These St. Louis Rams are hot. Winners of three consecutive, they came out of the BYE with a ratty offense and a bad record and seem to be much better, having gone 3-1-1 following said respite.

The Rams average 18 PPG, which is near the bottom of the league, but a month ago put up 24 at San Francisco, then a week and one-half ago beat the Niners at EJ Dome. Not bad. In that tie at San Francisco SAM BRADFORD threw for two TD's and STEVEN JACKSON ran for one. So, just because they have non-descript names rolling around as wideouts doesn't mean they cannot move the ball. Scoring three TD's on San Francisco's defense is tough.

The Rams are 4-and-3 at home and two of the losses came against Green Bay when it was playing better than it is now, and to New England, which is performing like the best in show. They also beat Seattle at home, and beating the Seahawks these days is proving problematic for many.

JEFF FISHER is such a wonderful coach. While relying on many of the same players with whom they won two games last year, he and his staff are finding routes to putting them in positions they can play fast. The back end of the defense has attitude and swagger with the additions of CORTLAND FINNEGAN, mercurial rookie JANORIS JENKINS, and rookie DE ROBERT QUINN has 9 1/2 sacks. The new corners have a combined six interceptions and three touchdowns. Very game. Finnegan forever has been one of the game's big-time bleep-talkers, and will be working the ears Sunday because his team is hot and he is playing well.

Those on the Vikings' sidelines tell me he can be funny. To wit, when we played at Tennessee in 2008 and Finnegan was with the Titans, he trashed talked one of our team doctors DAVID OLSON. Doc Dave thought it was hilarious because Finnegan shouts at any any one, any time.

I'll get more into the adversary as the week progresses but for now it looks like a tightly contested, low-scoring contest we absolutely can and have to win. Off the three-win buzzkill last year and while losing PERCY for one-half the season, finishing well is important for many and on many internal and external levels.