The L.A. Rams had a redemption arc worthy of Hollywood in 2023 after doubling their win total from the previous season. It was a shame the Rams couldn’t pull off a deep playoff run following a tough Wild Card Round loss to the Lions. Despite losing to the eventual NFC runners-up, LA has a chance to repeat an odd trend in 2024.

That’s right, the last three times the Rams have lost in the first-round of the playoffs, they bounced back with a vengeance the following year.

In 1988, Los Angeles went 10-6, finishing in second place in their division before losing to the Vikings 28-17 in the Wild Card Round. LA would follow up that campaign by going 11-5 in 1989, again finishing 2nd in the division. The Rams advanced all the way to the NFC Championship before the 49ers absolutely kicked the crap out of them en route to a Super Bowl title. Same things just never change do they?

Then in 2000, the Rams, then based in St. Louis, went 10-6 with the worst defense in the league. It wasn’t surprising in the slightest that St. Louis suffered a brutal first-round exit at the hands of the Saints, losing 31-28. The Greatest Show on Turf went back to its winning ways in 2001, going 14-2 and losing the Super Bowl to those damned Patriots.

Finally in 2017, LA shocked the league under first-year head coach Sean McVay with an 11-5 record and the NFL’s top scoring offense. The Rams were silenced by the eventual NFC champs the Atlanta Falcons 26-13 in the Wild Card Round. Jared Goff and company followed up on their breakout season by going 13-3 and made it all the way to the Super Bowl, where they lost again to Tom Brady and those damned Patriots.

Regardless of those painful playoff defeats, the Rams have displayed the ability to capitalize on a promising year with an even better one. The McVay-Les Snead tandem is further proof of that trend. With the pair at the helm, 2017 was seen as a building year with 2018 providing the finishing touches. Perhaps this upcoming season will embark on a similar path.

We have a long way to go until we see whether history will repeat itself, but this will be a trend to watch once the season is underway.