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Around SBN: The Most Dangerous Division in Sports

Could the Rams end the season 4-12?

Head coach Steve Spagnuolo has a tough task getting W's in the remaining 7 games of the 2010 season.  (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

I can imagine there are people already heading for the comments, but before you "sound off", let's talk a little bit about where the Rams are right now, and about the opponents remaining on the schedule.

Sunday's San Francisco robbery made many things evident. We're young, we don't have  a lot of talent at WR, and as much as I hate to type this, the Rams head coach has some growing to do as well. Not attempting a 52 yard FG in the 4th quarter and doing a pooch punt was a head scratcher for me.

Josh Brown is one of the best at 50+ yard FG's, and furthermore, he's darn good in FG's that matter in the 4th quarter. Why not go for three points?

The thing that hurts the most is the fact that this game should not have come down to a couple small moments to separate a W and an L. Sadly, it did.

The reason I ask the question in the subject, is because I'm not sure what team we will see the rest of the season. Will our players continue playing hard? We're going to need 110% from every player, every game, every second. If that starts to slide, things could get ugly FAST.

Let's look at the remaining opponents:

Atlanta: Quite frankly, even though this is at the Ed, I think this will be a hard game to win. Atlanta has some mojo and pulling out a win this week after a tough deflating loss is going to be a real challenge.

Here's where things get really shaky...

@ Denver: Just playing in Denver brings it's own challenges.. not to mention Denver isn't playing all that bad right now. With our LB's struggling in intermediate pass plays, this could be a potential blowout. Just sayin'

@ Arizona: Arguably, the best chance at winning a game... but again, it's on the road. If we DO win another game, it will be here.

@ Saints: I don't need to type anything. Could we steal this? Maybe? But this is the third road game in a row. I don't see it happening but I hope I get proven wrong.

Some relief:

Chiefs: Some relief by being at home... but not in the opponent. This will be another tough one to pull out.

49ers: This one COULD be a victory. It all depends on how hard we play, and what position the 49ers are in. If they are in dire need for a W to win the division, then this could be a REALLY tough game to win.

Tough Tough road game to end the season:

@ Seahawks: Beat these guys once already at home. But like the 49ers, these guys could be playing for the division, and potentially bring it. Once again, most likely a tough game as they will be looking for redemption from our early season victory.

So what do you think gang?

Poll
What will the Rams record be at the end of the 2010 season?
4-12: Just too many tough teams, a big slide coming.
28 votes
5-11: We'll squeak out one more game.
73 votes
6-10: Couple more wins max.
342 votes
7-9: We'll fight back, but not quite get to be division champions.
278 votes
8-8: Lookout.. possible division champions.
210 votes
9-7 or better: We'll surprise some teams, plus win the division.
54 votes
9-7 or better PLUS playoff win: OK OK ... I had to ad this option!
35 votes

1020 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 52 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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I went 7-9

But I could 6-10. Either way, it’d be a hell of an improvement over 2009’s 1-15 mark, with a lot of pressure on Spags & Co. to get it done in 2011.

You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.

by 3k on Nov 16, 2010 8:13 AM CST reply actions  

I'm with you.. voted 6-10 though

Like you said, next year anything less than .500 will be deemed unacceptable, and .500 will still have some on the fence due to how we are playing this year.

It will be year 3, typically you start to see extreme improvement by year three.

Pooch punts should be illegal inside an opponents 38 yard line.

by VTramsFan on Nov 16, 2010 8:18 AM CST up reply actions  

the schedule next year is freakin brutal though

pretty sure we play the NFC East and the AFC North next season.

Which means:
Steelers
Ravens
Browns
Bengals
Redskins
Eagles
Giants
Cowboys

Who’s the worst team out of that bunch? Cleveland? CInci?

by jb22 on Nov 16, 2010 9:16 AM CST up reply actions  

wow.. great.. googly, moogly

Pooch punts should be illegal inside an opponents 38 yard line.

by VTramsFan on Nov 16, 2010 9:21 AM CST up reply actions  

with DX coming back

we could make a serious run our last 5 games… just saying, a true #1 could open things up.

The only thing comparable to a Rams win is a 49er loss!

by DevsLaRams on Nov 16, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions  

Well, hey

If you want to be a playoff team, you have to beat playoff teams. Is it tough? Of course. But that’s who you have to beat to be legit.

You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.

by 3k on Nov 16, 2010 10:02 AM CST up reply actions  

A lot can happen in a year

Elite teams now may not be, upstarts happen. It’s already a pretty evenly matched league (see Patriots v Browns). Injuries make things particularly unpredictable.

If Sam Bradford continues to progress, people are going to be complaining about having the Rams on their schedule for the first time since the GSOT.

by Toddius on Nov 16, 2010 10:34 AM CST up reply actions  

All of our divisional opponents have to play them too

So schedule shouldn’t matter much. The real this is where you finish in the division this year. Do we get the Falcons, Saints, Bucs or Panthers? And do we get the Packers, Bears, Vikings, or Lions? I see both divisions finishing like that. I hope we get to play the Falcons and Packers next year, but I guess there are some pros to finishing farther down.

If we only win one more game I pray it’s against the Chiefs.

Baseball-Cardinals
Football-Rams
College Sports-MU Tigers!

by clwxz5 on Nov 16, 2010 11:34 AM CST up reply actions  

from a purely mathematical standpoint

it is MOST PROBABLE that the Rams will finish 2nd or possibly 3rd. I’d say we’re looking at the Saints and the Bears next season on our schedule

by jb22 on Nov 16, 2010 1:23 PM CST up reply actions  

I chose 7-9 but...

… The Rams improvements come in epiphany games. The first one was I think in preseason against the Ravens where they took their training camp attitude to the field of play. The next epiphany game was Washington where the Rams finally figured out how to finish a game at home. Now they are looking for that next epiphany game on the road and I think it is pretty close. In fact, I think it will look much like the washington game where it is a struggle back and forth in the first half, then they will come together at once and finish the game.

Although, to note in the washington game, spags let the team go for it on 4th down. Perhaps spags making riskier decisions and trusting his team like you guys are saying will lead to the next epiphany game.

by leadhead on Nov 16, 2010 8:26 AM CST reply actions  

+1 that is exactly what needs to happen.

Pooch punts should be illegal inside an opponents 38 yard line.

by VTramsFan on Nov 16, 2010 8:27 AM CST up reply actions  

Yeah the book hasn't been written on Spags yet

but when it does, it needs to include the chapter on him having learned to take risks and put it on the line.

Luckily, from the small sample size of what we’ve seen from him so far, he seems to learn from mistakes and improve at his own pace. I agree that next year is the make or break season, but not this one.

by kswiss on Nov 16, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions  

I think it was my fault

I wore my Rams jersey to work last Friday and was feeling pretty good about it so….Sorry, won’t wear it again this year unless they lose, so here come 11 and 5.

by mascettid on Nov 16, 2010 3:36 PM CST up reply actions  

6-10

But 7-9 even 8-8 wouldn’t be way surprising. however 9-7+ would be jaw dropping given their offensive struggles.

I miss the good old days of Warner to Holt

by guitrguy on Nov 16, 2010 8:37 AM CST reply actions  

went with 7-9

seems like coaches are playing not to loose. The 4th & 18 for a 1st looked like a mistake by the rookie Murphy.

by rlf707 on Nov 16, 2010 8:47 AM CST reply actions  

at the least i see the rams winning one of three on the road and one of the two later home games

i know its the road… but Denver and Arizona both suck and NO is susceptible to an upset (i don’t think we’ll win though)… i don’t see how we don’t win at least one of these games

and i know KC and 49ers are good, but i also don’t see how we don’t win one of those games just because we are good at home….

then i like our chances at beating the Seahawks at the end because – although they may HAVE to win – you don’t think the prospect of ruining the Seahawks chances won’t get them up and running? I think they’ll be nearly as hungry and the Seahawks…..

by stlcardsfan4 on Nov 16, 2010 8:59 AM CST reply actions  

i cant believe how everyone is just tossing in the towel

If we pull out a w against atlanta everyone is goin to be back on here saying the complete opposite like when we beat san diego. Think about it. 44-6 against the lions and then we came back to kinda handle sd. I can see the same here as long as we don’t have dock covering roddy white n hold the running game under 150yrds

by markg1127 on Nov 16, 2010 9:42 AM CST via mobile reply actions  

Who's tossing in the towel?

I had us going 7-9 before the Niners game, and I still voted 7-9.

You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.

by 3k on Nov 16, 2010 10:03 AM CST up reply actions  

I know what he means, though

after each win I start feeling confident, then we lose and I’m crushed. This is better than last year where after game 3 I was looking forward to the draft…in September.

by mascettid on Nov 16, 2010 3:40 PM CST up reply actions  

i still have us going 7-9

which is one game better then then i had at the start of hte season. i though we would lose to the chargers while beating detroit, and i also thought we would lose to the panthers. i still think we beat atlanta (believe it or not) as well as the chiefs and SF at home. we lose the last game of the season to the seahawks which puts them into the playoffs over us.

עם ישראל חי

by nodisrespect on Nov 16, 2010 9:45 AM CST reply actions  

Its just there’s optimum after every win and pretty much every loss is a heartbraker execpt the lions game n now asking questions if were going 4-12… why can’t we beat the saints? Browns did. And we got atl at home not in atl. If it was in atl id be second guessing cuz ryan is sorts unstoppable at home

by markg1127 on Nov 16, 2010 10:36 AM CST via mobile reply actions  

I was just pointing out that we could go 4-12

just as easily as 8-8, 9-7

Pooch punts should be illegal inside an opponents 38 yard line.

by VTramsFan on Nov 16, 2010 10:57 AM CST reply actions  

I have to agree with virtually everything you said VT. 5-11

Right now we could, should be 7-2 or 8-1 and have the division locked up. But, we’ve consistently died on offense in the 2nd half. ANY addition of a capable WR, whether it be TO or Randy Moss, would’ve given Sam a legitimate target. And the defense, while vastly improved, simply cannot stop the big play when the game’s on the line. Reference the last minute conversions of 3rd and 22 by Tampa Bay and 4th and 18 at SF with the game on the line. Or, the idiotic roughing the passer call in Oakland. Yes, we absolutely do lack talent in places, but let’s face it. When the chips are down, our coaches get outcoached, whether it’s play-calling or clock management. A few changes in personnel, coaching and luck, and this season could’ve been a worst to first turnaround.

by RamChop on Nov 16, 2010 11:01 AM CST reply actions  

You need to call in to TurfShowRadio this week RamChop

Pooch punts should be illegal inside an opponents 38 yard line.

by VTramsFan on Nov 16, 2010 11:16 AM CST up reply actions  

7-9

but I really wanted to say 8-8. Atlanta and Denver seem winnable to me, both got a slower possession type guy as their number one, with Ron Bartell on him, and I think our size at LB can handle the power rushing attack both teams offer. What I think those games come down to is their defense vs our emerging offense.

I think Arizona sucks, but I see us losing the next three in Arizona, New Orleans, and with KC here. Just hate the matchups we have, all over the field.

Last two, I say we take. Shoulda beat the 49ers and we’ll get our second shot, and have beat the Seahawks and from what I’ve seen they’re teetering on falling apart.

Julio Jones for Rams 2011

by kinzav29 on Nov 16, 2010 11:01 AM CST reply actions  

I fully believe that when the Rams show up to play and play to their potential,

There isn’t a team on the schedule that they aren’t capable beating. Or least keeping it close.

Sam Bradford drops back, sees Laurent Robinson in the open, and he completes the pass for a gain of 28! Oh- Wait, looks like a holding penalty is going to call this one back...(Oh wait; Barron's gone, ignore that last sentence).

by Eric Nagel on Nov 16, 2010 11:04 AM CST reply actions  

I'm hearing a lot of people say "winnable" to a lot of the games

I agree, every game is “winnable” if the 4 Pillar, play to the whistle ST LOUIS RAMS show up.. from the head coach right down to the 53rd player on the roster. We need it ALL.

I’m questioning WHICH team will actually show up, particularly as this thing heads to December.

Pooch punts should be illegal inside an opponents 38 yard line.

by VTramsFan on Nov 16, 2010 11:10 AM CST reply actions  

We're 4-5 and have a net points spread of -4

We lost to the Lions by 38…. So it’s not like we aren’t competitive. I’ll call it now, we shock the world and beat the falcons by 4 points this week. Home field advantage helps us again.

Baseball-Cardinals
Football-Rams
College Sports-MU Tigers!

by clwxz5 on Nov 16, 2010 11:38 AM CST reply actions  

remeber...no perspective allowed at TST

we were not competitive last year…
we are this year…
next year we wll be good..

Have some perspective, its what seperates us from animals.

If you love something, set it free. If it doesn't come back, find it and kill it.

by gomer7 on Nov 16, 2010 11:50 AM CST reply actions  

Lots of winnable games left,

especially, @ Broncos, @ Cardinals, Chiefs and 49ers. But this seasons team could just as easily find ways to lose 3 of those but then pick up the W against both the Falcons and Saints and then top it off by marching into Q-west and and winning to secure the division.

This team has defied logic so far this season, so why think it will end after losing a winnable game against the 49ers?.

by RamintheUK on Nov 16, 2010 11:52 AM CST reply actions  

I went with 6-10

I thought that we needed to finish the front 8 with a 5-3 (that TB loss stings) to even have a chance at 8-8 with the 2nd half schedule. With a W this past Sat – hope would have been kept alive but not to be. I figure we will win 2 of 4 of the @AZ, @Sea, vs KC, or Vs SF – don’t know which.

Very frustrating to watch these winnable games turn to L’s but overall the season has exceeded my expectations (3 wins). The only damper would be losing out and/or team giving up – which I don’t see happening. It is apparent that we need some more talent at a few positions as a better WR core probably give us 2 more wins right off the bat.

That said – I’m a Rams fan – so I will be at the bar cheering for a W vs Atl.

I should be working right now...

by gorams77 on Nov 16, 2010 12:21 PM CST reply actions  

we are so close

defeats like this past sunday truly question a fan. A nail biter in overtime against your most hated rival. But what I’m doing is watching evrey highlight including that stupid one they put #1 catch on nfl.com the crabtree late td with bartell pushing him it was an ok catch but that jag hail mary was x1000 better. We are just a very inconsistent team right now the talent pools coming along but we still are missing pieces of the puzzle. If the rams improve like they did this past off season imagine what they’ll do in this off season.

by keeperskillz24 on Nov 16, 2010 2:02 PM CST reply actions  

I went with 7-9

but think we could be 6-10 or 8-8.

by mascettid on Nov 16, 2010 3:55 PM CST reply actions  

yeah I see 7 +/- 1 game as well. We just have a brutal schedule for the rest of the season and I would actually be thrilled with result like these.

With WR's like our it's amazing we can win games!

by Brandon Birkhead on Nov 16, 2010 4:11 PM CST up reply actions  

I think 6-10 is the best we can expect

I just don’t have faith in the game day coaching. Between that and the whole Dockery thing, they’ve been giving away games. I don’t see that changing, because they seem to be in denial about the problem.

by DiscoJer on Nov 16, 2010 4:38 PM CST reply actions  

If DX actually comes back and can stay healthy (BIG IF there)...

then it could sway many games .

St Louis Rams team psychic advisor

by Brawnwitch on Nov 16, 2010 4:47 PM CST reply actions  

Ok, stop with the DX stuff

His career he has proven he is a GREAT receiver. He has also proven that his body just cannot stay healthy and that WILL NOT change. Say ‘If DX comes back’ is like saying ‘If we could get Miles Austin and Andre Johnson’. Its never going to happen.

by stuman89 on Nov 16, 2010 5:16 PM CST up reply actions  

Guess you're right.

He’s got nothing left.(after the Denver game)

St Louis Rams team psychic advisor

by Brawnwitch on Dec 1, 2010 12:55 PM CST up reply actions  

Guys from this point on in the season every good team has a #1 and a #2 WR

We have no one so even if DX could come back it wont help, Bradford was left out to dry lol with no one to throw too.I know my friend VT loves D.A. but to me Danny is a water boy on the all Rams team and last but not least even if we had WR’s we still have Shurmur calling the plays ,not very promising if you ask me

by Rams67 on Nov 17, 2010 4:01 AM CST reply actions  

OK (Gloves Off)

j/k LOL I know exactly what you are saying.. Danny isn’t a guy who will take over games and be a beast, he is however a solid slot guy, who is a real asset when you have a couple other SOLID WR lined up on the outside.

That’s like saying Welker is a true #1… apples to oranges.

Pooch punts should be illegal inside an opponents 38 yard line.

by VTramsFan on Nov 17, 2010 8:26 AM CST up reply actions  

Hey VT I know you got a man crush on Danny lol but I dont see him around if we draft a WR

what did I say we have no one at 1 or 2 and are playing danny and gibson,but if you have every one back plus DX plus draft some one Your boy will be out of here asap ,now put your gloves back on cause I dont wana get hurt lol

by Rams67 on Nov 20, 2010 5:47 AM CST up reply actions  

see above

St Louis Rams team psychic advisor

by Brawnwitch on Dec 1, 2010 12:56 PM CST up reply actions  

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