It’s often said that you can only play the teams on your schedule, which is true. That’s typically the defense for teams that beat up on lesser opponents, inflating their win-loss record.
You could make the case that the Rams’ 8-4 record is somewhat misleading because of how few statement wins they have against quality teams. In fact, it’s been two months since the Rams last beat a team that wasn’t in third or fourth in their respective division.
Their only truly impressive victory came against the Buccaneers in Week 3, beating them by 10 points at SoFi Stadium. Since then, they’ve beaten the Seahawks, Giants, Lions, Texans and Jaguars. Those are truly some of the worst teams in the league.
“But you can only play the teams on your schedule,” some will argue. True, but what about the games against the Cardinals, Titans, 49ers and Packers that have all been played – and lost – by the Rams since beating the Bucs?
The Rams are beating the teams they’re supposed to, and doing so convincingly. But they’re also losing to the better teams on their schedule. The Colts and Bucs are the only two teams above .500 right now that the Rams have beaten. Their other six wins came against teams with a combined record of 17-54-1. In total, the combined record of teams the Rams have beaten is 33-63-1.
In games lost by the Rams, their opponents have a combined record of 33-15.
This isn’t to downplay how impressive their victory over the Buccaneers was in Week 3, especially considering it was by 10 points over the defending Super Bowl champions. But that was really the last time the Rams showed they can beat the better teams in the league.
That has to change soon, and it begins on Monday night when they visit the 10-2 Cardinals. A win will give fans and analysts confidence in the Rams again because it’ll prove that when they reach the playoffs, they can compete with and defeat the top teams. If they lose, it’ll be yet another reminder that the Rams really only beat up on bad teams and lose to the good ones.
A statement win is desperately needed for Los Angeles, even if it doesn’t come this week. The Rams will have another chance in Week 16 against the Vikings, who could still be in the playoff hunt at that time. Then again in Week 17 against the Ravens, and finally in the finale against the 49ers.
Those teams don’t carry the clout that the Cardinals do, but at least they’re better than the Seahawks, Giants, Lions, Texans and Jaguars. Beating legitimate contenders just before the postseason begins would be the best way for the Rams to head into the dance.
[listicle id=659420]