But with the Rams, the wide receiver returned to the postseason for the first time since his final season with Green Bay in 2021. Now he’s back in the NFC title game, somewhere he hasn’t been since the 2020 campaign when he, the Packers and Aaron Rodgers were on a losing streak against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He will return to history with perhaps the most heartbreaking of his championship upsets, as Adams and the Packers were routed by the Seahawks in the 2014 NFC title game. Green Bay led, 19-7, with just over two minutes left in the game when Russell Wilson and the Seahawks rallied from the odds before winning in overtime.
“It’s hard not to think about it,” Adams said. “This kind of loss is going to last a long time. And we have an opportunity to change that now.”
Reflecting on this, Adams has a deeper perspective on what has been accomplished and how close he is to finally reaching the Super Bowl.
“Being back in a position where you have a great team and in a great situation, you definitely have a greater appreciation for times like this,” he said.
After his salad days in Green Bay, Adams had two-plus seasons with the Raiders and a year and a half with the Jets, seasons that produced nothing but sub-.500 success.
Aside from a hamstring injury at the end of the regular season, Adams’ first year with the Rams has been a success. He had an NFL-leading 14 touchdown receptions in 14 games and has helped Sean McVay’s crew to two postseason wins.
This next one will undoubtedly prove to be the most difficult as history has shown him. It will also be most satisfying if it is to be achieved.
“You do everything you can to get there,” he said. “It’s been so hard, and [I’ve] been working so hard on it. So we are close. We just have to finish it.”