The Los Angeles Rams' blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers caused significant adjustments to ESPN's Football Power Index. After they acquired Myles Garrett, the Rams led ESPN's forecasting model with a 14.9% chance to win the Super Bowl. They now trail nine teams at 4.3% following Thursday's 27-7 loss to the 49ers, who jumped from 6.8% to 19.4.
San Francisco now handily leads the Buffalo Bills (11.4%) and Baltimore Ravens (8.6%) as the most likely team to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. ESPN also gives the 49ers a resounding 70.5% chance to win the NFC West over the Rams (10.5%) and Seattle Seahawks (18.8%). On Tuesday, FPI gave the Rams an 85% chance to make the playoffs.
That probability plummeted to 53.4% after a disappointing performance in Australia. The Rams didn't play like a top Super Bowl contender in Week 1. The defense allowed 379 yards and seven third-down conversions in 12 attempts, and Matthew Stafford followed an MVP campaign with 155 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception.
Rams head coach Sean McVay didn't make any excuses for the international embarrassment. "They outplayed us in every facet," McVay said. "I didn't do nearly a good enough job.
This is a humbling day for us, and this will define us only if we allow it to. Today was one of those days." The sobering loss could quickly dim the immense preseason hype and remind everyone that a Rams championship is far from a foregone conclusion. There's also plenty of time for them to rebound, and they'll soon get huge reinforcements with Aaron Donald's debut after returning from retirement.
Meanwhile, the 49ers made a strong statement at their division rival's expense in Melbourne. ESPN is now projecting them to win 12 games, but a lot can change before they play the Rams again in Week 14.
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