Even in defeat, Rams show they’re no longer an easy out

If the Los Angeles Rams showed one thing in their 43-35 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s that this team is no the easy out skeptics like me might have thought.

When the Philadelphia Eagles picked up a late first down that all but sealed their eleventh win AND sewed up the NFC East, it was hard to feel that the Los Angeles Rams lost a game they may have been expected to.

Yes, the Rams lost 43-35, but it wasn’t like that same feeling when this team lost in 2016.
Or 2015.
Or 2014….

You get where I’m going here?

Yesterday’s Eagles at Rams game delivered and checked all the boxes for viewers looking for a football game featuring two up-and-coming quarterbacks, and two teams that may indicate a power shift on both coasts.

Carson Wentz, to his ‘once was’ MVP candidacy before a torn ACL credit, was outplaying another quality start by Rams quarterback Jared Goff. The final score is not indicative of his good or how close this game was. It was also a fourth loss where you can honestly say that Los Angeles had chances to win against quality opponents.

In Week 14, it all boiled down to the Eagles wearing down a good Rams defense, and Goff yaking one up that would lead to late Philadelphia points, and that would be all she wrote. LA would go 3 and out to close out the day, but not the idea that this team is playoff good AND NFC West division winner good.

Related Story: Game recap: Rams to Eagles 43-35

Couldn’t say that in a long time if you were a Rams fan.

The last quarter of the season will be defined by Los Angeles winning games they should. Also by winning games because they are the better team.

The Rams are better than the Seattle Seahawks, even and especially on the road, where LA has thrived.

They are better than an average to good Tennessee Titans team, also on the road.

And finally, they are better than the San Francisco 49ers who won a second straight, on the road in Houston. That Week 17 game, as good as Week 14 against Philadelphia was, and as critical as Week 15 against Seattle is, will be the most interesting of the last five of the December slate.

Don’t kid yourself, the Niners went out and got Jimmy Garoppolo to anchor the quarterback position, and he’s helped win them two in a row away from the Bay Area. They’ll be better when they get to his fifth start.

Next: Browns cutting Britt shows Rams right to move on in offseason

As much as I’ve waited and thought the Los Angeles Rams were playing better than they are, they aren’t. They are good. Real good.

Maybe not Super Bowl ready good.

But not too far off, either.