Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth has indicated that the 2021 NFL season may very well be his last.
Of course, there was already plenty at stake for the Rams heading into this year. Not only are they expected to compete for a championship with the arrival of quarterback Matthew Stafford, Super Bowl LVI is set to take place at the team’s new home in SoFi Stadium.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to get the job done last season with their home field advantage in the Super Bowl. L.A. is well aware of how much it will mean for them to do the same.
Whitworth admitted during an appearance on Good Morning Football that the team is embracing their expectations to win it all this year:
“For us, that’s just the truth,” Whitworth said. “We’ve figured out how to win playoff games, we’ve made some runs in the postseason. And this time for us and this opportunity we feel like this team, nothing short of going to that Super Bowl and winning it is good enough. And that’s really the expectation level for us, even though we know that’s a slippery slope. But that’s where we want to be. And if that’s what you want, then you got to be able to speak about it and let people know that that’s the only thing you see is the goal, and the only thing you see as accomplishing this season is just going and winning a Super Bowl.”
There is certainly plenty of truth on Whitworth’s comments regarding their recent history in the postseason under head coach Sean McVay. This team has made it to the big stage before and are all too familiar with what it takes to get there.
The addition of Stafford is considered to be the missing piece to help them get to that next level. the onus will now fall on this group to make it come to fruition at SoFi at the end of the season.
Whitworth has enjoyed a stellar career as a three-time All-Pro and is even defying the effects of Father Time with his impressive return from a severe injury for the playoffs last year. It is safe to say that the elusive championship ring is all he needs to help him ride off into the sunset.
Fortunately, the rest of the team has been on the same page as him when it comes to expectations for this year.
