Good news: The Los Angeles Rams have climbed into the top 10 of this week’s power rankings from Touchdown Wire.
Bad news: They’re the lowest-ranked playoff team remaining.
With the final eight set ahead of the divisional round, the Rams sit in the basement of those squads, sitting one spot behind the Cleveland Browns, who upset the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. Mark Schofield came away impressed with the way the Rams shut down the Seahawks and bottled up the likes of DK Metcalf and Russell Wilson, but he questions whether they can do it again against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
The big spark from that unit came from the Pick-Six turned in by cornerback Darious Williams, when he perfectly read a smoke-screen intended for D.K. Metcalf, jumped it by fighting through the block attempt by Freddie Swain, and stepped in front of the throw from Russell Wilson for six points the other way. Jalen Ramsey was his usual stellar self, including a leaping deflection of a downfield throw to prevent a big play.
Now the question becomes, can that defense replicate that performance against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers?
Here’s how the top eight shakes out following wild-card weekend.
8. Rams
7. Browns
6. Ravens
5. Buccaneers
4. Saints
3. Bills
2. Packers
1. Chiefs
The Rams’ next opponent, the Green Bay Packers, come in at No. 2, and deservedly so. They went 13-3 in the regular season and are coming off a first-round bye, fresh and rested ahead of Saturday’s game against the Rams. They led the NFL in scoring and have the likely MVP leading them at quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, along with three other first-team All-Pros.
The Rams boast a dominant defense, but they haven’t run into an offense this good all year.
