccaneers in the NFC title game, especially with the solid play of MVP front-runner Aaron Rodgers.
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However, a couple of miscues on both ends of the field ultimately cost them the all-important game as they narrowly lost on a 31-26 defeat. The tough loss will certainly sting the Packers in the coming months and will serve as their motivation as they aim to get back to the top of the NFC next season.
After Rodgers played one of the best seasons of his illustrious career, the Packers were convinced that the two-time NFL MVP is here to stay and will still have a lot left to offer moving forward. They will most likely commit to him in the near future and surround him with much better weapons, all while learning from their mistake in the 2020 NFL Draft from a year ago.
Despite the existence of two heavyweight contenders, there is no doubt that the Rams will certainly be a fun team to watch, especially in the NFC West. They are expected to challenge the reigning divisional champion Seattle Seahawks and pose a threat to a couple of resurgent squads in the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers.
Matthew Stafford will be bringing in veteran leadership and an invaluable playing experience after concluding 12 seasons in Motor City. With their new starting quarterback at the helm, the Rams are looking to deal damage to the rest of the league and live up to the lofty expectations that are expected to surround the team heading to next season.
