Matthew Stafford is being touted as the quarterback most capable of taking the NFL throne from Patrick Mahomes, and the Los Angeles Rams are the betting favorites to win Super Bowl 61 at SoFi Stadium. The Rams currently hold preseason Super Bowl favorite odds of roughly plus 550 at DraftKings, ahead of the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens at 10 to 1. It marks the first time in at least 20 years that Los Angeles has opened the season as the Super Bowl favorite. But that confidence comes with warnings.
Stafford will be 39 years old when the Super Bowl kicks off, and only Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have won a Super Bowl at that age or older. History is also working against the Rams. Over the last 30 years, only four preseason favorites have finished the season as Super Bowl champions, and those teams were led by quarterbacks like Brady, Manning, and Mahomes. The Rams also have a target on their backs.
Every opponent will circle them on the schedule. As one analyst put it, it is very different being the hunted versus the hunter. Off-field issues add another layer of uncertainty. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the league is discussing potential discipline for wide receiver Puka Nacua and left tackle Alaric Jackson.
Jackson could potentially be a repeat offender when it comes to violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The roster is also top-heavy. Around 10 players account for more than 60% of the salary cap, meaning injuries would disproportionately affect the team. Despite those concerns, supporters point to the team’s complete profile.
Sean McVay is widely regarded as a top-five coach in the league and has consistently gotten more from his rosters than expected. The defense could be the Rams’ biggest asset. The team has assembled a group featuring Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner. Garrett is coming off a historic season with 23 sacks.
There is also the possibility of Aaron Donald returning from retirement. Even if Donald is not the dominant player he once was, analysts say he would not need to be. Paired with Garrett, he could create matchup nightmares for offensive coordinators. Stafford remains the central question.
While he is not Mahomes or Manning, he is still a future Hall of Famer who can manipulate defenses play-to-play. He does not need to run like a young quarterback, he needs to read defenses and deliver the football. Meanwhile, almost every other contender has unresolved questions. The Bengals, Bills, Ravens, Chargers, and even Kansas City face coaching or roster concerns.
The Rams are viewed by some as the most complete team in the league. If Stafford wins Super Bowl 61 and becomes MVP at age 39, the conversation around his legacy changes entirely. If injuries come, the cap-heavy roster collapses, or the pressure becomes too much, the hype could disappear just as quickly. Being the preseason favorite means nothing without a championship.
The Rams may have the talent to win it all, but Stafford has to prove he is the quarterback who can finish the job.
