Rams Pull Together for Win over Tampa

Preseason Pick: WIN 26-23, 3rd in NFC West (5-10)
Actual Results: WIN 28-13, 3rd in NFC West (7-7-1)

The Rams are understandably downtrodden and disappointed, having lost their playoff hopes last week and officially losing all hope for the playoffs when the Vikings upset Houston. Despite all this, the Rams came out with one of their more dominating performances in the second half of the season, beating the Bucs in convincing fashion. Offense, defense, and special teams all contributed in an uplifting win that sets up nicely for next season, and more importantly, the season finale.

The offense came out firing on all cylinders, with Steven Jackson continuing to run like a madman and Sam Bradford performing well. An 83-yard touchdown pass from Bradford to Lance Kendricks early in the second half was the key moment of the offense this day. The O-line also continues to impress as it has all season long.

Defensively, the Rams were huge. A four interception effort (led by rookies Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins) contributed to a high quality day by the Rams defensive unit. The D-line was also impressive in two key fourth down stops. The Rams have been dominant all year on the defensive front, as evidenced by their second place in the league in sacks.

Overall, the Rams were very impressive, albeit slowing down in the second half. Continuity is key for the Rams, and they continue to push for a win. Playing too conservative has led to defeat in the past, and the Rams must not get back to that old habit. An interesting note I'd like to make, by the way, is that the Rams have been healthy throughout the year, for the most part. This has been a contrast to previous years where serious injuries have affected the Rams. Could a .500 season be an indication of the Rams only when mostly healthy? Only time will tell.

LOOKING AHEAD: Next week, the Rams visit Seattle at the friendly confines of CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks have been rolling opponents as they try to impersonate the great 1950 Los Angeles Rams. Despite the Seahawks' impressive performance against the Niners last week, the Rams should be able to give them at least some sort of a fight, due to their health. I still see a blowout in the midst, as the Rams have traditionally struggled against the Seahawks on the road. Despite that, a 7 win season is a vast improvement for a Rams team that looks to be a dangerous contender in the years to come.

Vikes end Rams playoff hopes

Preseason Pick: WIN 30-20, Tied 3rd in NFC West (4-10)
Actual Results: LOSS 36-22, 3rd in NFC West (6-7-1)

First off, let me say that the next few posts will be brief due to the busy holiday season. Now, to the game. Boy, what a disappointment. The Rams needed help getting into the playoffs going into this game, and with a loss the Rams have all but eliminated themselves from any playoff hopes. Furthermore, Vikings runningback Adrian Peterson continued to threaten one of the greatest Rams records in NFL history, Eric Dickerson's single season rushing yardage mark. This game was certainly disappointing on many fronts, but hope springs eternal for a feisty Rams team that never seems to give up. I like this team going forward, and I see them becoming just as good as the top teams in the NFC in a few years time.

Offensively, the Rams needed to play catchup most of the game. There were mistakes, but there were also many surprises. Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson are the building blocks of this team, and with Jackson potentially gone next year, there is the hope that Bradford can carry this team with his arm. He certainly proved he can be a passer, all things considered.

Defensively, the Rams are solid unit that will be very dangerous in the next year or two. They are strong up front, in the secondary, and in the middle. The only weaknesses include tackling and keeping opponents in front. It would also be nice to see more press coverage.

Special teams had a bad day, with Johnny Hekker and Greg Zuerlein both off in the comfy confines of the Dome. Despite the growing pains, this group had the potential to be very dangerous and a key part of the team. The only issue to work on will be consistency, both at home and on the road.

Overall, the Rams can hold their own with any team, so long as they keep the game close. Down 30-7 to the Vikings early, the Rams had little chance to make any sort of comeback (although they did make a concerted effort). The Rams could use more consistency, but they are playing like a team on the rise.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams go to Tampa next week. Although Tampa got shutout by the Saints, they are still looking to finish the year strong, just like the Rams. I always thought Tampa was a dangerous team, but they are playing a little erratically right now. The Rams could certainly steal this one, so long as they stick to the game plan of keeping things close (or blowing them out).

Rams come through in the clutch in Buffalo

Preseason Pick: LOSS 14-0, 4th in NFC West (3-10)
Actual Results: WIN 15-12, 3rd in NFC West (6-6-1)

The Rams ground out another close win against the Bills to make it a 3-game winning streak. The deciding play was a last second touchdown pass from Sam Bradford to Brandon Gibson in the back of the end zone. Offensively, the Rams have struggled all season, and played another miserable game that they should've lost (George Wilson had two picks right in his hands). Defensively, the Rams were surprisingly stout once again, and were markedly improved from last week (although the Bills made some really good adjustments). The Rams are but a whisper in the NFC Wild Card race, and had it not been for a few games, they could easily be in the thick of things with a 9-4 record. Alas, this Rams team won't make the playoffs, but at least they're not giving up hope.

Offensively, the Rams struggled mightily. Sam Bradford looked inaccurate at times, and the receivers couldn't get separation against Buffalo's stingy man coverages. Steven Jackson looked like a wild man again, but change of pace back Daryl Richardson has been quiet the past few weeks. The O-line continues to surprise. When left tackle Rodger Saffold got injured twice in the game, backup tackle Wayne Hunter performed admirably in his place. Right tackle Barry Richardson was also surprisingly good enough to keep Mario Williams out of the action for most of the game. Later in the game (particularly on the last drive), Bradford performed better (but was still somewhat inaccurate), and receivers Austin Pettis, Chris Givens, and Brandon Gibson stepped up big time on some acrobatic catches. A far cry from years' past since the era of Bruce and Holt.

Defensively, this D-line keeps the Rams in these close games. The D-line applied pressure to Ryan Fitzpatrick all day, and despite Buffalo's adjustment to a quick paced passing attack in the second half, the defense managed to keep up. The secondary played much better this week than last week, providing some press coverage (at last) as the Bills came out flying. Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller were a threat all day, but the Rams managed to contain them well. Overall, it was still a sloppy game, but I was more impressed by the defense this week than last week.

Special teams was strong in limited action. Johnny Hekker proved he can be a reliable punter, getting an amazing punt off on a bad snap before being drilled to the ground. Greg Zuerlein didn't have many chances to show off his leg in the rainy Buffalo weather, but perhaps that was for the best. Austin Pettis continues to improve on kick returns and make smart decisions with the ball.

Overall, a very sloppy but good win for the Rams. The defense really saved the terrible showing by the offense in this one. It's now been three wins in a row for the Rams, but you couldn't define any as signature wins. The Rams have played teams close all season, and the next step would be to start putting on some blowouts. Unfortunately, the Rams play three very tough teams in the last three weeks, all of which I see as losses right now. Nevertheless, a good season thus far.

LOOKING AHEAD: Next week the Rams head back home to take on a Vikings team led by runningback Adrian Peterson. Peterson is within grasp of Eric Dickerson's record for rushing yards in a season, and it should only make sense that the Rams would be one of the teams to try and prevent that. I predicted the Rams to win this one in the preseason, but I'm not so sure any more considering this dangerous Vikings team. The Vikings are also in the playoff hunt, so they'll be playing with added passion to AP's quest of the record.

Rams down Niners in 10 quarters

Preseason Pick: LOSS 40-27, 4th in NFC West (3-9)
Actual Results: WIN 16-13, 3rd in NFC West (5-6-1)

Well, it took 10 quarters, but the Rams finally beat the San Francisco 49ers in a game that was essentially "part II" of the tied game three weeks earlier. St. Louis eked out a win in this one with 26 seconds left in overtime, on a Greg Zuerlein field goal no less. As great as the win is, the Rams certainly got lucky in this one. Their play was questionable and downright dreadful throughout the day, but in the end, they managed to get it done, and that's all that matters. Here's a look at how each phase of the game did.

The offense once again struggled, scoring only 2 points the entire day (a 2-point conversion). Sam Bradford was ever the game manager, but he never did get this offense rolling. Most of his passes were short and over the middle, and there were many times where he looked gun-shy and got rid of the ball too quickly. However, he did prove that he still has some legs, running for a critical first down late in the game. Steven Jackson is a madman, and he consistently runs with aggression and passion. He is the epitome of an every-down back. The O-line is slowly starting to gel (and stay healthy), but discipline continues to be somewhat of a concern. Silly penalties have cost the Rams before. Receiver Danny Amendola was out, so Bradford had to rely on rookie Chris Givens to go over the middle every so often. Givens proved just how versatile he is and could slowly develop into a solid no. 2 receiver.

The defensive line continues to be very strong, with William Hayes and Eugene Sims coming on strong in this one. Robert Quinn was called for a questionable helmet-to-helmet hit on Niners QB Colin Kaepernick, which led to a scoring drive for the Niners. However, they were impressive in their containment of Kaepernick, save for a 50 yard run late in the game. That's the type of dangerous element that Kaepernick brings that Alex Smith doesn't. I thought the Rams would defend poorly against a dual-threat like Kaepernick, but they performed admirably. However, the secondary stunk, particularly rookie corner Janoris Jenkins. His touchdown (the only Rams touchdown of the day) was a superb read and explosion on a failed option fumble to Ted Ginn, but he was exposed in coverage on nearly every down. Mario Manningham, Michael Crabtree, and others simply ran slant routes on the sitting back Jenkins, allowing easy first downs deep in 49er territory. Jenkins also has a problem with tackling, since he seems to lead with his shoulder so much rather than wrap up. Jenkins must learn to be more physical and force bump-and-run coverage and make cleaner tackles if he wants offenses to stop picking on him. His playmaking is there, but his basic skills are still to be developed. Kinda like a young Deion Sanders, if you will.

Special teams also saved the day for the Rams. First let's start with the bad. Austin Pettis filled in for Danny Amendola on returns, and his play was somewhat questionable. He was so focused on fielding punts and kicks that he forgot where he was on the field, at one point fielding a punt inside the 5. He also relies too much on his lateral quickness to escape heavy traffic, instead of going upfield. He never managed to escape on Sunday and frequently lost yards he could have had. Johnny Hekker continues to impress, despite a 14-yard shank in overtime that almost gave the 49ers the win. Despite his shanks, he's still tremendous on punts downfield most of the time, and always brings the surprise trick play capability with his arm. That rookie Greg Zuerlein is a keeper, nailing a 53-yarder at the buzzer and a 54-yarder to win it. Zuerlein has been in somewhat of a slump, but when he's playing indoors, his accuracy is unbelievable (his power is always Janikowski-esque, inside or outside). The Rams shouldn't be too keen to lean on Zuerlein every time (especially next week in Buffalo), but he is quite the insurance for a developing offense.

Overall, the Rams played with the same intensity as the 49ers, despite the fact that the production was down from last time these two teams met. Nevertheless, the Rams remain undefeated in division play, and have proven that they can matchup with the 49ers every game. Luck had a lot to do with it this time, but thank god they managed to win and not end up tying again. They must, however, continue to improve if they want to get another road win.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams play a revived Bills team next week in what could be a sloppy game at Ralph Wilson Stadium (and I'm not talking about the weather). The Bills match up well with St. Louis, and could provide a challenge with their home-field advantage. The Rams may be flying high after the win against the 49ers and with whispers of the playoffs in the back of their minds. I still believe the Rams will fall into this trap game and once they're out of playoff contention for good, play with the pride that has allowed them to win.


Sidenote: As with the sidenote last week, this pertains to the Rams uniforms. The Rams wore their 1999 throwbacks in honor of their 75th anniversary and alumni day. These uniforms are generally the same ones as last year, save for the different shade of yellow and Nike making them. I love these unis a lot and hope that the team will consider going back to it in the rumored redesign taking place in several years. This is the first time all year that the Rams have worn a good uniform, save for the set last week and the blue top white pants look in the preseason (are they ever going to wear those?). Hopefully with several wins under their belt in these throwback unis, the Rams will be inclined to bust them out more often.

Rams Pick off the Cards

Preseason Pick: LOSS 20-17, Tied 3rd in NFC West (3-8)
Actual Results: WIN 31-17, 3rd in NFC West (4-6-1)

After a disappointing loss to the Jets last week, the Rams once again stumbled out of the gates with a lackluster first half effort. However, thanks to an improved defense and slowly improving offense, the Rams managed to pull together a much-needed road win over the hapless Cardinals. The star of the game was Janoris Jenkins, who became the first Rams rookie to return two picks for touchdowns in the same game. Other players like Chris Givens, Sam Bradford, and even Craig Dahl contributed as well to a nice win for the Rams late in the season.

The stars of this game played on defense, so we'll start with them first. Although the Rams only recorded a single sack of the rookie Ryan Lindley, they managed to keep Lindley at bay by hammering out 4 picks (2 by Jenkins, 1 by Dahl, and 1 by Laurinaitis). The Rams defense continues to improve week by week since getting shellacked by the Patriots in London. With a big game coming from Janoris Jenkins (including the first takeover in 5 games), this defense will only gain confidence heading into next week.

Offensively, the Rams kept to fundamentals. Sam Bradford had a good but not glorious game. His receivers are partly to blame, but Chris Givens seems to be a rising deep threat. Danny Amendola's injury concerns are very costly to this receiving corps, and they must be sure to upgrade this position heavily in the offseason. Steven Jackson was an animal, churning for yards and picking up first downs. His emotional mentality is vital to many plays. The offensive line is finally fully healthy with the addition of center Scott Wells. To wit, this line has played well throughout the year, but this unit specifically may have the makings of elevating it to the next level.

Johnny Hekker continues to impress, and his punts helped to keep Patrick Peterson at bay. Greg Zuerlein has cooled since his outstanding early season performance, missing an easy 35-yarder. He must calm down in such situations, because he can be a very reliable kicker when his head isn't up in the clouds.

After watching the Rams lose heartbreakers to Arizona last season, it was nice to finally see it from the other end of the table. Overall, the Rams turned in a surprisingly good performance. The Jets loss really helped catapult them into seriousness about turning the season around. Late season wins are hard to come by with this team, but the stretch gets easier and the Rams could finish around .500. The hardest game left is arguably against Seattle on the road in Week 17, or this week's upcoming game.

LOOKING AHEAD: The tie from 2 weeks ago continues where it left off, in a grudge match between the Rams and the 49ers. San Francisco has slowly kept chugging along, even with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback. To me, Kaepernick is the better quarterback for the Niners right now. The Rams have a tough time defending dual-threat quarterbacks, and Kaepernick has barely had the playing experience to still be fresh and un-defendable. If the Niners put in Alex Smith, the Rams may have a chance. But with Kaepernick in, the Rams will see a familiar offense to that they saw late in the game 2 weeks ago. Bottom line, I still see the Niners winning this one handily, but if the Rams can come down to Earth and play with raw emotion and pride, they may be able to steal this one (which is saying a lot).


Sidenote: I believe this is the first time the Rams have worn a non-monochrome uniform all season. Personally, I like the white on blue look. It mixes it up. My second favorite would have to be the white-on-white, since it looks so clean (and there is such a thing as too much blue). Of course, nothing can beat the gold pants look, whatever the jersey color may be. They really should bring that back.

Inconsistency Leads to Rams Loss

Preseason Pick: LOSS 23-20, 3rd in NFC West (3-7)
Actual Results: LOSS 27-13, 4th in NFC West (3-6-1)

I should've known better. No game is an "easy win" for the Rams. Not anymore. The young thriving defense from earlier this season has quickly transformed into a trailing group of ho-hum talent. Offensively, the team seemingly tries to avoid getting into a rhythm. The Rams came out with a great first drive, but little to nothing after that. Questionable coaching was once again present and the injury bug also hit a few times. Basically, the Rams fell right into the Jets' trap game. Hard.

I still believe Sam Bradford can bee this franchise's quarterback. He hasn't lived up to his number one overall draft selection, however, and certainly never will. But Bradford can certainly be efficient when needed, but consistency has been a problem. Bradford threw some really nice anticipation throws last week against the Niners. This week, he was off on his deep balls and went to covered receivers on his dinking and dunking. It seemed that the Bradford of Thursday Night Football against the Cards was back. Granted, the receivers hardly ever get separation underneath on crossing routes. This is why Danny Amendola is so critical to this team. He is the only receiver that can operate his hands and body in space. Even when he's being tagged by a defensive back, he can still target the football without missing a beat. His ankle injury was of concern today, but he seemed alright afterwards. Steven Jackson is playing his hardest, and a passionate player like that is hard to come by these days. Daryl Richardson once again had ball control issues, as well as blocking issues. Hopefully the Rams find a way to use Pead or some other strong back to help block for Bradford, because Richardson is looking more and more like strictly a scatback. The O-line was average once again. Needless to say, that's a compliment considering expectations going into the season. However, they must continue to stay healthy and mesh.

Defensively, the Rams have always had weakness in the secondary. Mark Sanchez and the Jets successfully exploited this before committing to the run against the tough Rams front. The D-line has been looking somewhat stagnant the past few games. They're certainly tough, but they overpursue a lot. Frequently Chris Long and Robert Quinn are chasing down some runner or quarterback who has escaped the pocket with only a linebacker or two ahead of him. The linebackers have been tough this season but unimpressive in pass coverage. Because of that, a lot relies on the secondary, which hasn't necessarily been al that good. Jenkins and Finnegan are fairly average corners. Mikell and Dahl get fooled by certain route-runners. The defense will need to shore up this problem, because seam routes, out routes, and even certain hitch patterns are all the opposing receivers need to run in order to record a catch.

Special teams has become a source of anonymity on this Rams team. They all have high expectations, particularly Greg Zeurlein and Johnny Hekker. But now that the Rams have been offensively challenged, the kicking duties are mostly regulated to punts. Hekker did a pretty good job on an onside kick late in the game, but the Rams left no one back to catch the bounce just in case. Oh yeah, and they did a fine job of handling that Tebow guy too.

Overall, this game was sloppy and terrible. The coaches made a few questionable calls, the offense was terrible, and the defense was exploited. I thought this would be an easy win, considering the state of the Jets (even though I picked a preseason loss). That being said, the Rams have pretty much followed my preseason record for them, even though I expected much better results. A loss like this is not acceptable. This Rams team is starting to look like the one of old...inconsistent as hell. Perhaps an influx of youth and maybe a few veterans will change this team next year.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams face Arizona for the second time this season. We all remember what happened back in Week 5, and the Cardinals haven't really changed much since then. However, they gave the Falcons a run for their money today, ultimately losing. In the preseason I predicted a close Cardinals win. After the performance today by both teams, I'm sticking with that.

Rams Tie Niners in Wild Game of Mistakes

Preseason Pick: LOSS 39-17, 3rd in NFC West (3-6)
Actual Results: TIE 24-24, 4th in NFC West (3-5-1)

Well, well, well, what a surprise. Coming of the bye week for both teams, the Rams and 49ers played a close one in Candlestick yesterday, in a game that could not be decided by the end of overtime. For the 49ers, the game showed just how dangerous St. Louis has become, and just how much they need to shore up before next week's MNF game. For the Rams, it was simply a mistake-filled game of missed opportunities. Questionable coaching, questionable officiating, and mind-boggling penalties abounded. The Rams had this game in hand, and simply lost it. Up 14-0 early, they let the 49ers bounce back and take the lead. The Rams managed to take the lead with a minute to go, but a questionable timeout right before the go-ahead touchdown allowed the 49ers a chance to come back. And that they did. But the teams could do little in overtime, missing field goals and generally sucking. An ugly game throughout.

The Rams offense was surprisingly the best part of this game. Sam Bradford is starting to look more consistent, and shows that he can be this team's number 1 quarterback. Steven Jackson looked vintage Jackson early on, and Daryl Richardson provided the usual change-of-pace speed. The second touchdown drive was particularly impressive in this area of the running game. The o-line performed well in pass protection but got sloppy in run blocking as the game went on. Of course, their biggest drawback was the holding and false start penalties that stalled drives. Delays of game were also prevalent, and those simply killed a few drives. The Rams were constantly faced with third and longs later on, and if Bradford couldn't find Danny Amendola, it was a lost cause. Speaking of Amendola, thank god he is back, because the Rams really needed him for this game. Especially with deep-attack threat Chris Givens on the bench for violating team rules, the Rams could only establish a run game and short passing game. An 80-yard pass to Amendola was impressive, but nulled by a late penalty flag. Arguably a game-changing call.

Defensively, the Rams performed well against Alex Smith and company. But after Smith left with a concussion and Colin Kaepernick came in, I knew they were in for a long day. Kaepernick can extend plays much better than Smith can, and he can also escape the enclosing pressure around him. The Rams D-line can apply pressure well, but relies to much on the linebackers to contain any escaping backs. Time and again, the slow D-line is often left pursuing a speedy back to the second or third level of the defense, and that back frequently makes it to the first down marker before being brought down by fringe defenders. On designed blitzes, the Rams perform well, but coverage plays are frequently problematic. Granted, Kaepernick had an uncanny ability to pass in tight windows, but the corners made little effort to deflect the ball (partly because they were so far behind). The last drive was particularly draining. Over a minute to go is way too much time for the 49ers to simply move into field goal position. I knew they would be in trouble from the start, especially considering that the Niners almost scored a touchdown if they wanted to. If I were Fisher, I would've ran up the middle 4 straight times just to run the clock down a bit. The Rams must shore up their defense quickly, because the 49ers managed to establish both the run and, to some extent, the pass against the trailing Rams defenders.

Special teams...oh special teams. First, the good. The Rams successfully executed two fake punts to perfection, one of which extended the go-ahead touchdown drive late in the game. The kick coverages were exceptional, and managed to contain Ted Ginn pretty well. But special teams also had huge mistakes. Punter Johnny Hekker had his first shank of the season, allowing the 49ers good field position at a key time in the game. Greg Zuerlein missed a game-winner in overtime, partly because Hekker lost track of time (and thus took a delay of game penalty). Special teams definitely made big plays, but some were good and some were very bad.

Perhaps the story of this game was the running clock that the refs allowed during a measurement. The refs also made other questionable calls and non-calls, but I won't really go too much in depth with this. The only thing that matters is that the game ended in a tie, and if the refs brought that upon themselves and the leagues, so be it. But the outcome cannot be changed, and this game didn't really allow either team to take control in overtime. The Rams did hold their own against the tough 49ers, but they couldn't seal the deal either, and thus couldn't move up in the NFC West. A lot of missed chances abounded in this game. The Rams tied, but this felt like a loss...because they lost a game they should have won.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams face the troubled New York Jets at home, and that could be just what they need to get back on track. The Jets are still trying to identify themselves offensively, and they haven't been the same since their Week 1 outburst. If the Rams can control and put pressure on Sanchez, and keep the defense honest, they could pull this out. If they perform like they did against San Francisco, I see an easy win for the Rams at home.

Rams Fall Hard to Patriots

Preseason Pick: LOSS 27-3, 3rd in NFC West (3-5)
Actual Results: LOSS 45-7, 4th in NFC West (3-5)

What began as a promising start for the game across the pond ended just as quickly as the Rams got embarrassed by the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. I must admit, after seeing the Pats last week eek out one against New York, I thought the Rams would put up more of a fight. A quick 50 yard touchdown to Chris Givens was a promising start, but in the end the offense couldn't move downfield and the defense couldn't stop Tom Brady. The Rams came to showcase the parity of American football and ended up coming home licking their wounds. Thankfully, the trip to London will no longer be a distraction for the foreseeable future. And with the Rams getting a much needed bye, it's time to recapture that early divisional magic just in time for the home stretch.

The offense struggled at times, to say the least. Sam Bradford was competent but never completely comfortable. It looked like he forced too many balls down the stretch, but in reality, his receivers simply could not get open. The running game wasn't much to boast about either, as the Patriots quickly sniffed out the likes of Steven Jackson and Daryl Richardson, although Isaiah Pead performed admirably late (against second stringers nonetheless). The receiving corps will get a much-needed boost from the likely return of Danny Amendola just after the bye ends. The O-line continued to shuffle around a bit, but hopefully the Rams will figure out some semblance of stability after the bye. Their best combo seems to be Hunter, Williams, Turner, Dahl, and Richardson, although the potential return of Rodger Saffold could move Hunter to the right. We'll have to wait and see what they decide.

The defense looked lost at times, but it was simply outperformed by the tenacious Patriot weapons on offense. There was little to no pressure on Tom Brady all day, and his receivers masterfully weaved into open seams in which Brady could deliver perfect balls. The defense never really got a groove and spent too much time on the field, becoming tired as the Pats continually harassed them over the top. Too many weapons can cause slip-ups, and loose coverage was prevalent as the game went on. The Rams have a quality defense that can play tough most of the time, but the Patriots figured out how to smash them in the mouth and then some.

Special teams play was average at best. Johnny Hekker had a busy day but performed well once again. Greg Zuerlein barely had a chance to show off his powerful leg. Kick returns and punt returns were good but not game-changing. Nothing to like or dislike in this department, really.

Overall, the Rams were demolished, destroyed, and whatever other word can be used to describe a 45-7 beatdown. The Patriots found their groove and the Rams didn't. It just goes to show how the Rams measure up to other sorry teams in the NFL. They really need to step up and figure something out on offense. Rolling pockets, play actions, whatever works. Simply put, this team could be in for a long second half of the season.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams have a bye week to analyze their season thus far before facing the San Francisco 49ers in 2 weeks. At 3-5, the Rams have certainly made progress this season. But a 3-13 record shows little to no improvement from going 2-14 the year before. The Rams had a signature win against the Cardinals earlier in the year, but the Cards just got crumbled by the 49ers tonight on MNF. The 49ers offense is slowly coming along, and their defense is always spectacular. If the Rams can't figure out a way to score points on this 49ers squad, a win will be out of the question. The Rams don't have the necessary tools to stall San Francisco on many drives, so they must convert first downs and whittle down as much time as possible. It's an ungodly task, and I expect the Rams will need a few more weeks to nurse their wounds and the laydown in London.

Rams Get Thumped by Rodgers and the Packers

Preseason Pick: LOSS 37-17, 3rd in NFC West (3-4)
Actual Results: LOSS 30-20, 4th in NFC West (3-4)

Remember this?

Week 7: GREEN BAY @ RAMS

Already considered a good season by Rams standards, St. Louis returns home to face a tough Packers squad. Aaron Rodgers has a field day against an injured St. Louis defense, passing for nearly 350 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Rams keep the game close at first, but the Pack eventually pulls away with a big win.
LOSS 37-17, 3rd in NFC West (3-4)

Okay, so the Rams defense wasn't exactly all that banged up, and the final score margin wasn't quite as big, but Aaron Rodgers did indeed have a field day against the Rams, passing for nearly 350 yards (342) and 3 touchdowns. The Rams did manage to keep the game close (it was a one-touchdown game in the forth), but the Rams just could not stop a brilliant Rodgers and offensive attack from the Pack. In a game that felt like a road game (seriously, with the Rams in their road unis and the crowd chanting Go Pack Go), the Rams again missed an opportunity to upset the always dangerous Packers. With a two game losing streak and New England coming up next, this will be a key time for the Rams to hunker down and play hard before the bye.

Offensively, this team is still struggling to move the ball. Steven Jackson scored the first Rams rushing touchdown of the season, but the ground game was only okay at best. The Rams must establish a passing attack if they have any hope of pushing through on third downs. With the offensive line being a revolving door of injuries and washed-up talent, the blame can't all be put on Sam Bradford. But the entire offense was to blame in this one. Apart from the long drive at the end of the game in garbage time, this offense has never really been able to sustain drives that end in touchdowns. Frequently the receivers are running low underneath routes to compensate for bad protection. The coaches seem to trust their receivers a bit too much in YAC completions, and I cringe every time Bradford checks down to a tightly covered slot man in front of the first down marker. These receivers just do not know what it takes to get open or even adjust to the play. I think the Rams should use more QB rollouts, as it allows a certain degree of improv to receiver route-running. But as it stands now, there is little to nothing coming from simple dinking-and-dunking. Might as well just go for big plays every down.

Defensively, this team is still stout. You can't blame them for not being able to hold the illustrious Aaron Rodgers out of the endzone. Rodgers made some incredible throws, and his receivers (imagine if some of those guys were on our team) made amazing plays to attack the football. Frequently corners played tight, but simply got beat on the outside. The touchdown pass to Cobb late was particularly crazy. The defense managed to stop the running attack somewhat at least, but it was nothing to get excited about since the Pack returned to their signature passing game on the very next play. I think the Rams have found their defense that can certainly keep them in games. However, their offense is in need of huge improvement.

Special teams redeemed themselves this week, with Greg Zuerlein hitting 2 long field goals after missing some key ones in Miami. Johnny Hekker continues to punt well, which is always a good thing for a team that frequents 4th downs. Kick returns and punt returns were nothing to get too excited about, although they did manage to hold the dangerous Randall Cobb in check for most of the game.

Overall, this game was an expected loss, but I was pleasantly surprised that the Rams played until the final whistle, scoring a late touchdown in garbage time. Perhaps it was simply a glorified scrimmage in order to prepare for the next opponent in what will surely be the toughest test of the season. Nevertheless, the Rams offense certainly needs a lot of work.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams travel to London next week to take on the New England Patriots. Although I believe the Patriots aren't as good this year as they have been in years past (Tom Brady looks like he's lost a step), it will still be a tough team to face in what essentially amounts to a road game. The Rams made some interesting moves today, releasing much-maligned guard Quinn Ojinnaka and replacing him with the former Bear Chris Williams. It will be interesting to see if Williams' presence will bring some solidity to the line, or whether he will fall back to his injury-prone ways. The Rams will certainly need to keep the dangerous Patriots offense in check, but even more so keep it out of their hands. If they can establish their running game and even a semblance of a passing attack, they may have a chance for an upset heading into the bye. But don't count on it.

Rams Fall to Dolphins in Game of Lost Opportunities

Preseason Pick: WIN 20-13, 3rd in NFC West (3-3)
Actual Results: LOSS 17-14, 4th in NFC West (3-3)

The St. Louis Rams are back at .500 after a somewhat heartbreaking loss to the upstart Miami Dolphins. Although the Rams managed to run and pass pretty well on a stout Dolphins D, they couldn't manage to take advantage of opportunities as the game quickly slipped away from them. Mistakes and penalties really cost the Rams on this one. The ever efficient Greg Zuerlein missed three important field goals. The Dolphins managed to escape with a win under an impressive effort by Ryan Tannehill. But the Rams should've won this one.

The offense was vastly improved from last week. Against the Cardinals, the Rams could only establish their running game with little to no passing attack (apart from 3 or so throws). This week, Sam Bradford looked like his old self, throwing the ball with zip and confidence that he established earlier in the season against the Redskins. Of course, he still suffered in his pocket awareness, taking a critical sack late in the game that all but took the Rams out of a potential tying situation. Steven Jackson and Daryl Richardson ran extremely well; they are a great change-of-pace tandem. The receivers had some good catches, but several (notably a fumble by Chris Givens as he tried to turn upfield) were very close to being turnovers or drops. It seems that Brandon Gibson is Bradford's new favorite target with Danny Amendola out, but time will tell which receiver steps up. The O-line was very average. Good but not great. They overall performed well, but they didn't give much time in several critical situations. Still, they are pretty good considering the talent (or lack thereof) up front.

Defensively, the Rams played stout, but were exploited on several long drives by the Dolphins. Tannehill managed to get the ball out very quickly, giving the D-line little time to force pressure on the young rookie. When they did manage to penetrate, Tannehill frequently passed short over the middle or in the flats to uncovered runningbacks or wideouts. The key to stopping Miami's offense was forcing them into 3rd down situations. Unfortunately, they managed to move great late in the game, giving the Rams little time to tie the game. The linebackers were okay in coverage, but their tackling, once again, could use work. Same goes for the corners and safeties. There were some plays that could have been made, but the Dolphins exposed the Rams on several key plays to sustain drives.

Special teams, which was usually the strong point of the Rams, was terrible on Sunday. As said before, Greg Zuerlein was perfect on the season before missing his last three kicks. Johnny Hekker performed admirably in limited time. Janoris Jenkins and Chris Givens both fumbled returns, and the Dolphins took advantage on the Givens fumble. Brit Miller also made a costly error on a kick return that resulted in a Dolphins score. Special teams was certainly nothing to be proud of on Sunday.

Overall, the Rams should've won this game. The offense had its groove back, the defense was strong and kept the game close, and special teams made a few recoverable missteps. But the Rams just couldn't pull it out and let the Dolphins slip away as the South Florida rain drizzled down late in the game. Fortunately, the Rams head back home next week. Unfortunately, that game will be against the even more upstart Green Bay Packers.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams have played well at home this season, winning all 3 home games. That could change next week, as the Packers (who just got finished destroying the previously undefeated Texans) could have a field day in another dome. I don't think this game will be as close as I thought. The Rams have a good defense that maybe could've beaten the Pack earlier in the season. But if Green Bay is really out of their funk, the Rams could be in for a long day of passing and getting rocked. And if that's not enough, they have a London game against New England to look forward to (although that one may be close...but more on that next week).

Rams Go Over .500 under Primetime Lights

Preseason Pick: WIN 27-7, 3rd in NFC West (2-3)
Actual Results: WIN 17-3, Tied 3rd in NFC West (3-2)


The Rams continued their excellent play at home by defeating the previously undefeated Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football. The story of this game was undoubtedly focused on the Rams' stifling defense. St. Louis combined for 9 sacks on Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb, who frequently looked dazed and confused as the tandem of Chris Long and Robert Quinn assaulted the weak Cardinals line.The offense scored all the points, but after a fast start they quickly cooled. Teamed with the loss of Danny Amendola, this offense could struggle even more in the coming weeks.Here's a quick look at all phases of the game.

The Rams quickly got a touchdown on the opening drive with 3 nice passes from Sam Bradford. A long bomb to Danny Amendola along the sideline set up a nice touchdown pass to Lance Kendricks. But the Rams quickly feel under after that, going flat on the passing offense and slow in the run game. A couple of bad drops definitely fueled the offensive struggles throughout the rest of the game, but the loss of Danny Amendola was also a contributing factor. Amendola went out with a collarbone injury (which could have been life-threatening), a will be out until the last few weeks of the season. That leaves the Rams back a square one, with a plethora of average number 2 receivers that don't quite match Amendola's skill set. Steve Smith could get a look in Amendola's place, although I doubt he's as fast or sneaky underneath as Amendola. Austin Pettis could also get some looks, but his possession receiver skills come with routes downfield rather than underneath. It will be interesting to see how the Rams will handle this situation, given the talent they have downfield. Fortunately, they re-discovered the running game late, with the ever-talented Steven Jackson bulldozing his way for extra yards against the tough Cardinals defense.

Defensively, the Rams played with a tenacity that hasn't been seen in a long time. The D-line mauled the weak Cardinals, and the linebackers and cornerbacks continued to fuel an agressive attack that kept Kevin Kolb pressured all night. The only weakness in the defense seemed to be coverage downfield, but the Rams' secondary did a generally good job containing the Cardinals' receivers. With so much defense prevalent in the NFC West nowadays, the Rams must continue to assault opposing offensive lines and forcing pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The run defense is still a bit shaky, but the Rams were lucky that the Cardinals had issues at running back.

Special teams also impressed, with rookie punter Johnny Hekker booming long kicks to keep Cardinals return ace Patrick Peterson at bay. Peterson is shifty in the return game but doesn't seem to play with as much enthusiasm on the defensive side (his pick notwithstanding). Greg Zuerlein continued to boom field goals like extra points. The return game suffered a bit after Amendola's departure, but Janoris Jenkins served it well enough.

Overall, the Rams were very impressive on defense, but got really lucky on offense. Had they been stymied late in the game, the Cardinals could have easily tied the game. It's nice to see the Rams keeping these games close and taking advantage of the home crowd, but they must learn to advance their offensive philosophy a bit. They must learn to win on the road and take advantage of opportunities if they want to stay in games.  Especially with several offensive juggernauts coming up real soon.

LOOKING AHEAD: After a semi-bye week, the Rams head to Miami to take on the suddenly tough Dolphins. The Dolphins have greatly improved their offense under Ryan Tannehill in recent weeks, and their defense is also tough on the inside. The Rams will need to put pressure on the rookie and put up some points, as the Dolphins could potentially exploit the Rams on the outside. With a dangerous running tandem of Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas, the Rams' weak run defense could also be exploited. I think this could be a tough game, but if the Rams can keep it close and pull it out on the road, it would provide a huge boost going into the next two weeks against Green Bay and New England. The Rams also can't afford to lose much ground against the tough NFC West.

Rams Get Second Win Behind Young Kickers

Preseason Pick: LOSS 30-24, Tied 3rd in NFC West (1-3)
Actual Results: WIN 19-13, Tied 3rd in NFC West (2-2)

Rd. 6, Pick 171: Greg Zuerlein, K, Missouri Western

What's with all these indie picks the Rams are making? Never heard of Zuerlein, but the fact that he's a kicker doesn't help either. The Rams have a greater need at punter, where Tom Malone currently holds his spot. Are the Rams trying to send Josh Brown a message?

GRADE: C-

The above is from my immediate post-draft commentary regarding Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein. At the time, Josh Brown was still on the team, and it seemed unlikely that Zuerlein would play considering how solid Brown has always been. Also, the fact that the Rams actually drafted Zuerlein was a surprise as well, considering the large pool of college kickers that perform admirably in school but regularly end their careers once they graduate. But on this Sunday against the Seahawks, Zuerlein proved his worth and then some. Already perfect on the season and very impressive in the preseason, this kid has become the team MVP. He scored 12 of the Rams' 19 points, two field goals coming on a 58-yarder and a 60-yarder. He seems to kick the ball with ease every time, somehow getting a lot of power that almost looks, pardon me, Janikowski-esque. Considering how well he performed, it's easy to forget how well fellow rookie Johnny Hekker has been on punts. Up until yesterday, he was just a solid punter. But by throwing the Rams' lone touchdown pass, he became a "dual-threat" that the Rams can use on several trick plays. Granted, Hekker played QB in high school and threw some at Oregon State, but the fact that the Rams possess a weapon like that is great. Here's a look at all the units from Sunday:

The offense was a bit inconsistent, noticeably not being able to score any touchdowns throughout the whole game. Sam Bradford looked much improved from last week against Chicago, throwing the ball with touch and flair. Some passes were a bit sloppy, but he only had one interception on the day. The running game was better than last week as well, with Steven Jackson looking like his old self on severally running plays. But compared to Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, Jackson no longer possesses the speed or brutality to escape the first hit. If he tries to be too tenacious, he tends to hold the ball a bit loosely. Still, he did well considering the O-line's troubles recently. The O-line was efficient, only letting Bradford get sacked twice against Seattle's rough front. As long as they can perform well but not great, the Rams can improvise with shorter patterns in the passing game. They must, however, improve in run-blocking if this offense is to become a formidable one. The receivers were reliable but not always there. Danny Amendola led the game with catches once again, but several tight ends made big plays as well. Of course, Amendola caught the only touchdown of the day, on a pass from Hekker.

Defensively, the Rams continued to play extremely well. I thought that they would soften up a bit after the real refs came back, but they continued to execute and penetrate. The only problem seemed to be tackling, specifically bringing down Marshawn Lynch. Lynch ran with power and ease, frequently breaking tackles. Even counterpart Robert Turbin continued to evade the grabbing arms of Rams tacklers. Tackling has been a problem in recent (and forgettable) years, but the fact that Lynch kept getting positive yardage means the Rams must do a better job covering underneath. That was evident last week as well when the Bears kept gaining yards on underneath routes and screens to the flats. The corners performed well, forcing three picks on Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson and generally keeping the receivers at bay. A lucky game-clinching interception from Bradley Fletcher came when the Seahawks receiver slipped.

Special teams ruled the day. Zuerlein nailed four field goals, and Hekker threw a touchdown as well as kicking several great punts. There was a time or two when Hekker almost looked like his punt may have been blocked, but the Rams punt coverage team did an exceptional job all around. Kickoff returns were okay, excluding the end-around play that put the Rams on their own 5. The one key play came on an onside kick recovery after Seattle tried to get the ball back early in the second half. This Rams' special teams unit must continue to impress and avoid injury in order to perform as well as they did on Sunday. But for one day, they looked awesome.

The Rams managed to escape another close one. They put pressure on Wilson all day, and forced him to wait for windows to open. On several instances, a taller or more aware quarterback may have seen the openings underneath that Wilson frequently got. The Rams have gotta work on this and not bite on the great receivers that they will face next week.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Cardinals are a surprising 4-0, one of the last 3 in the NFL. They escaped a flawed but dangerous Dolphins squad last week, winning 24-21 in OT. With both teams on a short week, the Rams will have a lot of work to do. A win over Arizona will certainly attract the attention of national pundits, as the Rams break last year's 2-win season by winning their 3rd game in 5, and gain a step up in the competitive division. Of course, the Rams will have to improve greatly on offense. Arizona's dangerous D has managed them to an undefeated record, and the Rams will need to move the ball on this team if they wish to survive. The Rams D could face problems against a seemingly improved Kevin Kolb and the always dangerous Larry Fitzgerald, but they shouldn't bite on the deep passes. If the Cards really want to exploit this Rams D, they'll establish a run then play-action. But that's what this chess match will be all about: Running hard and stopping the run. This won't be the blowout I predicted over the preseason, but it will be a hard fought contest for both teams.

Rams Crushed in Chicago

Preseason Pick: LOSS 38-6, 3rd in NFC West (1-2)
Actual Results: LOSS 23-6, 4th in NFC West (1-2)

Okay, so I saw the Rams scoring two field goals, but the Bears and Jay Cutler didn't exactly shut them out as much as I foresaw. With all the craziness (and controversy) that happened in the NFC West over the weekend, the Rams fell to 4th place after a tough loss to the Bears in Chicago. Although the Rams played tough, they showed some signs of their previous teams during the mostly defensive battle. Let's take a look at what we saw.

The defense was the story of the game, harassing Jay Cutler early and forcing him to anticipate difficult throws. The Bears quickly discovered the Rams' over-happy blitz and rush packages, and quickly established a nice (but sneaky) little screen play that seemed to work effectively throughout the game. Once the Bears discovered to rely on Michael Bush and Khalil Bell, the Rams could not stop them. The D-line provided a lot of pressure up front, and the corners were solid for most of the day. The linebackers were okay but shaky at times. The problems with tackling that the Rams had in previous years showed it's ugly face again at times, which should not be a problem as this group jells down the road. Overall, the defense was satisfying. The pressure was certainly there. If they can become more controlled and reduce penalties (at least two or three Bears scoring drives happened due to bad Rams penalties), then this defense can be top-quality.

Offensively, the Rams sputtered. The O-line played down a notch from last week. Sam Bradford was hit all day and frequently had little time to throw the ball. Interestingly, he did not go to the quick passes underneath to Danny Amendola very often. The Rams were putrid on third downs and Bradford frequently held the ball too long waiting for his wideouts to get open. THe running game was efficient in early downs but the Rams frequently went to the pass as their consistency broke down. Brandon Gibson had an ugly drop that could've been a TD (ah, drops like it's last year). And now to the O-line. The were beaten a lot by the stingy Bears D. The Bears seemingly read the Rams with ease and easily converged on the football (like any good team). They were also astounded agile in open-field tackles, particularly the corners (which resulted in passes to the flats for only minimal yardage). Overall, the offense did need some work, but it was against a tough Bears D.

Special teams was good once again, although Johnny Hekker looked like he would have a punt blocked sooner or later. Greg Zuerlein is a machine, nailing long 40-50 yard kicks that proved to be the only points in the game. He is a great asset to this team. Kick and punt returns seemed to have coverage issues but the Rams must work on getting downfield on offense first anyway.

Overall, the Rams kept this game close for a half or so, but lost control after the offense sputtered on 3rd downs. The Rams were so efficient at converting against Washington that it makes you wonder if they were anticipating a tough Bears D and playing conservatively. The Rams definitely had chances, but the Bears managed to keep them out of the red zone all day. Fortunately there were no critical injuries, and the team looks like it will have a lot of work to do on medium or long yardage situations. They can't rely on Bradford staying in the pocket too long, but perhaps moving pockets or switchback routes might help some.

LOOKING AHEAD: By now you've probably heard about the team that's coming to town next week. As much as the controversy in Seattle still resonates, there will be none of that here as the Rams look to avoid falling victim to a dangerous Seattle team. Seattle has an offense that can play both wide open and narrow, so it will be key for the Rams to stop Marshawn Lynch and bring pressure on Russell Wilson all day. Sam Bradford will have to study up on the Hawks defense, since their coverage guys are big guys who can really attack at the football. If the O-line can play better than they did against the Bears, the Rams can certainly score a lot more points next week. The defense will have to step it up if the game remains close. This will be a tight and heated contest between two division rivals, and considering all that happened last night, a lot of people may have their eyes on this one. Let's hope that for whichever team wins, they're actually winners.

Rams Win Nail-biter in Home Opener

Preseason Pick: WIN 27-24, Tied 2nd NFC West (1-1)
Actual Results: WIN 31-28, Tied 2nd NFC West (1-1)

With Robert Griffin III throwing a 68-yard touchdown to Leonard Hankerson putting the Redskins up 21-6 in the second quarter, all hope seemed lost for a Rams team that had almost beaten the Lions a week earlier. And yet, thanks to a multitude of questionable calls and smart plays, the Rams managed to escape their home opener with a thrilling 31-28 win over the upstart Washington Redskins. This was a very physical and chippy game, but I must make it clear that the officials absolutely sucked in this game. I feel for both Rams and Redskins fans as many controversial calls swung the pendulum of momentum in this game unnecessarily back and forth. Players also started to get a bit chippy after and during plays, and the officials totally lost the game. By the time Josh Morgan threw a football angrily at Cortland Finnegan in retaliation (which forced the Redskins to kick a difficult 62-yard field goal to tie the game late) the game was already out of hand. One could easily blame Morgan's penalty on the officials' general ineffectiveness throughout the game, but we won't get into that. What's important is that the Rams have their first win of the season and are 1-1. An early win certainly guarantees that this won't be a winless year, but also shows the Rams have what it takes to possibly win a few more games this year. Let's take a look at the main phases of the Rams' game.

First up, the offense. Quarterback Sam Bradford picked quite a day to have a coming out party, throwing over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in the game, a rarity for the young Bradford. Bradford's performance was similar to his game against the Broncos a few years back, but Bradford was simply masterful in this game. Bradford really read the defense and called the audibles at the line, and generally went through his progressions well (although he still doesn't make as many reads as Brady or Brees, and typically only goes to his dumpoffs when the primary is covered). Bradford is still not comfortable throwing the ball into tight windows, but hopefully his accuracy and confidence will improve with time. He was certainly comfortable in the pocket yesterday, absorbing hits as he let the ball fly. The credit for Bradford's protection goes to the offensive line, who played outstanding. Aside from a few penalties, the O-line really played as a cohesive unit, giving Bradford just enough time to make throws without being pressured too much up the middle. And this O-line was without Scott Wells and Rodger Saffold for most of the game. Much props to those guys and the backups for stepping up. The receivers did a fairly good job of getting open, although the offense frequently exploited the Redskins' zone playing corners. Fairly odd, but the Rams did a good job finding open men in the seams, particularly Danny Amendola. Amendola was one of the stars of the game, catching 15 balls for 160 yards and a touchdown. Amendola is Bradford's safety blanket, so it's good to have him back. Runningback Steven Jackson performed well early, but a questionable touchdown call led to an unsportsmanlike penalty on Jackson, which followed with Jackson leaving for the rest of the game. Fisher revealed after the game that Jackson had a groin issue, which is concerning. However, Jackson's backup Daryl Richardson was marvelous (apart from a late fumble), and provided a real change of pace to Jackson's brute running style.

Defensively, the Rams were a little more up-and-down compared to last week. The defense is still way better than last year, but they showed glimpses of their past selves, making a big stop on one down and then giving up a big play on the very next down. The D-line provided pressure all day, and managed to penetrate several times to get a few key stops. James Laurinaitis had a solid game, and Jo-Lonn Dunbar also had several key plays. In the secondary, the corners were very hot and cold. I think this unit will be like that for the better part of the season. Finnegan and Jenkins can play tough, physical coverage, but when they are beat, they can get beat bad. Mikell and Dahl are serviceable safeties, but generally only provide insurance on the long plays. As such, it's up to the D-line and 'backers to make the most plays up front that they can. Playcalling was questionable (on both sides), and it pays to wonder whether one defensive coordinator could help the defense create an identity more quickly. But in this game, the defense managed to make one more play than RGIII, despite the fact that Griffin played exceptionally well.

Special teams was great, as usual. Punter Johnny Hekker got the Rams out of a potential jam by punting from the Rams' 10 yard line all the way to the Washington 21. Greg Zuerlein was perfect on field goals once again, despite almost missing one prior to a "Shanahan Freeze". The special teams play of the game goes to Matthew Mulligan, who blocked a punt deep in Redskins territory, then scored a nice touchdown on a play action fake at the goal line.

Overall, the Rams were very solid, particularly on offense. Defensively, there's area for improvement, particularly in consistency. If both units can steadily improve, the Rams have a chance to win several more games this year. But before everyone gets excited about the new Rams, let me just say that they are not a playoff team just yet. They played two close ones the past few weeks, and could easily be 0-2 or even 2-0. The Rams must learn to separate themselves from the competition, and not stay too close in games.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Rams are surely looking to build off their steadily rising success against the Bears next week. Chicago got embarrassed against the Packers last week, and will be looking to move back into the conversation for the NFC Title. The Bears have a multitude of weapons and, unlike the Redskins, will have their top wideout available in Brandon Marshall. The Rams defense will really have to step up in this one, since the loss of Matt Forte will undoubtedly give the Bears more incentive to throw. Of course, the Bears defense is no slouch either, and could give the new look Rams offense fits if things start to fall apart. This game could be closer than I predicted in the preseason, but I still see the Bears taking this one handily. The Rams just aren't ready for a solid group like Chicago's.