Perusing the power rankings is pretty futile, almost as futile as the power rankings themselves.
I stopped after the first one, the rankings over at Sports Illustrated. They've got the Rams dead last, and deservedly so given their 0-5 record. The only other 0-5 team is Miami, and they've got us beat in the points scored category, 97 to our meager 70. New Orleans remains winless as well, but they're only 0-4 thanks to an early season bye week. Here's the take on the Rams at #32 from SI:
It sounds like Tye Hill might be back in uniform this week after all, but not in a starting role. Bill Coats reports that his limited duty might feature him as nickel back.
That could be a real advantage as the Ravens offense has been as putrid as the Rams. They've scored just 88 points. Word is that Ravens head coach Brian Billick may give up play calling duties if things don't go well against the Rams this week.
On the other side of the ball, Baltimore's defense is again winning games for them, but their pass defense isn't as good as many give them credit for. Their pass defense has a DVOA of 5.9%, 14th in the league, and remember they got some help from an increasingly hapless San Francisco offense that mustered just 7 points last week, on a Trent Dilfer pass to Arnaz Battle. In the two weeks prior, Baltimore gave up 2 passing touch downs in each game, a loss to the Browns and a narrow victory over the Cardinals. In week two, they allowed the Jets' no name QB to connect with Cotchery for 165 yards on 7 receptions, and the Jets racked up 304 yards through the air on the day. It's a pass defense ripe for exploitation, especially given their penchant for allowing the big play to happen in the air. Frerotte proved he can run a passing game with good enough results and the Jets Kellen Clemens proved that a back up QB can have a good day against the Ravens.
Call me a glue sniffing fool, but this might just be a winnable game for the Rams.