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This is a warning to the Los Angeles Rams: Whenever I write about a team that is surging at the top of these rankings, they usually go bad. So consider yourselves warned.
But here goes: The Rams are one of the most underrated stories of this NFL season, a story more and more people should be paying attention to as the season moves along.
The Rams, who most had picked as a potential last-place NFC West team, are now 8-7 and appear on their way to being a playoff team. They would be the sixth seed right now and would be the NFC wild card team that nobody wants to play. They are also up to No. 10 in my Power Rankings this week.
The Rams won a Super Bowl two years ago, going all-in in terms of acquisitions and draft picks to do so. The thinking was they would be in a rebuild for a few years after that, even trading away star corner Jalen Ramsey this year. They also let several other veterans walk, guys like Leonard Floyd and Greg Gaines.
So what happened?
They have built a defense around Aaron Donald and built the offense around Matthew Stafford, two of the high-priced stars still on the roster, to surge toward the postseason. They have supplemented it by drafting well and seeing a lot of young players get playing time and improve week by week.
The roster build is a really testament to general manager Les Snead. The development and record is a tribute to coach Sean McVay, who is proving once again why he’s one of the best in the NFL.
The Rams added cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and guard Kevin Dotson and both veterans have become starters and major reasons why the Rams have improved in the secondary and up front on the offensive line.
But it’s Snead’s sharp drafting that has really impacted a team that badly needed it. In this year’s draft, he added starting guard Steve Avila in the second round, defensive linemen Byron Young and Kobie Turner in the third. And the best pick…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-17-power-rankings-surging-rams-deserve-your-attention-crack-top-10-chiefs-offense-in-free-fall/
Author : Pete Prisco
Publish date : 2023-12-26 14:30:00
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