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Interesting week at the 3k household. The Rams' season is all but now a tryout for many players for 2013. To deal with the pain of that reality, I've been forced to retreat to my soul-soothing sanctuary in Dallas (read: I'm going on vacation).
And yet the football world goes on. ESPN has a reason to talk about Tim Tebow again. The playoffs are putting the pressure on plenty of teams in both conferences. Bowl season is about to ramp up giving 2013 NFL Draft prospects a chance to make a name for themselves. Oh, and Joe Flacco is riddiguluss.
But with the Rams having, more or less, proved to be a middle of the pack team this season, how does that bear out in the power rankings?
| Average ranking (# of rankings) | 18.36 (11) |
| Average change from last week | -1.36 |
| Highest ranking (source) | 17th (multiple sources) |
| Lowest ranking (source) | 20th (multiple sources) |
| Biggest positive change (source) | 0 (multiple sources) |
| Biggest negative change (source) | -4 (Pro Football Talk) |
SB Nation: 20th (19th last week)
A seven or eight win season would raise expectations in St. Louis for next season.
The Rams have somehow beaten the 49ers, and lost at home to Christian Ponder and Mark Sanchez.
NFL.com (Power Poll): 19th (17th)
NFL.com (Harrison): 18th (16th)
At home, three-game win streak in tow, and an opportunity to play some football in December that matters ... So, what did the St. Louis Rams do? Burn the pot roast. The run tackling against the Minnesota Vikings was atrocious. Whether it was bad angles, poor form or lack of effort, no wires are crossed when you read the box score: 212 yards rushing on 24 carries for Adrian Peterson. Hey, but they held Toby Gerhart to minus-5 yards on five carries. So that's good.
CBS Sports: 18th (18th)
So much for their playoff hopes. They were ended with a horrible showing at home to the Vikings. On to 2013.
Yahoo! Sports: 18th (18th)
Regardless of how convoluted and unlikely the scenarios are, that the Rams remain mathematically alive for a spot in the NFC playoffs this late in the season is a great sign for a franchise that, in recent seasons, has been eliminated long before Thanksgiving turkeys are being bought, let alone carved.
Pro Football Talk: 19th (17th)
Sooner or later, this team has to confront the quarterback question.
Pro Football Weekly: 20th (18th)
Still showing hope for future, but Bradford needs better protection.
Fox Sports: 18th (17th)
The Rams outgained the Vikings by 110 yards on Sunday, but became just another notch in Adrian Peterson's belt.
National Football Post: 17th (13th)
That [sic] Rams found out just how tough it is to tackle A.P. in the open field.
Sports Illustrated: 18th (17th)
Why can't the Rams play everyone as tough as they do the 49ers? Just think where St. Louis would be if it had won its home games against the Jets and Vikings in the season's second half.