Pro Football Focus (PFF) has a team of more than 300 staffers evaluating every NFL play from the Hall of Fame game to the Super Bowl. After each game, players, as well as each team's offensive, defensive and special teams units, are graded on a scale of 0 to 100; the closer a player or unit is to 100, the better. A full explanation of their evaluation process can be found here for additional context.
Here's a look at some of the noteworthy Rams-centric assessments as we turn our attention toward the second half of the 2019 season.
MOST DEFENSIVE RANKINGS RISE AFTER BYE WEEK
In our midseason recap, we highlighted how well the defense graded out in four of the five categories evaluated by PFF. Even with the bye week, that's still the case – and in some instances, its rankings rose.
L.A.'s defense stands as the fourth-highest graded overall defense entering Week 10 after entering the bye week at fifth. Its run defense moved up one spot, from seventh to sixth, while its coverage moved down one spot from seventh to eighth. Its pass rush remained at third.
Regardless of the movement, the point remains that the Rams' defense is still a top 10 unit even with the performances across the league in Week 9.
OFFENSE MOSTLY UNAFFECTED BY BYE WEEK PERFORMANCES
While the Rams' defense saw a few increases with their rankings, the Rams' offense pretty much stayed the same.
The overall ranking for L.A.'s offense dropped one spot from 16th to 17th, but its run game remained in the top nine, sharing ninth with the Saints.
They'll get a good test in Pittsburgh this week against the league's second-highest graded defense in the Steelers.
Check out the best photos from the first half of the 2019 season!
Linebacker (52) Clay Matthews of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (1) Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers during the Rams 30-27 victory over the Panthers in an NFL Week 1 football game, Sunday, September 8, 2019, in Charlotte, NC. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams tackles quarterback (10) Jimmy Garopollo of the San Francisco 49ers during the Rams 7-20 loss to the 49ers in an NFL Week 6 regular season football game, Sunday, October 13, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald and linebacker (56) Dante Fowler Jr. of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (10) Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers during the Rams 7-20 loss to the 49ers in an NFL Week 6 regular season football game, Sunday, October 13, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back (30) Todd Gurley II of the Los Angeles Rams scores a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the Rams 29-30 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL Week 5 football game, Thursday, October 3, 2019, in Seattle, WA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Defensive tackle (90) Michael Brockers of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (6) Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns during the Rams 20-13 victory over the Browns in an NFL Week 3 football game, Sunday, September 22, 2019, in Cleveland, OH. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back (30) Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball and scores a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the Rams 40-55 loss to the Buccaneers in an NFL Week 4 football game, Sunday, September 29, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive tackle (69) Sebastian Joseph-Day of the Los Angeles Rams makes a tackle and celebrates against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the Rams 40-55 loss to the Buccaneers in an NFL Week 4 football game, Sunday, September 29, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Linebacker (52) Clay Matthews of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (6) Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns and celebrates with (99) Aaron Donald during the Rams 20-13 victory over the Browns in an NFL Week 3 football game, Sunday, September 22, 2019, in Cleveland, OH. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Wide Receiver (18) Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass, stiff arms (23) Marshon Latimore of the New Orleans Saints and runs down to the 1 yard line during the Rams 27-9 victory over the Saints in a Week 2 NFL football game, Sunday, September 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back (34) Malcolm Brown of the Los Angeles Rams runs the ball, scores a touchdown, and celebrates against the Carolina Panthers during the Rams 30-27 victory over the Panthers in an NFL Week 1 football game, Sunday, September 8, 2019, in Charlotte, NC. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Defensive lineman (90) Michael Brockers of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates a sack against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 27-9 victory over the Saints in a Week 2 NFL football game, Sunday, September 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Wide Receiver (19) JoJo Natson of the Los Angeles Rams returns a punt and celebrates with teammates against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 27-9 victory over the Saints in a Week 2 NFL football game, Sunday, September 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Linebacker (52) Clay Matthews of the Los Angeles Rams completes a sack against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 27-9 victory over the Saints in a Week 2 NFL football game, Sunday, September 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Quarterback (16) Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 27-9 victory over the Saints in a Week 2 NFL football game, Sunday, September 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Tight end (89) Tyler Higbee of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers and celebrates with teammates during the Rams 30-27 victory over the Panthers in an NFL Week 1 football game, Sunday, September 8, 2019, in Charlotte, NC. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Wide Receiver (17) Robert Woods of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates a catch against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 27-9 victory over the Saints in a Week 2 NFL football game, Sunday, September 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Wide Receiver (10) Brandin Cooks of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and runs and celebrates against the New Orleans Saints during the Rams 27-9 victory over the Saints in a Week 2 NFL football game, Sunday, September 15, 2019, in Los Angeles, CA. (Will Navarro/Rams)
Linebacker (56) Dante Fowler Jr. of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (1) Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers and celebrates during the Rams 30-27 victory over the Panthers in an NFL Week 1 football game, Sunday, September 8, 2019, in Charlotte, NC. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Wide Receiver (12) Brandin Cooks of the Los Angeles Rams during the Rams and Saints season game two match at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, in Los Angeles Ca., on September 15th, 2019. The Rams defeat the Saints 27-9. (Daniel Bowyer/Rams)
Punter (6) Johnny Hekker of the Los Angeles Rams drops back to pass on a fake punt against the Atlanta Falcons during the Rams 37-10 victory over the Falcons in an NFL Week 7 regular season football game, Sunday, October 20, 2019, in Atlanta, GA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Running back (30) Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams scores a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the Rams 29-30 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL Week 5 football game, Thursday, October 3, 2019, in Seattle, WA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Los Angeles Rams strong safety John Johnson celebrates after an inception against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (18) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Tyler Higbee (89) during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 at Wembley Stadium in London. (Andrew Fosker/NFL)
Linebacker (58) Cory Littleton of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after an interception against the Atlanta Falcons during the Rams 37-10 victory over the Falcons in an NFL Week 7 regular season football game, Sunday, October 20, 2019, in Atlanta, GA. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Linebacker (56) Dante Fowler Jr. and defensive tackle (90) Michael Brockers of the Los Angeles Rams sacks quarterback (14) Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals during the Rams 24-10 victory over the Bengals in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in London, England. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Wide receiver (17) Robert Woods of the Los Angeles Rams tosses the ball back to quarterback (16) Jared Goff before Goff throws a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the Rams 24-10 victory over the Bengals in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in London, England. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Linebacker (45) Ogbonnia Okoronkwo of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with teammates after a sack against the Cincinnati Bengals during the Rams 24-10 victory over the Bengals in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in London, England. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
Wide receiver (83) Josh Reynolds of the Los Angeles Rams catches a pass and scores a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the Rams 24-10 victory over the Bengals in an NFL Week 8 regular season football game, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in London, England. (Jeff Lewis/Rams)
DONALD STILL TOP INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
Rams DT Aaron Donald maintained his place as PFF's top-graded interior defensive lineman after the bye week.
A glance over top 10 interior defensive linemen active in Week 10 shows several solid performances, but not enough to dethrone Donald. The former Pitt standout has posted an overall grade of 81.5 or better in six of the Rams' eight games this season.
