Pros: The Rams are simply the best of class in 1999-2000
Cons: None

POST NFC-CHAMPIONSHIP ADDENDUM:
Okay, I have something to add after seeing Tampa Bay and St. Louis in the NFC title game. Great defense -- like the Bucs have, and they are *fabulous* on D -- can shut down a great offense. If the Bucs had a halfway competent offense, they would have beaten the Rams. That being said, the thing about great offense is that eventually, they'll make a big play, and the Rams made one. What shouldn't be lost from all this is that the Rams defense made plays when it had to. So again, I say teams that play all three phases well will win. The Rams played three, the Bucs played two, and the score was 11-6.

Sorry, I have to differ. (And I'm not even a Rams fan ... unfortunately, I root for the Giants, but that's another story, Sehorn ... you can't even spell 'Dow Jones!')

It's true the Rams had an easy, "5th place" schedule. But when you see this team play -- and I'm commenting from my own POV, but it echoes what the experts have been saying -- you can see that they are exquisitely balanced.

They play solid defense.

They play GREAT special teams.

And their offense is AWESOME.

My old high-school football coach (uh-oh, I'm starting to sound like Al Bundy) used to say that if you win two of the three phases in a football game -- DEFENSE, OFFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS -- you'll win the game.

I just don't see other NFL teams, in 1999-2000, that do all three phases well, and so you get the feeling that Rams will have the edge.

Oh, and the other thing, this team so amazingly FAST, it's mind-boggling. From their wide receivers to their defensive linemen, this team can run like the wind. And speed is always the winning edge.

I'd be very surprised if they don't win the Super Bowl this year.

Next year, after the inevitable free agency cloud of dust settles, and other teams figure out how to play them -- though you can't coach against speed -- we'll see how good they really are.

But right now, with just four teams left standing, they are the class of the league.