NFL winners and losers: Jalen Ramsey proves he’s worth his $105 million as Rams make a statement...

NFL Winners and Losers: Jalen Ramsey proves he's worth his $105 million as Rams make a statement

[sports.yahoo.com]

Russell Wilson looked average. It’s hard to say what DK Metcalf looked like because he was mostly invisible.

The Los Angeles Rams are rarely talked about as a Super Bowl contender, but they’re 6-3 and tied for first place in the NFC West after an impressive 23-16 win over theSeattle Seahawks.


The Rams have made some bold, sometimes reckless, moves, but it’s hard to argue with the results this season. Especially with their trade to get Jalen Ramsey.

Ramsey might be the leader for NFL Defensive Player of the Year after Sunday (T.J. Watt, who also had a big Week 10, might disagree). Ramsey took Metcalf, one of the league’s best receivers, out of the game. Metcalf didn’t have a target deep into the third quarter as the Rams held a 23-13 lead. Metcalf finally got on the board, catching a short pass from Wilson with about a minute to go in the third quarter. Metcalf finished with two catches for 28 yards and was a non-factor. Not many corners in the NFL can do that to Metcalf.


Most teams don’t want to trade first-round picks. The Rams traded two of them to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Ramsey last year. Then they paid Ramsey a five-year, $105 million deal. He’s the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. When you see the impact Ramsey has on a game like Sunday, it’s understandable. New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore won NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season, and Ramsey is having a similar season.

The Rams have done a fantastic job on defense, mostly because Ramsey and defensive tackle Aaron Donald are the two best defensive players in the league this season. It’s unusual to see Wilson struggle, but with Ramsey taking away his top receiver in Sunday’s game, the Rams’ job of defending him got a lot easier. Wilson had 248 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions and is quickly losing ground in the MVP race.

The NFC is wide open, and the Rams are as good as any other contender. Their three-man running back committee had an impact Sunday. Jared Goff, going against the Seahawks’ Swiss cheese secondary, found receivers open all day. The defense more than held up its end. Sean McVay has seemingly done a great job of self-evaluation and made adjustments after the Rams took a step back last season.

The Rams are in great position to win the NFC West. The victory over Seattle was their first game against the Seahawks or Arizona Cardinals, the other two main contenders in the division. The Rams have home games against the beat-up 49ers, Patriots and Jets upcoming, and those should be wins. Los Angeles could end up easily clearing double-digit wins.

After Sunday, the Rams aren’t going to be under the radar anymore.