Don’t look now, but the Los Angeles Rams are approaching playoff territory in the NFC. They’re only one game out of the seventh seed and can move into a postseason spot as early as this week. Experts around the country are slowly but surely moving the Rams up in their power rankings ahead of Week 13, with Los Angeles ranking as high as No. 12 at one outlet.
Some are still questioning how impressive the Rams’ five wins are considering four of them were against the Seahawks and Cardinals, but they won three of those four games in convincing fashion.
Here’s a look at where the Rams rank following their 37-14 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Touchdown Wire: No. 19
The Rams crushed the Cardinals on Sunday but Touchdown Wire didn’t move them up at all coming out of Week 12. They’re still behind the Chargers and the Raiders heading into a pivotal Week 13.
Last Week: 19
Golly gee, what a kick to the hindquarters the Rams gave Arizona. Are they a real player in the NFC playoff race? I’d still lean no.
USA TODAY: No. 12
The Rams are approaching the top 10 in USA TODAY’s poll, and a win over the Browns on Sunday could push them into that conversation.
12. Rams (13):Â Don’t sleep on them. Despite a challenging schedule, they’ve been in every game this season save two, the ones where QB Matthew Stafford was hurt. He looked fully healthy Sunday, as did rejuvenated RB Kyren Williams. If LA, which is 4-1 in NFC West games, can get WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua cranking again, this team could easily crack the playoff field.
ESPN: No. 16
The Rams moved up three spots in ESPN’s power rankings after beating the Cardinals for their second straight win, but we’ll see how they perform against tougher opponents in the Browns, Ravens and 49ers down the stretch.
The Rams’ offense has had its ups and downs this season — especially when QB Matthew Stafford and RB Kyren Williams were injured — but showed its potential Sunday against the Cardinals, when it scored 37 points. On the flip side, the Rams lost several veterans on the defensive side of the ball during the offseason, opting to go with a young defense this year. The group has taken strides this season under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, but still has room to grow. — Sarah Barshop
The Athletic: No. 19
A big jump for Los Angeles in The Athletic’s rankings, going from 25th to 19th. Kyren Williams’ return helped spark their lopsided win over the Cardinals and the offense looks very different with him healthy again.
The Rams are in the ninth spot in the NFC after their second consecutive win. Kyren Williams had 143 yards on 16 carries and led the team with six catches (for 61 yards) in his first game since Week 6. Williams has topped 100 rushing yards in three of the last four games he has played, and Los Angeles looks like a different team with him in the lineup. “That was a big deal getting him back,” coach Sean McVay said.
CBS Sports: No. 17
It was a three-spot improvement for the Rams in CBS Sports‘ list after their win over Arizona. Pete Prisco sees hope for Los Angeles after winning back-to-back games in the NFC West.
At 5-6, they are alive in the playoff chase. Kyren Williams is proving once again that you can find good backs anywhere.
The Ringer: No. 17
The Ringer questions the legitimacy of the Rams after crushing the Cardinals for two of their last three wins, only moving them up one spot from No. 18 to 17. They bottomed out at No. 23 in Week 10 but they’ve been on a steady rise since then.
The Rams embarrassed the Cardinals 37-14, finally putting together a complete performance across a full game. The Rams have a point differential this year of minus-2, but that belies their real story: the Rams have outscored the Cardinals in two games by 40 points, and they've been outscored by all other opponents by 42 combined. Bizarrely, the five-win Rams have only beaten three teams: the Cardinals twice, the Seahawks twice, and the Colts in a game where rookie QB Anthony Richardson overcame a 23-0 deficit to send it to overtime. Matthew Stafford may be back from his thumb injury, but the Rams face the toughest stretch of their season with the Browns and Ravens defenses in back-to-back weeks. âDanny Heifetz
Bleacher Report: No. 19
While some aren’t putting much stock in the Rams’ blowout win over Arizona, Bleacher Report moved them up five spots to No. 19 from No. 24.
It has been an up-and-down season for the Los Angeles Rams. Injuries have hit the offense hard, with quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Kyren Williams and wide receiver Cooper Kupp all missing time.
But Sunday in Arizona, Williams rejoined Kupp and Stafford on the fieldâand the Rams dismantled the Cardinals.
Williams was the star of Sunday’s game, piling up 204 total yards and two touchdowns on 22 touches. And in Sobleski’s opinion, if the Rams are going to nudge their way into the NFC playoff picture, the second-year running back is the key.
ProFootballTalk: No. 17
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk is buying into the Rams all of a sudden. He’s moved them up to No. 17, approaching the top half of the league as they head into Week 13 against the Browns. He even called them “the most dangerous team in the NFC playoff field” if they get into the dance.
17. Rams (5-6, No. 20): If they get in, the Rams could be the most dangerous team in the NFC playoff field.
Pro Football Network: No. 20
The Rams have cracked the top 20 in Pro Football Network’s power rankings, but again, Dalton Miller is questioning the strength of the Rams’ wins, considering four of their five have come against the Seahawks and Cardinals.
The Rams swept the Seahawks and Cardinals in convincing fashion in 2023. If they played games strictly within their own division, they might be a playoff team. They absolutely bullied the Cardinals' defense, and the Rams' defense had an incredible day against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals' passing attack.
