Tampa Bay vs. Arizona: Buccaneers Take on the Cardinals in Christmas Edition of SNF​

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas already celebrating a few extra presents from Santa. The Cardinals are down to their third-string quarterback, Trace McSorley making his first career NFL start with both Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy sidelined by injuries. Last year’s playoff Cinderella, Arizona is already eliminated from this year’s postseason, sliding to a 4-10 record after losing the last four in a row.

But Tampa’s biggest Christmas miracle is how the Bucs still lead the NFC South despite a 6-8 record. It’s a body of work that would put them dead last in two of the NFL's seven other divisions; instead, Tom Brady’s bunch still controls their own playoff destiny. You couldn’t ask for an easier schedule down the stretch as their final three games are against these Cardinals, the 5-9 Carolina Panthers, and the 5-9 Atlanta Falcons.

But will even that be enough for a team that’s been a headscratcher since starting the year with a 19-3 win against the Dallas Cowboys? It’s the only one on their resume against a team that’s currently above .500. The Bucs have gotten dismantled, by a score of 69-30, the past two weeks against trendy Super Bowl contenders San Francisco and Cincinnati.

Through it all, the 45-year-old Brady has looked – dare I say it? – like a human, aging quarterback past his prime. He had four straight turnovers to start the second half last Sunday; keep in mind this man has gone entire seasons with less. Add in a career-low 6.26 yards per pass attempt and it’s no sure thing the Tampa Bay offense can produce enough points to win a game on the road.

So is the stage set for an Arizona upset, courtesy of McSorley at the helm? Or will Brady find a way to conjure up some holiday magic, getting his Bucs back on track before two straight divisional games decide their playoff fate?

Sunday Night Football: Tampa Bay (6-8) at Arizona (4-10)

Kickoff: Sunday, Dec. 25 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Buccaneers -7.5
Tickets: As low as $56 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. How will the Arizona offense play?

The Cardinals find themselves demoralized, out of postseason contention, and without their leader, Kyler Murray, on the field for the rest of the year. When Trace McSorley replaced an injured Colt McCoy early in the third quarter last Sunday, he led the team to just three points before a lone touchdown in garbage time. The numbers were far from spectacular: 7-for-15, 95 yards and two interceptions in a 24-15 loss against the 4-10 Denver Broncos.

Will a full week of reps with the first team raise McSorley to another level? He’s played in just three NFL games before this season, completing only three passes in 10 attempts. There’s nothing on the resume to indicate this former sixth-round pick can come in and go punch for punch with arguably the greatest NFL quarterback of all time.

Then again, this year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, could say the same for San Francisco before embarrassing Brady in a one-on-one, 35-7 rout out in San Francisco. McSorley feels he’s in a position to do the same, relying on four years of watching and learning from the sidelines.

“[Brady]’s the GOAT, no other way to say it,” McSorley explained this week. “But I’m going against their defense, not him.”

He’s right. That Tampa D has just 13 takeaways, tied for 29th in the NFL, and only two interceptions in their last 10 games against QBs like Marcus Mariota, Mitch Trubisky and P.J. Walker. If the Bucs can’t step it up against McSorley…

2. Which Tom Brady will we see?

The biggest issue for Brady during the past two months or so has been putting a full game together. He came out roaring against the Bengals, going 17-for-23 for 194 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

The rest of the game, of course, was an outright disaster, Brady enduring his first career loss (89-1) when leading by 17 points or more.

“Just unforced errors,” Brady explained after the game. “Two fumbles, two interceptions. You can’t win a game like that.”

Head coach Todd Bowles has put an emphasis on fixing what he says are a number of slow starts in the second half. The numbers appear to back that up, with the Bucs scoring just 45 of their 247 points this year in the third quarter. No matter their first-half performance, it feels like the Bucs are constantly on their heels once the opposing team is given a minute to make adjustments.

A key to getting Brady back on target is former Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans, who showed some signs of life against the Bengals after notching five catches for 83 yards. But Evans, who caught 27 touchdowns during the last two seasons, still hasn’t reached the end zone since a Week 4 loss against Kansas City. In fact, no receiver currently on the active roster has more than four touchdown catches this season, almost inexplicable when you consider the way Brady has elevated pass catchers throughout his career.

3. Arizona’s run game… both offense and defense

McSorley starting means the Cardinals will rely heavily on James Conner to carry the load. It wasn’t enough against the Broncos; Arizona’s 73 total rushing yards were just six more than their season-low output.

But the Bucs, ranked just 17th in rushing defense, give teams the ability to run the football. It may be the Cardinals’ only offensive hope with so many weapons, from Murray to tight end Zach Ertz to receiver Greg Dortch, either out or operating at far less than 100 percent.

The Bucs don’t just need to stop Arizona in its tracks running the football; they need to find a way to run it themselves, taking the pressure off Brady a bit. An offense that ranks dead last with 74.3 rushing yards per game has just two 100-yard rushing performances all year. It’s no coincidence they won both games.

Final Analysis

On paper, Tampa Bay should win this one in a cakewalk considering Arizona’s lack of motivation and the injuries piling up. An NFC-worst 1-7 home record is one of many things that has put head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s future in jeopardy.

And yet. The way the Buccaneers have played all season, you never quite know what to expect. A miserable performance by Brady and the offense and an inspired performance by yet another NFL fill-in QB could keep this game far more interesting than it should be. For those bettors out there, I’d lay off: the Bucs are just 3-10-1 against the spread this season.

Prediction: Buccaneers 17, Cardinals 13

Sunday December 25, 2022
Christmas Day

Game Day Thread

The GDT is a live thread tradition here at ROD.

While we all get fired up watching the game, please remember our core principles;we always show respect for our team and each other.

Despite the emotional highs and lows watching a game, we will moderate this thread with that in mind, however please refrain from name calling. This applies to players, the Rams organization, and others.

This is the core rule of the GDT. Moderators are tasked to issue thread bans, at a minimum, to maintain this standard.

This is our team. Win or lose. Good days and bad. We are here for FUN, not to be dragged down.

A more loosely moderated atmosphere can be found in the chat room.

Go Rams!

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ROD Chat Room;

Game Day Room

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Green Bay vs. Miami: Surging Packers, Scuffling Dolphins Meet on Christmas​

The Miami Dolphins return home from a winless three-game road trip to welcome the Green Bay Packers, who head south to escape the cold in hopes of winning their third game in a row. That win would be a very gratifying way for Green Bay to cap off its final road game of 2022, with Lambeau Field playing host to both of the Packers’ final two regular-season matchups.

The last several weeks have seen very similar trends for both the Packers (6-8) and Dolphins (8-6), only with those recent stretches coming in opposite directions. Beginning in Week 5, Green Bay lost five in a row and seven of eight — with all but one of those seven losses coming by 10 or fewer points — before winning their last two matchups against the Bears and Rams.

Shortly after the time of that plummet by the Packers, the Dolphins started in a reverse path: winning five straight going into Thanksgiving but losing their last three — all of which have been away from Hard Rock Stadium. Besides the benefit of coming back to the (relative) warmth of South Florida — "relative" seeing as Miami will, surprisingly, *only* be in the mid-50s on Sunday — the results of that recent road stretch make the return home a very welcome Christmas gift for the Dolphins as Mike McDaniel's squad approaches the final weeks of the regular season.

Green Bay (6-8) at Miami (8-6)

Kickoff: Sunday, Dec. 25, at 1 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Dolphins -4
Tickets: As low as $155 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Which version of Christian Watson will we see on Sunday?

With the departure of many of Aaron Rodgers’ most familiar targets from recent years, the first few weeks of this season were largely spent figuring out who would be his go-to receiver going forward. And that effort coincided with Watson beginning to carve out a role for himself as a rookie. In Watson’s first six games with Green Bay, the North Dakota State product caught 10 passes for just 88 yards and was held out of the end zone in the passing game, though he did have a rushing touchdown in the Week 4 win against the Patriots.

The key turning point in Watson’s rookie campaign was Green Bay’s Week 10 overtime win against Dallas, when Watson was the recipient of all three of Rodgers’ touchdown passes, leading the way with four receptions for 107 yards. Starting with that performance, Watson has truly turned the tables in a positive direction. Over the last five games, he has hauled in 19 receptions for 359 yards and seven touchdowns, along with another rushing score on a 46-yard carry in the Week 13 win at Chicago. Watson has only led the team in yards twice in that span, so it will be interesting to see how he fares against a Miami defense that has allowed 292 passing yards per game through the air in the last three — the second-highest mark in the NFL during that span — but has been much stronger at home. The Dolphins are giving up just under 223 passing yards per game inside Hard Rock Stadium this season.

2. Can the Dolphins start fast, or will they once again be trailing heading into halftime?

While fast and slow starts are typically reasonable indicators of how a team will perform for the balance of the game, the first 30 minutes have been especially vital for Miami in the last two months. During the Dolphins’ five-game winning streak, Miami went into halftime with a lead in four of the five games. But in the last three games — all losses, remember — the Dolphins trailed after two quarters in all three.

Over the course of the season, Miami has averaged 14.1 first-half points — tied with San Francisco for the fifth-best scoring rate in the NFL — and owns sole possession of the fifth-highest mark (16.2 first-half points) among home games this season. This is obviously a positive sign as the Dolphins return home. But Miami has managed just 10 first-half points per game in the last three weeks. A strong start would certainly be a welcome sign for this offense, not to mention that it would present quite a bit of hope for halting this losing skid in its tracks.

3. Will Green Bay be able to sustain its recent success against Miami, or will the Packers’ 2022 struggles on the road and in inter-conference matchups take priority?

Just like a win would keep Green Bay’s current winning streak alive, it would also continue a predominant pattern in recent matchups between these two teams. While Green Bay is just 5-10 all-time against Miami, four of those five wins have come in the last five meetings, a stretch that goes back to 2002. The Dolphins' lone victory was a 23-20 overtime win at Lambeau Field in 2010. And just like these teams have encountered nearly opposite trends over the last several weeks, this series has followed a similar theme: Miami won the first eight meetings and nine of the first 10 between 1971 and 2000 before Green Bay’s current dominance in this cross-conference battle.

But the Packers are just 1-3 against the AFC this season, not to mention 2-5 on the road. Green Bay’s lone out-of-conference win came in Week 5 at home against New England, with losses in their last three against the Jets, Bills and Titans. And away from Lambeau Field, the results haven’t been much better: the Packers lost five of their first six road games before collecting a divisional win against the Bears in Week 13 to open December. It doesn't figure to get any easier against a Dolphins team that is 5-1 at home and has won three straight inside Hard Rock Stadium.

Final Analysis

Miami’s recent losses may seem troubling, but the Dolphins' success at home appears to be reliable enough to believe that they can bounce back. Combine that with Green Bay’s rampant struggles away from home and, while close games have been extremely common for both of these teams, Miami’s edge in one-possession games resembles the slight advantage that should help up when these two teams kick off the NFL's Christmas Day tripleheader.

Prediction: Dolphins 27, Packers 20

This is him at 4:30 in the morning heading to work.
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/DoLKCKLY_Rw


Don't worry he amazingly wasn't injured.

The Los Angeles Rams are officially eliminated from the playoffs and now all attention goes to the 2023 NFL Draft. With compensatory picks, the Rams are set to have nine picks next April. With the first selection currently set for 34th overall, meaning they should be able to get a quality starter to help Matthew Stafford, fresh off of his official non-retirement announcement. Let’s take a look at mock draft post-playoff elimination

34th Overall - OC John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota​

The Rams need to find some consistency at center this offseason. While Brian Allen plays well when he’s on the field, he’s consistently been injured. John Michael Schmitz is one of, if not the best center in the country. Taking a player like Schmitz just might make up for passing on Creed Humphrey in 2021.

68th Overall - TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State​

The Rams need depth and a future at the tight end position. Tyler Higbee hasn’t played well in 2022 and behind him, the Rams really only have Brycen Hopkins. Hopkins had more catches in the Super Bowl than he has in all of 2022. Kraft can block and creates mismatches as a pass-catcher. He’s a versatile player that can line up anywhere along the offensive formation, making him a player Sean McVay could have a lot of fun with.

5th Round Comp Pick - OT Cody Mauch, North Dakota State​

The Rams need to add some attitude and toughness to the offensive line. That’s what they would be getting with Cody Mauch. Trevor Penning, Cole Strange, and Braxton Smith have each found success in the NFL this season after coming from the FCS. Dillon Radunz came out of North Dakota State and has done well also. He’s a very good lateral mover and quickly gets to the second level.

5th Round Comp Pick - WR Zakhari Franklin, UTSA​

The Rams may not need a wide receiver, but it would not be surprising to see them take one. I could see McVay really liking Franklin’s game. He’s an absolute technician. He’s a good route runner and therefore is able to create separation and is simply a reliable target. He’s the type of depth receiver that the Rams have been lacking.

168th Overall - DT Colby Wooden, Auburn​

This offseason the Rams could lose both A’Shawn Robinson and Greg Gaines. Hopefully they can bring one back, but it’s possible they let both walk. Even if they do keep one, they'll need to add depth. Wooden is similar to Michael Hoecht in the sense that he can play inside at the three-technique or outside at a five-technique. The Rams like versatile defensive linemen and Wooden fits that bill.

177th Overall - CB Garrett Williams, Syracuse​

You could make a strong case that the Rams should take a cornerback with their first pick in the second round. They need to rebuild their secondary outside of Jalen Ramsey. Cobie Durant will develop and is likely better suited as a third cornerback. The Rams may need to sign someone in free agency. Still, they’ll need to draft a player to compete with Derion Kendrick and replace David Long.

83rd Overall - RB Roschon Johnson, Texas​

For four years Brian Robinson was buried on the Alabama depth chart behind Damien Harris, Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs and Bo Scarbrough. He had just one season as the lead back. Bijan Robinson might have been the guy at Texas, but that doesn’t mean that Johnson also isn’t good. If the Rams found a way to select him late, it’s very possible he ends up being a very good value.

6th Round Comp Pick - S Sydney Brown, Illinois​

The Rams will need to take a safety in the upcoming draft. While Nick Scott or Taylor Rapp will return, there’s no chance both of them are brought back. The Rams will have Russ Yeast, but they will need to add some depth. Brown could make an immediate impact on special teams.

211th Overall - QB Jake Haener, Fresno State​

After experiencing John Wolford and Bryce Perkins this season, the Rams need to invest in the backup quarterback position in 2023. Haener may not be a top prospect, but he’s been very productive at the college level. He may not have the ceiling of a top prospect, but he can be a good backup behind Matthew Stafford.

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: AFC Playoff Longshots Wrap Up the Christmas Eve Slate​

Two teams loosely in the AFC playoff hunt play on Christmas Eve as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Las Vegas Raiders. Las Vegas has dominated this series as of late winning six of the last eight meetings, including a 26-17 victory in the Steel City in Week 2 last season. Both teams enter this game with 6-8 records and two games behind Miami, who currently claims the last wild-card spot. However, Las Vegas is behind three other teams while Pittsburgh is further down the standings, so it goes without saying that this is a must-win situation just to simply be mentioned in the playoff conversation.

The Raiders got their Christmas miracle last week courtesy of the Patriots' Jakobi Meyers whose lateral on the last play of the game landed in Chandler Jones' hands and resulted in a walk-off touchdown in a mind-blowing 30-24 home win for Las Vegas. The finish was part of a roller-coaster game that saw the Raiders blow a 17-3 lead in the first half only to steal the victory with two touchdowns in the final 32 seconds. Derek Carr threw three touchdown passes with an interception and a banged-up Josh Jacobs ran for 93 yards on 22 carries. New England didn't do much through the air (112 passing yards), but Rhamondre Stevenson gashed Las Vegas for 172 yards and a touchdown on only 19 carries. It was still a satisfying victory nonetheless as Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels defeated his former boss and mentor Bill Belichick.

Pittsburgh maintained its recent success, defeating Carolina 24-16 on the road for its third win in four games. The offense was extremely balanced with Mitch Trubisky throwing for 179 yards (and no interceptions) while Najee Harris ran for a game-high 86 yards. The defense did the rest, forcing Sam Darnold to try and beat the Steelers with his arm as the Panthers managed 12 first downs and 209 total yards of offense, including just 21 on the ground.

Saturday's game also comes a day after the 50th anniversary of the "Immaculate Reception," one of the most iconic plays in NFL history. There were many special events planned to commemorate this anniversary but the plans changed following the unexpected death on Wednesday of Hall of Fame running back and Steelers legend Franco Harris, the one most closely associated with the unforgettable play. Pittsburgh is still expected to wear throwback uniforms for the game and Harris' No. 32 will be retired at halftime.

Las Vegas (6-8) at Pittsburgh (6-8)

Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 24 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Steelers -2.5
Tickets: As low as $26 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Steelers QB situation

Rookie Kenny Pickett is expected to start on Saturday night as he'll return from a second concussion. There are obviously concerns about Pickett being able to stay on the field (he switched his helmet to a different Riddell model and will be wearing a visor for the first time this season), but he also is the best choice to run Pittsburgh's offense. For the season, Pickett is 4-5 as the starter completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,797 yards (179.7 per game). He does have twice as many interceptions (eight) as touchdowns (four), but has cut down on the mistakes (no picks in his last five starts) and also is a threat to make things happen with his legs (5.1 ypc, 3 TDs). He'll also be going up against a Las Vegas defense that ranks 24th in the NFL in both yards (244.3) and points (24.1) allowed per game. If anything, the bigger story may be who replaces Pickett in the event of another injury or some other issue. Mitch Trubisky has been the backup but he's 2-3 as the starter with more interceptions (five) than touchdown passes (four). Some Steelers have been advocating for Mason Rudolph, Ben Roethilsberger's longtime backup, to get a chance. Head coach Mike Tomlin is probably hoping that he won't have to worry about that because Pickett starts and finishes the game (unless it becomes a blowout).

2. Ground work

Right now, the weathering the Steel City on Saturday night is supposed to be a high of 11 degrees with 18-25 MPH winds, which means passing the ball will be difficult. This could tilt things in Pittsburgh's favor as the Steelers have the better run defense, checking in at seventh in the league (109.0 ypg) compared to the Raiders (117.4 ypg, 15th). Las Vegas does have the more productive ground gainer, however, with Josh Jacobs leading the league with 1,495 rushing yards to go with his 11 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has yet to get a 100-yard game from anyone (Jacobs has six such efforts). Najee Harris leads the team with 790 yards and six scores. Given the expected conditions, whichever team has more success staying grounded will probably win this game.

3. No early presents

Neither team is that adept at taking the ball away. The Steelers average 1.2 takeaways per contest while the Raiders are second to last in the league with a total of 11 (0.8 per game). On the flip side, Pittsburgh has had more problems with ball security (17 total), largely due to the number of interceptions thrown (13). Pickett has done better in this department lately while Derek Carr has twice as many TD passes (23) as picks (11). Overall, the Steelers have fared better when it comes to turnover margin (even vs. -3 for Las Vegas). However you slice it, every little mistake will be magnified in this one as there doesn't figure to be a ton of scoring and the conditions won't help either.

Final Analysis

I've been low on the Raiders all season, but they've won four of their last five. They won the luckiest game ever last week and now have to head to Pittsburgh on a short week. I think the best unit in this game is the Steelers' defense, especially if the winds negate Davante Adams' impact for Las Vegas. Pittsburgh also will probably play with a little more emotion following Franco Harris' unexpected death. I don't expect many points and look for the defense to seal this one late so the home crowd can go home happy on Christmas Eve night.

Prediction: Steelers 18, Raiders 13

Saturday, December 24, 2022 - Christmas Eve

THE LATE GAMES
Washington at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
Philadelphia at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.

THE EARLY GAMES
Atlanta at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at Chicago, 1 p.m.
New Orleans at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
New York Giants at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at New England, 1 p.m.
Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

CEF
Las Vegas at Pittsburgh, 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, December 25, 2022 - Christmas Day

Green Bay at Miami, 1 p.m.
Denver at Los Angeles Rams, 4:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Arizona, 8:20 p.m. (SNF)

Monday, December 26, 2022

Los Angeles Chargers at Indianapolis, 8:15 p.m. (MNF)

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ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Jacksonville at New York Jets, 8:15 p.m. (TNF)

Saturday, December 24, 2022 - Christmas Eve

THE EARLY GAMES
Atlanta at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at Chicago, 1 p.m.
New Orleans at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Seattle at Kansas City, 1 p.m.
New York Giants at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati at New England, 1 p.m.
Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

THE LATE GAMES
Washington at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
Philadelphia at Dallas, 4:25 p.m.

CEF
Las Vegas at Pittsburgh, 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, December 25, 2022 - Christmas Day

Green Bay at Miami, 1 p.m.
Denver at Los Angeles Rams, 4:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Arizona, 8:20 p.m. (SNF)

Monday, December 26, 2022

Los Angeles Chargers at Indianapolis, 8:15 p.m. (MNF)

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ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Jacksonville at New York Jets, 8:15 p.m. (TNF)

It has been a good year. Not so much for the Rams though. But, we went to Stans House!!

I've been meaning to relate our SOFI visit, for the Rams-Seahawks game. Never having been to many NFL games and this being the first at SOFI - we had a heck of a time. The background is, my son showed up to the game, as an out and out surprise as you might imagine. However, I just wanted to share some of the details.

So, my daughter, her friend, my wife and myself got seats in Sec 51, maybe 35 yard line on the 300 level. Excellent seats - fantastic view and the seats accessed from the top row, empty into a food/bar area with ample monitors a bar and some tables and chairs. Also, the stadium seats were padded and made for the big man! All good features....

So, from the time we arrived, my daughter is going on about how a friend of hers who lives in the LA area, is at the game. I'm like, ho-hum... Then she tells us where he is sitting and so on. Well, that is like 70 yards or more away - and these 70 yr old eyes, are only so good.

Then my son sends a text and asks where I am at the game... and to wave, in case they pan the crowd. I'm like WTH you talking about? Then he send me a picture, that shows the four of us watching the game... So, how did you do that? Then I figured my daughter sent the pic to him, but nahhh... she is in the photo... The he spills the beans that he is at the game on the 100 level right across from us at around the 20 yd line.


Well, I'm confused by this pic, at the time!

So, this is where it gets interesting. No longer can you roam about the stadium - like I presume you cannot buy cheap 500 level seats than migrate on down to the 100 level, if you see an empty one - since along the way security wants to view your ticket. (Now to get into the stadium, you must display the ticket from the ticket app - which is a QR/Barcode thingy, that has a rotating red line through it. On entry, the scanner machine must see that red line moving around - meaning you cannot take a screen shot and pass that off as a ticket). However, moving from section to section once inside, you only have to show the ticket to human security folks. So, my daughter send him a copy of her ticket so he can migrate up to our section. Now a static screenshot might not be good enough - so she captured a video screen shot of the ticket app and sent it to my son.

So, it happened - he made it to our section and hung around for a few minutes and did not get caught or tossed out of the stadium. I had told him it wasn't quite worth that risk...


Clearly, momma was happy!!

Anyway, the game was good... until the end - but anytime your kids make a surprise visit like that, it is awesome. He lives in Bend OR and he was in LA for the weekend... This is the same kid, that 4 years ago, showed up in Hawaii when we were there for our 40th...

Hoping y'all have as good a time during the holidays, as I have had lately!!

@CGI_Ram has increased the prize amounts by 4 times. Predict the exact score and win $40,000. ROD Dollars, or ... guess the closest score and take home $20,000. ROD Dollars. Best of Luck Rams Fans ...


Good Guys - 24

Filly's - 14

Less than 2 months ago, the Rams were reportedly working the phones and trying to make another splash move. If the "inside sources" are correct, we offered big packages of draft capital in an attempt to acquire Brian Burns and Christian McCaffrey. If accurate, that clearly indicates that the Rams were prepared to, once again, go "all in" to make a run.

Are they still?

Don't let the record fool you. The Rams are still, at full health, a formidable team. But, as this year has shown, they (even beyond the injury issues) have some areas that need improvement.

So, are the Rams still willing to make bold moves to win now, or will they settle into a more long term approach?

As I mentioned in another thread, I think (and definitely hope) that they will continue to push the envelope to win now. After all, the McVay/Stafford/Donald/Kupp window is likely only going to be open for another 2 to 3 years, tops.

So, if the Rams see it the same way, their premium draft picks (2nd round 2023, 1st round 2024 and beyond) could very well be in play, if the right player is available. Would they also consider the reverse - trading an asset (Ramsey, given his age, is probably the most valuable tradeable asset) to acquire Blue Chip talent in this year's draft?

Everything I'm saying here is pure speculation, but... given the combination of the Rams still playing with "house money" after winning it all last year, and the potentially short term window for the current core, I could see the Rams having a very active and bold offseason.

Now there's something to look forward to!

Mine would be Quality & Durable Offensive Linemen so Matthew Stafford doesn’t get killed next season!!! I am pretty surprised that he is even coming back next season (BRAVE, TOUGH AND VERY LOYAL PLAYER!!!)!

I have always had respect and confidence in Les Snead and greatly appreciate him help building the Rams Super Bowl Team but I can’t understand why improving the Rams Offensive Line has not seemed to be a priority/concern in recent years. I know that injuries have been a factor!

I would also like to see Baker Mayfield on the Rams wish list to backup Stafford!!

And, If Santa is nice hopefully he can consider a few other gifts (OLB, DE, WR, RB, etc) to help improve the Rams roster for next season!!

Super Bowl Winners that have the worst season as defending champs

1981 Raiders (record 7-9)

previous year: won Super Bowl 15 vs Eagles

key starter injuries
NT Reggie Kinlaw - game 1 (season ending)
WR Bob Chandler - game 1
S Mike Davis - game 2
RB van Eeghen - game 3

replaced due to poor play
QB Plunkett
G Gene Upshaw

1980 off rank: points 7th, yards 16th
1980 def rank: points 10th, yards 11th

1981 off rank: points 25th, yards 21st
1981 def rank: points 15th, yards 21st

1981 season low: shutout 3 straight times; outscored 60-0.

-----------------------------------------------

1999 Broncos (record 6-10)

previous year: won Super Bowl 33 vs Falcons

retired: QB Elway

FA starters lost
CB Darrien Gordon: signed by Raiders
S Steve Atwater: signed by Jets
RT Harry Swayne: signed by Ravens

key starter injuries
LB John Mobley - game 2 (season ending)
RB Terrell Davis - game 4 (season ending)
TE Shannon Sharpe - game 5 (season ending)

1998 off rank: points 2nd, yards 3rd
1998 def rank: points 8th, yards 11th

1999 off rank: points 18th, yards 14th
1999 def rank: points 11th, yards 7th

1999 season low: started season 0-4

-----------------------------------------------

2022 Rams (record 4-10)

previous year: won Super Bowl 56 vs Bengals

retired: LT Whitworth, S Weddle

FA starters lost
LB Miller: signed by Bills
CB Darius Williams: signed by Jags
WR Woods: signed by Titans
RB Michel: signed by Chargers
G Corbett: signed by Panthers
P Hekker - signed by Panthers
WR OBJ - injured in prev SB - not re-signing

key injuries
WR Jefferson - missed 1st 6 games
RB Williams - game 1 (missed 6 games)
OL Anchrum - game 2 (season ending)
S Fuller - game 3 (season ending)
CB Hill - game 3 (missed 4 games)
G Edwards - game 4 (season ending)
T Brewer game 4 (season ending)
LT Noteboom - game 6 (season ending)
T A Jackson - game 8 (season ending)
QB Stafford - game 9 (season ending)
WR Kupp - game 9 (season ending)
WR Robinson - game 10 (season ending)
DT Robinson - game 10 (season ending)
DT Donald - game 11 (still out)
C Allen - missed 7 games, (out for year)
WR Skowronek - game 14 (season ending)

2021 off rank: points 7th, yards 9th
2021 def rank: points 15th, yards 17th

2022 off rank: points 31st, yards 32nd
2022 def rank: points 18th, yards 13th

2022 season low: lost 6 straight

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/seattlerams_nfl/status/1606015109817634843?s=20&t=brTCI0lGQs_LA9Amc1v8EA

So I've been a long time user of Word products. Never really considered using anything different, except for my test and evaluation days for govt projects where they made us use the Corel suite. Over time the cost of it has crept up and up to the point where I am now asking myself why I am paying these assclowns a hundred bucks a year when all I really need is editor software for writing projects.

I know some of you here on the site are writers. What do you use? Have you tried any of the "free" editors online? And if so which do you prefer.

All I really need is a txt editor. I don't even care about or use spell check or grammar check or 99% of the bells and whistles they include in Word. But of course Notepad has a size cutoff to ensure you'll need their Word product. Ideal would be something that is free and will remain so, and which will save work in a txt format.

It's -5 F and -35 Windchill in East Central Kansas.....How cold is it where you folks live? I bet @den-the-coach is toasty in upstate New York...

This is my priority list for signing 2023 Rams UFAs (so ERFAs such as Mike Hoecht and Marquise Copeland are not on the list).

I’m considering value, age and anticipated market price in this analysis.

1. Greg Gaines
Easy choice. Gaines is a consistent player who anchors our run defense, which has performed well this year (4th in yards/game and yards/carry allowed). He’s also shown some improvement as a pass rusher (4 sacks). A very successful draft pick for the Rams.

2. Matt Gay
Its easy to take kickers for granted, but you notice when you don’t have a solid player at the position. Gay has been consistent and has a strong leg. At 28, he’s got plenty of good years left. Don’t want another parade of kicking candidates.

3. Baker Mayfield
There are a lot of caveats here. Bringing Mayfield back only makes sense if (1) he’s willing to take a back-up role, and (2) he’s willing to take back-up money. He might have better options, but if not, I think he could become a better QB working with Sean McVay for a while.

4. Nick Scott
Scott is a solid player who will likely be very affordable. I’m certainly hoping that others (Russ Yeast, Quentin Lake) push him to a nickel/dime role in the future, but he’s a guy I think is worth keeping in the meantime.

5. David Edwards
Edwards did not play well before his concussions, and there is a medical question that must be answered before any decision is made about his future. If, however, he’s projected to be ready to go next year, I would not be so quick to jettison him. Again, price is a big factor. If he’s willing to take a modest contract to compete for a role (potentially a back-up), I’d welcome him back. After all, he was a starter on a championship team a year ago.

6. A’Shawn Robinson
Robinson was a beast in the Super Bowl last year, and I’d really like him back, but I’m not sure we can afford to pay him and Gaines. From a health standpoint, his torn meniscus should not hinder his free agency prospects, so he may command a significant price. If his market is not so strong, though, I’d keep his number on speed dial.

GROUP MAYBE (i.e. sign them only if they’re willing to take minimal deals): Taylor Rapp, Troy Hill, Malcolm Brown, Brandon Powell, Oday Aboushi

GROUP SEE-YA (seen enough, time to move on): Bobby Evans, Matt Skura, Riley Dixon, David Long, Ty Nsekhe

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets: AFC Teams' Postseason Hopes on the Line for TNF​

With their playoff hopes nearly on life support, the New York Jets will look to get their first win in almost a month when they host the surging Jacksonville Jaguars for "Thursday Night Football."

This is a critical game for both teams. The Jets (7-7) have lost three straight and five of their last seven to leave their playoff chances hanging by a thread. Last Sunday, New York led Detroit 17-13 with less than five minutes to play but the Lions connected on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to tight end Brock Wright on fourth down right after the two-minute warning. The Jets got the ball back and gave Greg Zuerlein a chance to tie with a 58-yard field goal attempt but his kick sailed wide left as time expired.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville (6-8) has won two in a row and three of its last four to climb to within a game of first-place Tennesee in the AFC South. The Jaguars rallied from a 17-point third-quarter deficit at home to Dallas last week before winning the game in overtime on a Rayshawn Jenkins pick-six.

Thursday will mark the 16th meeting between the Jaguars and the Jets. Jacksonville holds a slight 8-7 advantage in the series.

Thursday Night Football: Jacksonville (6-8) at New York (7-7)

When: Thursday, Dec. 22 at 8:15 p.m. ET
Broadcast Outlet: Prime Video
Live Stream: fuboTV (only available in New York and Jacksonville
markets)
Spread: Jets -1
Tickets: As low as $28 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Zach back under center

On Tuesday, Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced Zach Wilson would start for the second consecutive week. Mike White, who replaced Wilson when he was benched three weeks ago, has not been cleared for contact. White injured his ribs two weeks ago in the eight-point loss to the Bills.

There was some good and some bad with Wilson's performance against the Lions. The good was he went 8-for-15 for 185 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The bad was Wilson's second-half performance as he missed receivers and threw a bad interception which later turned out to be a big difference in the game.

Wilson did make some throws that showed people why he was selected No. 2 overall in the 2021 draft. But consistency has always been a huge problem with him.

"The frustrating thing is that this kid's going to be a good quarterback," Saleh said. "The NFL and this new instant coffee world that we're in just does not want to give people time.

"So, we look at him, and he is just nitpicked with a fine-tooth comb, everything he does, and rightfully so. It is what it is. He did a lot of really good things, so we're going to try our best to focus on the things he did good and make sure that we kind of bring that to life, and we'll continue to work on the things he needs to improve on."

2. Lawrence and the Jaguars' offense clicking on all cylinders

Trevor Lawrence, who was chosen a pick ahead of Wilson in the same draft, has been playing out of his mind recently. In his last six games, Lawrence has thrown for 1,680 yards and 14 touchdowns with just one interception.

Lawrence's play, along with the rest of the Jaguars' offense, has helped them go from one of the worst teams in the AFC to a playoff contender.

We've always believed in Trevor," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said. "It was never like that because we were all struggling; offense, defense, I think we all struggled at our moments.

"We couldn't blame one person for the mistake, so we knew that Trevor Lawrence is Trevor Lawrence. We knew what type of player he is, he just had to find his groove. He found his groove, and this is the Trevor Lawrence that we knew we all had."

3. Jets' defense vs. Jaguars' offensive line

New York has been stout on D all season long. The Jets currently rank third in yards allowed per game (305.4) and fourth in points (18.8).

However, a defensive breakdown contributed to what turned out to be the game-winning, 51-yard touchdown pass to Brock Wright on fourth down in last week's close loss to the Lions. New York also could get a boost if defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is able to return. He injured his calf two weeks ago against the Bills and missed last week's game. His absence was felt as the Jets gave up 359 total yards (107 rushing) and didn't sack Jared Goff.

Jacksonville has allowed the fifth-fewest sacks this season (24). Williams leads New York and is tied for seventh in the NFL with 11 sacks. As a team, the Jets are tied for seventh in the league with 39 sacks.

Final Analysis

Thursday is a make-or-break situation for the Jets, as they need a win in the worst way. It will have to come against one of the hottest teams in the league as Jacksonville also has a lot to play for.

It's going to come down to if the Jets can run the football effectively. The Jets averaged 166 rushing yards in their last two wins. During their three-game losing streak, the Jets are averaging half that (82) on the ground.

The pressure will be on Wilson, but the Jets must find ways to take the pressure off of him. If not, this could be another heartbreaking outcome for a team that started 5-2 and showed so much promise.

Prediction: Jaguars 24, Jets 20

So it sounds like this guy funds his football tix by robbing banks....?!?! Crazy story.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nf...sedgntp&cvid=31f3fad80ec845838f870e1cb03785ad

Basically, Hillman is in hospice care for a severe kidney cancer that affects black males who have sickle cell traits. Prognosis is poor, and likely means that there's not much time left to live.

I remember this kid facing Mizzou when he was at San Diego State. He killed us running the football, and we were a pretty good team. I told my dad, "He's (Hillman's) going to be an NFL player," and I was right.

I feel for his family and his teammates, and although the prognosis doesn't look good, I hope he beats it.

He was a 70's icon, playing for the Steelers. His most memorable play was the Immaculate Reception, which I saw in a barber's chair at Harvs Barber Shop in Whittier, CA. I was 8 years old and it was a dramatic play by Harris in the playoffs, before their string of 4 Super Bowls. It was such an amazing thing when I was young.
RIP, Franco Harris