sentences:  The team failed to improve on its 5–11 record from 1997, and instead finished the season 4–12 and missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, during which they had compiled a league-worst 45–99 record.Despite all of this, the Rams showed many signs of life during the season when they beat playoff teams such as the New York Jets (who would make the AFC Championship game during the season) and the New England Patriots (who would make a wild card).Some skeptics claim that those 2 wins helped them build signs of strong life into next season, when they won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Tennessee Titans.