I put a lot of stock in the Senior Bowl - particularly the practice reports.

Here are a few of the participants I’m looking forward to reading about:

John Michael Schmitz, OL, Minnesota
Jarrett Patterson, OL, Norte Dame
Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Norte Dame
Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army
Emil Ekiyor, OL, Alabama

I’m sure others will stand out and make my watch list.

Stay tuned!

(Link)

Next man up to try to coach an uncoachable QB. A player who needed a since rescinded study clause in his contract is a coach killer. Reich is a good coach but he's a better OC than HC IMO. I give him 2 years 3 at most.

He fits Bidwell's idea of a HC, i.e. cheap

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/nickkorte/status/1617918046198431745

I don't know why, but I believed the Chiefs had won more Super Bowls in the last 5 years, but no. Both the Rams and Chiefs have won one Super Bowl and lost one in the last 5 years. Even the total number of Super Bowls won, is the same at two each, but the Rams have been to more Super Bowls than the Chiefs. I live in Chiefs country and so all I hear on the radio us about them and that might be part of it. The Chiefs might make it to the big game again and so for me personally, this is the order in which would be the least offensive to most offensive.
1. Bengals
2. Iggles
3. Chefs
4. Niners

Who do I think WILL be in the Super Bowl?
Bengals vs Niners (God help me)

Bengals win it all with nauseating media obsession by the media about Joe Burrow.

It's the postseason and the Rams aren't there. So Jonesing for Rams football, I began watching some of this years games. It's morphed into watching games from years past (I have many, many on DVD ..yeah I'm old). Watched the 2000 Wild Card game in New Orleans. Marshall ran the ball and they put up a stat....."Marshall Faulk. In 30 games with the Rams he's averaged 151.8 yards from scrimmage". WHAT???? That is incredible!!! TGSOT!!! Warner probably had more weapons than any QB in history. I'd match Marshall, Ike, Hakim, Holt and Proehl against any team. Ever.

Some things I didn't remember about that game. Early in the game Warner threw into double coverage (Hakim) in the end zone and the ball popped up in the air. Ike, always alert, dove, got his hands under it but hit the defender and lost it. Later on the drive Warner hit Ike for 6. Marshall, who had knee surgery two months earlier, had a 51 yard run that was called back because Ro Williams was holding. He finished with 14 carries for 24 yards but with that one, it would have been 15 for 75 (5.0). Normal Marshall. Down 31-13 in the 4th, with 6:52 left, Hakim returns a punt 65 yards to the Saints 9 but Warner gets picked on the first play. After scoring to make it 31-20, Money executes a perfect onside and Bly recovers but the Rams were off side on the kick. So Money does it again and Bly recovers again. I don't think I've ever seen 2 successful onside kicks on 2 consecutive plays!! I also forgot the pass from Brooks on 3rd and 14 to a wide open Wilson but he never had full possession. Then the muffed punt. What a freaking game!

I was also looking at some other numbers on PFR. The Rams have played 53 postseason games (#6 all time). 26-27 record. So McVay needs to take the lead on Rams PS games coached and get us over .500 next year!!!
McVay (7*-3) and John Robinson (4-6) are tied with 10, followed by Knox (8; 3-5), Martz (7; 3-4) Malavasi (6; 3-3), Vermeil (3; 3*-0), Stydahar (3; 2*-1), Allen (2; 0-2), Walsh (1*-0), Shaunessy (0-1), Pool (0-1) and Gillman (0-1).

The most points scored by the Rams is 49 vs Minnesota in 99, 47 vs Green Bay in 2001 (picked off Favre 6 times), 35 vs St. Louis in 75, 34 vs Minnesota in 78 and 34 vs Arizona in 2021.
The most yards gained is 455 (vs Dallas 2018), 448 (@NYG in 89), 440 (vs StL in 75), 436 (vs Tenn SB34) and 428 (@Tampa in 2021).
The most points allowed is 51 (Washington '83), 47 (Atlanta 2004), 38 (Cleveland '55), 37 (vs Dallas '75; vs Minn '99). McVay's Rams have allowed 30 once (Green Bay, 2020).

But because we've only won 2 Superbowls (and didn't cheat the cap like Carmen Policy or the rules like Belichick), we're not talked about as one of the great NFL franchises. Yet we are. Now it's on to the 2003 double OT game vs Carolina.

PFF... lol. Can't make this stuff up.

LOS ANGELES RAMS: S TAYLOR RAPP​

Rapp finally had the type of season the Rams were hoping for when they selected him in the second round out of Washington back in 2019, but the flashes were always there. Rapp earned career-high grades against the run (82.3) and in coverage (72.9) and missed just six tackle attempts en route to 70 tackles and 14 defensive stops in 2022.

The Rams may not want to spend more in the secondary, letting safety John Johnson III walk two years ago, in which case a cheaper deal for fellow safety Nick Scott perhaps is more appealing, but Rapp has developed into a reliable player on the backend.

If interior offensive lineman Coleman Shelton elects to opt out of the remaining year of his contract signed last offseason, a right he earned this season via playtime, he becomes the Rams’ top priority as a reliable pass protector in 2022 at center and guard on an interior that needs more consistency.

Matt Gay brought stability and consistency to special teams | Free Agent Spotlight​

In 2020, Matt Gay had been on the Colts practice squad after being unexpectedly cut by the Buccaneers – the team that drafted him in 2019 – and the Rams were looking for an answer at kicker.

When Los Angeles claimed him, it would find the consistent and reliable player they had been searching for since moving on from longtime starter Greg

Across two and a half seasons with the Rams, Gay made 74 of 80 field goal attempts – including 12 of 15 from at least 50 yards and 17 of 19 from at least 40 yards – plus 95 of 97 extra point attempts. Now, after playing on his one-year restricted free agent tender signed last offseason, Gay is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 15.

So, what are the options for Gay and the Rams?

Los Angeles could, of course, re-sign him. Last season alone, Gay made 28 of 30 field goal attempts, including a career-best 7 of 9 makes from 50-plus yards, and it marked the second-straight year his accuracy on such kicks was 93.3 percent or higher. Given how the aforementioned search for Zuerlein's replacement went during the preseason and regular season, the Rams are likely well aware of how difficult it can be to find that stability.

If Gay and the Rams go in different directions, the Rams would likely explore finding his replacement via free agency or the draft – or perhaps both, if they were to decide to hold another competition like they did in 2020.

'Remodel' mode: Can the Rams return to Super Bowl form in 2023?​

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Rams' 5-12 finish was a surprise not just to the league, after their Super Bowl-winning season in 2021, but within the franchise as well.

Perhaps most surprising was how much the offense struggled to move the ball consistently, even when quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp were on the field. The Rams finished the season ranked 23rd in Football Outsiders' offensive DVOA, compared with eighth in 2021.

A big reason for the regression, of course, was the offensive line. That unit dealt with so many injuries that the Rams started 12 different offensive line combinations in their first 12 games of the season. By the time L.A. finally gained stability there, Stafford (spinal cord contusion), Kupp (high ankle sprain) and wide receiver Allen Robinson II (stress fracture in foot) were on injured reserve.

Now, one of the biggest questions of the offseason for the Rams is whether their offensive struggles can be remedied by a healthy roster or whether they need a rehaul to get back to the powerhouse that won the Super Bowl less than a year ago.

Several times during Les Snead's end-of-season news conference Thursday, the general manager used "remodel" to talk about making changes to the roster. Remodel is a more accurate description than rebuild, Snead said, because "of the way our roster is built right now."

"We would almost have to somewhat tear it down to rebuild," Snead said. "Because we do have a lot of really good players in their prime on this roster."

So if the Rams aren't rebuilding their roster -- and specifically their offense -- what does that mean for the 2023 season?

Some changes have already begun, as coach Sean McVay has moved on from several members of his coaching staff, although most were on the defensive side of the ball. Offensive line coach Kevin Carberry will not return, according to ESPN's Field Yates.

Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is interviewing for outside head-coaching jobs and offensive coordinator Liam Coen exited after the season.

When asked what moves, internal or external, needed to be made this offseason to get the offense playing at the level of the 2021 season, Snead pointed out that the Rams have "been very successful on offense since Sean has taken over," regardless of the personnel.

"We've been successful many different ways with more than one, let's call it, starting-caliber, franchise-caliber QB, with different wide receivers, different running backs, even different offensive line combinations," Snead said. "And during that time [we were] ... a top-five offense in a lot of different categories. So I think it's probably ... continue evolving, continue staying ahead of the curve."

Snead said that when evaluating the offense, he likes to first look at it "from a macro level."

"How is our offensive machine going to get yards, get first downs, score points, and then, at that point, it's how do we want to accomplish that?" Snead said. "What do we want to do to accomplish that? Who do we need on our team to accomplish that?"

One area the Rams might have found some help in -- and an area that could eventually be better than that 2021 team -- is the run game. Down the final stretch, Cam Akers emerged as a running back who can carry the load and create "when there isn't anything there," according to McVay.

Midway through the season, Snead and the Rams thought they might not have Akers as a long-term option. Akers was available for trades and even spent time away from the team in the middle of the season. But he eventually returned and played tremendously in December, amassing 512 yards and six touchdowns and rushing for at least 100 yards in three straight games to end the season.

He missed most of the 2021 season with an Achilles injury, and his replacements -- Sony Michel and Darrell Henderson Jr. -- behind a strong offensive line, ranked 12th in Football Outsiders' rush DVOA.

Although it wouldn't be unexpected for Snead and the Rams' front office to make a big move this offseason to add on either side of the ball, Los Angeles doesn't have any big holes it will need to fill in free agency. Instead, the Rams might try to add depth later in the draft. Snead said Thursday that, including compensatory picks, the Rams expect to have 10 selections in the 2023 NFL draft, although many of those will be on Day 3.

If the Rams' starting lineup can stay healthy next season, Snead said, the idea is that, just like in the past, Los Angeles can "use those Day 3 picks as relatively competent depth players that come in to partner with those starters when necessary."

Still, although Snead made it clear the Rams aren't in a rebuild, historically this hasn't been a franchise that will sit back hoping that a healthy roster will have it back in contention.

"We didn't meet our standards," Snead said. "We're definitely aware of that. It is our reality. And that's where we stand today."

I was never impressed with this guy in the booth. From the very beginning... I expressed my dislike for his guessing the wrong play most of the time and the rest of his act.

Now... it looks like everyone else is finally seeing it too...

Or were those games this weekend boring???

My wife and I both lost interest and even turned off the Eagles/Giants game.

Not sure how much the Rams not being in it contributed, some I’m sure but, there just wasn’t any fire.

I try to be consistent in expressing my opinions. I do so because I place a premium on being logical, rather than emotional, and because I know that many of you know how to find and quote old posts when people change their views and contradict past statements.

That said… I must confess that, when it comes to Odell Beckham, Jr., I’ve been something of a flip-flopper.

If you had asked me about him before we signed him, I probably would have said he was too much about the OBJ brand. Then, when he became a Ram, I saw something else. He is, without a doubt, the type of Guy you want in a big game, or in a crucial 3rd down or Red Zone situation. His ball skills and hand strength are as good as I’ve seen. He also has a passion for the game that is infectious.

Since getting injured in the Super Bowl, I have not always been a fan of the way he’s conducted himself. Too much social media for my taste. Too willing to air dirty laundry or create innuendo with cryptic comments.

As it became apparent that he was not going to re-sign with the Rams during the season, I resigned myself to OBJ being a rental who would become someone else’s mercenary.

But it didn’t happen that way. Some combination of his readiness (or lack thereof) and price tag kept him shelved. So now… could the Rams get back in the mix? And… do I want them to?

My answer… indeed, my FINAL answer on this is yes. And here’s why.

Watching playoff football for many years, its abundantly clear to me that, beyond skill, there is a certain quality that is needed when things get real. Call it bravado, call it moxie, call it whatever you will… some players fold in crunch time, and some shine. It’s the difference between a highly skilled Jared Goff, and an ice-water veined Matthew Stafford. It’s the difference between Kevin Carter checking out, and Aaron Donald making his biggest plays, with a championship on the line. Its Brandin Cooks almost making game changing plays, and Cooper Kupp repeatedly succeeding.

Just as Princeton could use a guy like Joel, the Rams could use a guy like OBJ.

Bring him back (oh… and we can trade Allan Robinson if we need the cap space!).

A'Shawn Robinson an integral part of Rams run defense | Free Agent Spotlight​

In 2022, the Rams had the third-highest run stop win percentage in the NFL, according ESPN analytics. Just like in 2021, a big reason for that was the play of defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson.

Prior to sustaining a season-ending torn meniscus against the Saints in Week 11, Robinson's 20 tackles for loss helped Los Angeles hold 7 of its first 10 opponents to under 100 rushing yards.

Now, Robinson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 15.

So, what are the options for Robinson and the Rams?

Re-signing is one. The importance of Robinson to L.A.'s run defense has been established, but for additional insight, TruMedia says he had 18 defensive stops (tackle causing unsuccessful play for offense).

If Robinson and the Rams decide to go in different directions, Larrell Murchison could be a possible option internally, as discussed in defensive tackle Greg Gaines' free agent spotlight. Murchison had four defensive stops (tackle causing unsuccessful play for the offense) in three games with the Rams, per TruMedia. Bringing back Marquise Copeland – he is a restricted free agent – could also be an option. Copeland produced 14 defensive stops in 15 games.

Externally, just like with any player, the Rams could also explore free agency or the draft as avenues for finding Robinson's replacement.

This thread is for general discussion about the AFC Conference Championship.

Sunday January 29, 2023 - (3) Bengals at (1) Chiefs: 6:30pm ET

This thread is for general discussion about the NFC Conference Championship.

Sunday January 29, 2023 - (2) 49’ers at (1) Eagles: 3pm ET

A Mid-January Mock is hard to do without a lot of tape on certain players available yet from last season. Also, the Senior bowl workouts haven’t started yet, which the Rams have always held in high value.
With the team over the Cap at this point, a couple of cuts and some restructures should give them enough room to sign some mid-level FA’s.
Three positions I am keying on are Edge, TE, and Defensive secondary.

Cuts:
Pre-June - C Brian Allen
Post-June 1st - TE Tyler Higbee

Restructure:
C Kupp
J Ramsey
L Floyd

Resign:
Baker Mayfield
Greg Gaines
Ty Nsekhe
Brandon Powell
The Special Teams Trio

Free Agency:
Edge – Obo Okoronkwo (Texans)

The Ex-Ram returns after a season with the Texans. He is still in his prime and showed improvement in his pass rush with a rating of 81 from PFF this past season. He is probably the best FA value of any Edge rusher under 10-mil per season. He can split time with the new draftee.

Center: Jake Brendel

Brendel has anchored the 49ers O-line the last 2 seasons and hasn’t missed a game over that span that I am aware of. His run blocking skills are similar to Allen in that he his mobile and agile to get to the second level and block in space in the wide zone scheme. And, he is a better pass blocker than Allen.

TE: Josh Oliver

Oliver’s purpose would be a blocking specialist. He was a very highly rated blocker for the Ravens. He’s coming off of hir Rookie contract so ana increase to 4-5 Mil per season should fit the Rams budget.

CB: Duke Shelly

Shelly played 2 seasons with the Bears, after being drafted in the 6th round(2019), before being released last Summer. The Vikings signed him to the practice squad and was called to the active roster in game #6 and played 11 consecutive games. He flourished with 8 passes defensed and 1 INT. He was one of the highest rayed CB’s per PFF in the 11 games he played. At 5’9” he can compete as a slot corner. He should come relatively cheap to sign considering his short resume and the Vikings being over the Cap, worse than the Rams, and their other starting CB’s are FA’s this year also.

Trades: Rams trade down near the top and back up near the end to get as many picks between #50 and #150 as possible
1)Rams trade 2:6
Browns trade 2:11, 4:9
2) Rams trade 3:6
Falcons trade 3:12, 5:10
3) Rams trade 5:10, 5:36
Jaguars trade 4:19
4) Rams trade 7:18, 7:36
Giants trade 6:40
(Rams end up with 9 total picks)

Draft:
Pick 2:11 Will McDonald IV - Edge - Iowa St
(1091) Will McDonald IV Iowa State Highlights - YouTube

McDonald is 6’3” ; 236 lbs and was played, IMO, out of position most of the time as 5-tech lineman. He generated 5 sacks at this position. He’s instinctive, flexible with good bend for turning the corner and has excellent length with a 7’ wingspan. IF he gets to show his skills from a traditional OLB spot at the Senior Bowl, his draft value may go up and may not be available at this spot. May be a better pass rusher in the NFL than Nolan Smith, who has been mocked to the Rams recently.

Pick 3:12 Dalton Kincaid - TE - Utah
(1091) Best TE in College Football Dalton Kincaid 2022 Utah Highlights - YouTube

Kincaid is 6’4” - 240 lbs, great speed and agility for a TE...is a converted WR. He really dominated this past season with 70 rec’s for 890 yards and 8 TD’s, averaged almost 13 yards per catch. For being split out most of the time in Utah’s scheme, he is a competent blocker. He will need work on getting stronger in order to be the prime TE in 11 personnel for the Rams.

Pick 4:9 Luke Wypler - Center – Ohio St
(1091) Luke Wypler Center Film - YouTube

Wypler stands 6’4” - 304 lbs... a 19 game starter for the Buckeyes. He has great feet and agility for blocking in space and on the move in a zone blocking scheme. He also has a wide enough base to anchor against the Bull rush. Wypler seems to have the best balance of Run & Pass blacking skills of anyone in the draft. ( Note: I really liked Ricky Stomberg here, but he does not move well enough to block in space.)

Pick 4:19 Riley Moss - CB/S - Iowa
(1091) Riley Moss 2021 Highlights | Iowa DB | 2023 NFL Draft Prospect - YouTube

Moss is 6’1” - 195, has prototypical build for a defensive back. He has good size, speed and agility for the next level. He is someone who could transition to Safety quite easily. It would be nice to have a Safety who has top coverage skills. He already is a good run defender and wrap-up tackler. And, he has the foot speed to cover crossing routes. He shall be the Rams Swiss Army knife of the DB’s.
(Note: credit to article by Venie Soares of SB Nation for this suggestion)

Pick 5:35 Karl Brooks - DE - Bowling Green
(1091) Karl Brooks Senior Season Highlights-BGSU DL-2022-2023 CFB Season - YouTube

At 6’4” - 300 lbs, Brooks is stout defender. He is long but with a powerful lower body. Most of his sacks come by a display of power. But, at the NFL level, he will need to improve the use of his hands and develop a counter move. He should do weel as rotational player to start in the Rams 3 man front.

Pick 6:5 Christian Braswell - CB - Rutgers
(1091) Rutgers DB Christian Braswell #6 /// Highlights of 2022 Season!!! - YouTube

Braswell is little undersized at 5’10” - 175 lbs, but has a balanced skillset of man/press and Zone coverage. He is fast & agile and closes on the ball. QB rating when he was targeted was only 60 ; very low number for a CB. He can compete for the nickel back or slot corner.

Pick 6:14 Byron Young - Edge - Tennessee
(1091) “TENNESSEE’S BEST KEPT SECRET” Byron Young Tennessee Highlights (Nonstop - Drake) - YouTube

More pass rush depth ; Young is 6’3” - 235 lbs with an 80” wingspan. He has quickness and flexibility to consistently to dip and bend around the edge. He is a bit light to set the edge in run game but makes up for it with quick diagnosis of where the ball is and gets to it before blockers can latch on.

Pick 6:34 Quinyon Mitchell - CB -- Toledo
(1091) he had 4 INTs in one game - YouTube

Mitchell is a stout CB, 6’0”, 200 lbs with average speed. He is an aggressive corner who has a strong punch at the LOS and the body strength to reroute receivers downfield. He also good instincts facing play while in zone coverage. He will need to improve his tackling and learn not be so grabby with receivers downfield. Mitchell's QB rating when targeted is also a very low 48.

Pick 6:40 Josh Whyle - TE - Cincinnati
(1091) Josh Whyle Cincinnati Highlights - YouTube


Whyle has NFL size at 6’6” - 250 lbs. He has typical receiving traits, excels in intermediate routes. But, what I like best are his blocking skills ; his blacking skills are rated as high as his receiving skills. He will probably fill a spot on the practice squad and fill in if Oliver goes down with injury.

Projected Starters:
QB: Matt Stafford
HB: Cam Akers
WR: Cooper Kupp
WR: Allen Robinson
WR: Van Jefferson
TE: Dalton Kincaid
LT: Joe Noteboom
LG: Aleric Jackson
C: Jake Brendel
LG: Logan Bruss
RT: Rob Havenstein

DE: Aaron Donald
NT: Greg Gaines
DE: Bobby Brown
OLB: Obo Okoronkwo
ILB: Bobby Wagner
ILB: Ernest Jones
OLB: Leonard Floyd
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: Cobie Durant
CB: Duke Shelly
SAF: Jordan Fuller
SAF: Quentin Lake/Riley Moss

K: Matt Gay
P: Riley Dixon
LS: Matt Orzech
RS: Brandon Powell

January 22, 2023​

NFC Divisional Playoff: Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers Renew Postseason Rivalry​

From 1982 through 1996, the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers combined to win eight of 15 Super Bowl championships. Two franchises delivered dynasties on the backs of Hall of Fame quarterbacks like Steve Young, Joe Montana, and Troy Aikman, charging into battle for NFC supremacy three straight years during the '90s.

A generation has passed since those glory days; it's been 26 years since either team captured the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But their history provides extra intrigue surrounding a Sunday night matchup with a bid to the NFC Championship Game at stake. A ninth playoff matchup between them (Dallas leads 5-3) ties for the most between teams in the Super Bowl era, games that include the 49ers' 23-17 NFC Wild Card Round victory last year that ended when Dak Prescott accidentally ran the clock out for the Cowboys while driving deep in San Francisco territory.

"[For] me and this team, that's a scar," Prescott said Monday night when reminiscing about that game. "That one hurts. It will hurt for the rest of my career. … So just being able to get [the 49ers] again … this thing's set up just for us — playing teams that have beat us, teams that we're familiar with. So, it's important for us now … to capitalize on this preparation, take it one day at a time, and make sure we're ready to go as we work for this one."

Prescott and the Cowboys will face a quarterback who was still in college during their playoff matchup last year. Iowa State's Brock Purdy has gone from Mr. Irrelevant into one of the NFL's fairy-tale stories of the season, a third-stringer pressed into action only to deliver Pro Bowl-caliber performances for two months straight. That includes a 332-yard, three-touchdown thumping of Seattle last weekend, a game in which San Francisco outscored the Seahawks 25-6 in the second half.

That gave the 49ers their NFL-leading 11th straight victory. A 12th would earn them a second straight NFC Championship Game appearance, as well as current bragging rights in a Cowboys rivalry head coach Kyle Shanahan is happy to be a part of refueling.

"I remember so much from my childhood, from sixth grade to ninth grade," Shanahan said this week. "It was the biggest rivalry in football to me growing up. Then usually that goes away when you don't meet in the playoffs a bunch and we had a big game last year, we have a big game this year, so the more you do that, the bigger it gets again."

Which team will take care of business, inching one step closer to their first Lombardi trophy in nearly three decades?

NFC Divisional Playoff: Dallas (12-5) at San Francisco (13-4)

Kickoff: Sunday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: 49ers -4
Tickets: As low as $543 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Can Dak Prescott outplay Brock Purdy?

Writing that sentence would have been unthinkable even three months ago. Prescott's return from injury is part of what sparked this Cowboys team to 12 wins and a wild-card berth; Purdy didn't even throw an NFL pass until Oct. 23.

But what a ride it's been for Purdy since early December. Including the playoffs, he's thrown 16 touchdowns and four interceptions during the last seven games, winning all of them while posting the highest passer rating in the NFL. Against the Seahawks last week, he averaged a whopping 11.1 yards per attempt while posting MVP-type numbers during the second half: 9-for-11 for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and no sacks or turnovers.

The Cowboys' defense has been unfazed by Purdy's success, linebacker Micah Parsons saying this week the 49ers have faced "nobody like us this year." Indeed, the Cowboys' D finished the regular season fifth in scoring (20.1 ppg) and created a league-high 33 takeaways. That propensity showed up again on Monday night with a crucial (and rare) interception of Tom Brady in the end zone that snuffed out any momentum for Tampa Bay.

But for Prescott, this game provides an opportunity just like the Dallas defense smells one. He arguably played his best game of the season in that Tampa triumph, throwing for 305 yards and four touchdowns with a 143.3 passer rating. More importantly, for the first time since Nov. 20, he also went turnover-free.

It's Prescott who has the years of experience and accolades Purdy does not. Only four previous NFL rookie quarterbacks have advanced to a conference championship game, and there's a reason for that; the postseason is where their inexperience catches up with them.

Does Purdy feel the pressure? Not yet. Last week, he explained why the playoffs don't feel any different.

"I'm not trying to make it bigger than what it is," Purdy said. "Obviously, there's more on the line and everything, but I think having six (now seven) games under my belt in terms of just playing in an NFL game and trying to win for four quarters has helped me get to this point. And all the guys in the locker room have my back."

2. Which dynamic run game gains the upper hand?

The 49ers hit the jackpot in their trade for Christian McCaffrey, stepping up their run game to a whole other level. McCaffrey was unstoppable against the Seahawks last Saturday, rushing for 119 yards at nearly eight yards per carry and adding a touchdown catch in the 41-23 rout.

How hard will it be to stop McCaffrey? One Dallas radio host got in trouble this week when he actively hoped for the oft-injured player to go down again during Sunday's playoff game. It's not a good look and could provide some motivation for the 49ers in their locker room.

Overall, San Francisco was eighth in the league in rushing offense during the regular season, averaging 138.8 yards per game. And it's not just McCaffrey either who can do damage on the ground. (It's amazing we've gone this long without even mentioning speedy wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who torched the Cowboys last year with 72 yards and a rushing touchdown in the Wild Card Round victory.)

On the other side, Dallas finished the season ninth in rushing offense, right behind San Francisco with their dynamic duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard leading the way. But the Elliott-Pollard combination went flat in the playoff matchup last year — 16 carries for 45 yards. That wobbly 2.8 yards per carry didn't get the job done then and won't this year either. The 49ers were second against the run, holding teams to 77.7 yards per game and only 3.4 yards per rushing attempt. Seattle managed 104 yards on the ground but needed 25 carries (4.2 ypc) to get there, and the team's longest run was an 11-yard scramble by quarterback Geno Smith. Besides leading the league with 18.5 sacks, Nick Bosa also is one of the best run-stoppers. So the onus is on Elliott and Pollard (and to a degree the Cowboys' offensive line) to prove they can be more effective running the ball this time around.

3. Can Brett Maher find his footing?

In one of the more bizarre twists in NFL playoff history, Maher became the first player to miss four straight extra points in an otherwise flawless takedown of Tampa Bay on Monday night. Oh, the punchlines that have come from that performance.

After earning the full-time placekicking job this season, Maher had been reliable until that point. He connected on a career-high 90.6 percent of his field goal attempts — including all inside 40 yards — and missed just three extra points during 17 regular-season games.

That's allowed the Cowboys' confidence in Maher to stand firm this week.

"We've got trust in him," Elliott said after practice. "We've got faith in him. That's our brother and we're not going to turn our back on him."

They also don't really have a choice. Finding a replacement kicker at this stage is near impossible; it's too much to put blind faith in someone new when one loss knocks you out for good. So, everyone just needs to cross their fingers and hope one bad week hasn't taken residence inside Maher's head. They didn't need him to kick field goals and make those extra points last week.

In this NFC Divisional Round matchup? It's a different story altogether. And Maher faces grizzled veteran Robbie Gould on the other sideline, aging at 40 but with plenty of game-winning kicks in crunch time on his resume.

Final Analysis

This game should easily be the best matchup of the weekend. The way in which these teams move the football on offense combined with spectacular defensive plays (66 combined takeaways over the course of this season) should create a number of lead changes during a back-and-forth affair.

In a weird twist, I think the pressure is on Prescott, not Purdy, to deliver and put the demons of past years behind him. And Prescott's recent track record makes it difficult to trust him. An incredible game against the Eagles in mid-December was followed by two inconsistent performances against the Titans and Commodes to close the regular season. It's just been hard for him to put together two flawless games in a row.

It'll only take one mistake to keep haunting the Cowboys. Hard to believe just a few months ago, but I think in this case, it's the veteran quarterback who makes them.

Prediction: 49ers 31, Cowboys 28

January 22, 2023​

AFC Divisional Playoff: Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills Reunite for Much-Anticipated Showdown​

Three weeks after the traumatic event that shook the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills will meet again with a spot in the AFC Championship Game on the line.

The Week 17 game between these teams was called off in the first quarter after Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field with cardiac arrest and had to be rushed to the hospital.

Hamlin has since been released from the hospital, and head coach Sean McDermott said the second-year safety has returned to the team facility "almost daily." It's unclear if Hamlin will be in attendance — he has a long recovery ahead — but regardless it will be quite the emotional game.

Each team has won two straight since that fateful game, although the Wild Card Round gave more of a scare than expected. Buffalo entered its game against Miami as a 14-point favorite but nearly blew a 17-0 lead in clinging to a three-point win. The Bengals, meanwhile, were eight-point favorites but needed a 98-yard Sam Hubbard fumble return to beat the Ravens.

Still, despite first-round playoff concerns, these are clearly two of the best teams remaining in the playoffs. They entered the postseason with top-five Super Bowl odds and are two of the three teams to actually beat No. 1 seed Kansas City this season.

The winner will likely face those Chiefs, who are heavy favorites to knock off the Jaguars. The Bengals would travel to Kansas City, while the Bills would face off in the Falcons' Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a neutral-site game, due to the canceled Week 17 game.

Cincinnati led the Week 17 game 7-3 before it was called off, although there's only so much that can be taken away from two-and-a-half drives. What's clear is that these are evenly-matched, exciting teams. Can the Bengals pick up where they left off and score an upset? Or will the Bills continue their quest for their first Super Bowl appearance since 1993?

AFC Divisional Playoff: Cincinnati (13-4) at Buffalo (14-3)

Kickoff: Sunday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Bills -5.5
Tickets: As low as $170 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Will the Bengals' offensive line hold up?

Cincinnati's offense seemingly moved at will against the Bills when they last played. Sure, they had just lost right tackle La'el Collins to a torn ACL the week before, but Joe Burrow was a perfect 4-of-4 for 52 yards without feeling much pressure. Well, in the two weeks since, they've lost prized free agent guard Alex Cappa (ankle) and left tackle Jonah Williams (knee).

The offensive line was Cincinnati's Achilles heel last season, and it's looking like a problem once again this year. Significant offseason spending helped improve the unit, but they still ranked 30th in pass block win rate (50 percent) during the regular season, and losing most of the offensive line takes the issue from notable to alarming.

With Williams going down in the second quarter against the Ravens, Baltimore was able to sack Burrow four times and pressure him eight times despite the signal-caller getting rid of the ball after an average of 2.38 seconds, a mark he's only surpassed once before. He's going to have to maintain a quick release once again, which could be tricky against a zone-heavy defense like Buffalo's.

The Bills rank 14th in pressure rate this season (22.2 percent), but it's worth noting that they've had a serious drop-off since losing Von Miller to a torn ACL in Week 12. Before, they had a 24.0 percent pressure rate (eighth), and they are only at 19.4 percent since (23rd). Still, they were able to pressure Miami rookie Skylar Thompson last week more than a quarter of the time despite blitzing just nine times.

2. Can Josh Allen rein in the chaos?

There's no doubt that Allen is one of the most talented players in the league, but he's continued to make mind-numbing mistakes recently. The Bills almost lost last week because he threw two more interceptions and had three fumbles (one of which he lost), bringing his turnover total to six in the last three games.

Allen's bad-throw rate has increased throughout the season, with last week's performance (24.3 percent) his third worst of the season. His 22.2 percent bad-throw rate in the last five games would put him near the bottom of the leaderboard over the course of a full season.

Miami blitzed the ever-living hell out of Allen last week (18 times in 49 dropbacks), but he kept trying for big plays instead of taking the easy check-downs. An astounding 19 of his 39 passes went for more than 10 air yards, only 10 of which Allen completed (with one TD and one pick).

Will offensive coordinator Mike Kafka adjust the game plan? And will Allen follow through? Cincinnati has struggled to cover WR2s this season, so someone other than Stefon Diggs stepping up will be key, especially if they can make catches underneath.

3. Ja'Marr Chase vs. Tre'Davious White

With the Bills not likely to give Burrow much time to throw, it will be even more incumbent upon the Bengals' receivers to create early separation. The big matchup to watch will be Chase against White.

Now, Buffalo's No. 1 cornerback hasn't quite lived up to the All-Pro label this year as White returned from a torn ACL. In six games, he's allowed a career-worst 13.6 yards per completion and has a Pro Football Focus rating of just 61.9. There are bright signs (eight passes defended, 54.5 percent completion rate allowed), but he's not quite at his best.

Cincinnati targeted Chase early in its abbreviated meeting, and White was flagged on the first play of the game for a 29-yard pass interference call. That was his first DPI of the season, although he did have a defensive holding penalty in each of the last two regular-season games and was flagged for another DPI (for eight yards) last Sunday against Miami.

How important has Chase been to the Bengals' success this season? They are 8-1 when he scores a touchdown and 7-3 when he doesn't. They're 9-1 when he reaches 60 yards and 6-3 when he doesn't. It's hard to imagine Cincinnati out-scoring Buffalo if Chase doesn't get going in a tough matchup.

Final Analysis

The regular-season matchup had the making of a shootout, but with Cincinnati's offensive line issues and Josh Allen's turnover habit, this game may well not reach the over/under total of 49 points. Although Allen has the ability to give this game away, if he can take the easy passes when they're available, he should be able to do enough to stay ahead of this beat-up Cincinnati offense.

Prediction: Bills 27, Bengals 20

I thought maybe other Ram fans might like this. I made this on my diode laser.

Here is also a link if you want to see how it was made.
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What do y'all think he's doing?

The word I'm hearing from different people (people directly involved with the NFL not media) that cheapass Spanos is debating on not extending Justin Herbert on his 5th year option.

Snead should jump on this and offer cheapass Chargers multiple 1's for Herbert. This guy is the real deal and is already an elite QB. He would make this a legit SB contender immediately.

Yeah, Stafford would be a problem but not one that couldn't be solved. After all it's only for one year with Stafford. This would be Herbert's final rookie contract year. If the Rams were willing to play Stafford $50.5M in 2025, Herbert is worth that. It would blow the Super Bowl window wide open for years. The Rams would jump to the head of the division immediately.

Herbert in McVay's offense would be mind-blowing. LA people don't understand exactly how cheap Spanos is and how real his greed is. Extending Herbert is a no brainer so for this "rumor" to have this amount of traction gives it veracity that it wouldn't normally have. Telesco wants it done but Spanos is apparently pumping the brakes. Why? Because apparently, Spanos thinks he can get Buttface as HC but Herbert wants Staley and apparently Justin contractually has a say.

LMAO @ Spanos

Over four seasons, Nick Scott went from special teams contributor to reliable playmaker in Rams' secondary | Free Agent Spotlight​

For someone who was a seventh-round pick in 2019 and initially pegged as a special teams contributor, safety Nick Scott far exceeded expectations.

He became an important special teamer in his first two seasons, and when he got his chance to see playing time on defense in his third, he flourished and turned that into a starting role in his fourth season. Those third and fourth years saw lots of memorable plays, from interceptions to the big hit in the NFC Championship game during the Rams' Super Bowl LVI-winning playoff run.

Now, Scott is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 15.

So what are the options for Scott and the Rams?

Los Angeles could opt to re-sign Scott, whose durability was evident playing in 64 of 66 possible regular season games over his first four NFL seasons. His experience and familiarity in the system, not to mention that playmaking – see four interceptions and seven pass breakups over his previous two seasons – would benefit the secondary.

If L.A. and Scott decide to go in different directions, the Rams could turn to either Russ Yeast or Quentin Lake as a replacement. Lake was drafted in the sixth round in 2022, Yeast the seventh, and both gradually saw more playing time and gained more experience during the second half of their rookie seasons. As is the case with any player, the Rams could also explore finding that replacement via the draft.

Greg Gaines became an important piece to Rams defensive line rotation | Free Agent Spotlight​

With so much focus on Aaron Donald, it can be difficult for other Rams defensive lineman to get attention. But those who watched that front closely knew the impact defensive tackle Greg Gaines had.

A 2019 fourth-round pick, Gaines was a sub in the rotation for his first two seasons before becoming a starter for his third and fourth. His 8.5 sacks across those two seasons were second-most for a Rams defensive lineman behind Donald's 17.5 and third overall for Los Angeles' defensive front, with outside linebacker Leonard Floyd's 18.5 leading the way.

However, the 2022 season marked the final year of Gaines' rookie contract, which means he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 15.

So what's next for Gaines and the Rams?

The Rams could obviously re-sign Gaines, and in doing so, they would be bringing back someone who not only affected the passer (16 pressures in 2022, per TruMedia) but also an important piece to their run defense.

Here's How Many Tickets Chiefs, Bills Fans Have Purchased For Neutral-Site AFC Championship​

The NFL world won't know until Sunday evening whether or not the league's unprecedented plan to potentially play the AFC Championship game in a neutral site will need to be put into action.

But fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills are making sure they're prepared just in case.

Mattress Mack Places Huge Bet on Cowboys-49ers

According to a report from NFL Network on Friday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which has been chosen to host a conference title game between the two teams, has already sold more than 50,000 tickets for the matchup.

Ticket purchases have only been opened to season-ticket holders for the Bills and Chiefs who previously opted in to purchase AFC Championship game tickets in Buffalo or Kansas City, according to the report.

Chiefs fans will be seated behind the team's sideline, while Bills supporters will be on the other side of the stadium.

The AFC Championship game will only be played in Atlanta if the Chiefs defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday and the Bills beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

The NFL allowed for the location switch because the league's decision to cancel the Week 17 contest between the Bills and Bengals following Damar Hamlin's collapse on the field, which allowed the Chiefs to pass the Bills in the AFC standings and claim the top seed in the conference despite the fact that the two teams had the same number of losses and the Bills beat the Chiefs in Week 6. The Chiefs still received the first-round bye given to the top seed in each conference, while the Bills beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

While it's impressive to see that many tickets gobbled up before we even know whether or not a game will be played in Atlanta, there should be a good number of seats still available after this weekend. Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a listed capacity of 71,000, but more than 79,000 fans recently crammed into the venue for the Peach Bowl between Georgia and Ohio State on Dec. 31.