The Los Angeles Rams are seeing a dip in most power rankings this week after a frustrating loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Despite holding a significant lead at halftime, the Rams ultimately fell by four points, leading to a consensus drop across various football prognosticators. The team’s average ranking now sits at 8.5, a slide from last week’s 5.75, placing them around the edge of the top-10.
The game against the Broncos was a tale of two halves for the Southern California team. After a dominant first half, the script flipped dramatically due to three significant injuries that occurred before the second half even began. Both the offense and defense then struggled to maintain their initial momentum, ultimately surrendering a 16-point lead. This collapse marked the largest blown halftime lead for the Rams since 2001, according to one report.
Several analysts weighed in on the Rams' performance and their new standing. Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano noted the team "looked worn down against the Broncos, especially late in the game." Vacchiano, who dropped the Rams from fifth to ninth in his rankings, still considers them a top-10 team, suggesting they could improve with the return of star defensive end Myles Garrett and wide receiver Puka Nacua.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook also observed the team’s inconsistency, dropping them from eighth to thirteenth. Shook highlighted a pattern of varied performances this season, including a flat 20-point loss to the 49ers in Australia, an elite 22-point win over the Giants in Los Angeles, and the recent collapse in Denver. He emphasized the need for the Rams to move past Sunday night’s outcome quickly, especially with challenging matchups against the Eagles and Bills on the horizon.
However, not all analyses pointed to a significant cause for concern. USA Today’s Nate Davis, who moved the Rams from fourth to sixth, suggested the team "probably got jobbed Sunday night." Davis pointed to the 13 penalties called against the Rams, including five in the final two minutes, which was the most against them in Sean McVay’s 10-year tenure as coach. Despite playing without wide receiver Puka Nacua and outside linebacker Myles Garrett, and with defensive lineman Aaron Donald recording four tackles and two pressures across two games, the team still nearly secured a win. Davis concluded that it is "hardly time to panic here."
Yahoo Sports’ Frank Schwab also expressed a similar sentiment, dropping the Rams from fourth to sixth but doubting the long-term impact of the slide. Schwab argued that the loss was reasonable, given the Broncos' strong home record of 16-4 in their last 20 games and a controversial defensive pass interference call late in the game. He further stressed the absence of Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua, whom he described as "two players who are arguably top 10 non-quarterbacks in the NFL." Schwab noted that despite their 1-2 record, some books still list the Rams as Super Bowl favorites or close behind the Bills, asserting, "The Rams will be just fine."
NY Post’s Ryan Dunleavy also dropped the Rams from sixth to ninth, highlighting some key moments from the game. He mentioned Matthew Stafford’s 33rd career interception returned for a touchdown, an NFL record, which proved to be a critical fourth-quarter mistake. Stafford still threw for 390 yards, with 137 of those going to Davante Adams. Dunleavy also noted Josh Wallace's interception, adding that Wallace might have had two if not for a contentious pass interference penalty.
Looking ahead, the Rams are set to face the Philadelphia Eagles, who currently hold a 2-1 record. The Eagles recently lost to the Chicago Bears, 27-7, on Monday Night Football. Despite their winning record, the Eagles have shown struggles on both sides of the ball, ranking 23rd in scoring and 32nd in takeaways. This suggests an opportunity for the Los Angeles Rams to rebound and improve their standing in the coming week.
