Is it possible that the best team in college football and the worst team in pro football are just 125 miles apart?


Is it possible that the best team in the history of one school and the worst team in the history of one city are just 125 miles apart?


Is it possible that the National College Coach of The Year and the first NFL coach to be fired this year are just 125 miles apart?

Yes.

Yes.

And, yes.


I watch a lot of college football. I did even when Missouri was enjoying Saturday afternoon slaughters year after year after year. And, in sincerity, and with full knowledge of the potential for being accused of either being a prisoner of the moment or a homer to the nth power, I can't recall watching a college football team's offense do what Missouri does with the ease it does.


The last 13 drives Chase Daniel has orchestrated have resulted in 12 touchdowns and 1 field goal.


 Over the last two weeks, Daniel has led Missouri on drives totaling more than 900 yards, and he's done so in less than 25 minutes.


And, if you're not a Big 12 football nerd like myself, you may not be aware that Daniel did this against a Nevada team that just 7 days earlier had held the high-powered Texas Tech offense to 35 points.


Through three games, Missouri has 173 points...which is exactly 2 more points than the 1989 Tigers had total...for the entire season.


I honestly was watching the game Saturday in awe of what I was seeing. The only time I can recall feeling something similar about a football team while watching its offense work was when the 2001 Rams were carving up the supposedly dominant Miami Dolphins' defense at the Dome. I actually recall catching myself and making a note of realizing I was witnessing something it was unlikely I'd ever see again.


If I weren't a Missouri fan, I'd enjoy watching the Tigers play. And, I have a feeling, barring injury, the same statewide bandwagon that piled up fans in October and November of last year is going to be filling up with national fans actually wanting to see the Tigers make it to the National Championship Game...as opposed to what we had last year when the Tigers took over as #1 in the nation (see the Sports Illustrated cover with the title, "Mizzou? That's Who").


7 years ago, what we're witnessing in Columbia didn't seem possible. Just like 7 years ago, what we're seeing at the Dome now didn't seem possible.


While my jaw was dropping Saturday watching a football game, well, my jaw was dropping once again Sunday watching a football game.


I've watched nearly every Rams' game since they moved to St. Louis in 1995, and I am blown away...beyond stunned...by how absolutely helpless they look against the competition.


Please, please spare me that the game was close in the 4th quarter. The Rams have a touchdown in 2008 just like the Kansas City Royals have a World Championship in 1985. Torry Holt made a hell of a play, but I don't think he caught that ball. I base my view on the angle in which you can see Holt scrambling his arms around on the ground. That's not what a receiver does if he has clear possession.


But, even if he did catch the ball, it took what Marc Bulger called the best catch of Holt's career for the Rams to score a touchdown.


The Rams have played two games...and they haven't been in the red zone yet. That is so pathetic that it borders on comedic.


I want to make this clear---crystal clear. If it weren't for 3 long Josh Brown field goals (2 of which were 50+ yards) and a debatable touchdown, the Rams wouldn't have a point on the board yet this year.


That's how much it's taken just to get the 16 points they've scored.


Marc Bulger is running for his life. Steven Jackson is running into tacklers already in the backfield. And, Al Saunders is running an offense based on timing which is impossible to do with an offensive line that just flat out can't block NFL defenders.


And...that's just the offense.


The defense is even more atrocious. Jim Haslett's defense has allowed 966 yards in two games. Eli Manning had a QB rating of 131.4 this week. Donovan McNabb had a QB rating of 131.0 last week.


Hey...at least the Rams' D is consistent.


It's awful to watch, and I don't know how it will get better. The talent just isn't there, and the leadership is invisible as well.


Once again, with his team getting its ass handed to them, Fox cameras picked up Steven Jackson laughing on the bench while talking to a teammate.


Pick your favorite crappy Rams' team...and I would argue it's never been worse than this. But, this time, it could have a dramatic impact on the stability of the franchise.


By mid-October, the empty seats could very well outnumber the ones that have people in them...including the ones cheering for the other team, like what took place Sunday when Giants' fans got a "Let's Go Giants" chant going in the 4th Quarter...or, even better, when a member of the opposition, Ahmad Bradshaw was able to do a Lambeau Leap into the waiting arms of nothing but Giants' fans with 4 minutes left in the game.


It's mind blowing. It really is.


Just like what's happening 125 miles down the road.

What do you think? Log-in and post your comments, or you can email me at tmckernan@insidestl.com.