[max]

1. Aikman says stupid stuff.

2. The Rams are not an elite team this year.

These 2 things are not mutually exclusive.

Aikman said the dumbest thing I’ve heard from a national media guy all year when he said the Rams may not win another game all season. Just flat out embarrassingly stupid.

And yes, the Rams are not an elite team this year. We beat one really good team in week 3, since then we lost to every decent team. We’ll have to beat AZ to get back any recognition as a really good team. Until then, we’re a disappointing WC team.

[PARAM]

And yes, the Rams are not an elite team this year. We beat one really good team in week 3, since then we lost to every decent team. We’ll have to beat AZ to get back any recognition as a really good team. Until then, we’re a disappointing WC team.

So what you're saying is......

"The Rams were an elite team"....or at least appeared to be....

and then after 3 consecutive losses...

"The Rams are not an elite team"

....but if they beat Arizona....

"they might be elite"...again.

So who is elite at this moment?

1. Arizona
2. Green Bay

and who else Max?

Work with me here

[max]

So what you're saying is......

"The Rams were an elite team"....or at least appeared to be....

and then after 3 consecutive losses...

"The Rams are not an elite team"

....but if they beat Arizona....

"they might be elite"...again.

So who is elite at this moment?

1. Arizona
2. Green Bay

and who else Max?

Work with me here

Right now the 5 best teams in no particular order, IMO, are:
GB
AZ
Buff
Pats
Bucs

And yes, after the Bucs game the Rams looked elite. But things change in the NFL during a long season. That should be obvious to everyone. You lose 3 straight games and it’s clear that you’ve got problems. And let’s not make it out that beating the Cards in AZ isn’t an odds against us game. We have no reason to believe we’ll beat them if they’re at full strength.

[PARAM]

So who is elite at this moment?

1. Arizona
2. Green Bay

and who else Max?

Work with me here

Since I don't know if I'll get an answer I'll go down the possible list. Let me know which teams are "elite" based on all the "good teams" they've defeated.

1. Arizona (9-2)
Good teams they've beat?
Tennessee (8-4)
LA Rams (7-4)

Good teams they've lost to?
Green Bay (9-3)

"Non good teams" they've lost to?
Carolina (5-7)

2. Green Bay (9-3)
Good teams they've beat
Arizona (9-2)
LA Rams (7-4)

Good teams they've lost to
Kansas City (7-4)

"non-good teams" they've lost to
New Orleans (5-7)
Minnesota (5-6)

3. Dallas (8-4)
Good teams they've beat
New England (8-4)

Good teams they've lost to
Kansas City (7-4)
Tampa Bay (8-3)

"Non Good Teams" they've lost to
Denver (6-5)
Las Vegas (6-5)

4. Tampa (8-3)
Good teams they've beat
Dallas (7-4)
New England (8-4)

Good teams they've lost to
Rams (7-4)

"Non good teams" they've lost to
New Orleans (5-7)
WFT (5-6)

5. New England (8-4)
Good teams they've beat
Tennessee (8-4)

Good teams they've lost to
Tampa (8-3)
Dallas (7-4)

"Non good teams" they've lost to
Miami (5-7)
New Orleans (5-7)

6. Tennessee (8-4)
Good teams they've beat
LA Rams (7-4)
Buffalo (7-4)
Kansas City (7-4)

Good teams they've lost to
Arizona (9-2)
New England (8-4)

"Non good teams" they've lost to
NY Jets (3-8)
Houston (2-9)

7. Baltimore (8-3)
Good teams they've beat
Kansas City (7-4)

Good teams they've lost to
Cincinnat (7-4)

"Non good teams" they've lost to
Las Vegas (6-5)
Miami (5-7)

8. Rams (7-4)
Good teams they've beat
None

Good teams they've lost to
Arizona (9-2)
Tennessee (8-4)
Green Bay (9-3)

"Non good teams" they've lost to
San Francicso (6-5)

9. Buffalo (7-4)
Good teams they've beat
Kansas City (7-4)

Good teams they've lost to
Tennessee (7-4)

"Non good teams" they've lost to
Pittsburgh (5-5-1)
Jacksonville (2-9)
Indianapolis (6-6)

10. Cincinnati (7-4)
Good teams they've beat
Baltimore (8-3)

Good teams they've lost to
Green Bay (9-3)

"Non good teams" they've lost to
Chicago (4-7)
Cleveland (6-6)
NY Jets (3-8)

[PARAM]

Right now the 5 best teams in no particular order, IMO, are:
GB
AZ
Buff
Pats
Bucs

And yes, after the Bucs game the Rams looked elite. But things change in the NFL during a long season. That should be obvious to everyone. You lose 3 straight games and it’s clear that you’ve got problems. And let’s not make it out that beating the Cards in AZ isn’t an odds against us game. We have no reason to believe we’ll beat them if they’re at full strength.

So you don't count the Rams because they haven't beat any good teams but Arizona is "elite" because they beat the Rams and Tennessee? Losing to Carolina doesn't take any shine off their luster?

Buffalo has beat Kansas City and lost to Tennessee. They also got beat by Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. Can "elite teams" get beat by those kind of teams and still be considered "elite"?

The Bucs have beat Dallas and New England but lost to the Rams. Plus they lost to New Orleans and Washington.

The Pats have played 3 good teams and lost to 2 of them.

I don't understand using the fact "the Rams have only beat 1 good team" so they're not elite.

As far as the odds against us beating Arizona in the desert, they are probably better than Arizona, losers of 8 straight to the Rams beating us in our house. Like you said Max, a lot changes over the course of the season. The Rams looked elite then they didn't. But you're buying the "didn't" part and not expecting them to return to the elite. It's not like the season ended with those 3 losses. There are still 6 games to play. Let's see if they can return to the "elite" group going into the postseason. That would be fortuitous timing, right?

[max]

So you don't count the Rams because they haven't beat any good teams but Arizona is "elite" because they beat the Rams and Tennessee? Losing to Carolina doesn't take any shine off their luster?

Buffalo has beat Kansas City and lost to Tennessee. They also got beat by Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. Can "elite teams" get beat by those kind of teams and still be considered "elite"?

The Bucs have beat Dallas and New England but lost to the Rams. Plus they lost to New Orleans and Washington.

The Pats have played 3 good teams and lost to 2 of them.

I don't understand using the fact "the Rams have only beat 1 good team" so they're not elite.

I watch the games. The Rams look worse than those 5 teams. It’s not that hard.

[Hacksaw]

that sure have lately. I hope they've been in a rut and have another gear. we'll see but not holding my breath..

[PARAM]

I watch the games. The Rams look worse than those 5 teams. It’s not that hard.

You're funny Max!! I watch the games too. Buffalo is elite (right now) based off a win over New Orleans? Before that they were 1-2 beating the Jets while losing to Jacksonville and Indy!!! Okay, great. If the Rams can manage to beat Jacksonville, we might return to that "elite" status!!!

[Hacksaw]

there is a lot of parity in the league this season. and a lot of teams doing an about face at mid season.
lets hope we can rise from the muck and mire.

[PARAM]

there is a lot of parity in the league thus season. and a lot of teams doing an about face at mid season.
lets hope we can rise from the muck and mire.

Fact is, if we're being really honest, there are no "elite teams". There are some very good teams, some good teams, some average teams and some crappy teams. Look down those ten I listed. I inadvertently omitted Kansas City (7-4) who looked absolutely shitty for the first half of the year. They were 2 time defending AFC Champs and they lost to Baltimore, the Chargers, Buffalo and Tennessee while barely getting past the Giants, 20-17 in week 8. Now they look like world beaters! They creamed the Raiders and beat Green Bay and Dallas. Are they or aren't they? I'm not sure.

See I watch the games too! Not just the Rams games.

Another fact is, the Rams have 6 weeks to find their mojo. Two wins in the next 3 weeks makes them 9-5, find their mojo all the way and they're 10-4. They're going to make the postseason, they just have to be on their game when that season starts. And like you said, parity. Tell me who is dominating the competition week in and week out. There are none.