Rams vs Seahawks: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

The St. Louis Rams (2-8) fell victim to the Seattle Seahawks (4-6) with a final score of 24-7. It was an absolute embarrassment for the Rams in front of their home crowd at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. 


Prior to the Seattle game, the Rams had won two of their last three games, and even the one loss during that three game stretch came against the Arizona Cardinals in a close battle that ended in overtime. 


For a moment it seemed as though the Rams were done rolling over for second-tier NFL teams, but just when things began to improve, Seattle came to town to serve a big plate full of reality. 


The Rams, as a team, are completely lost. The offense they put on the field against Seattle was nothing short of an embarrassment to the fanbase and the entire city of St. Louis. 


Putting up only seven total points against a beatable opponent on your home field is unacceptable even for a high school team, but when it happens to a professional team it's just a shining example of how lost and incompetent the leadership really is. 


But for now, here is the breakdown of Sunday's game against Seattle...

The Good

The fact that Seattle scored 24 points might suggest the defense had a below average game, but that's not the case. They actually played an excellent game. 


The pathetic Rams offense can only have so many three-and-outs before the defense gets winded and starts coughing up points. If the Rams were capable of fielding even a half-competent offense then the defense would have likely held Seattle to less than ten points. 


Safety Quintin Mikell had a solid start to the game, recording a forced fumble and an interception on back-to-back plays. The other safety, Darian Stewart, continued to look like a rising star with eight tackles and a sack. 

James Laurinaitis was a madman with 13 tackles, while defensive ends Chris Long, James Hall and Robert Quinn each recorded a sack (Quinn had a blocked punt as well). 


Linebacker Chris Chamberlain had an interception early in the first quarter, but was very average for the remainder of the game.


Brandon Lloyd is the only offensive player worth mentioning—he had five catches for 67 yards, including a 30 yard touchdown reception for the Rams' only score of the game.  




The Bad



Sam Bradford had an awful game. It was just absolutely terrible, but that's not to say he was even given the opportunity to succeed to begin with. 


The pass blocking was atrocious. For every play Bradford had decent protection, there were three where he could feel Seattle's defensive line breathing down his neck. His blindside was completely vulnerable for the majority of the game. 


Also, the receivers struggled with dropped passes once again. 


You can't blame Bradford when his line is committing stupid personal foul and false start penalties (all while providing no protection), and his receivers drop passes and have zero physical presence. But it is fair to say he wasn't on top of his game.


Steven Jackson was another player that didn't play up to his full potential. He had 42 yards on 15 carries (2.8 yards per carry) and no touchdowns. But like Bradford, Jackson is only as good as his linemen allow him to be.

The Ugly

This doesn't necessarily involve the Seattle game alone, but here are some ugly thoughts concerning the current state of the Rams offense...


Josh McDaniels was brought to St. Louis because he was thought of as an offensive guru that ran an offense that was compatible with the strengths of Sam Bradford. 

The Rams refused to hire a quarterback coach to guide Bradford. The team was under the impression that McDaniels would take Bradford under his wing while simultaneously operating the entire offense. 


Not only has Bradford regressed under McDaniels' watch, but the entire offense has seemingly been reduced to debris. 


Bradford has only five touchdown passes in eight games, while the rest of the offense has been equally awful:


- Yards per game (297.9, ranked 30th)


- Total points (120, ranked 32nd)


- Points per game (12.0, ranked 32nd)


- Yards per play (4.5, ranked 31st)


- Third-down efficiency (29.1 percent, ranked 32nd)


- Penalties (74, ranked 24th)


Another offensive coach, besides McDaniels, who should not be overlooked is offensive line coach Steve Loney. Loney was the only coach retained from the Scott Linehan era, which is mind-boggling considering the line was equally bad during those years. 


Here's what old Steve has been given to work with...


Jacob Bell ($36 million free agent), Jason Smith (No. 2 overall pick, 2009), Jason Brown ($37.5 million free agent), Rodger Saffold (No. 33 overall pick, 2010), Harvey Dahl ($16 million free agent). 


Every lineman Loney has put his hands on has regressed dramatically. He should have been fired three different times by now. 


When you consider the less than brilliant moves made by the team, such as not hiring a quarterback coach and retaining Loney, it's really not that hard to believe how bad the Rams offense has been. 

St. Louis Rams Week 4 Report Card: Grading Every Unit

Another week and another loss for the St. Louis Rams (0-5) at Lambeau Field against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers (6-0). 

Despite 441 total offensive yards by the Rams, their only score came on a Josh Brown field goal. The final score was 24-3. 


Green Bay entered the game averaging 34.6 points per game, so the fact the Rams held them to 24 points was a positive. In fact, the Packers scored less points against the Rams than any other team they've faced in 2011. 


If you're a Rams fan and watched the game already at peace with the fact that they would not win, then you saw a lot of positives and some familiar negatives, but overall you saw a considerable amount of improvement. 


But if you were holding out hope that the Rams would somehow upset the Packers, igniting a juggernaut run to the NFC West title, then chances are you were emotionally crushed for the fifth time in a row.


The Rams did some good things on the field, but there was obviously some slackers as well, given the 21-point loss.


Here are the Week 6 grades for each unit...




QUARTERBACK: B



Sam Bradford is on an 0-5 team and threw for 321 yards against the defending Super Bowl champs and has fewer interceptions (two) than the quarterback of that team, Aaron Rodgers (three).

It's pretty obvious that he's not a problem for the Rams. 


There's are unintelligent people from every NFL fanbase, so the Rams are no exception. You might find a Rams fan out there willing to throw Bradford under the bus, but it's completely unwarranted. 


However, he's not perfect either.


Despite his 321 yards, his grade get knocked down a bit for having no touchdowns as well as for under throwing Danario Alexander in the end-zone, resulting in an interception.


The Rams might be dying for weapons at receiver, or for lineman who can block. They may even be panicking a bit when it comes to finding Steven Jackson's eventual replacement at running back. But the last thing anyone should be concerned with is the quarterback position, the Rams have solidity at that spot moving forward.




OFFENSIVE LINE: D+



The Rams offensive line gave up six sacks when they faced the Washington Redskins two weeks ago, so in comparison to that game they looked pretty good.

But then again, five shopping carts lined side-by-side would've performed better against the Redskins than the Rams' offensive line. 


All-in-all, they made some strides during the bye week and looked like a much more respectable unit, but they were still very average. Combine that with some false starts and holding penalties and the group is still leaving a lot to be desired.

RUNNING BACK: B+

Steven Jackson entered the game against the Packers completely healthy. It was his first time entering a game healthy since the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. 


Jackson rushed for 96 yards on 18 carries (5.3 yards per carry) against a defense who's much stronger against the run than the pass. 


Cadillac Williams also had some success against the Packers in a relief role. He had 24 yards on four carries (6.0 yards per carry) as well as a nine-yard reception. 


It was a solid effort by the backfield, but their biggest gain was only 13 yards, and they failed to find the end zone (not that they were ever in a position to score), so there was some room for improvement.




RECEIVER: B-



The receivers had a solid outing when considering how poorly the Rams offense has been moving the ball at times this season. 


After some impressive moments in 2010, everyone knew Danario Alexander possessed some big-play talent. At 6'5" with a solid 4.3 second 40-yard dash, he was considered a potential weapon, but the major concern was whether or not his knee would hold up after numerous operations. 

Not only has his knee held up fine since starting the 2011 season, but he's been phenomenal in an offense that's been starving for more playmakers. 


Alexander had six catches for 91 yards against the Packers and is leading Rams receivers with 287 yards. He didn't play receiver during the team's Week 1 match-up against Philadelphia, but if he continues his production, he could eventually be on pace for a 1,000-yard season.


He wasn't the only one with a solid game. Rookies Greg Salas and Lance Kendricks both had over 70 yards. Salas led the team in receptions with eight.


Brandon Gibson also contributed with four catches for 43 yards.


It would've been a great outing if they pulled in a few touchdowns, but instead, they had none. Combine that with a few dropped balls, which is a recurring theme with them, as well as a false start penalty on Kedricks, and the group loses some points.




DEFENSIVE LINE: C



The Rams defensive line was incapable of pressuring Aaron Rodgers. 


The pocket was solid and edges were secure. When a quarterback as good as Rodgers feels comfortable, you cannot expect to win. 


Green Bay receivers were running wild, which is partially on the secondary, but the line is to blame as well. When Gary Gibson is the only one to record a sack, something is wrong. 


However, it wasn't all bad—for the first time in 2011, the Rams defense did not allow a team to rush for more than 100 yards. The Packers are not known for their running game, but holding them to under 100 yards on the ground (96) is a moral victory at the very least.




LINEBACKERS: A



Throughout the first, third and fourth quarters, the Rams defense held the Packers to only three combined points. The difference was the 21 points scored in the second quarter. 


It was mentioned in the introduction to this article that the Rams defense held the powerful Green Bay offense to fewer points than any other team that has faced the Packers in 2011. 

Surely someone had to do something positive on defense to accomplish this. 


The answer: the linebackers, particularly James Laurinaitis. 


Laurinaitis and Chris Chamberlain, who started in the place of Ben Leber, were flying around the field. 


They are the primary reason the Packers converted only four of their 13 third-down conversions. They also played a major role in limiting the Packers run game and holding them under 100 yards.




SECONDARY: C-



The Packers produced very little offense on the ground, which obviously means the majority of their offense came through the air. 


Aaron Rodgers threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns, and the Green Bay receivers ran wild.

Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings combined for 186 receiving yards. Throw in a 35-yard touchdown catch by James Jones and it's clear it was not the secondary's finest game. 


The only thing you need to see to get an idea of their performance is watch Jordy Nelson's 93-yard touchdown catch. Darian Stewart and Al Harris were in the area, but they collided with each other while attempting to make a tackle, which allowed Nelson to break free. It was very symbolic of the groups overall performance.

Safety Quintin Mikell, as usual, was an exception. He was solid, as expected, and he had a great tackle for a loss in Green Bay's backfield, which denied the Packers on a third-and-one conversion.


Safety Craig Dahl had an interception, which also does something to help the secondary's grade as well. 
Overall, the group is really hoping cornerback Rod Hood is ready to play as soon as he gets up to speed.

Rams vs. Eagles Post-Game: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Well, the St. Louis Rams (0-1) failed to pull off an opening day upset against the Philadelphia Eagles (1-0), and their roster was bombarded with injuries to key positions, but on the positive side there were some positives.


The Rams came out in the first-quarter looking like a team capable of taking down the so called "Dream Team", but in the end the Eagles had pound-for-pound more talent. Combine that with the numerous mental mistakes that the Rams made and there was no way they were going to win the game.


So let's get started...


THE GOOD

The Rams defensive line was clearly not up to the task of stopping the run given LeSean McCoy's 122 rushing yards and Michael Vick's 97, but they were not terrible. The pass rush was present—if they were playing against any quarterback other than Vick then they would've had six or more sacks, as oppose to three.


The defensive backs also had a good game. Outside of DeSean Jackson's 41-yard catch, as well as his touchdown catch, the backs kept the receivers relatively in check for most of the game.


Also, the running backs clearly get an A+ for this game. Steven Jackson had 56 yards and a touchdown on only two carries before injuring his quad and leaving the game, and Cadillac Williams did a phenomenal job substituting with 91 yards on 19 carries.


THE BAD


Where to start?

Sam Bradford wasn't terrible. He was able to avoid any interceptions, which is a difficult thing for any young quarterback to do when their team is getting manhandled, but he certainly wasn't at the top of his game. He missed a wide-open Danny Amendola in the end-zone, and he also had a fumble during a sloppy hand off to the running back, which resulted is a defensive touchdown for the Eagles.


The linebackers were also noticeably bad. Besides James Laurinaitis, who had five tackles and a fumble recovery, the linebackers were slow and completely incapable of containing either Vick or McCoy. However, the defensive line deserves their share of the blame as well for the pitiful run defense.


The offensive line had some success with their run blocking, but they looked like five children pushing back grown men whenever they dropped back to pass block. It's no surprise that Bradford couldn't make a difference with Trent Cole, Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins in his face all game, those three combined for four of the Eagles six sacks on Sunday.


But the group most blatantly terrible were the receivers—Brandon Gibson and tight end Lance Kendricks had two drops each (one of Kendricks' drops was a possible touchdown), rookie Greg Salas had a drop and even the sure-handed Danny Amendola let one slip by. They were never going to make a huge difference with Philadelphia's deadly trio at cornerback (Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie), but there's no excuse for them blowing the few opportunities that were allowed by the Eagles secondary.


THE UGLY


The Rams had a fairly healthy training camp, but they made up for it quickly by getting six of their starters banged up in the first game of the season.


- Sam Bradford (QB) injured his finger, but the x-rays indicate that there was no fracture. There's some concern regarding possible nerve damage, but he's expected to play next Monday night against the New York Giants.


-Steven Jackson (RB) left the game after only two carries with a strained quad. Reports are generally indicating that he'll be out until Week 3, but Jackson indicated on 101 ESPN in St. Louis that he's working towards getting healthy for next week's game, so there's hope.


- Danny Amendola (WR) dislocated his elbow and was initially thought to out for 8-10 weeks, but the latest reports indicate he might not need surgery, which will get him back in action much sooner than expected.


-Ron Bartell (CB) had the most serious injury with a fractured neck that will likely keep him out for the rest of the season. The loss of his coverage skills and veteran leadership will hurt.


-Jason Smith (OT) injured his ankle in what was originally thought to be a high ankle sprain, but it turns out it was a less severe low ankle sprain and he could be ready to play against Giants. He is considered day-to-day.


-Bradley Fletcher (CB) has a sprained toe and is day-to-day. He will likely be ready for the Giants—he almost has to be ready with Bartell's injury making the Rams conerback situation desperate enough.


-C.J. Ah You (DE) has an issue with is wrist that will require a brace, but he will still be able to play. The Rams will likely bring 2011 first round pick Robert Quinn into the mix as a result of Ah You's injury.


As you can see, the Rams bad luck with injuries from just one game is rather... excessive.

Official St. Louis Rams 2011 Season Predictions

The St. Louis Rams will play host to the Philadelphia Eagles at the Edward Jones Dome this Sunday in St. Louis for the 2011 season opener.

The Rams had a dismal 1-15 season in 2009, but they were able to bounce back with a respectable 7-9 record in 2010 despite losing the season finale against the Seattle Seahawks— which kept the Rams out of the playoffs. 

But the Rams will look to redeem themselves in 2011 and own an NFC West title for the first time since 2003.

Though the 2010 team fell short, the coaching staff and the front office made some decent additions in an attempt to prevent a similar outcome, such as Quintin Mikell, Mike Sims-Walker, Cadillac Williams, Lance Kendricks, Justin Bannan and even offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Though the first half of the schedule seems intimidating at first sight, the Rams are a talented team with clear playoff potential.

And with that, here is a prediction for the outcome of the Rams 2011 campaign...

Week 1: Rams vs. Eagles

Game Time: 12:00 PM CDT

Game Date: September 11th, 2011

Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis,MO

Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 27, Eagles 23)

Record: 1-0

The Philadelphia Eagles have pound-for-pound more overall talent, but the stars seem to be aligning for the Rams when it comes to this particular game.

The Eagles are weak where the Rams are solid, whether it's the Eagles very questionable offensive line taking on a nasty St. Louis front four or Philly's weak and young linebacker corps facing inside receivers like Danny Amendola and Lance Kendricks, who are both capable of causing problems for defenders with short and intermediate routes.

Not to mention, rookie defensive coordinator Juan Castillo's first assignment will be to game plan against a Josh McDaniels' offense, which is a difficult task even for veteran coaches.

Also, if the Rams are going to beat a team that's above their heads at any point in 2011, then it will be at the beginning of the season before the more talented teams have completely gelled.

The Rams are a very disciplined team—even during their 1-15 season in 2009, the effort from the players was clearly visible every week, and that kind of dedication will help them pull off an upset in the opener.


Week 2: Rams @ Giants (Monday Night Football)


Game Time: 7:30 PM CDT

Date: September 19th, 2011

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford,NJ

Verdict:   LOSS  (Rams 23, Giants 27)

Record: 1-1

After a hard-fought opening game against the Eagles, the Rams will not get much of a break the following week against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.

The Rams only prime-time game of 2010 was their disappointing finale against the Seahawks in Seattle, so it's possible that the pressure of Sunday or Monday Night Football is a little too much for some of the young players on the team.

The Rams have more veteran leadership this season, which could ultimately help them overcome that pressure, but if the Rams win the opening game against the Eagles, then they might enter MetLife stadium with a little too much confidence.

The Giants front eight is more intimidating than Philadelphia's, so Sam Bradford will make some mistakes under pressure, and New York's defense will also do some damage against the run game.

The Rams will stay toe-to-toe with the Giants for practically the entire game, but one or two major mistakes under the prime-time pressure creates the difference, such as giving up a touchdown on a kickoff or perhaps a long passing touchdown as a result of blown coverage.

The Rams earn respect with their Opening Day victory over the Eagles, but they lose against the Giants the following week for their own good, as the loss will get the team refocused.

Week 3: Rams vs. Ravens

Game Time: 7:30 PM CDT

Game Time: 3:05 PM CDT
Date: September 25th, 2011
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis,MO


Verdict:   LOSS  (Rams 13, Ravens 17)
Record: 1-2

For the last 10 years, it has never been a easy feat to win against the Baltimore Ravens.

Some of their stars are aging, such as Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, but the defense is still very much a dominate unit and the offense is much better than what we've been used to in the past.


The Rams young offense will struggle against the experienced and highly talented Ravens defense, while the Rams defense plays a solid game, but they allow Baltimore to just barely outscore them.


The Rams lose a difficult game this week, but the experience they gain by playing a premiere defense benefits them for the remainder of the season.

Week 4: Rams vs. Redskins



Game Time: 12:00 PM CDT
Date: October 2nd, 2011
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis,MO


Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 30, Redskins 10)
Record: 2-2


After three brutal games to start the season, the Rams finally get a bit of a break during the fourth week against the Washington Redskins.

The Redskins are generating a lot of buzz from their ability to successfully run the ball in the preseason, but the 0-16 Detroit Lions from 2008 went 4-0 in the preseason, so they'll be the first to tell you how meaningless it is.

The truth is that Redskins do not have a top running back capable of carrying the load for four quarters, they have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL and their defense is incapable of uniting despite some of the talented players they possess.


Unfortunately for the Redskins, the Rams will not be taking this game lightly after back-to-back losses.


The Rams use their home-field advantage to trample the rebuilding Redskins in this game, and Sam Bradford throws for three touchdowns and over 300 yards for the first time in 2011.


Week 6: Rams @ Green Bay Packers



Game Time: 12:00 PM CDT
Date: October 16th, 2011
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay,WI


Verdict:   LOSS  (Rams 17, Packers 27)
Record: 2-3


After getting a slight break from the Redskins in their fourth game, as well as their bye week following that game, the Rams get shoved right back into the fire for their fifth game of 2011 at Lambeau Field.

This mid-October matchup with the defending Super Bowl champs is not as intimidating as it would be if it were freezing cold on a December day in Green Bay, but it's still too much for the Rams to handle.

The Rams score a touchdown or two and make some promising stops on defense, so they certainly walk away from this game with a few positives to hang their hats on, but in the end, Green Bay easily overpowers them.

The Rams struggled winning on the road in 2010, so until they master the art of winning away games, they won't be outscoring the Packers at Lambeau anytime soon.


Week 7: Rams @ Cowboys



Game Time: 3:15 PM CDT
Date: October 23rd, 2011
Location: Cowboys Stadium, Dallas,TX


Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 27, Cowboys 21)
Record: 3-3

Once again, the Dallas Cowboys are being portrayed as a playoff threat in the NFC, but once again, that hype will prove to be unwarranted.

Cowboys rookie right tackle Tyron Smith will be worn down by the relentless motor of Chris Long, while left-tackle Doug Free will also be outdone by the defensive end combination of James Hall and Robert Quinn on the right side. 


As a result of the pressure, Tony Romo will feel vulnerable for the majority of the game, and it will lead to several sacks and a few turnovers. 


DeMarcus Ware greatly challenges the Rams offensive line, but in the end, the Rams offense is able to get it done when it counts.


Week 8: Rams vs. Saints



Game Time: 12:00 PM CDT
Date: October 30th, 2011
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis,MO


Verdict:   LOSS  (Rams 17, Saints 24)
Record: 3-4

The Rams will enter their October 30th matchup against the New Orleans Saints with some excitement knowing that it's the end of the grueling portion of their 2011 schedule, but that excitement doesn't allow them to overcome this game. 


The Saints had a down year in 2010 after losing the NFC South title to the Atlanta Falcons, but they should produce a strong showing in 2011, which the Rams unfortunately fall victim to in this game. 


Just like the Green Bay game, the Rams will score a few points and make some defensive plays against the Saints, which will allow them to exit the game knowing that they did some good things.


However, the New Orleans offense is too powerful, and the Rams young offense is not developed enough to get into a shootout with one of the best in the business. 


Week 9: Rams @ Cardinals



Game Time: 3:15 PM CDT
Date: November 6th, 2011
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale,AZ


Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 34, Cardinals 14)
Record: 4-4

The Rams enter this game determined to even their record at 4-4, and they leave the game with their first division win, which makes a statement to the rest of the NFC West that the Rams plan to own the 2011 season.

The Cardinals weak offensive line will allow the Rams to create consistent pressure all night, and at this point in the season, rookie defensive end Robert Quinn will be settled in and making plays, which makes the Rams pass rush even more dangerous.


Arizona's soft front eight on defense gives up big chunks of yardage on the ground, which sets up the play-action pass and results in several long gains through the air by the Rams offense.


This game will be the Rams best defensive showing throughout of the first half of 2011, and it's also the first game that the offense feels truly synchronized under their new Josh McDaniels' offense.


Week 10: Rams @ Browns



Game Time: 12:00 PM CDT
Date: November 13th, 2011
Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland,OH


Verdict:   LOSS  (Rams 16, Browns 17)
Record: 4-5

The Cleveland Browns were only 5-12 in 2010, but they are not a team to take likely. They are on the rise and have stepped up against some pretty powerful teams when they have the home-field advantage.


They beat the New England Patriots by the score of 34-14 during ninth week of 2010, and the very next game, they took the New York Jets into overtime, but they eventually lost to the Jets 26-20. 


Clearly, the Browns are a better team than most give them credit for, and they are certainly a tough team to play in their home stadium.


The Rams and the Browns will get into a defensive brawl this game, but the Browns will narrowly squeeze away with a one-point victory.


Week 11: Rams vs. Seahawks



Game Time: 3:05 PM CDT
Date: November 20th, 2011
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis,MO


Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 26, Seahawks 13)
Record: 5-5

The Rams have been aching for another shot at the Seattle Seahawks ever since their devastating 2010 finale that resulted in the Rams missing out on postseason play.


That is why the Rams will enter this game with some intensity.


The weak Seattle defense will allow the Rams to control the clock with their run game, and the Rams offense will also come up big with a few deep passes.


The Seahawks offensive line is not capable of containing the Rams front four, so Tarvaris Jackson will be scrambling around for the entire game, which will result in a few interceptions. 







The Rams defense makes their presence known, and St. Louis evens out their record once again.


Week 12: Rams vs. Cardinals

Game Time: 12:00 PM CDT

Date: November 27th, 2011

Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis,MO

Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 28, Cardinals 13)

Record: 6-5

The Cardinals are thought by some to be the most threatening team in the NFC West outside of the Rams, but St. Louis steps up and serves Arizona a second helping of defeat.

With the Cardinals offensive line showing no major improvements between this game and their previous matchup, the Rams defensive ends have another field day at Kevin Kolb's expense. 

Larry Fitzgerald will step up and make a few plays, including the Cardinals only touchdown of the game, but he will eventually find himself incapable on single-handedly compensating for a lack of offensive production.

Cornerback Patrick Peterson will be getting into a groove at this point in the season, so he will have a solid showing against the Rams receivers, but the Arizona linebackers will not be able to prevent Danny Amendola and Lance Kendricks from making big plays from the slot. 

Steven Jackson will score once or twice inside the red zone, which, combined with a superb defensive showing by the Rams, results in the Rams reclaiming a winning record.

Week 13: Rams @ 49ers

Game Time: 3:15 PM CDT

Date: December 4th, 2011

Location: Candlestick Park, San Francisco,CA

Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 26, 49ers 16)

Record: 7-5

The Rams were not so lucky during their 23-20 overtime loss at Candlestick Park in 2010, but they have improved overall as a team, while the 49ers are still stuck in the Alex Smith era. 

Of course, it's possible that the 49ers could be over their 2011 season at this point in the year, and they could instead be more focused on 2012, which means rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick could be starting this game.

Either way, San Francisco's quarterback deficiency will be too great for them to overcome this game.

Week 14: Rams @ Seahawks (Monday Night Football)

Game Time: 7:30 PM CDT

Date: December 12th, 2011

Location: CenturyLink Field, Seattle,WA

Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 16, Seahawks 10)

Record: 8-5

The Rams beat the Seahawks with ease during their first encounter of 2011, but at this point, they'll be looking to climb a new mountain—defeating the Seahawks on their own turf. 

The Rams were able the beat Seattle at the Edward Jones Dome in 2010, and they should do it again in 2011, but it's winning against the grueling 12th man that poses a problem.

However, the Rams will get it done.

The potency of the St. Louis offense will suffer, but the defense will be able to stay focused and get the job done against whichever second-tier quarterback the Seahawks are starting at this point.

It will be a bit more narrow that their first matchup of 2011, but the Rams still pull off a win in the end.

Week 15: Rams vs. Bengals

Game Time: 12:00 PM CDT
Date: December 18th, 2011
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO


Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 23, Bengals 6)
Record: 9-5

The Rams will be elated after their Monday Night Football victory over the Seahawks, not to mention their four-game winning streak, so they will enter this game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a lot of momentum.


The Bengals have a solid defense, which will somewhat contain the Rams offense for the first half of the game.
However, the St. Louis defense will force multiple three-and-outs against the stale Cincinnati offense, which will eventually result in a winded Bengals defense, and that's when the Rams will strike the scoreboard.


The Rams offense will score two touchdowns in the second half, but their defense will get it done all four quarters. 

Week 16: Rams @ Steelers

Game Time: 12:00 PM CDT
Date: December 24th, 2011
Location: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh,PA


Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 13, Steelers 23)
Record: 9-6

After the Rams cruise through a five-game winning streak, they get another taste of what it's like to play a dominate football team, just like what they experienced during the first half of the 2011 season. 


The Rams will enter this game with a winning record and several consecutive wins, so after being overconfident and outgunned, the Pittsburgh Steelers will walk away with a victory. 


It's possible that the Steelers will have everything clinched at this point in the season, so if that's the case then the Rams have a shot, but there are a lot of good AFC teams, so it's not likely. 


Assuming the Pttsburgh starters are playing, the Rams offense will be relatively shutdown outside of maybe a single touchdown, while the Rams pass rush will struggle to sack Ben Roethlisberger, resulting in some big plays for the Steelers offense.

Week 17: Rams vs. 49ers

Game Time: 12:00 PM CDT
Date: January 1st, 2011
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis,MO

Verdict:   WIN  (Rams 25, 49ers 10)
Record: 10-6

It's possible that the Rams will have nothing to gain from winning this game, which could result in the starter being benched.

But chances are there will be something to play for.

Unfortunately for the 49ers, their quarterback situation will not improve at any point in 2011—they will either settle for Alex Smith, or they'll be watching Colin Kaepernick go through his rookie growing pains.

The Rams defense will play hard this game in order to make their final statement of the 2011 season, at least the regular season.

The 49ers, especially if they have the rookie Kaepernick in the the game, will cough up a few turnovers and take a several sacks.

Meanwhile, the Rams offense will in sync by the final game of the season, so they'll be able to put some points on the board.

The Rams will win this game and enter the postseason on a high note.