Wins=grins. That's just plain ol' math, people.
Wins also equal positive movement in power rankings. The Rams have climbed out of the bottom echelon into that middle muck where major outlets and writers stick the teams that confuse them.
Are the Eagles any good? Can the Chargers figure it out? Are the Cowboys an NFL team or a sad tale we tell children to remind the pitfalls of self-aggrandizement? Ah, screw it. Stick em all at 14 and call it a day.
My only question is to see if, once all the power rankings are in, the Rams are in the top half of the league. Last week, the average was at 19 exactly. If they can sneak into the top 16 more often than not, it will be a telling sign that the national media has begun to accept the idea that the Rams under Jeff Fisher are no longer the Rams of trap games and forgettable Sunday viewings.
(NOTE: If you'd like me to add any other source, let me know in the comments.)
Average ranking (# of rankings) | 15.45 (11) |
Average change from last week | +3.64 |
Highest ranking (source) | 9th (Pro Football Talk) |
Lowest ranking (source) | 20th (SB Nation) |
Biggest positive change (source) | +6 (multiple sources) |
Biggest negative change (source) | +1 (multiple sources) |
SB Nation: 20th (22nd last week)
The Rams are over .500! The Rams are over .500! The Rams are over .500!
The Rams must reconfigure their receiving corps while Danny Amendola rehabs from injury.
NFL.com (Power Poll): 18th (19th)
NFL.com (Harrison): 12th (18th)
If you couldn't tell Thursday night, this St. Louis defense can play, and is an especially tough matchup at home. Coming into the Week 5 bout with Arizona, the Rams held opposing quarterbacks to a sorry 64.8 passer rating, the lowest figure in the NFL. Kevin Kolb did a little better with a 72.8, but he was sacked nine times in the process. This ball-hawking defense has allowed just two passing touchdowns while picking off eight passes.
CBS Sports: 14th (18th)
This is one of the surprise teams so far. Jeff Fisher has that defense playing some good football.
Yahoo! Sports: 17th (21st)
The last time the Rams had a winning record was in 2006, when NBC first started airing football games on Sunday nights, so congrats to them. But if they're without Danny Amendola for an extended period of time, I don't believe they can sustain it. Every other offensive player benefitted from Amendola's presence, and even then, the Rams weren't reminding anyone of Bill Walsh's 49ers. They can't afford to be without him.
Pro Football Talk: 9th (15th)
It’s not easy to crack the top 10 when a team had only 10 wins in the three prior seasons combined.
Pro Football Weekly: 18th (23rd)
Sam Bradford made the best of his seven completions with two TDs.
Fox Sports: 14th (18th)
In Week 5 of 2012, the Rams now have more wins than they had all of last season. I still don't like them offensively, but their defense may be the fastest in the NFL. Chris Long and Robert Quinn can really run the loop off the edge.
National Football Post: 15th (21st)
This defense can play in St. Louis, but someone needs to step up on offense while WR Danny Amendola is on the shelf.
Sports Illustrated: 14th(15th)
Life over .500 has to feel pretty good in St. Louis, but don't get too used to it, Rams fans. This week's trip to Miami is no gimme, because the Dolphins are playing everyone tough, but a win in South Florida could really help St. Louis weather the storm ahead. After the Rams face Miami, they draw a visit from Green Bay, the trip to London to take on the Patriots, and then a road game in San Francisco following their Week 9 bye. I can't see the offensively challenged Rams having enough to win any of those games.