Stafford and talented Rams roster are definitely headed to Super Bowl this season.

The Rams are going to the Super Bowl.

- BILL PLASCHKE

NOT ONLY is Sean McVay, right, the NFL's best coach, he's one of the most impactful leaders in all of sports.

There, I've written it, I can't believe I've written it, but I've written it, right here, first paragraph, in fanboy-living color.

The Rams are going to the Super Bowl.

Las Vegas has them at 9% wins. Bet the over. Bet it big. They will win Il games and a weakened NFC West and a soft NFC and then...

The Rams are going to the Super Bowl.

Don't succumb to the fears about Matthew Stafford's back.

Don't listen to the worries about the fragile offensive line. Embrace the ascending young defense. Love the bolstered receiving corps.

Trust the brilliant coach.

Seriously, the Rams are going to the Super Bowl.

Nobody else is saying it, but you know many folks are thinking it, and if I'm going to pen my annual Rams preview column, it needs to be said.

"I feel really good about this team," said Rams president Kevin Demoff, who in the last decade has engineered them into one of this town's model sports franchises. "This is by far the most talented we have up and down the roster."

The sunny hope for this season actually begins at the snowy end of last season. Remember? Who can forget? The Rams' young defense gave up 24 total points in the last three regular-season games that mattered, then held the powerful Minnesota Vikings to nine points in the wild-card playoff game, sacking Sam Darnold with nine crunches for minus-82 yards.

Then came the divisional round in Philadelphia, a game nearly stolen from the eventual Super Bowl champs but for two plays and 13 yards.

It was snowing, final seconds, the Rams were down by six but driving, 13 yards from the end zone, a winter wonderland... then a frozen nightmare.

Backup center Beaux Limmer allows Jalen Carter a free pass into the backfield and down goes Matthew Stafford for a nine-yard sack.