23-year old rookie QB Sam Bradford really stepped up as a rookie last season as the Rams improved from 1-15 to 7-9 in his first year.  Bradford played in all 16 games for the Rams last season and he completed 354 of 590 passes (60%) for 3,512 yards with 18 TD passes and 15 INTs (76.5 QB Rating).  Bradford also carried the ball 27 times for 63 yards  (2.3 ypc) with 1 TD run last season.  Wait until Bradford gets some more help at WR and TE which will likely come this April in the NFL Draft.

33-year old A.J. Feeley didn’t get onto the field this year for the Rams.  Feeley last played in an NFL game way back in 2007 with the Eagles.  Feeley has played in 23 games in his NFL career and he has completed 372 of 665 passes (55.9%) for 4,070 yards with 27 TD passes and 29 INTs (69.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 34 times for 45 yards (1.3 ypc) with a TD run in his career.

VERDICT:  The Rams might change backup QBs, but Sam Bradford is going to keep getting better with experience.

UPDATE:  (2/5/2010) – Sam Bradford has won the A.P.  NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award!

The Rams played a horrible offensive game last night.  Sam Bradford looked like the rookie that he is last night as he completed 19 of 36 passes for 155 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT.  Steven Jackson led the way on the ground for the Rams in this game with 45 yards rushing on 11 carries (4.1 ypc).  He also caught 4 passes for 39 yards (9.8 avg) in this game.  TE Daniel Fells (3 rec, 39 yards) and WR Brandon Gibson (3 rec, 30 yards) led the way for the Rams in the passing game.  The Rams finished up with 47 yards rushing on 15 carries (3.1 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 36 passes for 137 yards as they only had the ball for 25:15.

The defense was bending but not breaking last night keeping the game close.  LBs David Vobora (11 tackles) and James Laurinaitis (9 tackles, 1 QB hit and 1 fumble recovery) led the way for the Rams’ D in this game.  CB Ron Bartell pitched in with 7 tackles in this game.  The Seahawks finished up with 141 yards rushing on 35 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 36 passes for 192 yards.  The Rams finished tied for first in the NFC West with a 7-9 record but they lost the tiebreaker to the Seahawks.

This should be a very interesting football game as the winner gets a home playoff game against either the New Orleans Saints or Atlanta Falcons.  The Rams got back on the right path beating the 49ers 25-17 last weekend.   They beat the Seahawks 20-3 in St. Louis in the first meeting of these teams.  The Seahawks have lost three games in a row by a combined 58 points!  The Seahawks 9 losses this season come by an average of 19.9 points with each of them coming by 15-34 points!  So they either win or get destroyed.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Rams have the ball:  The Rams are likely going to come out running the ball against a Seahawks’ D that is allowing 123.7 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry.  After the Rams establish a running game (and they will) look for Sam Bradford to take some shots down the field to Danario Alexander, Brandon Gibson and Laurent Robinson against a Seahawks’ D that is allowing 257.1 yards passing per game.  The Seahawks have a decent pass rush so Bradford might have to settle for shorter passes to Danny Amendola and TE Daniel Fells in this game.

When the Seahawks have the ball:  The Seahawks are likely going to try to get the running game going early in this game.  That means the Rams’ D will have to key on Justin Forsett and Marshawn Lynch.  The Rams need to stop them to make the Seahawks have to pass the ball to beat the defense.  Matt Hasselbeck has been back at practice and he might be able to give it a go.  The Rams prefer to see his backup (Charlie Whitehurst) start at QB in this game.  WR Ben Obomanu is likely to be back this week and he is the top deep threat the Seahawks have.

PREDICTION:  SEAHAWKS 23, RAMS 20

25-year old DE Chris Long looks like he’s finally starting to get it together, at least as a pass rusher.  Long has played in all 15 games for the Rams so far this year and he has 28 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 8.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.  Long has now played in 47 games in his first three years with the Rams and he has 111 tackles, 4 passes defensed, 17.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles.  Maybe Long’s dad (Pro Football Hall of Fame DE Howie Long) finally gave his kid some tips because he looks like a different player for the Rams this year.