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Bernie Miklasz
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... f7b97.html
Let’s cut to the chase: The Rams have to find a way to win Sunday’s game at Buffalo. The pressure is on. This is an important test for several reasons:
1. With a victory the Rams (5-6-1) would reach .500 with three games left in the season. Did you expect the Rams to be a .500 team this late in the year? I didn’t. Coach Jeff Fisher, his staff and the players deserve respect for getting themselves into position to have a better season than anticipated. A late-season slide would be disappointing.
2. The Rams are a long shot to capture an NFC wild card spot. Realistically, the Rams don’t have much of a chance to pull it off, but if they want to keep the dream alive, they can’t afford to lose a winnable game. And make no mistake: This is a winnable game. Buffalo (5-7) is beatable.
3. The Rams must show they’re capable of success in games played outside the NFC West. Their 4-0-1 record in the division is a real sign of progress, and something to build on. But Sunday the Rams will go against another AFC East team after already having lost to Miami (by three points), New England (by 38), and the New York Jets (by 14). There’s no justifiable reason for the Rams to finish 0-4 vs. the AFC East.
4. The Rams have to go back on the road and win for the second consecutive time. The Rams got it done two weeks ago at Arizona for their first road victory of the season. But anyone can win a single road game; 15 of 32 NFL teams have won at least three on the road this season. We’ll know that the Rams are really growing up when they can find success away from the Edward Jones Dome.
5. The Rams have to establish consistency. After knocking off Arizona and San Francisco, the Rams have a splendid chance to win three consecutive games for the first time since the final three weeks of the 2006 season. The 2007 Rams beat New Orleans and San Francisco, then lost five of their final six. The 2008 Rams won their first two games (Washington and Dallas) under interim head coach Jim Haslett, only to collapse and lose their last 10. The 2010 Rams failed at their two chances for a three-game winning streak — losing by 38 points at Detroit, and by 18 at New Orleans.
This season the Rams got the town buzzing by defeating Seattle and Arizona to improve to 3-2. But the positive feelings were wiped out by an 0-4-1 winless streak, with the Rams getting outscored 143-78. Compared to a year ago, the Rams have better players, better coaches and a better record.
Winning a third consecutive game would be the next step in the Rams’ progression. A step back would be another blow to their credibility.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... f7b97.html
Let’s cut to the chase: The Rams have to find a way to win Sunday’s game at Buffalo. The pressure is on. This is an important test for several reasons:
1. With a victory the Rams (5-6-1) would reach .500 with three games left in the season. Did you expect the Rams to be a .500 team this late in the year? I didn’t. Coach Jeff Fisher, his staff and the players deserve respect for getting themselves into position to have a better season than anticipated. A late-season slide would be disappointing.
2. The Rams are a long shot to capture an NFC wild card spot. Realistically, the Rams don’t have much of a chance to pull it off, but if they want to keep the dream alive, they can’t afford to lose a winnable game. And make no mistake: This is a winnable game. Buffalo (5-7) is beatable.
3. The Rams must show they’re capable of success in games played outside the NFC West. Their 4-0-1 record in the division is a real sign of progress, and something to build on. But Sunday the Rams will go against another AFC East team after already having lost to Miami (by three points), New England (by 38), and the New York Jets (by 14). There’s no justifiable reason for the Rams to finish 0-4 vs. the AFC East.
4. The Rams have to go back on the road and win for the second consecutive time. The Rams got it done two weeks ago at Arizona for their first road victory of the season. But anyone can win a single road game; 15 of 32 NFL teams have won at least three on the road this season. We’ll know that the Rams are really growing up when they can find success away from the Edward Jones Dome.
5. The Rams have to establish consistency. After knocking off Arizona and San Francisco, the Rams have a splendid chance to win three consecutive games for the first time since the final three weeks of the 2006 season. The 2007 Rams beat New Orleans and San Francisco, then lost five of their final six. The 2008 Rams won their first two games (Washington and Dallas) under interim head coach Jim Haslett, only to collapse and lose their last 10. The 2010 Rams failed at their two chances for a three-game winning streak — losing by 38 points at Detroit, and by 18 at New Orleans.
This season the Rams got the town buzzing by defeating Seattle and Arizona to improve to 3-2. But the positive feelings were wiped out by an 0-4-1 winless streak, with the Rams getting outscored 143-78. Compared to a year ago, the Rams have better players, better coaches and a better record.
Winning a third consecutive game would be the next step in the Rams’ progression. A step back would be another blow to their credibility.
