Even before the Los Angeles Rams made the NFL offseason’s biggest move, they were the betting Super Bowl favorites. Now that they have acquired the reigning Defensive Player of the Year (Myles Garrett) to pair with the reigning Most Valuable Player (Matthew Stafford), expectations are clear.

It’s championship or bust for the Rams, especially with the added incentive of Super Bowl LXI being held at SoFi Stadium.

No excuses short of a catastrophic injury will be acceptable. That means all the pressure will fall on Sean McVay to deliver another Super Bowl title. The Rams (12-5) were close to winning it all last year. Their regular-season losses were by a combined 14 points, including some in the flukiest possible ways.

THE EAGLES BLOCK THE FIELD GOAL AND JORDAN DAVIS SCORES TO WIN THE GAME pic.twitter.com/Ne1rXmdW9q

— Eagle Times (@_EagleTimes) September 21, 2025

The Rams fell to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship, 31-27. But now, with the additions of Garrett and cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, along with the Seahawks’ notable offseason departures of Super Bowl MVP tailback Kenneth Walker III and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the Rams are the clear-cut favorite.

On paper, the Rams don’t appear to have a glaring weakness. If you want to quibble, you could point out a lack of depth at wide receiver. Puka Nacua is unstoppable, but Davante Adams will turn 34 on Christmas Eve. While he caught 14 touchdowns last season, Los Angeles could use a younger upgrade at that position.

We’re also assuming the special-teams errors that plagued this franchise in 2025 won’t repeat. They were so bad and so memorable that McVay fired his special-teams coordinator in December. If that unit had been merely average, the Rams probably would have had home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. 

MVP DPOY pic.twitter.com/0S5cd8sDYC

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 7, 2026

McVay (92-57) is obviously a terrific coach. He’s been to a pair of Super Bowls, winning one. He’s also the second-highest-paid coach in the league. But he’s never faced expectations like this. While the Rams look like a super team, they also compete in what should be the NFL’s toughest division. The defending champion Seahawks were 14-3, and the Rams and the San Francisco 49ers both went 12-5. You would think they could all win 12 or more games this season. However, according to NFL analyst Warren Sharp, the Rams have the fifth-hardest schedule in 2026.

Part of being a great coach is delivering when everyone expects you to win. It’s not always easy. Teams can implode under pressure. Coaches can run out of answers quickly, no matter how smart they are. Players can point fingers. Weird, unpredictable things happen all the time in the NFL.

No one saw the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl with Sam Darnold. No one saw the Kansas City Chiefs missing the playoffs.

Virtually everyone can see the Rams hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It’s McVay’s job to make it happen.

The post After Myles Garrett trade, it’s Super Bowl title or bust for Rams appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.

The Los Angeles Rams have become one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL following the acquisition of Myles Garrett, a move that dramatically altered expectations for the franchise entering the 2026 season. The blockbuster trade has not only strengthened the Rams’ championship aspirations but has also elevated discussions about where their defense now ranks among the league’s elite units.

Garrett arrived in Los Angeles carrying a reputation as one of football’s most dominant defensive players. Throughout his career, he has consistently disrupted opposing offenses through his rare combination of power, speed and technique. His ability to generate pressure without requiring additional help makes him a unique asset and immediately changes the way opposing teams must prepare for the Rams defense each week.

The addition becomes even more significant when viewed alongside the talent already present on the roster. Los Angeles has spent several seasons building a defense capable of competing with the NFL’s best offenses. Young playmakers have continued to develop, veterans have provided leadership and the coaching staff has established an aggressive system designed to create negative plays. Garrett’s arrival adds another layer of complexity for offenses attempting to navigate that challenge.

Perhaps the greatest impact will be felt along the defensive front. Elite pass rushers often create opportunities for teammates by forcing offenses to devote extra attention to stopping them. Garrett’s presence could lead to more favorable matchups across the line of scrimmage, resulting in increased pressure, more sacks and additional turnovers. Defensive success often begins with the ability to affect quarterbacks, and few players accomplish that better than Garrett.

Los Angeles Rams’ Defense Rises Up After Myles Garrett Trade

Los Angeles’ defense has risen to the number two spot in the latest power rankings. This is detailed more in an analysis by Gary Davenport for Bleacher Report.

While speaking to reporters in his introductory press conference, new Rams edge-rusher Myles Garrett said he plans to make an immediate dent with his new team.

 “The opportunity to come here and have an immediate and profound impact on a team,” he said, “it’s something that has me looking forward.”

Make no mistake, the Garrett deal was massive. The Rams were already a top-three defense. Now the team sports a front that is truly the stuff of nightmares: Garrett and 2025 breakout Byron Young on the edge and young tackles Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske inside.

The Rams’ defense is now being discussed alongside the league’s most respected units, a testament to the talent assembled throughout the roster. Rankings are ultimately subjective and will be determined on the field rather than in preseason projections. Still, the combination of established stars, emerging contributors and one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers has created considerable optimism that Los Angeles can become one of the toughest defenses in football.

Expectations will remain high as the season approaches, but the excitement surrounding the unit is understandable. The Rams have added a player capable of changing games on his own while strengthening an already talented defense. If the group performs to its potential, Los Angeles could possess one of the NFL’s top defensive units and a critical advantage in its pursuit of another championship.

The post Where Does Los Angeles Rams’ Defense Rank After Myles Garrett Trade? appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.

NASHVILLE — We are nearly a week removed from the blockbuster deal that saw star edge defender Myles Garrett traded. The Cleveland Browns just gave the Tennessee Titans their worst-case Jeffery Simmons scenario if things don’t turn around.

Simmons is a foundational piece, but the rebuild in Tennessee cannot be deterred by sentimentality.

Jeffery Simmons deserves the best situation possible

That could very well be the Titans if things go to plan in 2026.

A new, veteran staff under coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley could really help Simmons take his game to yet another level. Giving quarterback Cam Ward former Giants head coach Brian Daboll as a play-caller was a godsend. Drafting receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4 overall should also help raise the floor of a 3-14 team significantly.

There must always be contingency plans, however.

Cleveland traded a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. In exchange, the Browns got back two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jared Verse, a first-round draft pick in 2027, a second-round pick in 2028 and a third-rounder in 2029. It is considered one of the biggest trades involving a defensive player in league history.

Garrett had done almost no winning of consequence in Cleveland

Since drafting the perennial All-Pro No. 1 overall in 2017, the Browns only made it to the postseason twice (2020, 2023). Garrett’s lone playoff victory came in that COVID-stricken year against their division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Garrett’s accomplishments, though vast, are individual. Garrett, 30, set the NFL’s all-time single-season sack record in 2025 for a 5-12 Cleveland squad.

He is regarded as the best defensive player in football, and now has the opportunity to win a Super Bowl with the Rams.

Things in Tennessee are more optimistic around Ward. Titans general manager flipped the roster to the tune of more than 30 new players added through free agency and the NFL Draft. Simmons is coming off of a career-best season in terms of sacks.

Saleh has the right cast to both meaningfully improve Simmons production and the rest of the defensive unit in Tennessee.

Still, should the worst come to pass, Tennessee Titans fans must be prepared for drastic measures. All options must be on the table moving forward to help dig the team out of this ditch its been in.

Tennessee returns to OTAs on Monday, June 8.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.

This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Tennessee Titans worst-case scenario for Jeffery Simmons is exactly what just happened to Myles Garrett in Cleveland Browns trade

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