NFC WEST - ST. LOUIS RAMS

HISTORY
Joined the NFL as the Cleveland Rams in 1937. Relocated to Los Angeles in 1946. Relocated to St. Louis in 1994.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY
League Championships: 3 - 1945 (NFL), 1951 (NFL), 1999 (Super Bowl)

Conference Championships: 5 - 1950 (NFC), 1951 (NFC), 1955 (WFC), 1979 (NFC), 1999 (NFC), 2001 (NFC)

Division Championships: 15 - 1945 (NFL West), 1949 (NFL West), 1967 (NFL Coastal), 1969 (NFL Coastal), 1973 (NFC West), 1974 (NFC West), 1975 (NFC West), 1976 (NFC West), 1977 (NFC West), 1978 (NFC West), 1979 (NFC West), 1985 (NFC West), 1999 (NFC West), 2001 (NFC West), 2003 (NFC West)

Playoff Appearances: 27 - 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004

2005 Finish: 6-10, 2 nd Place NFC West

2006 PREVIEW

We think this will be the same old Rams team, meaning they can score points with anyone in the league, but give them up just as quickly.

Actually there is a difference in that their new coach Scott Linehan has zero coaching experience, and rarely do new head coaches succeed in their first season. Still St. Louis lost no key offensive players in the off-season, and running back Steven Jackson may be in line for a huge break-out season. There are no concerns with the passing game as Marc Bulger is one of the most accurate deep throwers in the league, and he has his usual plethora of nice receiving targets led by All-Pro Torry Holt. He will even have a good receiving tight end, as the Rams drafted two of them in Joe Klopfenstein from Colorado and Dominique Byrd of USC, and one of them will start right away.

The defense was a horror show last year though ranking 30 th out of 32 NFL teams in yards allowed, and although they added some nice draft picks, it may take a while before they pay off. That is unfortunate because the Rams lost no fewer that five defensive players that saw significant playing time (Adam Archuleta, Damione Lewis, Mike Furrey, Corey Ivy, Chris Johnson) to free agency. Thus the rookies will be called upon much sooner than desired, and while that should pay dividends in future seasons as the unit grows together, it will most likely mean many huge games for opposing offenses this year.

2006 Prediction: 3 rd Place NFC West