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In polling some of their writers recently about the upcoming season, NFL.com had some nice things to say about the LA Rams: Matthew Stafford was tied with Tom Brady as having the third-most votes to win MVP; Aaron Donald tied with T.J. Watt for second-most votes that he would win DPOY; and Jalen Ramsey also got a vote to become 2021’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Perhaps the only strange part of the whole article is that nine coaches got at least one vote to be the next Coach of the Year, and Sean McVay wasn’t one of them. But we also know that writers hate to think that the best team could have the best coach; Bill Belichick wasn’t in the top nine either, and Andy Reid only got one vote.
What other Rams could be up for awards this season?
Stafford would certainly be in the discussion for Offensive Player of the Year (he got no votes for it at NFL.com), and some have even mentioned him as a Comeback Player of the Year nominee just for the fact that he finally escaped Detroit. But DeSean Jackson would be more suited for an award like that one, especially if he stays healthy for 17 games and challenges the 1,000-yard mark.
No Rams will be considered frontrunners for a Rookie-based award, but the one person who might be just a game away from being featured in McVay’s offense is seventh round pick Jake Funk at running back. Though that award usually goes to a first round pick, someone like Funk isn’t unheard of; Sixth round pick Mike Anderson won the award as a rookie running back for the Denver Broncos in 2000.
More recently, third round pick Alvin Kamara and fourth round pick Dak Prescott have taken home offensive honors.
That’s not as common on the defensive side of the ball, and the most recent player to not go in the first two rounds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year was Jets safety Erik McMillan in 1988. McMillan was a Pro Bowler in his first two seasons, but he was demoted in year four, and out of the NFL after six years.
Those are some individual thoughts but what about the Rams as a team? Because expectations are predictably high after LA acquired Matthew Stafford in the offseason and many will say that the 2021 season is a failure if the Rams don’t at least come very close to winning the Super Bowl.
Do you believe they will?
Today’s Saturday morning poll is quite simple: What’s your win-loss prediction?
Remember: There are SEVENTEEN games now. No more 10-6 records. That team might now go 10-7 or 11-6 or 10-6-1, but know what “10 wins” is now.
Poll
What will be the LA Rams final win-loss record for the 2021 regular season?
This poll is closed
-
2%
17-0
(28 votes) -
0%
16-1
(8 votes) -
3%
15-2
(43 votes) -
12%
14-3
(138 votes) -
24%
13-4
(266 votes) -
29%
12-5
(321 votes) -
17%
11-6
(195 votes) -
4%
10-7
(54 votes) -
2%
9-8
(22 votes) -
0%
8-9
(6 votes) -
0%
7-10
(4 votes) -
1%
6-11 or worse
(12 votes)
You can explain your vote in the comments below and also your thoughts on individual award predictions.
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