St. Louis Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Staff Predictions

Is anyone bold enough to pick the Rams to win Sunday following three straight losses?

The St. Louis Rams, who have looked like one of the NFL’s worst teams over the past three weeks after getting off to a 4-3 start, head into Cincinnati on Sunday to face a Bengals team that is still in first place in the AFC North despite losing their past two. As is weekly tradition, our Arch Authority staff members each took a guess at how Sunday’s game will shake down:

Patrick Karraker: “Not to pile on too much, but until I see the Rams win another game, I’ll honestly believe that they have a chance to lose out and end up with a 4-12 record this year. Despite their strong start, fueled by Todd Gurley and a shutdown defense, precisely the thing that made me think they’d be a 3-13 team entering the year–an extreme lack of depth, especially in the trenches on both sides–has killed them in recent weeks. Maybe Gurley will continue his five-week-long touchdown streak at Cincinnati, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rams didn’t get into the endzone at all against the Bengals. Even without Robert Quinn, I think that the Rams’ defense can limit the powerful Bengals offensive attack, but I don’t think it will be enough to give the anemic Rams offense a chance.”

Sammy Stava: “This one could get ugly. With the Rams struggling offensively and having lost three straight games, I don’t see how they can turn this around on Sunday. These next two games against Cincinnati and Arizona could go downhill fast.”

Paul Lamb: “The Bengals remain a top-tier team in this league despite the rut they’ve been going through. That defense will be scary against a Rams offense that can be characterized only as shaky, with the exception of Todd Gurley. If he can go off for 150+, the Rams could hang around.”

Next: Rams Sign Kicker Zach Hocker, Release Tight End Justice Cunningham

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