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Of course, OF COURSE as I was just beginning to write up this week’s power rankings the report broke that the Los Angeles Rams would be starting rookie franchise QB Jared Goff in Week 11. How could it be any other way?
The Rams are coming off of a lackluster 9-6 victory over the New York Jets prompted by a stellar defensive showing, the Amazing Punting Spectacle of Jonathan P. Hekker, and three red zone offensive failures. Now putting in Goff for Keenum won’t make the offensive line any better. It won’t suddenly make Todd Gurley a better running back.
But it does put some sparkle on the packaging. And for this franchise, that’s sorely needed right now.
I’ll take it.
That aside, here’s how the major national power rankings saw the Rams before the Goff news:
| Average ranking (# of rankings) | 26.14 (7) |
| Average change from last week | +1.00 |
| Highest ranking (source) | 25th (multiple sources) |
| Lowest ranking (source) | 27th (multiple sources) |
| Biggest positive change (source) | +3 (FOX Sports) |
| Biggest negative change (source) | -1 (Yahoo! Sports) |
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SB Nation: 27th (29th last week)
The Rams won in Week 10 despite scoring nine points and no TDs among those points. In fact, the Rams are 2-1 this season when scoring fewer than 10, with the rest of the NFL going 0-13-2 in such games. The Dolphins await the Rams and whichever QB starts this week.
At 4-5, the Rams aren't going away. Another win delivered by the defense, which certainly played well enough to win in London, before shutting down the Panthers and Jets. In fact, Los Angeles has only allowed 29 offensive points over the last three games. Major individual props go to linebackers Alec Ogletree, who sealed Sunday's game by getting inside of Quincy Enunwa to make the game-saving interception in East Rutherford. The Rams travelled [sic] 2,500 miles across the country, stole the road win, and now are home to face the red-hot Dolphins. (Aqua-hot?)
CBS Sports: 27th (27th)
By beating the Jets, they keep their slim playoff hopes alive. But that also will keep Jared Goff on the bench, and that's not a good thing.
Yahoo! Sports: 27th (26th)
If you stripped away the name, Todd Gurley (515 rushing yards in nine games, 3.1-yard average, three touchdowns) would probably be on the waiver wire in your fantasy league. He hasn’t had a 20-yard run. He has had more games with an average of less than 3 yards per carry (three) than above 4 yards per carry (one). It’s shocking to see a great talent, who we saw have success on the NFL level already, completely struggle like this. Clearly it’s not all his fault, but it’s still ugly.
Pro Football Talk: 26th (27th)
The L.A. Rams are doing their best to mimic the L.A. Kings, on the scoreboard.
FOX Sports: 25th (28th)
The Rams beat the Jets after traveling across the country, but even with the long distance and time change, it wasn’t an impressive win by any means. Jets QB Bryce Petty was making his first career start yet Los Angeles barely outscored him, 9-6.