Rams pull higher ratings in LA than Dodgers playoff game.

Los Angeles has long been ruled by the transcendent brands of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers. Of course, those two still reign supreme throughout the region, but the NFL is the NFL, and the Rams seem to be carving out a widening footprint in the city’s sports landscape.

According to FOX LA’s Liz Habib, the Rams were able to edge out the Dodgers NLDS opener in the ratings war on Thursday night.

The Rams surely felt a bump of support during their Super Bowl run last season and should continue to grow in popularity as a new generation grows up with a local team. Nobody is saying that they sit shoulder to shoulder with the Dodgers and Lakers yet, but they seem to be strong candidate for third already, and appear to have surpassed the followings of other popular Southern California NFL teams, like the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders. When the Rams beat the Saints at the Coliseum in Week 2, it was a great sign of the team’s growth that Rams fans appeared to occupy about 85% of the seats against a popular brand like the Saints.

Sustained success and a new stadium should only help the Rams continue their local growth.