NFL Power Rankings: ESPN's Post-SB Rankings Have Rams In Bottom Third

You cannot stop power rankings. They are all-powerful, all-knowing.

So just moments after the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50 with a defensive effort that completely neutered the Carolina Panthers, ESPN released their post-Super Bowl power rankings.

It's a fair exercise, even with the emotional release of a season completed. The other 30 teams have made their season-long statements as to where they are in terms of franchise-wide progress (or lack thereof). So with that, where did the Rams' statement place them in ESPN's eyes?

#25, St. Louis Rams*

Why they're here: The Rams haven't finished inside the top 20 in offensive DVOA since 2006, an incredible run of offensive incompetence that won't change in 2016 unless the team finds something new at quarterback, where Case Keenum will likely be back but needs competition. The Rams will be able to draft a QB at No. 15, but could also look at the likes of, yes, RG III. There is some all-world talent on the roster, but the QB question clouds everything, even in sunny L.A.

What could change: Hopefully the quarterback. And the Rams will have Todd Gurley in Week 1 this year. But even a strong defense faces some tough changes, as William Hayes, Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, and Mark Barron are all unrestricted free agents.

* - Just noting that ESPN referred to them as the St. Louis Rams and not the Los Angeles Rams, not the author.

Let's be honest. There was nothing fundamentally different about the 2015 St. Louis Rams from the 2014 St. Louis Rams. And barring an unpredictable find at QB, there won't be anything fundamentally different about the 2016 Los Angeles Rams from the 2015 St. Louis Rams aside from the change in location.

Jeff Fisher had three years to build the 2014 St. Louis Rams. He had four years to build the 2015 St. Louis Rams. There's just no rational reason to expect the 2016 Los Angeles Rams to be cut from a different cloth outside of sheer fate.