The Los Angeles Rams believe that veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is the missing piece to their championship puzzle. This opinion happens to be shared across the NFL, since oddsmakers currently view the franchise as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
But Stafford, embarking on his 13th season, has yet to win a playoff game. And he realizes that the immense pressure to reach new heights with the Rams will likely be a major talking point throughout the year, according to ESPN senior writer Seth Wickersham.
"I think he's really confident. But that said, he hasn't done it, and he hasn't been there, and he knows it," Wickersham told the Reiter Than You show on Monday. "I don't think it's ever something he'll talk about at-length on the record, but he's very aware of how he's perceived... In Detroit, he had to be perfect -- or at least he felt like he had to be perfect -- to win every week.
"Now he's going to a team where, winning is the expectation, and anything less than a Super Bowl is considered a disappointment. And that'll be really interesting... He understands how high the stakes are, and he needs to be ready for this season. Everybody is looking at him... It's real pressure..."
Stafford, who was part of a blockbuster deal between the Rams and Lions in January, spent 12 seasons with Detroit, and finished the 2020 campaign with 4,084 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 16 games. Since the trade didn't include an extension or a pay raise, Los Angeles has inherited the two years and $43 million remaining on Stafford's contract.
Although the Rams finished 10-6 and reached the divisional round of the playoffs last season, their offense wasn't up to snuff. With fifth-year starter Jared Goff under center, they ranked 22nd in the NFL in average points (23.3) and 25th in percentage of drives ending with an offensive score (34.2).
Los Angeles will open the 2021 campaign at home against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 12. According to the William Hill Sportsbook, the Rams currently have the best odds (+180) to win the NFC West, and the fourth-best odds (+1400) to win Super Bowl 56 at SoFi Stadium.
The entire conversation between Wickersham and Reiter can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Reiter Than You show on Twitter @sportsreiter and @CBSSportsRadio, and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.