Sando: Projecting the Rams' 2010 record

[Nick]

Projecting the Rams' 2010 record
By Mike Sando
Sep 9, 2:58 PM ET

The annual game-by-game predictions for NFC West teams will be rolling out on the blog throughout Thursday, beginning with a 5-11 projection on the St. Louis Rams based on these projected outcomes:

Week 1: lose vs. Cardinals

Week 2: lose at Raiders

Week 3: win vs. Redskins

Week 4: win vs. Seahawks

Week 5: win at Lions

Week 6: lose vs. Chargers

Week 7: lose at Bucs

Week 8: win vs. Panthers

Week 9: no game

Week 10: lose at *****

Week 11: lose vs. Falcons

Week 12: lose at Broncos

Week 13: lose at Cardinals

Week 14: lose at Saints

Weak 15: win vs. Chiefs

Week 16: lose vs. *****

Week 17: lose at Seahawks

I've used red type to identify projected defeats that could qualify as "swing" games for hopeful fans. The opener against Arizona isn't in red type because I didn't want Ken Whisenhunt printing out this blog entry as more evidence of disrespect toward his two-time defending NFC West champs.

Last season, I couldn't find a victory on the Rams schedule until their eighth game, and that's how the first half of the season played out. This season, there might be some reaching going on with my projected Rams victory over Carolina in Week 8, but otherwise I had the Rams losing eight in a row, and I think they'll do better than that this season. They nearly beat New Orleans and Houston at home last season.

The Rams do draw a more favorable home schedule this season in terms of opposing quarterbacks. They faced Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Kurt Warner and Matt Schaub at the Edward Jones Dome last season. That's a brutal home schedule for a team that wasn't going to fare well on the road. The Rams need some more manageable home games this season. They still face some good quarterbacks, but the list isn't nearly as formidable as the one from 2009.

I gave the Rams a 4-4 home record as a result. That could be generous, but not if the Rams have better luck with injuries this season.

[Rambunctious]

The odds are stacked against us but just for the record I'm predicting 10 wins this season.

Week 1: win vs. Cardinals
Week 2: win at Raiders
Week 3: loss vs. Redskins
Week 4: win vs. Seahawks
Week 5: win at Lions
Week 6: lose vs. Chargers
Week 7: win at Bucs
Week 8: win vs. Panthers
Week 9: no game
Week 10: lose at *****
Week 11: lose vs. Falcons
Week 12: win at Broncos
Week 13: lose at Cardinals
Week 14: lose at Saints
Weak 15: win vs. Chiefs
Week 16: win vs. *****
Week 17 win at Seahawks.

[thickandthin]

The odds are stacked against us but just for the record I'm predicting 10 wins this season.

Week 1: win vs. Cardinals
Week 2: win at Raiders
Week 3: loss vs. Redskins
Week 4: win vs. Seahawks
Week 5: win at Lions
Week 6: lose vs. Chargers
Week 7: win at Bucs
Week 8: win vs. Panthers
Week 9: no game
Week 10: lose at *****
Week 11: lose vs. Falcons
Week 12: win at Broncos
Week 13: lose at Cardinals
Week 14: lose at Saints
Weak 15: win vs. Chiefs
Week 16: win vs. *****
Week 17 win at Seahawks.

I like this scenario! but if we get 8 wins I will be an extremely happy camper!

[Alec22]

16-0. In the draft trade up from #32 into the top 10 and draft the top LB/DL

[Guam rammer]

Here's my take:
WEEK 1-WIN VS CARDS
WEEK 2-WIN@ RAIDERS
WEEK 3-LOSE VS REDSKINS
WEEK 4-WIN VS SEAHAWKS
WEEK 5-LOSE @ LIONS
WEEK 6-LOSE VS CHARGERS
WEEK 7-WIN @ BUCS
WEEK 8-LOSE VS PANTHERS
WEEK 9- BYE
WEEK 10-LOSE @******
WEEK 11-WIN VS FALCONS
WEEK 12-LOSE @ BRONCOS
WEEK 13-LOSE @ CARDS
WEEK 14-LOSE @ SAINTS
WEEK 15-WIN VS CHIEFS
WEEK 16-WIN VS ******
WEEK 17-WIN @ SEAHAWKS....SQUEEK INTO THE PLAYOFFS. RAAAMS BAAABY!!!

[laram0]

Put the KOOL-AID down! You're going to hurt yourselves!!!!


GO RAMS!!!!

[Rambunctious]

Put the KOOL-AID down! You're going to hurt yourselves!!!!

I understand but it is a thin line between possible and probable.

If you look at the games individually you can see how it's possible for us to win several. A premiere back, good quarterback and a solid defense puts us, in my opinion, on par with some of our opponents.

Probably we won't because the games occur one after the other, injuries will eventually hit and too much adversity my be hard to overcome psychologically.

But... what if the ball bounces our way a few more times this year than it did last year.

[Ram Dragoon]

Week 1: vs Cardinals= W

Week 2: vs Raiders= L*

Week 3: vs Redskins= L*

Week 4: vs Seahawks= L*

Week 5: vs Lions= W

Week 6: vs. Chargers= L

Week 7: vs Bucs= W

Week 8: vs Panthers= L

Week 9: BYE

Week 10: vs Frisko= W

Week 11: vs Falcons= L

Week 12: vs Broncos= W

Week 13: vs Cardinals= W

Week 14: vs Saints= L*

Weak 15: vs Chiefs= W

Week 16: vs Frisco= L

Week 17: vs Seahawks= W
(*) are winnable games
In the NFC-West the Rams ought to do well considering:
The Cards have lost a lot of depth on both offense and defense. I still think their QB issues will a hunt them through out the season. Its a tie between the Rams and Frisko until one considers the diffence in the Defenses; Again QBs make the difference and neither has a decisive edge on offense. Seahawks still have more holes filled then the Rams in terms of needs, but don't see the Hawks as having put all the peaces together.

In the winnable games:
There is the Raiders, they are the most consistant inconsitant team in the NFL, and much will depend on which shows up to play. Red Skins lack a lot of pieces still. If the Rams win this game it will be a credit to the defense. The Rams play the Saints later in the season, and don't think their defense can keep them from losing having not replaced what talent they had on that side of the ball. Further its going to be a long season for the Saints with every team gunning for them--attrition is likely to have made them vunerable for a Ram upset

I don't like this schedual, not enough gutt-check games against teams on the rise like Green Bay, Indianapolis, or New York (Jets) to guage the Rams as a whole. A winning season would be wonderful, yet in the long run to make it back to the Superbowl The Rams need tough hard fought games to get better.

At least the Rams get a chance to play Atlanta, Carolina, and San Diago

[PeoriaRam]

I'm kind of curious about all of this optimism for home games when we have done better on the road the last few seasons.

[Rambunctious]

I'm kind of curious about all of this optimism for home games when we have done better on the road the last few seasons.

If you haven't heard yet... the entire state of Oklahoma is going to load up in wagons and caravan to the Dome. Thus giving us a huge home field advantage... plus loads and loads of horse crap.

[khdude]

6-10 is my take, with you guys beating the Cards week 1.

[Goldenfleece]

I believe 10 wins is possible but would really require everything to fall just right. My prediction right now is 7-9:

Week 1: win vs. Cardinals

Week 2: win at Raiders

Week 3: win vs. Redskins

Week 4: lose vs. Seahawks

Week 5: win at Lions

Week 6: lose vs. Chargers

Week 7: win at Bucs

Week 8: lose vs. Panthers

Week 9: no game

Week 10: lose at *****

Week 11: lose vs. Falcons

Week 12: lose at Broncos

Week 13: lose at Cardinals

Week 14: lose at Saints

Weak 15: win vs. Chiefs

Week 16: lose vs. *****

Week 17: win at Seahawks

After facing the depleted Cards in week 1, we play teams that finished near the bottom of the standings last year in weeks 2-5. All of those games should be winnable. Of course, they'll be saying the same thing about us...

The level of play rises in weeks 6-8. Unless V-Jacks wins an appeal, we'll face the Chargers without their star receiver and likely without LT McNeil, as well. The Bucs are beatable, but the Panthers' running game will be another test. It's not out of the realm of possibility that we could beat any or all of the teams, but my early guess is that we only take one of them.

Our bye comes just in time for a breather before the hardest part of our schedule. Not only are weeks 10-14 against the toughest teams on the schedule, but 4 out of the 5 games are away games. The Rams would have to play much better than they have in recent seasons to avoid a losing streak coming out of the bye.

However, I have them finishing strong through weeks 15-17, winning 2/3 to close out the season.

[Bing69]

Week 1: win vs. Cardinals

Week 2: lose at Raiders

Week 3: win vs. Redskins

Week 4: win vs. Seahawks

Week 5: win at Lions

Week 6: lose vs. Chargers

Week 7: lose at Bucs

Week 8: lose vs. Panthers

Week 9: no game

Week 10: lose at *****

Week 11: lose vs. Falcons

Week 12: lose at Broncos

Week 13: lose at Cardinals

Week 14: lose at Saints

Weak 15: win vs. Chiefs

Week 16: lose vs. *****

Week 17: lose at Seahawks

Thats my take. A 5 win season, id be happy with that tbh, after a 1 win season. If the team outperform my expectations they could easily have around 8 wins *fingers crossed*

[robbcayman]

6 wins would be a huge improvement and seems realistic. I still think this defense is still really suspect. If they do a bunch of moves during next year maybe a 10 win next year. I just don't see going from 1 win to 10.