Most everyone else has the 49ers crowned. Cowherd is one of the few picking the Rams. I can see his point. Purdy is not elite like the shitter fans think. When that all pro talent starts declining you will see him struggle. That decline could happen this year. They are the oldest team in the league.
I understand that. I agree with the sentiment the shitters are in for a dip this year mentally. What that translates into, who knows, as their roster is among the strongest in the league. Truth though is that in Ratboy's system the QB has an elite run game, and Purdy is a very nice QB fit to run it. Which annoys me greatly to admit. Hopefully he comes up short when the chips are down in the playoffs.
Cowherd is much more perceptive about the game than most media types. You can tell he sees things clearly. Not the biggest fan of his but I give him cred where it's due.
Back to the Rams I will add that in a good McVay season there is a rhythm to it. Which is to say when he has the roster quality he needs. This season feels like the roster quality is there, or damn close. He should be able to get them into the playoffs and maybe into the deciding games where the big boys settle shit. But that rhythm of his two best seasons has included a good start (not great), a strong run to the midpoint, a mid-to-late swoon, and then a rejuvenated team that adjusts and makes its run.
What does it look like if the Rams can get a great start. And this is where I say they don't seem to handle being the front runner in the media very well. Usually in that swoon period the media hop off their dicks and then the Rams come back with full steam. But what happens if they start fast and position themselves as a top seed favorite early on. Hopefully we find out, but again the team psyche has not seemed to handle that very well. To date that has come with teams hitting us in the mouth and out-physicalling us in the trenches.
This is why the 2024 season is so intriguing too. McVay seems to have turned a corner in his appreciation for the trenches and I hope it pays off.