After defeating the Cleveland Browns 24-6 at home, the St. Louis Rams currently sit at 3-3; 2nd place in the NFC West. They are also currently the 7th seed in the wildcard race to make the playoffs behind the 4-2 Minnesota Vikings (top six seeds get in). This is an outlook and prediction for the rest of their schedule.
Remaining schedule:
11/1 vs. 49ers (2-5)
11/8 @ Vikings (4-2)
11/15 vs. Bears (2-4)
11/22 @ Ravens (1-6)
11/29 @ Bengals (6-0)
12/6 vs. Cardinals (5-2)
12/13 vs. Lions (1-6)
12/17 vs. Buccaneers (2-4)
12/27 vs. Seahawks (3-4)
1/3 @ 49ers (2-5)
11/1 vs. 49ers
After losing as many players as the 49ers did last year, they are not the same team that they have been the last few years. They have looked good at times, but not consistent at all. QB Colin Kaepernick is starting to digress and show that he was nothing but hype. Besides, if it wasn’t for Rams LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar injuring Alex Smith all those years ago, Colin Kaepernick might never have become a starter. Especially with this game being at home, I believe the Rams pull out the win with relative ease.
Score: Rams 24 49ers 10
11/8 @ Vikings
With the tandem of Teddy Bridewater, Adrian Peterson, Mike Wallace and company, the Vikings offense is dangerous. Despite high profile weapons, the Vikings have only scored more than 30 points in a game once this season. They are a decent team and the Rams would really need a win here to pull ahead in the wildcard race if they weren’t able to take the division. It’ll be a tough one, but I think the defense comes through and the Rams win there third in a row.
Score: Rams 17 Vikings 14
11/15 vs. Bears
The Bears are awful. Simple as that. They beat the Raiders and a Jamaal Charles-less Chiefs. They currently sit at 2-4 and I do not believe they are a good football team. This game is at home for the Rams and they will take care of business.
Score: Rams 34 Bears 13
11/22 @ Ravens
When I saw this game on the schedule as soon as the schedules were released in the offseason, this game feared me. On the road against a Baltimore Ravens club who has made the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. It was like I was ready to chalk this one up as a loss before the season started. But sometimes, things in the NFL can get odd. The Ravens have looked atrocious this year. They sit at 1-6 with the only win coming against the Michael Vick led Steelers. I believe the Rams defense stifles the Ravens offense and the Rams O is able to take advantage of an injured Ravens defense. Rams incredibly win four in a row.
Score: Rams 26 Ravens 12
11/29 @ Bengals
The big, bad Cincinnati Bengals. They currently sit at 6-0, and although they probably won’t be undefeated at this point in the season, they will certainly be a formidable foe. The Bengals are sound on both sides of the ball and I think the Rams are just too overwhelmed. The four game winning streak comes to a close.
Score: Bengals 28 Rams 16
12/6 vs. Cardinals
The Rams already beat the Cardinals in a thriller last month. The game was also in Arizona. The Rams best always seems to come out at home and after a tough loss to Cincy, the Rams come into this one angry and hungry for another victory, and get exactly that.
Score: Rams 21 Cardinals 20
12/13 vs. Lions
The Lions are terrible. Yes, they have Megatron but Matthew Stafford and the Lions haven’t been the same this year as they’ve been in the past. Another easy win the dome for the Rams.
Score: Rams 29 Lions 13.
12/17 vs. Buccaneers
Finally, it’s here: the only Rams regular season game being broadcasted nationally. The Rams take on the Bucs under the lights on Thursday Night Football. There’s no way Jameis Winston will be able to handle the Rams defense. And as the Bucs proved against the Redskins last week en route to the Redskins erasing a 24-point deficit, the Bucs defense is not good. Back to back easy w’s.
Rams 27 Buccaneers 7
12/27 @ Seahawks
The Rams beat the Seahawks on opening day. But when the game is played in Seattle, it’s a different story. The Rams haven’t beaten the Seahawks in Seattle since the wildcard playoff game back in 2005. Who was the quarterback then? That’s right, Marc Bulger. Just as many teams do, the Rams struggle against the Seahawks when it’s at their place. As much as I and every Rams fan on the planet would love to see the Rams get a road win in Seattle, it just isn’t happening.
Score: Seahawks 24 Rams 19
1/3 @ 49ers
As aforementioned, the 49ers just aren’t an intimidating team anymore. Home field advantage won’t help them against the Rams in this one. It’s a much closer game than the one at the dome but the Rams pull of another win.
Score: Rams 20 49ers 16
After a 3-3 start, the Rams finish 11-5 and make the playoffs.
