Rams win over Detroit stops Power Rankins free fall in Week 15

The St. Louis Rams ended their five-game losing streak this past Sunday with a 21-14 victory over the Detroit Lions. An unfortunate mid-season losing streak essentially removed the Rams from the NFC Wild Card race and launched them into the top ten for the 2016 NFL draft.

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St. Louis will meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football this wek in their final home game of the season. They will close the season out with road trips to division rivals Seattle and San Francisco.

ESPN: Ranked 26^th (Last Week 28)

The victory stops the free fall, but also removes the Rams from the top ten of the 2016 draft., so it’s bitter sweet. A team that is in dire need of impact players at multiple positions will find the victory bittersweet. With nothing but respect left to play for the Rams will have their hands full with a up and coming Buccaneers squad on Thursday Night Football this week. A victory holds little merit at this point, while a loss will place them back in the upper portion of the first-round. Decisions, decisions. (Division Rivals: Seattle 8, Arizona 2, San Francisco 31)

Frank Schwab at Yahoo Sports: Ranked 25^th (Last Week 27)

Fan support has dwindled this year and on the back end of a five-game losing streak last Sunday’s “Fan Appreciation Night” was less than stellar. Now on the heels of a primetime matchup on Thursday Night Football it’s difficult to say what the turn out will be. Fan support isn’t a perfect barometer for the success or failure of a sports franchise, but at 5-8 and the teams 12^th consecutive season without a playoff birth, it’s a pretty strong message to ownership in 2015. (Division Rivals: Seattle 6, Arizona 3, San Francisco 31)

Dec 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) leaps for the end zone for a five yard touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Elliot Harrison at NFL.com: Ranked 24^th (Last Week 31)

Rookie running back Todd Gurley has been the only shining light on this abysmal offense. It’s almost as if he can do nothing wrong and he showed that on Sunday gaining 140-yards on just 16 carries. When the fingers get to pointing, the failures usually direct themselves to the quarterback and offensive coordinator. Seeing as the Rams just fired their OC last week, and they have nothing but a carousel of ineptitude at the quarterback position, it’s no surprise Gurley is made to look like a hero every Sunday. Hopefully this team doesn’t “waste” his good years. (Division Rivals: Seattle 4, Arizona 2, San Francisco 27)

Pete Prisco at CBSSports.com: Ranked 25^th (Last Week 25)

Former offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti was simply a sacrificial lamb for a disappointing team. Head coach Jeff Fisher placed some fo that blame on his players, and the rest on the fact that Cignetti failed to give their best weapon, running back Todd Gurley, the ball consistently. In his debut on Sunday, new OC Rob Boras got the ball into Gurley’s hands 16 times as a rusher. Not exactly consistent. This was more the case of Gurley putting in an all-pro effort than Boras becoming the messiah as an offensive coordinator. (Division Rivals: Seattle 4, Arizona 2, San Francisco 29)

Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com: Ranked 24^th (Last Week 27)

What are the chances the St. Louis Rams win out this season and finish 8-8? Well, with a home game against a beatable Tampa Bay squad this Thursday, followed by two division games including the abysmal 49ers, the chance is there. It’s more realistic they go 2-1 in that stretch, but it would probably be enough to buy head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead more time. The duo has failed to produce more than a stiff wind in St. Louis, but apparently that’s enough to keep ownership happy. When will this city demand better? (Division Rivals: Seattle 5, Arizona 2, San Francisco 30)

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