"Hard Knocks" Super Bowl curse? Rams and Chargers reportedly will find out this summer

According to multiple reports, the excellent HBO NFL show "Hard Knocks" will try something new this summer, assuming there are training camps in the wake of the coronavirus: Featuring two teams instead of one. They would be the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, who both move into the $5 billion-plus SoFi Stadium this season.

There has been no official announcement yet; one was scheduled to be made at last week's NFL annual meeting but that was canceled became of the pandemic. NFL Films, though, is planning for the show to go on as long as there is some sort of training camp. It's the first time the Chargers will be featured on the show and the second time for the Rams, who were on in 2016.

This may not be good news for either team's Super Bowl or even playoff hopes as there is a bit of a mythical "Hard Knocks" curse like the Madden NFL video game cover curse. It seems as if the Madden cover player always gets hurt that season, and indeed it happened again last year when Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes missed a couple of games. He had the last laugh, though, winning Super Bowl MVP honors.

As for "Hard Knocks," the past four teams have finished with losing records: Oakland Raiders (7-9 in 2019), Cleveland Browns (7-8-1 in 2018), Tampa Bay Bucs (5-11 in 2017) and the Rams (4-12 in 2016).

The last team to be on the show and make the playoffs that year was the 2015 Houston Texans, but they were routed in the Wild-Card Game 30-0 by Kansas City. No team has even made the Super Bowl the year it was featured on the show. The 2010 Jets came the closest, reaching that year's AFC title game but losing to Pittsburgh. A few years since it began in 2001, there wasn't a show. 

The 2020 Chargers are +2500 to win Super Bowl 55 at William Hill sportsbook and the Rams are +2800. Both lost big-name players this offseason in QB Philip Rivers and RB Todd Gurley, respectively.

"Hard Knocks" same season results

• 2001 Ravens: 10-6, lost in Divisional Round
• 2002 Cowboys: 5-11
• 2007 Chiefs: 4-12
• 2008 Cowboys: 9-7
• 2009 Bengals: 10-6, lost in Wild-Card Round
• 2010 Jets: 11-5, lost in AFC Championship Game
• 2012 Dolphins: 7-9
• 2013 Bengals: 11-5, lost in Wild-Card Round
• 2014 Falcons: 6-10
• 2015 Texans: 9-7, lost in Wild-Card Round
• 2016: Rams: 4-12
• 2017 Bucs: 5-11
• 2018 Browns: 7-8-1
• 2019 Raiders: 7-9