Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

We all have teams that we relentlessly defend or criticize here and there.

Well one team that is often heavily criticized whenever it’s brought up in my experience is the 2018 Rams.

It’s pretty easy to understand why. The NO-LA no call that effectively handed them the NFC Championship Game.

I’ve seen a lot of people unironically label that Rams team the worst team to ever be in a Super Bowl all because of that play (as well as the big game itself being viewed as the worst of the last several) and I was wondering how good or bad was that team?

My view is they are probably below average by measure of teams that lost the Super Bowl, but I’d probably take them over at least the 79 Rams, 08 Cardinals, 85 Patriots, and maybe 94 Chargers.

It’s probably a team that would be forgotten about rather than derided if that no-call never happened. What do you all think?

NFC champion or not, its hard to compare them to past teams that were allowed to knock the hell out of people on defense. Even the 94 Chargers would get after people but just had a terrible SB.

The Rams got that call and despite winning it all in 2021, still cant convert the city to their team. Gurley and Donald were of course, outstanding but Gurley didnt get many touches in that SB. It was stated that he was hurt but he looked fine to me. Donald had a bad SB game. He made up for it against the Bengals.

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Sun Dec 07, 2025 11:53 pm NFC champion or not, its hard to compare them to past teams that were allowed to knock the hell out of people on defense. Even the 94 Chargers would get after people but just had a terrible SB.

The Rams got that call and despite winning it all in 2021, still cant convert the city to their team. Gurley and Donald were of course, outstanding but Gurley didnt get many touches in that SB. It was stated that he was hurt but he looked fine to me. Donald had a bad SB game. He made up for it against the Bengals.

Los Angeles will just never be a ferocious NFL city on the level of a Philly or NYC/NJ, Pitt, Dallas...it can support a team just fine but it's Dodgers/Lakers first.

Their defense in 2018 had some really putrid performances. Even when they were sitting at 11-1, five of those games they gave up 30 or more (going 4-1 in those games thanks to their offensive prowess) A very uneven team, but well coached

Another reason why Chuck Knox should be in the HOF. Hard to convert a sunny, surf and ocean city into a football town. Only three HOF coaches led the team. Gillman, who like Vermeil would resign--with Vermeil having success only that championship season--and Allen not being retained. Tough place to coach. If McVay wins another championship, he will also make the HOF, whether they win the fans over or not ...