Will Jared Goff Make The Playoffs? History Says “Yes”

Los Angeles Rams Quarterback Jared Goff. Photo Credit: Ryan Dyrud | The LAFB Network
Los Angeles Rams Quarterback Jared Goff. Photo Credit: Ryan Dyrud | The LAFB Network

The Rams sit at 5-3 and are currently out of the playoffs while Jimmy Garoppolo’s San Francisco 49ers and Russell Wilson’s Seattle Seahawks sit atop the NFC West and the Wild Card race. Many Rams fans are nervous that Jared Goff and Co. won’t even make the playoffs one year after their Super Bowl run. However, a look at recent history shows that Rams staff, players, and fans should not be worried. 

Will Jared Goff Make The Playoffs? History Says “Yes”

History Of Super Bowl Teams Since 2009

One stat should put many fans at ease: since 2009, every single team that lost the Super Bowl was able to make the playoffs the following season, including the 2014 Denver Broncos, who lost the 2013 Super Bowl to the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 43-8. 

If that stat doesn’t help with “ramxiety,” there is another. Since 2009, six of the 10 Super Bowl winners ended up making the playoffs the following year. 

Thus, 16 of the 20 teams to play in a Super Bowl made the playoffs the following year. Based on these numbers, it would be safe to say that the Rams have at least an 80% chance to make the playoffs. These are great odds. Out of these 20 teams, there are also a couple of success stories that should boost the confidence of Rams fans. 

Success For 2018 Eagles

The 2018 Eagles are a great indicator that the Rams shouldn’t stress about their slower first half of the season. The reigning champions at the time, the 2018 Eagles started their season with a 4-4 record through eight games. They needed a big second half of the season in order to make a playoff push. Instead, the Eagles proceeded to lose two games in a row, dropping their record to 4-6. At this point, it seemed that their season was pretty much over. However, they still had a mathematical chance if they finished almost perfectly. The mathematical chance became an objective reality when they ended up going 5-1 in their final six games to sneak into the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Of course, looking at how the playoff battle is currently shaping up this season, there is a good chance that 9-7 won’t be enough. If the example of the late push from the Eagles isn’t enough to put those attached to the Rams at ease, how about a look at the 2017 Atlanta Falcons?

Success For 2017 Falcons

Just like the Eagles, the 2017 Falcons started their season with a 4-4 record through their first eight games. Just like the 2018 Eagles and the 2019 Rams, the 2017 Falcons were coming off a Super Bowl season with a sluggish start and needed a great second half in order to make a playoff push. Matt Ryan and the Falcons ended up unleashing a 6-2 record in the next eight games to make the Wild Card at 10-6 while finishing third in their division. Rams fans should remember this team, as they ultimately defeated the Rams in Sean McVay’s rookie season. The 2017 Falcons should be an example that the Rams might not need to even move out of third place in their division (where they are right now) in order to make the playoffs.

Adding It Up

One NFC team that made the Super Bowl the previous year were able to rally late to make the playoffs in two consecutive years, both with worse starting records in their first eight games than the Rams currently have. In the end, 16 of the last 20 Super Bowl teams have gone on to make the playoffs the following year, with every one of those Super Bowl losers accomplishing the same feat. Not only do the Rams have the ability to follow in their steps, but recent history also shows that they have a 100% chance to do so. 

In other words, can Jared Goff, Cooper Kupp, Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and the rest of the Ramily make the playoffs? History says “yes.”