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2012 - beaten in the last seconds by the lions
2013 - comeback win against the cards
2014 - lay an egg against the vikings
I don't see it.
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Rams schedule released
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2012 - beaten in the last seconds by the lions
2013 - comeback win against the cards
2014 - lay an egg against the vikings
I don't see it.
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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-schedule-win-loss-predictions-for-every-game
St. Louis Rams 2015 Schedule: Win-Loss Predictions for Every Game
By Steven Gerwel, Featured Columnist Apr 21, 2015
The official schedules for the 2015 NFL season are now available, so it's time to look at the upcoming season and predict the results for the St. Louis Rams.
After finishing with back-to-back seven-win seasons in 2012 and 2013, the Rams hit a new low under head coach Jeff Fisher with just six wins in 2014. That's not particularly troubling, given the loss of quarterback Sam Bradford for the entire season, but it's still enough to create a sense of urgency at Rams Park.
Fisher and general manager Les Snead will be feeling the heat this season. It's too early to make any definitive statements, but another sub-.500 season could very well spell the end for this current regime.
The Rams have the talent to compete and win against any team in the league—as we witnessed with quality wins against the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in 2014—but they must reach the ceiling of their potential and maintain that effort for 16 games.
Read on for win-loss predictions for all 16 games. The outcome will be determined by 2014 performance, matchup quality and other variables.
Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Loss)
The Rams have been known as slow starters under Jeff Fisher. The team has lost two of its first three games every year since he took over in 2012, so it's only reasonable to expect another sloppy start (at least in Week 1).
The fact that the season opens against the defending NFC champions only makes a slow start even more likely. If the Rams lost 34-6 to the Vikings in the season opener a year ago, what will the Seahawks do?
St. Louis has proven it can beat Seattle in the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams have done it two of the last three years. But this early in the season, the Rams might not be mentally prepared to take on a championship team.
If this game was five or six weeks into the season, after the players have acquired the taste for blood, it might be a different story. For now, it's safe to assume Seattle will take this game.
Week 2: at Washington Redskins (Win)
Due to the Rams annually getting off to a slow start, a Week 1 loss will quickly force the team to wake up. The last thing the team wants is to obtain an early-season losing streak and once again be forced to play catchup all season long.
The Week 1 loss to Seattle will motivate the Rams, and they'll take care of business in Washington.
St. Louis has held its own against the Redskins under Fisher. The team bested Washington in Week 2 of 2012 (and that's when Robert Griffin III was actually good), and they beat Washington in Week 14 last year.
New St. Louis quarterback Nick Foles is familiar with the Washington defense from his years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He should have the St. Louis offense performing better than usual, and the Rams will outscore a Redskins team that's struggling to find an answer at quarterback.
Week 3: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Win)
The Steelers dynasty has vanished, and Pittsburgh is quickly entering rebuild mode.
According to the Steelers' official website, both Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu retired this offseason, leaving two gaping holes in the secondary. The great defense that led Pittsburgh to two Super Bowl victories in the mid-2000s has been dismantled.
Not to mention, star running back Le'Veon Bell will possibly be out for this game thanks to a potential four-game suspension for a DUI, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports.
Bell finished second in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,361 yards and second in yards from scrimmage with 2,215. His suspension could be a crucial loss. The lack of a run game will allow the fierce St. Louis pass rush to pin the ears back and go after Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers are not a frightening team in 2015. The Rams should handle this one.
Week 4: at Arizona Cardinals (Loss)
Bruce Arians has been maxing out the potential of the Arizona Cardinals since taking over. There's no sugarcoating it—the Red Birds are going to be a brutal foe in 2015.
While the quarterback position is suspect given Carson Palmer's knee injury late last season, the Arizona defense is as strong as ever. The Cardinals are a defensive team after all, so elite quarterback play is hardly a requirement for success.
If you recall last season's Week 15 slugfest against the Cardinals that ended in a 12-6 loss, then you know Arizona's defense is every bit as dangerous as St. Louis'. Probably even more so.
It's a pretty evenly matched game. When two defensive powerhouses collide and beat the hell out of each other, anything can happen. It all comes down to which offense can secure those two or three big plays that make all the difference in a low-scoring affair.
With the Cardinals at home, the edge goes to them.
Week 5: at Green Bay Packers (Loss)
Beating the Packers seems like an impossible task, but that's what people said a year ago when the Rams faced the Broncos.
This isn't an inconceivable victory, and the team shouldn't view it that way. However, besting Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on the road is an uphill battle. Green Bay did not lose a single home game last season, and that's a streak the Rams will struggle to break.
Rodgers' mobility will help him evade the St. Louis pass rush, and those extra seconds will allow him to shred the Rams' suspect secondary.
Even the most positive St. Louis optimists will struggle to call this game a potential win.
Week 6: Bye Week
The Rams have a bye week in Week 6. This scenario has St. Louis entering the bye with a 2-3 record after tough back-to-back losses against the Cardinals and Packers.
The schedule softens up a bit from here on out, so read on...
Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns (Win)
While the Cleveland Browns have a competent defensive team, it's difficult to see the Cleveland offense exposing the St. Louis defense in the Edward Jones Dome.
Whether it's Johnny Manziel or Josh McCown under center, the Rams' pass rush will make it a long day for that passer. In fact, the Rams have faced McCown in each of the last two seasons—when he was with Chicago Bears in 2013 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014—and St. Louis was able to control him both times.
Cleveland also has a horrendous run game. It'll give the St. Louis defense a chance to focus on the pass rush and harass the quarterback.
Throw in St. Louis' home-field advantage, and this should be a winnable game for the Rams.
Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Win)
There are few NFL ships sinking more rapidly than the SS San Francisco.
NBC Bay Area nicely summarized the 49ers' offseason misfortunes. Star running back Frank Gore and star guard Mike Iupati have found new teams. Superstar defenders Justin Smith and Patrick Willis have entered the golden years of retirement, along with rising protege linebacker Chris Borland.
According to the report, Borland retired after just one NFL season due to concerns over concussions and the potential long-term health issues associated with playing in the NFL.
With so many core players gone from a team that already finished with a disappointing 8-8 record in 2014, it's only right to assume the decline will be even more drastic this season.
Not to mention, Jim Harbaugh, the coach who led San Francisco to the big game, is now with Michigan at the NCAA level.
Unless quarterback Colin Kaepernick's play has improved dramatically and he steps up as a truly elite quarterback, there's little hope in San Francisco.
The 49ers should become the new Rams and vice versa.
It's hard to get excited just yet. St. Louis is unparalleled when it comes to finding ways to lose and earning a last-place title. The Rams' ineptitude usually finds a way to prosper.
However, the 49ers' decline is so sudden and drastic, I think we can have a little hope.
Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings (Win)
The Rams did suffer a 34-6 loss to the Vikings in the opening game of Week 1, but that was a first-week fluke. You'd be foolish to believe the Vikings are 28 points better than the Rams on any given week.
A lot will depend on the status of running back Adrian Peterson. It's still too early to tell if he'll be a Viking next year. And if so, will he still be the same AP after turning 30 years old and being away from the game for a year?
If it's back to business with Peterson, it will put the Rams in a tough spot. The dominant St. Louis pass rush can only run on all cylinders when the run defense is doing its job. A good run game means 2nd-and-short and 3rd-and-short distances. Short distances means quick passes, and quick passes kill a pass rush.
Having said that, even if Peterson is with the Vikings, it's possible we'll begin to finally see him as a mortal this season. That doesn't mean he won't be a very productive back, but he won't be the same unstoppable force that has dominated the game since 2007.
Expect the Rams to come up big on the road and get revenge for last year's opening-week blunder.
Week 10: vs. Chicago Bears (Win)
The short-lived Marc Trestman era in Chicago was not a success. The Bears found themselves in last place in the NFC North with a miserable 5-11 record.
John Fox was an excellent hire for the head coaching vacancy, and he'll have the team on track very soon. However, Fox will need a mulligan year while he gets his type of players in place. Even the Broncos finished with a modest 8-8 record during Fox's first year in Denver, so don't expect an overly drastic rebound in Chicago. An improvement of just two or three wins is the most likely outcome.
With Jay Cutler still under center and the Bears offensive line still questionable, the St. Louis pass rush will have a field day. The Rams will use home-field advantage to pick apart Chicago.
Week 11: at Baltimore Ravens (Loss)
We're in the post-Ray Lewis and Ed Reed era, but the Baltimore Ravens have managed to stay afloat and will give St. Louis trouble in Week 11.
Despite losing key players after the team's Super Bowl win following the 2012 season, the Ravens finished with a 10-6 record in 2014. It was only good for a third-place finish in the AFC North, but the team still squeaked into the playoffs and defeated Pittsburgh in the opening round.
The franchise as a whole has a nasty resilience that few teams can match, so expect them to be players once again in 2015.
Both the Rams and Ravens boast tough defenses, but Baltimore clearly has the edge on offense. Since this is a road game for St. Louis, a victory will be hard to come by.
Week 12: at Cincinnati Bengals (Loss)
Few teams can survive back-to-back road games against fierce AFC North opponents, and the Rams certainly aren't one of them.
After facing Baltimore on the road the previous week, things won't get any easier against the Cincinnati Bengals. If this were Round 1 of the playoffs, the Rams could run away with the victory. Unfortunately, the Bengals actually get it done in the regular season, so that's a problem.
A tough defense and the consistently decent play of Andy Dalton will be enough to hand St. Louis a second consecutive loss.
Week 13: vs. Arizona Cardinals (Win)
The Cardinals are the real deal in 2015, but don't expect them to sweep the Rams as they did last season. It'll be tough to take down the Cardinals on the road, but they're a very beatable team at the Edward Jones Dome.
Even when the Rams hit a rut, they usually snap out of it and play tough against NFC West opponents. After losing two straight to AFC North teams, the Rams will return home re-energized and ready to make a statement.
Arizona will take the first contest, but this game will be St. Louis' revenge.
Week 14: vs. Detroit Lions (Loss)
The Detroit Lions defense will take a hit after losing Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley (who's now with St. Louis), but the dangerous Detroit offense is still very much intact.
Matthew Stafford is only 27 years old and has four consecutive seasons with over 4,000 yards passing. He's finally at the age where he'll be hitting his stride as an NFL veteran and breaking out as a star (Aaron Rodgers had just two 4,000-yard seasons at Stafford's age).
Detroit has some holes to fill on defense, but expect the offense to take the next step and carry the team. The Lions are a playoff-ready team with experienced players, and it'll be tough for the Rams to overcome that.
Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Win)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely be starting a rookie quarterback at this point in the season—either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota—and that'll give the Rams a clear advantage. Both prospects are impressive, but neither is in Andrew Luck's league. There will be rookie struggles.
Not to mention, the Rams have held their own against Tampa Bay in recent years. The Rams have faced the Buccaneers every year under Fisher, and St. Louis has won all three contests, including last year's 19-17 nail-biter in Week 2 (with third-string quarterback Austin Davis at the helm).
That trend should continue in 2015.
Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks (Loss)
Every year, I pick the Rams to lose in Seattle and I use the same logic each time. The Rams haven't won in Seattle since 2004, so until that streak ends and the Rams prove themselves, no sane commentator attempting to make accurate predictions would ever favor the Rams in Seattle.
They simply cannot avoid losing in Seattle. It's an embarrassing streak that needs to end, but that's on the Rams. Until they pull it off, no one can seriously predict a St. Louis victory in Seattle.
The Rams have played their last three season finales in Seattle and lost each time. Losing in Seattle for the finale was starting to become a tradition. Maybe, since it's a Week 16 game instead of Week 17, that will mix things up and allow St. Louis to pull it off.
But don't count on it.
Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers (Win)
As mentioned, the 49ers' decline this offseason was very drastic and the Rams will surely capitalize. San Francisco is no longer a team to fear.
Don't expect these games to be blowout victories in St. Louis' favor, but seeing the Rams sweep the 49ers this year is a very real possibility.
This season-finale victory gives St. Louis a 9-7 record—the team's best regular-season record since the Rams' 12-4 campaign in 2003.
Nine wins is likely not enough to squeak into the playoffs, but it's a notable improvement over Fisher's first three seasons. It's certainly enough to buy him and Snead one more year.
Steven Gerwel is the longest-tenured Rams Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and served as the Rams' game-day correspondent in 2014. You can find more of Gerwel's work by visiting his writer profile or following him on Twitter.
St. Louis Rams 2015 Schedule: Win-Loss Predictions for Every Game
By Steven Gerwel, Featured Columnist Apr 21, 2015
The official schedules for the 2015 NFL season are now available, so it's time to look at the upcoming season and predict the results for the St. Louis Rams.
After finishing with back-to-back seven-win seasons in 2012 and 2013, the Rams hit a new low under head coach Jeff Fisher with just six wins in 2014. That's not particularly troubling, given the loss of quarterback Sam Bradford for the entire season, but it's still enough to create a sense of urgency at Rams Park.
Fisher and general manager Les Snead will be feeling the heat this season. It's too early to make any definitive statements, but another sub-.500 season could very well spell the end for this current regime.
The Rams have the talent to compete and win against any team in the league—as we witnessed with quality wins against the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in 2014—but they must reach the ceiling of their potential and maintain that effort for 16 games.
Read on for win-loss predictions for all 16 games. The outcome will be determined by 2014 performance, matchup quality and other variables.
Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Loss)
The Rams have been known as slow starters under Jeff Fisher. The team has lost two of its first three games every year since he took over in 2012, so it's only reasonable to expect another sloppy start (at least in Week 1).
The fact that the season opens against the defending NFC champions only makes a slow start even more likely. If the Rams lost 34-6 to the Vikings in the season opener a year ago, what will the Seahawks do?
St. Louis has proven it can beat Seattle in the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams have done it two of the last three years. But this early in the season, the Rams might not be mentally prepared to take on a championship team.
If this game was five or six weeks into the season, after the players have acquired the taste for blood, it might be a different story. For now, it's safe to assume Seattle will take this game.
Week 2: at Washington Redskins (Win)
Due to the Rams annually getting off to a slow start, a Week 1 loss will quickly force the team to wake up. The last thing the team wants is to obtain an early-season losing streak and once again be forced to play catchup all season long.
The Week 1 loss to Seattle will motivate the Rams, and they'll take care of business in Washington.
St. Louis has held its own against the Redskins under Fisher. The team bested Washington in Week 2 of 2012 (and that's when Robert Griffin III was actually good), and they beat Washington in Week 14 last year.
New St. Louis quarterback Nick Foles is familiar with the Washington defense from his years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He should have the St. Louis offense performing better than usual, and the Rams will outscore a Redskins team that's struggling to find an answer at quarterback.
Week 3: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Win)
The Steelers dynasty has vanished, and Pittsburgh is quickly entering rebuild mode.
According to the Steelers' official website, both Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu retired this offseason, leaving two gaping holes in the secondary. The great defense that led Pittsburgh to two Super Bowl victories in the mid-2000s has been dismantled.
Not to mention, star running back Le'Veon Bell will possibly be out for this game thanks to a potential four-game suspension for a DUI, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports.
Bell finished second in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,361 yards and second in yards from scrimmage with 2,215. His suspension could be a crucial loss. The lack of a run game will allow the fierce St. Louis pass rush to pin the ears back and go after Ben Roethlisberger.
The Steelers are not a frightening team in 2015. The Rams should handle this one.
Week 4: at Arizona Cardinals (Loss)
Bruce Arians has been maxing out the potential of the Arizona Cardinals since taking over. There's no sugarcoating it—the Red Birds are going to be a brutal foe in 2015.
While the quarterback position is suspect given Carson Palmer's knee injury late last season, the Arizona defense is as strong as ever. The Cardinals are a defensive team after all, so elite quarterback play is hardly a requirement for success.
If you recall last season's Week 15 slugfest against the Cardinals that ended in a 12-6 loss, then you know Arizona's defense is every bit as dangerous as St. Louis'. Probably even more so.
It's a pretty evenly matched game. When two defensive powerhouses collide and beat the hell out of each other, anything can happen. It all comes down to which offense can secure those two or three big plays that make all the difference in a low-scoring affair.
With the Cardinals at home, the edge goes to them.
Week 5: at Green Bay Packers (Loss)
Beating the Packers seems like an impossible task, but that's what people said a year ago when the Rams faced the Broncos.
This isn't an inconceivable victory, and the team shouldn't view it that way. However, besting Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on the road is an uphill battle. Green Bay did not lose a single home game last season, and that's a streak the Rams will struggle to break.
Rodgers' mobility will help him evade the St. Louis pass rush, and those extra seconds will allow him to shred the Rams' suspect secondary.
Even the most positive St. Louis optimists will struggle to call this game a potential win.
Week 6: Bye Week
The Rams have a bye week in Week 6. This scenario has St. Louis entering the bye with a 2-3 record after tough back-to-back losses against the Cardinals and Packers.
The schedule softens up a bit from here on out, so read on...
Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns (Win)
While the Cleveland Browns have a competent defensive team, it's difficult to see the Cleveland offense exposing the St. Louis defense in the Edward Jones Dome.
Whether it's Johnny Manziel or Josh McCown under center, the Rams' pass rush will make it a long day for that passer. In fact, the Rams have faced McCown in each of the last two seasons—when he was with Chicago Bears in 2013 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014—and St. Louis was able to control him both times.
Cleveland also has a horrendous run game. It'll give the St. Louis defense a chance to focus on the pass rush and harass the quarterback.
Throw in St. Louis' home-field advantage, and this should be a winnable game for the Rams.
Week 8: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Win)
There are few NFL ships sinking more rapidly than the SS San Francisco.
NBC Bay Area nicely summarized the 49ers' offseason misfortunes. Star running back Frank Gore and star guard Mike Iupati have found new teams. Superstar defenders Justin Smith and Patrick Willis have entered the golden years of retirement, along with rising protege linebacker Chris Borland.
According to the report, Borland retired after just one NFL season due to concerns over concussions and the potential long-term health issues associated with playing in the NFL.
With so many core players gone from a team that already finished with a disappointing 8-8 record in 2014, it's only right to assume the decline will be even more drastic this season.
Not to mention, Jim Harbaugh, the coach who led San Francisco to the big game, is now with Michigan at the NCAA level.
Unless quarterback Colin Kaepernick's play has improved dramatically and he steps up as a truly elite quarterback, there's little hope in San Francisco.
The 49ers should become the new Rams and vice versa.
It's hard to get excited just yet. St. Louis is unparalleled when it comes to finding ways to lose and earning a last-place title. The Rams' ineptitude usually finds a way to prosper.
However, the 49ers' decline is so sudden and drastic, I think we can have a little hope.
Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings (Win)
The Rams did suffer a 34-6 loss to the Vikings in the opening game of Week 1, but that was a first-week fluke. You'd be foolish to believe the Vikings are 28 points better than the Rams on any given week.
A lot will depend on the status of running back Adrian Peterson. It's still too early to tell if he'll be a Viking next year. And if so, will he still be the same AP after turning 30 years old and being away from the game for a year?
If it's back to business with Peterson, it will put the Rams in a tough spot. The dominant St. Louis pass rush can only run on all cylinders when the run defense is doing its job. A good run game means 2nd-and-short and 3rd-and-short distances. Short distances means quick passes, and quick passes kill a pass rush.
Having said that, even if Peterson is with the Vikings, it's possible we'll begin to finally see him as a mortal this season. That doesn't mean he won't be a very productive back, but he won't be the same unstoppable force that has dominated the game since 2007.
Expect the Rams to come up big on the road and get revenge for last year's opening-week blunder.
Week 10: vs. Chicago Bears (Win)
The short-lived Marc Trestman era in Chicago was not a success. The Bears found themselves in last place in the NFC North with a miserable 5-11 record.
John Fox was an excellent hire for the head coaching vacancy, and he'll have the team on track very soon. However, Fox will need a mulligan year while he gets his type of players in place. Even the Broncos finished with a modest 8-8 record during Fox's first year in Denver, so don't expect an overly drastic rebound in Chicago. An improvement of just two or three wins is the most likely outcome.
With Jay Cutler still under center and the Bears offensive line still questionable, the St. Louis pass rush will have a field day. The Rams will use home-field advantage to pick apart Chicago.
Week 11: at Baltimore Ravens (Loss)
We're in the post-Ray Lewis and Ed Reed era, but the Baltimore Ravens have managed to stay afloat and will give St. Louis trouble in Week 11.
Despite losing key players after the team's Super Bowl win following the 2012 season, the Ravens finished with a 10-6 record in 2014. It was only good for a third-place finish in the AFC North, but the team still squeaked into the playoffs and defeated Pittsburgh in the opening round.
The franchise as a whole has a nasty resilience that few teams can match, so expect them to be players once again in 2015.
Both the Rams and Ravens boast tough defenses, but Baltimore clearly has the edge on offense. Since this is a road game for St. Louis, a victory will be hard to come by.
Week 12: at Cincinnati Bengals (Loss)
Few teams can survive back-to-back road games against fierce AFC North opponents, and the Rams certainly aren't one of them.
After facing Baltimore on the road the previous week, things won't get any easier against the Cincinnati Bengals. If this were Round 1 of the playoffs, the Rams could run away with the victory. Unfortunately, the Bengals actually get it done in the regular season, so that's a problem.
A tough defense and the consistently decent play of Andy Dalton will be enough to hand St. Louis a second consecutive loss.
Week 13: vs. Arizona Cardinals (Win)
The Cardinals are the real deal in 2015, but don't expect them to sweep the Rams as they did last season. It'll be tough to take down the Cardinals on the road, but they're a very beatable team at the Edward Jones Dome.
Even when the Rams hit a rut, they usually snap out of it and play tough against NFC West opponents. After losing two straight to AFC North teams, the Rams will return home re-energized and ready to make a statement.
Arizona will take the first contest, but this game will be St. Louis' revenge.
Week 14: vs. Detroit Lions (Loss)
The Detroit Lions defense will take a hit after losing Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley (who's now with St. Louis), but the dangerous Detroit offense is still very much intact.
Matthew Stafford is only 27 years old and has four consecutive seasons with over 4,000 yards passing. He's finally at the age where he'll be hitting his stride as an NFL veteran and breaking out as a star (Aaron Rodgers had just two 4,000-yard seasons at Stafford's age).
Detroit has some holes to fill on defense, but expect the offense to take the next step and carry the team. The Lions are a playoff-ready team with experienced players, and it'll be tough for the Rams to overcome that.
Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Win)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely be starting a rookie quarterback at this point in the season—either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota—and that'll give the Rams a clear advantage. Both prospects are impressive, but neither is in Andrew Luck's league. There will be rookie struggles.
Not to mention, the Rams have held their own against Tampa Bay in recent years. The Rams have faced the Buccaneers every year under Fisher, and St. Louis has won all three contests, including last year's 19-17 nail-biter in Week 2 (with third-string quarterback Austin Davis at the helm).
That trend should continue in 2015.
Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks (Loss)
Every year, I pick the Rams to lose in Seattle and I use the same logic each time. The Rams haven't won in Seattle since 2004, so until that streak ends and the Rams prove themselves, no sane commentator attempting to make accurate predictions would ever favor the Rams in Seattle.
They simply cannot avoid losing in Seattle. It's an embarrassing streak that needs to end, but that's on the Rams. Until they pull it off, no one can seriously predict a St. Louis victory in Seattle.
The Rams have played their last three season finales in Seattle and lost each time. Losing in Seattle for the finale was starting to become a tradition. Maybe, since it's a Week 16 game instead of Week 17, that will mix things up and allow St. Louis to pull it off.
But don't count on it.
Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers (Win)
As mentioned, the 49ers' decline this offseason was very drastic and the Rams will surely capitalize. San Francisco is no longer a team to fear.
Don't expect these games to be blowout victories in St. Louis' favor, but seeing the Rams sweep the 49ers this year is a very real possibility.
This season-finale victory gives St. Louis a 9-7 record—the team's best regular-season record since the Rams' 12-4 campaign in 2003.
Nine wins is likely not enough to squeak into the playoffs, but it's a notable improvement over Fisher's first three seasons. It's certainly enough to buy him and Snead one more year.
Steven Gerwel is the longest-tenured Rams Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and served as the Rams' game-day correspondent in 2014. You can find more of Gerwel's work by visiting his writer profile or following him on Twitter.
wmc540
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Mackeyser
Supernovas are where gold forms; the only place.
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I think for the most part I agree with that writer... Except for games 1 and 11. Seattle at home game 1? That's such an unknown. If we come out fired up and the offense actually has a clue and our Run D shows up, then we take that game.
Game 11 at Baltimore on the road...hmmm. They were an inconsistent team last year, so I dunno. If we're the team that beat Denver, then we kick the crap out of them. If not, then I guess we drop two on the road to the AFC North.
I'd just like to see us playing better and consistently better. We beat the Raiders 52-0, then the next week, they beat the Niners. It's not like the Raiders can't play, they are just not consistent. We sure know a bit about that...
Our key will be health and execution. By game 4, it's already starting to heavily affect wins and losses because teams are able to exploit injuries after a few weeks. We've gotten our asses handed to us by the injury bug. If we can avoid that and execute, we can compete with anybody and beat anybody even in the playoffs.
Game 11 at Baltimore on the road...hmmm. They were an inconsistent team last year, so I dunno. If we're the team that beat Denver, then we kick the crap out of them. If not, then I guess we drop two on the road to the AFC North.
I'd just like to see us playing better and consistently better. We beat the Raiders 52-0, then the next week, they beat the Niners. It's not like the Raiders can't play, they are just not consistent. We sure know a bit about that...
Our key will be health and execution. By game 4, it's already starting to heavily affect wins and losses because teams are able to exploit injuries after a few weeks. We've gotten our asses handed to us by the injury bug. If we can avoid that and execute, we can compete with anybody and beat anybody even in the playoffs.
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I feel like Cincinnati is the type of team we handle well. Dalton isn't the type of guy that will handle pressure well and our aggressive DBs should be able to do some damage against them. Defensively, Cincy was a little soft last year after losing Zimmer. I'd favor the Rams in that one.
Rynie
Cowboys rudeboy.
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I see where your coming from, but the team knows the problems they've had in the past and players like JL and others have come out and said they KNOW they need to start up FAST and begin the season playing as well as they finished last year! We'll see. I'm Optimistic! ( as always!)
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Rams know what to expect from Seattle. Seattle doesn't know what to expect from the Rams.
Advantage: St Louis
Advantage: St Louis
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I'm half way serious lol
Rynie
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Romo had the highest QBR in the league, and second in TD/interception ratio with a broken back. Just saying.
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Tell that to Carson Palmer!Romo had the highest QBR in the league, and second in TD/interception ratio with a broken back. Just saying.
Rynie
Cowboys rudeboy.
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- Sep 18, 2014
- Messages
- 1,931
- Name
- Rynie
My buddy's friend's babysitter's ex-husband's niece's friend's mom knows him, so I will.
iced
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2013
- Messages
- 6,620
Romo had the highest QBR in the league, and second in TD/interception ratio with a broken back. Just saying.
too bad there's no more RB to run into the ground
PARAM
Hall of Fame
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2013
- Messages
- 4,371
I can't complain about finishing the season on the road against SF and Seattle. We haven't earned any breaks from the schedule makers. The better teams get the breaks. So become that better team. And I won't worry about the strength of schedule or that "predict the schedule game by game in April". We have a stellar defense that was made stronger in free agency. Get a marginally successful offense going and we can hang with anybody. A better offense than that and we're a playoff team.
Rynie
Cowboys rudeboy.
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2014
- Messages
- 1,931
- Name
- Rynie
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2013
- Messages
- 24,052
Great reg season QB. Gonna take more than 1 good post season to change that rep tho.Romo had the highest QBR in the league, and second in TD/interception ratio with a broken back. Just saying.