Friday, October 30, 2020

Los Angeles Rams Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Los Angeles Rams rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 10.6 (11th)
  • Best ranking: 8th (The Athletic)
  • Worst ranking: 16th (USA Today)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Rams in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 8

EPR loves the Rams. I've been impressed but want to see more. They rode defense and special teams to a dominant Monday night victory against the Bears. The Rams limited Chicago to 14 first downs and improved to 5-2. Los Angeles is now fourth defensively and first against the pass. The Rams' plus-52 point differential is third in the NFC.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 10

The defense is impressive. That is the part of the team that is so much better than expected. They dominated the Chicago offense, bouncing back after their bad loss to the 49ers.

USA Today -- Rank: 16

Seriously, we need to start talking about Johnny Hekker as the greatest punter ever. All five of his punts Monday landing inside the 10. Appreciate his genius ...

ESPN -- Rank: 10

Who needs to step up: K Samuel Sloman

It could be too little, too late for Sloman, a seventh-round pick from Miami (Ohio), after the Rams signed veteran Kai Forbath to the active roster from the Bears' practice squad ahead of Week 7. Sloman has lacked consistency, especially on PATs and kickoffs, while his field goal range remains somewhat of a mystery because of the Rams' ability to score touchdowns. A ninth-year pro, Forbath could take over the job at any moment. -- Lindsey Thiry

NFL.com -- Rank: 9

Jared Goff and the Rams' offense are in a tentative place right now, but Los Angeles continues to stack wins because its defense is doing the job. The Bears couldn't get anything going on Monday night, held to just 279 yards with little hope of success on the rare occasion they entered the red zone. Leonard Floyd, a former first-round pick in Chicago, had two of Los Angeles' four sacks, and Jalen Ramsey came down with the game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter. But if you're looking for a star of the game, check out the punter who might be headed to Canton someday. Johnny Hekker had five punts, each downed inside the 10-yard line. In a low-scoring, field-position-driven game, Hekker was a nuclear weapon.

Previous update: Los Angeles Rams Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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