When the fell to the in the first game of the 2022 season, the road to a repeat championship seemed as if it might be especially difficult. Nearly three months later, the road is officially closed. And it's closed historically early. In falling to Austin Corbett Jersey the on Monday night, Los Angeles didn't just confirm its first double-digit losing season in more than a half-decade. It also tied the 1999 for the earliest playoff elimination of any defending champion, .After a 14-2 record and Lombardi Anthony Zettel Jersey Trophy in 1998, Denver fell to 6-10 the following year, mi sing the postseason entirely. The Rams, 12-5 before their 2021 title run, are now 4-10 after Monday's defeat, with three Jarvis Landry Jersey games yet to play. The 10 lo ses also match the Broncos for the worst total by any reigning Super Bowl champion.Only three other times in NFL history has a defending champion been eliminated from playoff contention with more than a single week left in the regular season. Should the Rams fail to register another win this year, their potential 4-13 mark would represent the worst ever recorded by a defending champ. Other notable title-winners to fall drastically the following season include the 1986 , who went 3-6 in a strike-shortened season; and the 1981 , Joel Bitonio Jersey who went 7-9 and mi sed the playoffs. The Rams, of course, look a lot different than they did when they hoisted Ray-Ray Armstrong Jersey the trophy in February. A handful of big-name starters, including quarterback , wide receiver and defensive tackle , have all mi sed multiple games due to injury and aren't likely to return this year.