RJ Hamster
SI:AM | Are the Rams the NFL’s Best Team?
  Dan Gartland Good morning! I can’t believe the Wings won the WNBA lottery for the second straight year. Are they going to take UConn’s Azzi Fudd to pair with her former teammate, Paige Bueckers?In today’s SI: AM:🐏 Stafford shines as Rams win again🏈 How the Cowboys rallied after tragedy🟠 Shedeur’s first start  Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn ImagesSix in a row for L.A.Two-thirds of the way through the NFL season, the true Super Bowl contenders are beginning to separate themselves from the pack. And in the NFC, it’s the Rams who have emerged as the team to beat. Los Angeles now holds the best record in the conference at 9–2 after demolishing the Buccaneers 34–7 at home on Sunday Night Football. The Rams have won six games in a row with an average margin of victory of 18.5 points. That leaves the Rams as the only team in the NFC with fewer than three losses on the season. The Patriots and Broncos are the only other teams in the league that have yet to lose three games. But as impressive as New England and Denver have been, the Rams have proven that they belong in a tier above other top teams. Sunday’s win went how most other Rams games have gone this season. The offense marched down the field with ease while the defense put its opponent in a stranglehold. Los Angeles raced out to a 31–7 halftime lead after Matthew Stafford sliced through the Bucs’ defense and the Rams picked off Baker Mayfield twice. The Rams managed only a field goal in the second half, but it didn’t matter. Mayfield was sidelined after halftime with a shoulder injury, and backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater struggled to get the offense going. Stafford strengthened his case for his first career MVP award with another brilliant performance. He completed 25-of-35 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns. He now has 30 passing touchdowns this season, by far the most of any quarterback in the NFL—Jared Goff and Dak Prescott are tied for second with 23—and could very well end up setting a new career high for TD passes.READ MORE FROM DAN The best of Sports Illustrated Steve Rushin explores how ballpark food turned into the star attraction—and a gluttonous one at that.Albert Breer speaks with Brian Schottenheimer about how the Cowboys processed loss and found unity after Marshawn Kneeland’s death.The AFC playoff picture may look upside down, but Conor Orr explains why several familiar contenders still have a clear path back into the race.Breer details how Kansas City’s overtime victory and Nick Bolton’s “everything is on the line” mindset reinforce why counting out this dynasty is a mistake.Shedeur Sanders’s debut win wasn’t flashy, but as Orr writes, the Browns’ approach revealed two big reasons he’ll stay in the spotlight.Pat Forde breaks down why nothing is settled in the CFP race—and how Week 14 could deliver maximum chaos.Liverpool’s slump has manager Arne Slot under fire, and Wednesday’s must-win Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven could define his early tenure.Lionel Messi took center stage as Inter Miami cruised past FC Cincinnati in the MLS Cup Eastern Conference semifinal.  Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door.   Click to subscribe!  Junfu Han/Imagn ImagesThe top five …… things I saw yesterday: 5. A wild scrambling save by Philadelphia Union goalie Andre Blake to keep his team within striking distance in the MLS playoffs against NYCFC. New York went on to win 1–0 to advance to the Eastern Conference final, where it will face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. 4. A 63-yard bomb from Sam Darnold to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. It was JSN’s second touchdown catch of at least 60 yards this season, making him the only player in the NFL with multiple such plays. 3. DeVonta Smith’s adjustment to come down with an amazing catch. 2. A beautiful move by the Sabres’ Beck Malenstyn for a goal against the Hurricanes. 1. Jameis Winston’s first career touchdown catch on a trick play against the Lions.  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