Matchups favor the Rams this week, even on a bye

by Ryan Van Bibber on Nov 5, 2010 11:01 AM CDT in 2010 St. Louis Rams season

The St. Louis Rams get a much needed bye week to rest and recuperate from the bumps and bruises incurred through surprising start to the season, a start that has them in the thick of things for the NFC West.

When the weekend ends, the Rams could be even better positioned in the NFC West race, considering who the other division teams play this weekend.

The New York Giants are in Seattle this week. Despite Seattle's spotless home record, the Giants are favored by anywhere from 5 to 7 1/2 points. The Seahawks will also be without starting QB Matt Hasselbeck, who suffered a concussion while getting sacked 8 times (8 times!) in a loss at Oakland last week. To make matters worse, interim QB and possible future QB Charlie Whitehurst could be without LT Russell Okung, WR Golden Tate and WR Mike Williams.

Seattle's defense, the team's strong suit, lost DE Red Bryant for the season with a torn MCL and DT Colin Cole, who is out indefinitely with what's believed to be a high ankle sprain. That doesn't bode well for Seattle's season, particularly the next few weeks. They take on Arizona, in Phoenix, in week 10, a week that could have much to say about the division race.

Arizona travels to Minnesota this week. The Vikings, for all their troubles, are 8 to 9-point favorites. I'd like to think I'd bet the spread on that one, but Arizona's offense is a poor matchup against the Vikings defense, which hasn't been quite as fearsome as it once was. But the Cardinals are starting Derek Anderson at QB.

Defensively, Adrian Peterson could rip the Cardinals apart. The league's leading rusher should thrive against a defense that allowed LeGarrett Blount to run for 120 yards last week.

San Francisco is also on a bye this week.

So, if things shake out the way they look like this weekend, the Rams and Seahawks will each be sitting at 4-4, heading into key division games on the road in week 10. The Rams need to beat the 49ers on the road if they're going to have anything to say about their fate this year.

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Comments

SF is A HUGE FOE and GAME TO PLAY

BYE weeks are terrible for teams looking toward play-offs. I hope the Rams can win some road games this last half of the season.

Home = 4-1 right now.

Rams must win out at home and win 3 road games (division rivals Arizona and SF =2) to make play-offs IMO.

by jlcdb70 on Nov 5, 2010 11:41 AM CDT reply actions

yea

our excellence at home will mean nothing if we cant get it done on the road. also, SF is still in the playoff picture. we cant forget how much talent this team has and if they beat us they will only be ONE game behind us.

by Buck Nasty87 on Nov 5, 2010 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

also

its if we do win, then it essentially becomes a 2/3 team race for the division, instead of all teams being about even.

by B_Edelman on Nov 5, 2010 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I am really looking forward to this upcoming game

If we win, it’ll be a HUGE momentum changer, and I don’t think there would be any team that would take us for granted in any respect if we won. Good thing we have a whole week to rest before the big game! (but so do they :/)

I'm not trolling, just being sarcastic.

by hr on Nov 5, 2010 1:18 PM CDT reply actions

plus,

we’d be above .500 in ages. i believe last time we had a winning record, Moses was talking to a burning bush….that long ago.

I met Joe Halahuni's parents.....in Alaska. Jealous?

by sergey606 on Nov 5, 2010 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Have to win next week

And set up a run for the NFC West title.

"You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?"- Dirty Harry

by KD1 on Nov 5, 2010 1:45 PM CDT reply actions

yuck....

just saw the words LaGarrett Blount. Hate that guy.
I’m not bitter.

I met Joe Halahuni's parents.....in Alaska. Jealous?

by sergey606 on Nov 5, 2010 1:46 PM CDT reply actions

there are 5 winables games left

SF= 2. Arz. Sea. Den. That should clinch a birth. In all honesty it doesn’t look to difficult. This 9er game will be the biggest test.

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

by DevsLaRams on Nov 5, 2010 8:57 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Aren’t most young teams that start showing their ability / talent usually really good at home and not so much on the road ??

If practice makes perfect....
Yet nobodies perfect.....
Then why practice ???

by peteyweestro on Nov 5, 2010 9:16 PM CDT reply actions

Not sure but 9er fans seem..

To have mixed emotions about their fate. The realist choose Rams or Hawks to win division while their die hards are calculating all road games as losses for Rams. All the more reason to put them away next week.

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

by DevsLaRams on Nov 5, 2010 10:12 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

9'er fans seem really insulted

How dare the lowly rams be in the division race? Especially against us?? This division clearly belongs to us!! OH YEA?? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Knoxfan on Nov 6, 2010 1:27 PM CDT reply actions