Rams qbs v. the NFC West, 2012-14

The Rams have teams each year capable of challenging the NFC west. That’s why they played Seattle hard in 2013 even with Clemens at qb (though they came up short.)

On defense, Seattle, SF, and Arizona were all in the top 11 in 2014 when it comes to avg. opponent qb rating. (Seattle 4th, SF 5th, ARZ 11th). In 2013 all 3 were top 10 (Seattle 1st, SF 6th, Arz 8th). In 2012 they were again all in the top 11 (Arz 1st, Seattle 3rd, SF 11th).

Across 3 years this is the avg. qb rating allowed by each team:

Seattle: 72.1
ARZ: 79.1
SF: 79.9

So if you have issues with your qb, the NFC West defenses WILL expose them.

(Which makes Brady in the superbowl look even better.)

So you DO need good qb play against the NFC West, but to have THAT, if you don’t have Brady (plus a beat-up Seattle secondary), you should also have a good defense (to take pressure off the offense) and a strong running game (also to take pressure off the offense).

If your qb can’t play, the NFC West will break him. That doesn’t mean the qb WINS IT. It still still a team game. But it DOES MEAN you had better put your qb in a position to play well.

In the Fisher years….

Clemens at qb, Rams 0-4 against the west.
Clemens’s avg. qb rating against the NFC west was 54.5

Davis at qb, Rams 2-2 against the west.
Davis’s was 76.3 …with 1 game over 90, and no comeback wins

Hill at qb, Rams 0-2 against the west.
Hill’s was 62.1

Bradford at qb, Rams 5-2-1 against the west.
Bradford’s was 82.8 …with 3 games over 90, and 3 comeback wins (1 for a tie)

Now is just beating the NFC west a sign that your team has made it? No. It is however a sign they are on the right track. It is a sign your team can compete in the division, with a chance to do more when it becomes a more consistent team