The championship-or-bust Los Angeles Rams will soon play in their second Super Bowl under the stewardship of head coach Sean McVay. And barring some unforeseen circumstances, their performance this Sunday should be much better than what was displayed three years ago.
Despite finishing the 2018 season as the NFC's top-ranked offense in average points and average yards, the Rams were rendered helpless in Super Bowl 53, and limited to one measly field goal in a 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots. While speaking to reporters on Monday, McVay said that lessons learned from the defeat have helped him better prepare for the Cincinnati Bengals.
"I thought he was the right coach for the team. And you see as things evolve, he's the right guy," Hall of Fame running back and Rams legend Eric Dickerson told the Maggie and Perloff show on Thursday. "The great thing about McVay, his staff, and the organization is that, you don't hear a lot of noise coming out of there... It's pressure any time you go on the field. There's always pressure.
"I think he'll be more prepared for this. Going against Belichick, that was like a young boxer going up against a great Muhammad Ali. I think this time, being a favorite, being at home, having all the weapons you have... we should win this game. The only reason we wouldn't is if we turn the ball over too many times. That's our Achilles' heel..."
If the hometown Rams outlast the underdog Bengals in Super Bowl 56, they'll do so with veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford in control. In his first season with the team, the 33-year-old threw for 4,886 yards -- the third-highest mark of his career -- with 41 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Stafford also helped produce a historic season from stud receiver Cooper Kupp, who became just the fourth player to achieve the receiving triple crown since the 1966 merger.
Los Angeles and Cincinnati are scheduled to kickoff at 6:30 ET on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. According to FiveThirtyEight's projections, the Rams currently have a 68-percent chance to hoist their first Lombardi Trophy since 1999.
The entire football conversation between Dickerson and Maggie and Perloff can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Maggie and Perloff Show on Twitter @MaggieandPerl and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.