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Rams Super Bowl chances hinge on 3rd down success

Fresh off a 12-5 record that nearly propelled them to the title game, the Los Angeles Rams kicked off the 2026 campaign as top contenders to take the NFC and capture Super Bowl LXI. However, their championship aspirations encountered an immediate hurdle with an opening-week defeat against the San Francisco 49ers.

The setback saw Los Angeles register the league's lowest point total for the week—a dramatic reversal for a franchise that paced the entire NFL in scoring the previous year—and resulted in a drop from the pinnacle of national power rankings.

Adding to the frustration of the defeat, premier pass rusher Myles Garrett suffered a severe injury slated to land him on injured reserve. Head coach Sean McVay, who has experienced consecutive losses to start a calendar year just once during his tenure, is now counting on second-year outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart to elevate his performance in Garrett's absence.

The setback adds to a chaotic divisional picture that also saw Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Sam Darnold go down with a notable injury.