Talented Rams Look a Quarterback Away from Playoff Contention

The 4-7 St. Louis Rams may not have the record of a playoff-caliber team this season, yet it's hard to argue that the team isn't very close to being a real contender in the NFC.

Consider the fact that the Rams have already bested three playoff-caliber opponents (the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos) and have lost three games against quality opponents (the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and San Diego Chargers) by seven points or fewer.

The Rams are certainly not the most impressive team in the league, statistically. The offense entered Week 12 ranked just 26th in scoring (18.5 points per game) and 24th in scoring defense (25.8 points per game allowed).

Yet the Rams have managed to hang tough almost every week and even thumped the defending AFC champion Broncos 22-7 a week ago.

While few of the players on the Rams roster command a place in the spotlight, it would seem that veteran head coach Jeff Fisher has built a scrappy, young team in St. Louis.

In fact, it would appear that the Rams could have been a team capable of contending this season if it weren't for inconsistent and less-than-careful quarterback play.

Former Oklahoma star Sam Bradford was supposed to provide that steady presence under center for the Rams by this point. Unfortunately, a torn ACL suffered during the preseason ended his fifth pro campaign before it had a chance to begin. 

St. Louis spent the majority of the season relying on former undrafted rookie Austin Davis at quarterback. Journeyman Shaun Hill started the past two games, after starting and suffering injury in the season opener.

Whether it has been Davis or Hill under center for the Rams, the end result has often been the same. The play from the quarterback position has typically been just good enough.

Perhaps the Rams should let punter Johnny Hekker try his hand at the position. 

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Hill currently ranks 37th among all NFL passers this season overall, while Davis ranks 64th.

Both quarterbacks have flashed potential—especially in the arm talent department. However, mental mistakes (12 total interceptions) have too often cost this team game-winning opportunities.

At no point this season was this more evident than in the waning moments of Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Down three points and facing 2nd-and-goal from the San Diego 4-yard line, Hill did the one thing he couldn't possibly do in that situation. He threw an interception.

Perhaps the coaching staff deserves a little criticism for not simple running the ball from that distance, but it was Hill who made the decision to throw the ill-fated pass into traffic at the goal line.

The Rams have a couple of winnable games (against the Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins), but at this point, the playoff are probably a pipe dream. Sunday was likely the team's last possible chance to remain in playoff contention.

Thanks to too many mistakes from the quarterback position, the Rams blew it.

Unless the Rams find a way to correct their issues under center, similar mistakes are likely to linger next season. Considering that Bradford's football future is very much in doubt after two year-ending ACL injuries, St. Louis' answer to the quarterback conundrum probably isn't on the current roster.