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2019 NFL Power Rankings Summary - Week 15
| Metric | Ranking |
|---|---|
| Metric | Ranking |
| Average ranking (# of rankings) | 11.50 (8) |
| Average change from last week | +1.25 |
| Highest ranking (source) | 9th (ESPN) |
| Lowest ranking (source) | 13th (multiple sources) |
| Biggest positive change (source) | +2 (multiple sources) |
| Biggest negative change (source) | 0 (multiple sources) |
Offense: 12th
Defense: 7th
Special teams: 7thSean McVay’s high-powered offense got off to a slow start this season, a really slow start. It wasn’t until Week 13 that Jared Goff and the Rams appeared to find consistent momentum and rediscovered All-Pro running back Todd Gurley II. Outside of two massive letdowns against the Bucs and Ravens, the Rams’ defense has proved to be formidable. The Week 7 addition of cornerback Jalen Ramsey has allowed the secondary to play more man coverage, which has enabled the front seven to get after the quarterback. The Rams had 13 sacks through their first six games, but they have added 30 more over their past seven outings.
I loved this stat from NBC, delivered late in the Rams’ impressive 28-12 win over the Seahawks on Sunday night at the Coliseum: Todd Gurley, Tyler Higbee and Robert Woods are the first teammate trio with 100-plus scrimmage yards each in consecutive games since the 2000 Vikings and their great troika of Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Robert Smith. Sunday night was essentially a playoff game for the Rams, and the pressure will remain at that level for the balance of the regular season as they chase the 9-4 Vikings for the NFC’s final wild-card spot. Los Angeles might have to win out for a chance to defend its NFC title in January, but it suddenly doesn’t feel like an impossible ask, with Jared Goff playing confidently and Gurley suddenly moving like the Gurley of old. The Rams are peaking at the right time.
They have come alive on offense the past two weeks, which has them still alive in the playoff chase. They face a tough road challenge at Dallas this week.
He won’t get a lot of credit, but tight end Tyler Higbee has been a big part of the Rams’ resurgence. He has back-to-back 100-yard games with Gerald Everett out. Getting Jared Goff out of his funk and feeding Todd Gurley more are probably bigger factors, but Higbee looks like he needs an expanded role in 2020.
Pro Football Talk: 11th (13th)
Did they wait too long to put Todd Gurley‘s knee at risk?
Todd Gurley has exceeded 100 yards from scrimmage in three of past four games. But looking like too little, too late for reigning NFC champs.
All the sudden, the Rams look frisky. The defense finally woke up, planting Russell Wilson five times and holding the Seahawks to their lowest point total of the season. Despite two picks, Jared Goff did enough (22-of-31, 293 yards, 3 TDs) and Todd Gurley flashed some vintage form on his way to 113 total yards and 2 TDs.
The Athletic: 12th (13th)
If it’s possible to be nostalgic for something that happened just a year ago, the Rams on Sunday night brought us back to their best moments of 2018, with an inspired all-around performance in a 28-12 win over the Seahawks. We had basically written off the Rams a month ago, but more games like that from the Rams’ defense (five sacks, one interception) and more progress from the offense (hello, Tyler Higbee), and maybe the Rams could sneak into the playoffs after all.
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