The Los Angeles Rams have had tremendous success under Sean McVay, and his rivalry with Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers has fueled an intense battle in the NFC West ever since the two arrived in 2017. The Rams and 49ers have battled over the division title every year, with each having three over the last seven seasons.
The 49ers have won the division two years in a row, but one analyst is projecting that to change in the 2024 season.
Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr released his 100 Bold Predictions for the NFL season. One of the many he made for the Rams was, in fact, the Rams winning the NFC West for the first time since 2021.
"Sean McVay & Co. laid the foundation for a divisional run last year. With the 49ers reeling from a stinging overtime Super Bowl loss, the Rams can capitalize on a bit of vulnerability and ride their two-headed passing attack to a 12-win season and at least one win in the playoffs. The Rams believed last year and, I think, felt like they could do some serious damage if they’d gotten past the Lions in the wild-card round. Alas, this is a year for unfinished business and to show how quickly general manager Les Snead turned over a roster after going all in for Super Bowl LVI."
I do think Sean McVay has built his most unstoppable offense yet, so them riding the waves of that success is entirely plausible. The Rams still face a few question marks before I feel like they are ready to be a 12-win team, but if things gel quickly, it wouldn't surprise me. McVay has missed the playoffs just twice in his career as head coach of the Rams, and I'd be surprised if that happened this year.
