On paper, the Los Angeles Rams (7-3) have a lot going for them. They are atop the NFC West, they have won three of last four games, they lead the league in total defense and rank second in scoring defense, and they have beaten the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (read: Russell Wilson and Tom Brady) in back-to-back weeks.
But that, JR SportBrief says, doesn’t mean they’re legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
“When it comes to the Rams knocking off the Bucs, great win, solid victory, key plays, clutch plays. Ride that momentum for the rest of the season. I think they will, and I believe they will go to the playoffs,” JR said on CBS Sports Radio. “But I think that’s where it stops. They may actually even win a game, but I’m not throwing the Rams back into Super Bowl contention.”
The Rams won the NFC in 2018, ultimately losing to the New England Patriots, 13-3, in Super Bowl LIII. Last year, they finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs. This year, they are currently the 2-seed in the NFC. They trail the New Orleans Saints (8-2) by one game for the top spot and hold a tiebreaker over the Green Bay Packers (7-3) based on winning percentage in conference games.
If the season ended today, the Rams would host division rival Arizona (6-4) in the Wild Card round.
“I’m not running the Rams past some of those other teams in the NFC,” JR said. “The NFC, even up until this point, has been a Wild Wild West – apropos for a team that literally plays in the West. But that’s where it stops. So if you’re a Rams fan, enjoy the ride. They are going to go to the playoffs. But I think that’s where things stop.”
The Rams play three of their next four games at home, beginning this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers (4-6). The Niners beat the Rams, 24-16, in Week 6.
Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. ET.