Summing up 5 instant reactions to Rams Saturday Night Football victory

(5) - The Rams keep finding ways to win

There are no style points in the NFL. There is not even much to be said about losing the right way. In the grand scheme of things, an ugly win counts just as much as a total beatdown. The Rams may not have dominated the Arizona Cardinals as many had hoped, but the team did win a very important game.

Week 17 Final Score:

Arizona Cardinals 9
Los Angeles Rams 13

The Rams are not winning by much, but the team is winning. Even now, with a record of 10-6 and standing as the ninth-most successful NFL team of the season, the Rams margin of victory is at (-14). The Rams have scored 342 points this season but allowed 356 points. And if you want to dig deeper, 29 of the Rams 342 points scored have come from the defense. So things are not exactly reassuring regarding some basic football fundamentals this year.

And no, there is no evidence that the team will suddenly assemble into an offensive powerhouse, but more on that later. For now, this is apparently as good as it gets. The Rams are winning, but are beating team who, for the most part, are no longer in the running for post-season competition. That is both a boon and a bane.

The bane is rather obvious. The Rams have won five consecutive games, but have defeated the:

• New Orleans Saints (5-10)
• Buffalo Bills (12-3)
• San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
• New York Jets (4-11)
• Arizona Cardinals (7-9)

Of the group, only the Buffalo Bills are playoff bound. And the margin of victory over the past five games has been a grand total of 27 points. That means the Rams have defeated five teams by averaging less than a touchdown better. That is certainly shaving things a bit too close for comfort.

Hopefully, the team will improve on that in the postseason, a scenario that is win, or go home.