5 NFL teams under .500 that are better than their record

By John Buhler | Dec 30, 2015

December 24, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and free safety Charles Woodson (24) celebrate after the game against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 27, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) spikes the football after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Rams won 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

1. St. Louis Rams (7-8)

The St. Louis Rams do three things very well in the game of football: they run the football with conviction with rookie star tailback Todd Gurley, they play great defense (when they want to), and they can win division games in the tough NFC West.

St. Louis started the year at 4-3, but went on a five-game slide mid-season, only to currently be on a three-game winning streak. Should the Rams knock off their NFC West rival in the 4-11 San Francisco 49ers, the Rams will finish with another .500 season, clearly in the Jeff Fisher projected record range.

The Rams are dealing with the threat of relocation, as owner Stan Kroenke really wants to move the team back to Los Angeles, assuming that St. Louis can help him get a new stadium in place. St. Louis also is at the asymptote of what it can do with its head coach.

Under Jeff Fisher, the Rams aren’t going to play great ball out of the NFC West, costing them a chance at finishing above .500. In a division that has the Arizona Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks, it’s immensely difficult to make the postseason as the third best team in the NFC West.

St. Louis needs to figure out what it wants to do at quarterback, head coach, and where it wants to play. The core of this team and stars like Gurley and Defensive Player of the Year candidate defensive tackle Aaron Donald should keep the Rams competitive for the next several seasons.

A few changes to the staff and at quarterback and this team is 10-6, maybe 11-5, taking the two-time reigning NFC Champion Seahawks’ NFC Wild Card spot in 2015. The Rams are one of a handful of teams that missed the playoffs this season that could get back into them in 2016. St. Louis holds the longest-playoff drought in the NFC that is going on 11 years.

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