6 problems that could stop Rams' superteam from winning 2026 Super Bowl

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The Los Angeles Rams are the Super Bowl favorites this season, and for good reason. Not only were they a top-tier team a year ago that didn't lose any big names in free agency, but they added some of the best players this offseason as well.

Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett are some massive additions, and they should be a major help in the pursuit of another Super Bowl title. But winning the 2026 Super Bowl is easier said than done.

ESPN's Bill Barnwell identified six ways that the Rams could fall apart in 2026 and fail to win the Super Bowl as the favorites. Even though it's a superteam for the Rams, there are plenty of ways for things to go wrong in 2026.

6 ways Rams could fail in 2026 amid Super Bowl pursuit

1. Rams face a tough schedule

"The schedule should be tough," Barnwell writes. "... The Rams project to face the second-toughest schedule in the NFL this season, per ESPN's Football Power Index."

The Rams facing a tough schedule, shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, as they're going to have to face the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, two of the best teams in the NFL, twice this upcoming season.

The Rams will also face the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and tricky teams in the Washington Commanders, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2. Rams might not be the only 'superteam' in the NFC

"Another superteam could unexpectedly emerge in the conference," Barnwell writes. "Right now, it's fair to project the Seahawks as the stiffest competition to the Rams, and I'd expect them to be around in January. But big seasons can come out of nowhere."

The Rams might be prepared for a good Seahawks team, but if the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams break out, or teams like the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions finally reach their potential, it could be a rough path to a Super Bowl.

The Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders, and maybe even the Minnesota Vikings could all be tough opponents as well. The schedule is tough, but come the playoffs, the Rams might have a gauntlet on their hands.

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3. Injuries and/or regression from the QB

"The QB could get hurt or take an unexpected step backward," Barnwell writes. This potential issue could come up for any team this upcoming season.

However, for the Rams with Matthew Stafford, there is likely greater concern about injury or regression. He came into the 2025 NFL season with some concerns about his back, and he's not 38 years old.

There is a lot of wear and tear on Stafford, and even though he just won MVP in 2025, it would not be a massive surprise if he regressed in 2026 or got hurt at his advanced age. It would be a massive letdown for the season to end that way, but it's possible.

4. Other players on the roster could get hurt

"Injuries might hit other key parts of the roster," Barnwell writes. "... A wider swath of injuries could also afflict the Rams. L.A. fans surely remember what happened to the defending Super Bowl champs in 2022."

While Stafford is a key to this team, there are plenty of other players they cannot afford to lose to injury. Garrett is an obvious one, and if Aaron Donald comes back, he, too, could be a concern injury-wise.

Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are players the Rams can't lose. Sam goes for McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Of course, the offensive line needs to be healthy as well. Injuries will always be a concern for teams heading into a season, and the Rams are no different.

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5. A 'weak link' could cost them

"A weak link costs them in key games," Barnwell writes. "We saw this in 2025, when subpar special teams cost the Rams a number of victories during the regular season."

While their special teams unit last year was a major reason why they didn't win it all, it should be a better unit this season, and there shouldn't be any worries on either side of the ball.

But if there was one group to keep an eye on, it would be the offensive line. Alaric Jackson is a bit of a question mark, and it wouldn't be a surprise if Warren McClendon Jr. struggled as a starter for the first time in 2026. If the OL struggles, it'll be a long year.

6. Rams lose in the Super Bowl

"They make it to the Super Bowl ... and lose," Barnwell writes. "... But even if they do get to the Super Bowl, the variance of a one-game sample and the difficulty of playing what should be a very good team on the other side of the field can swamp any sort of advantage."

This wouldn't be the most disappointing outcome, as they would've won the NFC and made it to the Super Bowl. But it's also a very realistic one.

If they make the Super Bowl, chances are they'll be facing a good team. It could be Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Josh Allen and the Bills, or Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Regardless of the opponent, it likely won't be an easy matchup, and as is the way of the NFL, anything could happen on gameday, even for a superteam like the Rams.

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Most likely way Rams don't win a Super Bowl

Barnwell highlighted six potential ways for the Rams to fail to win a Super Bowl this upcoming season. Of those six, a potential injury to Stafford might be the worst possible outcome.

Ty Simpson was a first-round pick, but there are still some unknowns about his game, and relying on him to win a Super Bowl, even with a stacked team, seems like a long-shot at-best.

A weak link emerging on this superteam doesn't seem especially likely. The schedule will be a problem, but this Rams team is the best in the NFL, and should win most of those tough games. Also, the emergence of another superteam isn't likely.

Of the six ways the Rams could fail to win the Super Bowl that Barnwell shared, the injuries to Stafford or other key players on the roster, or simply losing in the Super Bowl, seem to be the most realistic ways this Rams' superteam could come up short in 2026.

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