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Offseason in three or fewer words: Run it back

The Rams know it's much easier said than done; look no further than the 2018 season when they came off Super Bowl LIII only to miss the playoffs in 2019. But with a core of stars scheduled to return, including quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp, defensive lineman Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, their foundation remains intact. As Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff recently said, for the Rams to reach the pinnacle of fandom in Los Angeles -- think Dodgers and Lakers -- they must have "great season after great season after great decade after great decade." That means an offseason of no setbacks and only continued growth and focus to return to the Super Bowl next season. -- Lindsey Thiry

The Rams went all in and hit a royal flush. Sunday's 23-20 win over the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI was a testament to mental toughness, resiliency -- and the everlasting appeal of star power. Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp willed the offense to the go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes of regulation, then Aaron Donald crashed through the Cincy offensive line to force an incompletion that clinched the first NFL championship by a Los Angeles team since 1984. After the game, Donald dodged questions about potential early retirement, an offseason subplot the Rams and their fans can fret about later. For now, there's a parade to plan.

They validated all the moves by winning the Super Bowl. Now they have to deal with the usual things that come with winning a title.

Super Bowl champions for the second time, but Super Bowl champions of Los Angeles for the first. But after this big budget box office smash, the Rams might not be able to afford a sequel -- and may not be able to cast leading man Aaron Donald, nor cameo scene stealers Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr.

It worked, all of it. The Matthew Stafford trade; the Von Miller trade; the Odell Beckham signing. Each move the Rams made as they went into Super Bowl-or-bust mode in 2021 paid off. When it mattered most for the Rams in the postseason, their biggest stars, most notably Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald, rose to the moment. Before we can talk too seriously about the Rams' chances to repeat in 2022, we need to see what Donald decides about his future and how L.A. plans to handle free agents like Miller and cornerback Darious Williams.