2021 NFL Power Rankings, Week 4: Rams claim top spot, Steelers and Bears plummet

Especially after making things dicey against the Colts last week in a game that shouldn’t have been as close as it was, the Los Angeles Rams had a lot to proe on Sunday as they welcomed the Bucs to SoFi Stadium. Suffice it to say they proved all we needed to see in the 34-24 win that was more dominant than even the score would indicate.

When people talked about the possibility of what Matthew Stafford would add to the Sean McVay offense in LA, this is the type of stuff they were talking about. Against a Tampa defense that was integral to winning the Super Bowl last year, the veteran quarterback picked them apart. He found every modicum of open space and attacked it, whether it was underneath to Cooper Kupp or finding DeSean Jackson deep.

On top of that, the Rams defense, thankfully, isn’t missing Brandon Staley too much. Sure, they are still running a lot of what they did with the now-Chargers head coach but the personnel is adapting and making plays as they came up with key stops throughout this game to keep the Buccaneers from truly ever being a threat to win the game in the second half.

Those who were optimistic about what Stafford would mean to the Rams projected that this team could be in line to make it to the Super Bowl out of the NFC. With a win like this, there have been no signs to think otherwise to this point in the 2021 season.