NFL power rankings: Rams nosedive out of top 10 after loss to Jets
When you lose to a winless team in Week 15, a slide in the standings and power rankings is inevitable. The Rams learned that the hard way this week, falling to the 0-13 Jets at home, 23-20.
And not only did they fall to the No. 5 seed in the NFC, but they also experienced a free fall in Touchdown Wire’s power rankings coming out of Week 15. After previously being ranked at No. 6 prior to this loss to the Jets, the Rams are now all the way down at No. 14, dropping eight spots.
Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire wrote that the biggest fear among Rams fans wasn’t a stunning loss to the Jets. It was “the Jared Goff Pumpkin Game,” which is what Schofield argues we got on Sunday against the Jets as the quarterback struggled throughout the afternoon, throwing one interception and nearly a second that was dropped by a defender.
The Rams are still in solid shape when it comes to getting into the postseason, but they have yet to punch their ticket. With games against the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals remaining, the Rams could still even win the division. However, the questions about Goff – specifically whether you would trust him in a critical game – are back after losing to the Jets. Rams fans can hope that their quarterback had just one Pumpkin Game left this season, and he just got it out of his system.
The Rams can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Seahawks on Sunday, and will lock up the NFC West if they win their next two games to close out the year. But with Cam Akers out and the offense sputtering, there’s reason for concern in L.A.
If Goff doesn’t turn things around quickly, the Rams could be one-and-done in the playoffs, assuming they make it there.
