The Rams were 31-45-1 in nearly five full seasons with coach Jeff Fisher at the helm, including 4-9 when he was fired last year.

But he seems to be taking credit for their massive makeover this season, as they are 11-4 and the NFC West champion under Sean McVay.

Fisher spoke recently with radio station WGFX in Nashville, Tenn., where he coached the Titans before being fired and later ending up in St. Louis with the Rams.

“I have no regrets whatsoever” about his tenure with the Rams, he said. “I am a huge fan of the Rams players. They’re basically — I don’t want to say my players — but I had a lot to do with that roster. Left them in pretty good shape, and Sean, as he has shown in a short period of time, is an outstanding young coach. And he’s got the offense going, which was needed.”

Fisher praised McVay in the nearly hourlong interview but also said the Rams “did what we wanted to do before I left” in starting to upgrade the offense.

There have been some rumblings that Fisher wants to return to the NFL as a head coach next season. He has won 173 games, 12th-most in league history. But he also has lost 165, tied for the most.

“I get a kick out of people (saying), ‘Oh, you just tied Dan Reeves for most losses in the history of the National Football League,’” he said. “Well, I’m a few wins away from being in the top 10. So, where do you want to emphasize? What’s your point?”

He pointed out that he was at the helm when the Oilers moved from Houston to Tennessee as well as when the Rams went from St. Louis to Los Angles.

“Two different franchises, five different cities, six different stadiums. Not an easy thing to do. The Chargers moved from San Diego to Orange County and started 0-4 (this year). Relocation is huge. And I’m not making excuses.”

He said the Rams “averaged three wins a year for five years before I got there. We were making progress and the team was deprived. It was deprived of talent. So we started building. The next year, our quarterback (Sam Bradford) tears his ACL. The next year, (Bradford) tears his ACL again.”

The Rams have shined this season under quarterback Jared Goff, the top pick of last year’s draft and a man Fisher kept on the bench for much of his rookie season.

“I was thinking about the best interests of the franchise, not myself,” Fisher said. “If I was worried about myself, I probably would have started him from day one. ... We could chalk (his troubles) up to a rookie year. But no, I wanted to do what was best for Jared.”

BROWNS NO. 1 — IN DRAFT

Cleveland didn’t win Sunday. That’s nothing new, as a loss to the Bears put the Browns on the brink of the second 0-16 NFL season. But they did accomplish something that could be looked at as positive — they clinched the top pick in next year’s draft.

It has come to that for the Browns, who if they lose next weekend in Pittsburgh will join the 2008 Lions as the only 0-16 teams. They’re 1-30 in two seasons under coach Hue Jackson.

KEY RUNNING BACKS HURT

The Titans and Chargers each could be without their lead running back next weekend when they try to gain a playoff spot.

Tennessee’s DeMarco Murray suffered a knee injury late in their loss to the Rams on Sunday. Coach Mike Mularkey said Murray will have an MRI, but it doesn’t look good.

Melvin Gordon left late in Los Angeles’ game, a victory over the Jets, because of an ankle injury. He was standing on the sideline as the Chargers tried to run out the clock, and coach Anthony Lynn was unsure of the severity.

Meanwhile, Saints left tackle Terron Armstead (Cahokia High) suffered a thigh injury. Also: Rams guard Rodger Saffold (rib), safety Marqui Christian (shoulder); Bills backup running back Travaris Cadet (ankle); Falcons tight end Levine Toilolo (knee).

POWER(LESS) FIVE

After Sunday’s results, it has been assured that the Cowboys, Giants, Redskins, Packers and 49ers will miss the playoffs.

It is the first time in the Super Bowl era that all will have done so in the same season. The last time that happened was in 1964.

MILESTONE MEN

Drew Brees passed for 239 yards in the Saints’ win over the Falcons. He has 70,200 passing yards in his career to join Peyton Manning (71,940) and Brett Favre (71,838) as the only NFL players at the 70,000-yard level.

• The Chargers’ Keenan Allen had five catches for 63 yards and made an interception. Allen, who has 93 catches for 1,260 yards this season, is the first NFL player to have at least 90 catches and an interception in the same season.

• With a victory over the Giants, Bruce Arians moved into a tie with Ken Whisenhunt for most wins by a Cardinals coach (49).