Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: AFC East's Top Teams Meet Again​

The Miami Dolphins will head north for the final game of their three-game road trip where they'll meet the Buffalo Bills, who not only lead the AFC East but also enter Week 15 as the top team in the conference. Buffalo looks to use the momentum from its four-game winning streak to bounce back from its Week 3 loss against Miami, the Dolphins' first win over their division rival since 2018.

These two division foes find themselves trending in opposite directions going into this week. The Dolphins (8-5) lost their second straight road game after a stretch of five consecutive wins, falling 23-17 to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. Miami trailed 17-7 going into halftime and was unable to complete the comeback as the offense mustered just 219 total yards all night, the Dolphins' second-lowest output of the season … better only than their Week 3 showing (212 total yards) against these Bills.

Buffalo (10-3), meanwhile, overcame some inclement weather in Orchard Park last week to come out with a 20-12 win against the New York Jets and extend its own run. A game that started with 10 straight punts followed by the only scoring drive of the first half — capped off by Josh Allen finding Dawson Knox for a 24-yard touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter — saw the Bills force a pair of second-half fumbles and hold the Jets to just five fourth-quarter points to prevent a comeback of their own.

This current winning streak is actually not the first of its kind in 2022 for Buffalo. The Bills rebounded from that Week 3 two-point loss in Miami with four consecutive wins, and — after a pair of three-point losses — their position atop the AFC heading into Week 15 has been fueled by another four-game winning streak, with three of those last four wins coming by one possession.

Speaking of that tense 21-19 Week 3 clash, a win this week for Miami would all but mirror a sequence hardly seen in the last dozen seasons. Miami hasn't collected consecutive wins against Buffalo since sweeping the two meetings in 2016 — which also saw a one-possession Dolphins win in Miami followed by the second win in Orchard Park — and such a pair of consecutive wins would mark just the third such stretch for the Dolphins since 2011.

Miami (8-5) at Buffalo (10-3)

Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 17, at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Bills -7
Tickets: As low as $118 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Who will be Josh Allen's top receiver?

Diversifying the targets in the passing game is often a smart approach, and Buffalo has done just that during its current four-game winning streak. Diggs led the way in five of the first six wins, while the Bills' last four wins have seen three different leading receivers. In wins over the Browns, Lions, Patriots, and Jets, the Bills have been led by Knox, Isaiah McKenzie, and Stefon Diggs, with Knox (Browns, Jets) the only receiver to repeat atop the yardage totals for Buffalo during the most recent streak.

And when looking at targets instead of simply yardage totals, the production becomes even more spread out. Five different Bills have been among Allen's top three targets during these last four wins, with Diggs among the top three in each of the four wins while Knox, McKenzie, James Cook, and Gabe Davis each did so twice. Allen's ability to spread the ball around and keep defenses on their heels with where he'll be going next has been a primary driver of the offense's success in these recent wins, and it will likely be a key factor for Buffalo to keep it going.

2. Can Tyreek Hill help Miami's offense bounce back?

Buffalo's defense has been one of the league's best all season, keeping 12 of 13 opponents under 30 points and allowing just 17 points per game in 2022 (second in the NFL). Going up against that stingy of a unit won't make it any easier for Miami's offense to rebound from being largely invisible in Week 14 when the Dolphins rushed for only 92 yards and Tua Tagovailoa completed just 10 of his 28 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.

Both of Miami's touchdowns on Sunday — the 60-yard pass from Tagovailoa and a fumble recovered on a Jeff Wilson Jr. carry — came via the speed and playmaking ability of Hill, a key factor in any hopes that the Dolphins' offense has of rebounding from last Sunday's output. In five previous meetings while Hill was with Kansas City, Buffalo largely kept him under wraps in the regular season, when he caught 19 of 31 targets for a total of 157 yards and no touchdowns. In two playoff games against Buffalo, however, Hill has brought in 20 of 24 targets for 322 yards and a touchdown, chalking up more than 16 yards per reception across those two games. That's the kind of performance that Miami will look to get out of Hill on Saturday night, as Hill managed just 33 yards on a pair of receptions in Week 3 and will aim to break free from the regular-season struggles against Buffalo that have persisted throughout his career.

3. Will the Dolphins' defense continue to struggle on the road?

Miami has allowed the fifth-most points among AFC teams in 2022, and a large part of the defense's inability to keep opponents off the scoreboard has come away from Hard Rock Stadium. Miami is just 3-4 on the road this season, and the Dolphins have allowed more than 31 points per game in those seven road games.

But the Dolphins' defense kept Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers to just 23 points last Sunday — their fewest points allowed on the road so far this season — with just six points yielded in the second half on a pair of field goals. While the Chargers posted 432 total yards on Sunday, the Dolphins' ability to limit their scoring opportunities presents a positive outlook on what's to come. And Buffalo has only surpassed 30 points once in its last four home games, so if Miami can mirror last week's performance against Los Angeles, then the Dolphins could be showing signs of a step in the right direction entering the final weeks of the regular season.

Final Analysis

Buffalo more than doubled Miami's production in Week 3 even though the Dolphins ultimately came out on top, a theme that has been common for both teams as of late. While Miami enters this week still firmly in the playoff picture, Buffalo's balanced success on both offense and defense just presents too big of a challenge for the Dolphins to overcome this week.

Prediction: Bills 31, Dolphins 20

Baltimore vs. Cleveland: Ravens Look to Maintain Lead in AFC North With Sweep of the Browns​

The Baltimore Ravens will face the Cleveland Browns Saturday without the lynchpin of their offensive scheme. Lamar Jackson, who has been held out of practice while nursing a knee injury, was ruled out on Thursday. The general consensus is it'll be another 1-2 weeks before Jackson returns to the field.

The problem for the Ravens (9-4) is that backup quarterback, Tyler Huntley, doesn't exactly have a clean bill of health either. Huntley has been limited in practice after leaving Sunday's game with a concussion; leaving third-stringer Anthony Brown to finish out a gritty 16-14 win against the Steelers. The good news is that Huntley has cleared concussion protocol and doesn't carry an injury designation for Saturday's game.

As for last week, the Ravens' defense came up big, forcing Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky into three interceptions, and is poised for another exceptional effort against a Browns team trying to find itself. Two games into the Deshaun Watson era, the team has posted just one offensive touchdown, their former Pro Bowl quarterback rusty after nearly two years away from the NFL.

What people might not realize is the Browns were a top-10 NFL offense without Watson, relying heavily on the running game of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Can they find the magic potion that works with a QB who's also a game-changer with his legs? At 5-8, they must win out the rest of the way to have any faint hopes of a playoff spot.

The Ravens are easily the most formidable challenge left in their way. Can Baltimore find another way to cobble together a win without their leader? Or will the Browns finally begin to build around Watson under center?

Baltimore (9-4) at Cleveland (5-8)

Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 17 at 4:30 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Browns -2.5
Tickets: As low as $10 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Can Deshaun Watson settle in?

Much has been written this week about how difficult Watson's transition back into NFL playing shape has been. While just a two-game sample size, his 59.4 percent completion rate is well below his career average of 67.5. Throws have been hitting the turf far more than they should, and Watson's last three possessions in the Bengals game were not what the Browns paid for: interception, going 0-for-3 to blow a first-and-goal, then three straight incompletions to basically end the game.

It doesn't get any easier against a Ravens defense that's been feasting on turnovers. The team's 23 takeaways are the most in the AFC, along with a plus-nine turnover margin that stifles opposing offenses.

Watson's already faced this Baltimore defense twice in his career, with disappointing results: only one touchdown, two interceptions, and losses by a combined score of 74-23. That doesn't exactly inspire confidence this weekend is the one that turns it around.

2. Ravens' defense vs. Browns' run game

The Ravens aren't just focused on Watson this Saturday. They're well aware it's the "run game" that has them jazzed up to face the challenge of Nick Chubb.

The Browns' top offensive producer ranks third in the AFC with 1,153 rushing yards. But what's interesting is he's been less of a focus since Watson got added to the offense: only 31 carries for 114 yards (3.7 ypc) with no touchdowns. The Bengals were able to focus effectively on the run, holding the Browns to just 71 net yards on the ground (one off their season low) while forcing Watson to beat them.

News flash: he didn't.

That's where the Ravens' defense is hoping to cash in; they're ranked second overall against the run (81.2 ypg) and holding opposing offenses to 3.78 yards per carry. They haven't allowed more than 100 rushing yards in six straight games, holding opponents to 53.2 during that stretch.

Who was the last team to break through? The Browns, who ran for 113 yards while Chubb burned the Ravens for 91 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries back in Week 7. He'll need a similar effort for Cleveland to get over the hump.

3. Who can make a play on the Ravens' offense?

Looking back at that Oct. 23 matchup, Jackson actually had his worst game of the season, posting just nine completions for 120 yards. It was the Ravens' rushing attack that bailed them out, Gus Edwards posting a season-high two touchdowns and 66 yards.

This time, Edwards has a very important sidekick in the backfield: J.K. Dobbins, back after knee surgery left him on injured reserve for seven weeks. He made a splash against the Steelers, putting the hobbled Ravens offense on his back to pile up 120 yards on just 15 carries, including a touchdown that proved to be the difference.

And Dobbins doesn't even believe he's back at 100 percent, still recuperating from a torn ACL and LCL that left him initially out of football for over a year.

“I'm still not in the shape that I need to be in,” he said after that Steelers game, referencing a play where he got caught in the backfield instead of scoring. “So, I'm pretty upset about that. But it's only going to keep getting better.”

For the Ravens, getting better is a must. Dobbins needs to assume a role in the next two weeks not unlike what All-Pro running back Johnathan Taylor of the Colts had when carrying that team to the playoffs last year. Expect Dobbins to have a big day against a Browns defense that's allowed an average of 136 rushing yards per game the last five weeks.

Final Analysis

Expect the Browns to give it their all at home, entering desperation mode after they thought Watson could still propel them straight into the playoffs. But while they'll keep it close, Watson will remind everyone he's not back to 100 percent with a few key mistakes that'll allow the Ravens' defense to take control of this game.

Let's not forget the wild card Baltimore also has with kicker Justin Tucker, good for another field goal or two compared to most offenses. The Ravens have made a habit of winning by doing just enough and the Browns shouldn't stand in their way Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: Ravens 20, Browns 17

Indianapolis vs. Minnesota: Vikings Look to Clinch NFC North With Win over the Colts​

The Minnesota Vikings may be tied for the second-best record in the NFL, but they've been doubted all year. An embarrassing 34-23 loss to the Lions last week won't help, as it actually dropped their point differential to negative (-1).

The good news: Minnesota (10-3) will have a chance to redeem itself in a rare Saturday afternoon game when it hosts the reeling Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1), losers of three straight under interim head coach Jeff Saturday.

Beat the Colts won't exactly be a signature win. But any win will be monumental at this point, with the 49ers breathing down the Vikings' necks for the NFC's No. 2 seed.

Indianapolis is coming off a bye, which has given the team an extra week to prepare — and stew on a 54-19 loss to the Cowboys in Week 13. They became just the third NFL team to give up 33 points in a single quarter when Dallas ran away with it in the fourth.

That the Vikings are only favored by four points in this game despite having six more wins says a lot about how NFL fans perceive this team. Can Minnesota put itself back in the discussion as a playoff heavyweight? Or will it drop another disappointing game to a team with a losing record?

Indianapolis (4-8-1) at Minnesota (10-3)

Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Vikings -4
Tickets: As low as $77 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Minnesota passing game: Unstoppable force vs. immovable object

Perhaps unstoppable force is a bit strong, especially considering the Vikings were held under 160 passing yards in two of their last four games. But the Vikings do rank eighth in passing offense and will make for a fascinating matchup against a Colts' defense that's ranked third against the pass. Indianapolis has held seven of its last nine opponents under 175 passing yards.

Justin Jefferson has emerged as perhaps the best receiver in the league, and he's only 23. He leads the NFL with 1,500 receiving yards — 465 off Calvin Johnson's single-season record — and is one behind Tyreek Hill at 99 receptions. However, this could be his biggest challenge yet this season.

The Colts have only allowed two opponents to reach even 90 yards (Davante Adams, 126; Terry McLaurin, 113), and no one has reached double-digit receptions. Stephon Gilmore has re-emerged as one of the best corners in the league and may spend much of the game on Jefferson. Among 263 qualified defenders, he has the 15th-lowest passer rating allowed (63.4) and 37th-lowest completion rate allowed (55.6 percent).

If Indianapolis is able to slow Jefferson down, look for Kirk Cousins to check the ball down more. Dalvin Cook could become more active in the passing game, since the Colts have given up the seventh-most receptions to running backs this season (74), and slot corner Kenny Moore II's continued absence would be good news for K.J. Osborn and T.J. Hockenson.

2. Indianapolis passing game: Stoppable force vs. moveable object

The other passing attack will be fascinating to watch — it could get ugly in either direction. The Vikings have given up more than 300 passing yards in each of the last five games, while Matt Ryan is averaging just 216.8 in his four games since reclaiming the starting job under Jeff Saturday.

At 37, Ryan may be playing for his job at this point. Rumors are swirling about a potential retirement, and this is one of the best chances he'll have left to show off. Teams have feasted on the Vikings' last-ranked defense by picking up yards after the completion — the 1,763 they've allowed is second only to Arizona. And given Ryan's minuscule average intended air yards per attempt (5.9, last in the NFL), quick passes in space may well be a recipe for success.

Getting All-Pro safety Harrison Smith back will be a huge boon to the Vikings. But Minnesota needs to show life not only for this game but for the near future. If it can't put up a decent performance against a passing attack that ranks 29th in net yards per attempt (5.4), what hope will it have in the playoffs when it faces actually good passing attacks?

3. Will turnover luck continue?

These teams are quite opposite in many ways — bizarrely, except having weak rushing numbers despite having Pro Bowl running backs — including in the turnover department.

The Vikings have such a strong record despite being outscored because of success (or luck) in one-score games. But they've only kept their point differential to minus-one despite being outgained by 61.7 yards per game because of turnovers. The Vikings are tied for eighth with 20 takeaways and tied for six with just 14 giveaways. They've only lost the turnover battle four times this season, and, you guessed it, they have a 1-3 record in those games.

Indianapolis has been far more generous in that department. The Colts' 26 turnovers are four more than any other team, and only two teams have fewer than their 12 takeaways. The Colts appear outmatched in most departments in this game, but if they can steal a possession or two from the Vikings, that could be enough to turn the tide.

Final Analysis

The Vikings certainly aren't as good as their record would indicate. But the Colts are quite a weak opponent — second-worst in the league, according to DVOA. Minnesota should be good enough to win solidly at home and prepare for the home stretch with an extra day of rest. But if the Vikings have much trouble against this putrid offense, it spells disaster even if they limp into the playoffs.

Prediction: Vikings 27, Colts 19

It's been a rough season. Injuries have decimated our team and the 2022 season. My main hope is that the whiners lose in the playoffs (I hate them in case you didn't notice). The season is not yet over, but let's look at the positives for next season, assuming we don't somehow make the playoffs and win Super Bowl 57.

Skowronek is getting better and looks like he could be a major contributor with his size and catch range. Tutu looks like he can stretch the defense and make some plays down the field. Powell can contribute more than as a returner. Baker is a overall #1 pick that we got for nothing. If McVay can tap his potential, we might have Stafford's replacement pretty cheap. The whiners spend most of their draft capital on Trey Lance and CMC and their cupboard is bare next season and beyond. If they don't win it this season, they'll be screwed by the cap.

The bad season allows us to rest key players now like Stafford, AD, Cooper and some others. We can start to jettison the players who might not be around next season to save cap space.

Now I'm not in anyway saying I'm happy with how this season played out but maybe we draft at #12 for example, we might get some decent chances to draft areas of need. along with free agency with the player friendly culture that McSnead has created.

The Rams reload, not rebuild.

If Detroit loses as well , do we see Kupp and Donald on Monday?

Rams can make the playoffs still and with a win, they would be 2.5 games out from the Commodes/Giants for the last spot.

Now it sounds crazy but Seattle has KC, NYJ, and us to end the season.

The Giants have to play the Vikings and the Eagles.

The Commodes have to play the Niners and Cowboys

Lions still have the Bears, Packers, and Jets.

Can it happen? Rams at 8-9 over Seattle at 7-10 and the loser of Sunday night at 7-9-1.

A win Monday keeps the Rams alive another week regardless of the other games this week but the week after is where luck is needed but with a win there and against Denver and the Chargers, there's a chance for a "win and you're in" Week 18 Sunday night game in Seattle.

That’s sort of a “trick question” in the sense he’s just 9 catches away from his second best year. I was surprised by that.

Receiving yards… he is on track for his 3rd best year.

Maybe my perception (of a down season) has been thrown off by the untimely drops? But, he’s pretty much on par with what he has been. At least statistically.

One thing that does jump out is his catch to target ratio is low.

I believe Higbee is solid in his assignments such as blocking etc. He plays the role McVay needs well. But, I can’t help but wonder what our offense would look like with a Kelsey or Kittle. A true receiving threat.

Is that a Higbee thing, or McVay use of the TE in the passing game thing?

.

how is mcvay getting inside goff's earpiece in his helmet to tell him where to throw the ball?

he truly is a genius. maybe fox sports can let us know.

.

It is going to be cold!

Share pics @AvengerRam. Anyone else going?

GO RAMS!

San Francisco vs. Seattle: Red-Hot 49ers Go for Season Sweep of Seahawks on TNF​

"Thursday Night Football" heads to the home of Amazon, its broadcast home, as the San Francisco 49ers pay a visit to Lumen Field to battle the Seattle Seahawks for the second time this season. The 49ers dominated the first meeting, winning 27-7 at home in Week 2, preventing the Seahawks from scoring an offensive touchdown.

San Francisco (9-4) has not missed a beat without injured quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, as Brock Purdy was impressive in his first start, leading the 49ers to a dominating 35-7 win over Tampa Bay at Levi's Stadium last Sunday. Purdy completed 16 of 21 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Christian McCaffrey added 119 rushing yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries as San Francisco dominated both sides of the line of the scrimmage. The No. 1-ranked defense also did its part in ruining Tom Brady's NorCal homecoming, intercepting him twice and forcing him to settle for short completions (253 yards on 34-of-55 passing). Tampa managed just 69 yards on the ground (on 19 attempts) and went 4-for-16 on third down.

Meanwhile, Seattle (7-6) was caught looking ahead to Thursday night's NFC West showdown and fell behind Carolina 17-0 last Sunday, which proved to be too big of a hole to dig out of. The Panthers pulled off the 30-24 road upset as Geno Smith went 21-of-36 for 264 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. The lack of backfield depth certainly was a factor with Kenneth Walker III and DeeJay Dallas both sidelined due to injuries. As a result, the Seahawks were outgained 223 to 46 on the ground alone. On the other side of the ball, the defense greatly missed defensive linemen Shelby Harris (illness) and Al Woods (heel) as Carolina ran the ball 46 times, collected 24 first downs, and dominated time of possession (39:16 to 20:44). Seattle has lost three of its last four and is on the outside looking in at the playoffs.

A win by San Francisco on Thursday night would pretty much secure the NFC West for the 49ers, as their three-game lead over Seattle would actually be larger due to picking up the season sweep and tiebreaker.

Thursday Night Football: San Francisco (9-4) at Seattle (7-6)

Kickoff: Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8:15 p.m. ET
Broadcast Outlet: Prime Video
Live Stream: fuboTV (only available in San Francisco and Seattle markets)
Spread: 49ers -3.5
Tickets: As low as $156 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. How will Kyle Shanahan handle Brock Purdy's first road game?

Purdy has not looked the part of Mr. Irrelevant since taking over Garoppolo. In the last two games, he's completed 71 percent of his passes for 395 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. He's also scored once on the ground. However, both of those games were at home, and this first road test comes in one of the NFL's most raucous environments, Lumen Field. Purdy also suffered an injury last Sunday early in the game, although he was able to play through it. He's considered day-to-day with a rib and oblique injury, but the expectation is that he will be able to play on Thursday night. Between the injury and the crowd noise, don't be surprised if head coach Kyle Shanahan plays conservatively, at least to start, and puts more of the workload on McCaffrey. The 49ers averaged nearly six yards per carry last week against Tampa Bay, and Seattle has had even more trouble stopping the run (160.5 ypg, 31st in the NFL). Success in the running game will set up Purdy to spread the ball around to wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle, who will have bigger roles with Deebo Samuel now out for the foreseeable future. The versatile and dynamic Samuel suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and a sprained left ankle last Sunday.

2. Can the Seahawks' offense rise to the occasion against the 49ers' defense?

Smith is facing his biggest challenge of the season as Seattle has its backs against the wall after losing three of the last four games. Smith has been a great story so far in 2022, but he'll need to put forth one of his best efforts to help lead the Seahawks to a win against the NFL's No. 1 defense. It would be a huge help if Walker can return. The leading rusher (649 yds., 9 TDs) missed last week's game because of an ankle injury, but the team is hopeful he may be able to play on Thursday. Right now, opposing defenses don’t have much of a reason to respect the running game, which allows pass rushers to tee off on young tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. And not only does San Francisco boast the league's top rushing defense (75.1 ypg, 3.4 ypc), but the 49ers also feature a productive pass rush that's headlined by Nick Bosa, who is tied for the league lead in sacks with 14.5 (with New England's Matthew Judon). Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans' game plan won't be complicated, but if the line can hold up long enough to give Smith time to throw, he may be able to hook up with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf downfield. The 49ers are giving up 212 passing yards per game but have more interceptions (14) than touchdown passes allowed (12), so Smith needs to be sure when he lets it go. Lockett also is trying to extend his franchise record for consecutive games with a touchdown catch, which currently stands at six.

3. Seahawks' defense

The scenario this week is one of a wounded animal with this Seattle defense, which simply hasn’t done much stopping the run this season. Opposing teams have rushed for at least 161 yards in the last four games, and two teams have gone over 200 yards against them. You know that the Seahawks will surrender some yards on the ground this week, so the key for the defense is to limit the explosive run that can flip field position on a dime. Pressuring Purdy when he does throw the football is also a necessity this week. They must get him off his spot and not allow him to comfortably throw the ball wherever he wants without any consistent pressure on him. There's a chance Seattle could get Harris or Woods, or possibly even both, back in the lineup on Thursday night, which would be a huge boost to the defensive line.

Final Analysis

Divisional games are always unpredictable to some extent, as both teams know each other very well. Because neither team will have much time to implement a lot of changes during the short week, they will stick to what they do best. Look for the Seahawks to come out early with a better level of energy and focus as their season is on the line. San Francisco will need to withstand that early surge and then settle into its game plan on both sides of the ball. It will take a little bit of time, but in the end, the 49ers will pull away in the second half for a comfortable win on Thursday night, all but sewing up the NFC West in the process.

Prediction: 49ers 24, Seahawks 13

Looking at a few stats online and I noticed that Bobby Wagner is only 8 Tackles away from moving up to number 9 on the NFL All Time Tackle Leaders.

The season has been a dumpster fire with injures and all the craziness going on.

It's pretty awesome that Bobby Wagner will reach a career milestone this year with the Rams
Guy has shown heart and tenacity all year.

Just like to see a small silver lining in our season this year.

Extend or walkaway: Rams must choose between Greg Gaines, A’Shawn Robinson in 2023​

Both stand-out defensive tackles are slated for free agency after the season

By JB Scott Dec 14, 2022, 12:15pm CST


While the 2022 season has overall been a disappointment for the Los Angeles Rams, one of the bright spots on team has been its stellar run defense.

Last year’s free agent addition at linebacker, Bobby Wagner, has played a significant role in shoring up the middle of the Los Angeles defense, but tackles Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson also excel in this facet. Gaines was a fourth round selection by the Rams in the 2019 NFL Draft and Robinson joined the team via free agency from the Detroit Lions ahead of the 2020 season. Both have performed well over the last two years and are slated for unrestricted free agency at the season’s conclusion.

The Rams likely want to retain the services of the stand-out players, but with limited salary cap resources it’s almost impossible to see them keeping both individuals. LA is probably headed towards a choice of one of the other - should they re-sign Gaines or Robinson?

Robinson’s season-ending injury certainly complicates the decision. He was ruled out for the remainder of the year after the Week 11 game versus the New Orleans Saints. Assuming he’s fully recovered from the injury by the time he hits the open market, it’s reasonable to expect Robinson to command a higher price tag than Gaines. Robinson is just 27 years old despite having six years of NFL experience, and he’s considered one of the best run-stopping defensive tackles in the league as a former second round pick.
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That’s not to say that Gaines is a slouch - he adds more juice as a passer rusher and has elite movement skills considering his 6-2, 315lbs frame. General manager Les Snead anointed Gaines as a starting level player almost immediately after the 2019 draft, but it took the tackle almost two full years before he became a regular starter along the defensive line.
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The Rams could potentially decide to not re-sign either player, and instead recoup compensatory draft picks ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. LA would have Bobby Brown, Jonah Williams, Marquise Copeland, Earnest Brown, and recent waiver claim Larrell Murchison as possible internal replacements - they could also look for outside help at the position.

We didn't like it when the Rams didn't re-sign OBJ... but it looks like the Rams were right.
While we don't have all the facts, it seems fairly clear that OBJ was never going to be a factor in this year's regular season, but he wanted to be paid as if he was going to contribute immediately. So, all that talk about OJB wanting to return and loving it in L.A., and the implication that our front office was taking too hard a line... maybe just spin, huh? I don't know that the story is over. Perhaps, this offseason, when OBJ can present as a guy who will be ready to go on day 1, the Rams might get back into the discussion. I'm not going to say whether we should do so at this point. I will say, though, that the Rams were right to wait.

We didn't like it when Von Miller signed with Buffalo... but it looks like the Rams were right.
Before anyone says "there was no way to know he'd get injured"... I know that, and its not my point. My point here is that the Rams were right when they decided that they were not going to re-sign Miller AT ANY COST. The Bills, who viewed him as the final piece for their title run, absolutely overpaid him given his age. The fact that he is now likely out until, at best, late 2023, only hammers home the point. If was 27, you'd still expect to get him back at 100% some day. At 33... perhaps not. There was a big number that the Rams were willing to pay, and I would have been fine if they had. But not a blank check.

We didn't like it when the Rams drafted Tutu Atwell... but the Rams were right (sort of).
No, I'm not going to defend WHEN Atwell was taken (probably a round too soon). And no, I'm not going to address who we could have had instead (there were better options). I will, however, defend the selection against those who have suggested that Atwell is not an NFL player. He is. In the last four weeks, he's had 10 receptions, 181 yards and a TD. He's also gotten behind the defense consistently, drawing a key PI last week. He's fast. He's got good hands. Can he hold up for a full season of use? Who knows? Jacob Harris apparently can't, and he's 6'5, 211. So, ignoring the price paid and opportunities foregone, I feel like I can say that the Rams have an asset in Atwell. That was not always a given.

Cowboys, Giants backed off Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency because he misread his 'worth'​

Charles Robinson
·NFL columnist
Tue, December 13, 2022 at 6:45 PM


In early October, when Odell Beckham Jr. was no longer in the mood to be cryptic about his disappointment with the Los Angeles Rams and their “lowest of lows” contract offer for 2022, a source from the team posed a question that resonates louder than ever this month. At the time, Beckham was still months from being viable on the football field due to a torn ACL last season, but the Rams were doing their best to stay in his good graces.
Then Beckham tweeted Oct. 12 that the Rams didn’t offer him “ANYthing” and that while the free-agent wideout knew his “worth,” the deal offered by the Rams “isn’t reflective of that.”

“What is his worth, and who is offering it to him?” a Rams source asked a few days after the Beckham tweet. “That’s everyone’s market, right?”
The source added that they weren’t trying to be dismissive and reiterated that the Rams wanted a reunion with Beckham after he helped win the Super Bowl in February. But they also expressed a caveat that three members of the Rams' braintrust offered when I visited training camp in August: Beckham wouldn’t be ready to play until late in the season. By then, circumstances could've changed for both sides.
In regard to the Rams, that was exactly right. Seemingly everything has gone wrong this season, knocking the team out of postseason contention and making a Beckham pursuit a moot point.
But for Beckham?

Free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has visited with multiple teams this season, but a deal has yet to materialize. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The circumstances surrounding his contract expectations are still pretty familiar. He believes he knows his worth. And as of Dec. 13 — two months since his complaints about the Rams — Beckham doesn’t have an NFL team willing to give it to him. Not the Dallas Cowboys. Not the New York Giants. Not the Buffalo Bills. And not any of the other Super Bowl contenders that could've lined up visits with him this week but curiously haven’t tried.
All of which makes a multitude of teams wrong about Beckham's worth, unless maybe he’s sailing with a free-agency map that’s upside down.
To underline that reality, let’s consider a line from from one of the founding fathers of day-trading, Jesse Livermore. As the 1900s stock market savant once framed it, “Markets are never wrong. Opinions often are.”
In this case, Beckham's opinion of his worth is demonstrably wrong. If it weren't, he’d be on an NFL roster right now. Instead, veteran players such as T.Y. Hilton and Cole Beasley have signed with the Cowboys and Bills, respectively. Meanwhile, nobody in the NFL seems entirely sure what Beckham looks like running around on a field after his second ACL surgery because he declined to work out on any of his free-agency visits earlier this month.
While they might not be in a hurry to say so publicly, that was a problem for the teams that were most eager to sign him. Meanwhile, Hilton worked out for Dallas on Monday morning and had a contract by the afternoon. And Beasley agreed to sign a practice squad deal that could very well make him a week-to-week roster decision for the team.
All of this comes just days after Beckham said publicly that he didn’t see the point of playing in the regular season. Which, if we’re being real here, is in the same zip code as a team not seeing the point of signing a player who doesn’t want to play in the regular season.
Different opinions. Different decisions. Beckham remains unsigned. Hilton and Beasley do not. That’s the market speaking.
Of course, it’s not like this is all because of a workout issue. Beckham does not want a short-term deal like the one he signed with the Rams last offseason. He made a bet on himself in 2021 that he wouldn’t get injured, and he lost. It’s understandable that he doesn’t want to make that bet again.
Instead, he went into last offseason wanting security. A one-year deal wasn’t going to entice him, especially not when it would give him only a sink-or-swim window of a few games — which might be just enough for him to get injured again but not quite enough to ramp up his free-agent market.

It was clear from talking to the Rams in the preseason that Beckham was looking for a long-term deal. He wanted something substantial from the team, given that he’d helped them win a Super Bowl. He expected some loyalty in return. When that didn’t happen, he was upset. But his contract attitude hadn’t changed. If he was going to sign somewhere, it was going to be for some long-term security, and it was going to be for the kind of money that made him — at worst — a mid-level No. 1 wideout in terms of salary.

What teams have in mind for Beckham is something different. In fact, the Cowboys just showcased roughly what Beckham would've been looking at in terms of contract structure with the team. Hilton got $600,000 for the remaining four games this season and will get $50,000 bonuses for each of those games that he's on the team’s active roster. Aside from that, he can land as much as $700,000 in postseason incentives.

A team source told Yahoo Sports that the Cowboys were prepared to offer Beckham more money than that if a deal had been discussed. However, it would've been heavily incentivized and short-term in nature. Unfortunately for Dallas, that’s the kind of structure Beckham isn't interested in. It might be the market, but it’s still not the market inside Beckham’s head.

At some point, one side has to give here. And time is getting extremely short. Either Beckham is going to step closer to a team’s short-term outlook, or a franchise is going to lean into the wideout’s long-term hopes.

As of Tuesday night, significant compromise appears dead. And until something changes, that’s the best way to describe the status of Beckham's 2022 season.

Haven't seen this linked here yet unless I missed it. It was on NFL Network back on Sep 7, which I don't have. Been checking youtube where they have all the other AGs with the more recent 2020 Bucs. Heard the 2021 Rams AG keeps getting taken down from YT for copyright. Huh? Tried googling, where I usually find streams of almost everything. Only found trailers and a few pieces of it. Anyone have it in it's entirety?

Sad, surprising news.

Figured it was notable enough to post it in the main forum. Mods, feel free to move over if it is in wrong place.

The NFL has become a game of Survivor.

By the time we reach the playoffs, does it come down to who is healthest as opposed to the best team assembled?

Jimmy G, Kyler Murray… starting QB’s lost in recent weeks… And we have 4 games to go.

Currently there are 312 players on IR. LINK. How many will we have after 17 games?

2021 we saw 343 for the season, by the end.

2020 had 300 at the end.

Is 18 games still/ever a good idea?

Both teams are having nightmare-like seasons. Kyler tore his ACL after getting a huge contract and the Rams have and aging franchise QB with concussion and spinal compression injuries. The Rams have a flicker of hope in Baker Mayfield (who woulda thunk?) and Cardinal fans are grasping at the idea of getting him as a bridge QB next year (per their forum). When healthy, our team could be good again fairly fast, if answers can be had at Oline, RB's, and at Defensive End/OLB.

Cardinal fans are spelling doom for Murray as an NFL player. Many want to blow it up and start sucking for the Draft. It sucks that I almost feel sorry for them because they have never tasted a Super Bowl win....ever.

Who has it better? Worse?

And… BOOM! We have Saturday Football!

Here is the lineup. What are you looking forward to?

NFL Week 15

Thursday, December 15, 2022

TNF
San Francisco at Seattle, 8:15 p.m.

Saturday, December 17, 2022

Indianapolis at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Baltimore at Cleveland, 4:30 p.m.
Miami at Buffalo, 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, December 18, 2022

THE EARLY GAMES
Pittsburgh at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Kansas City at Houston, 1 p.m.
Dallas at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Atlanta at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Detroit at New York Jets, 1 p.m.

THE LATE GAMES
Arizona at Denver, 4:05 p.m.
New England at Las Vegas, 4:05 p.m.
Tennessee at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m.
Cincinnati at Tampa Bay, 4:25 p.m.

SNF
New York Giants at Washington, 8:20 p.m.

Monday, December 19, 2022

MNF
Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay, 8:15 p.m.

All times are ET.

I was looking at the schedule for all 4 teams and I am jokingly saying to my co-worker that they could have a 4 way tie at 6-11

That would crack me up.

New England vs. Arizona: Patriots Look to Turn Things Around Against Cardinals on MNF​

The New England Patriots enter Week 14’s "Monday Night Football" matchup in must-win mode against the Arizona Cardinals. Sitting at 6-6, the Patriots are just a game out of the seventh and final spot in a tightening AFC playoff race.

New England holds the tiebreaker over the team they’re chasing, the New York Jets, and by Monday night could have a chance to rise above them. But plenty of land mines for the Patriots remain, including games against the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals, 8-4 Miami Dolphins, and current No. 1 seed Buffalo Bills. Beating up on the 4-8 Cardinals feels like a must.

As for Arizona? The Cardinals are just playing out the string, a string of mediocrity this season after losing four of their past five games. Last year’s red-hot, top-10 offensive scheme has slipped to 20th in the NFL; quarterback Kyler Murray appears to have regressed after signing a five-year, $230.5 million extension during the offseason. From a six-game suspension for DeAndre Hopkins to running back James Conner and Murray battling injuries, the Cardinals have struggled to simply keep their best players on the field.

It all leads to finger-pointing at head coach Kliff Kingsbury, on the hot seat after going 5-12 in his last 17 regular-season games along with a first-round playoff exit. Can his team turn around an NFC-worst 1-6 record at home with an upset against the Patriots? Or will New England continue its recent dominance against Arizona, where the Pats have won seven of their last eight matchups?

Monday Night Football: New England (6-6) at Arizona (4-8)

Kickoff: Monday, Dec. 12 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Patriots -1.5
Tickets: As low as $66 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Can the Cardinals get off to a better start?

Part of Arizona’s problem this season is their inability to score early. An average of just 2.4 points in the first quarter ranks 30th in the NFL; only Carolina and Houston have performed worse. The Cardinals have trailed at the half in nine of their 12 games this season, going 2-7 in those contests.

“At some point, it just has to click for us,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said earlier this year, when the Cardinals started out scoreless in the first quarter through their first five contests. “I don’t think there’s any magic answers except guys showing up, being ready to go, and not regressing back to that once we get it figured out.”

Since then, the Cardinals have picked it up a bit. But they still have a total of just two first-quarter touchdowns in 12 games, getting outscored 61-29 over a full season. That’s one heck of a hole to climb out of every week.

To be fair, New England isn’t much better, scoring just 2.7 points in the first quarter (28th in the NFL). The difference is the Pats haven’t trailed after the first quarter in a little over a month; in fact, it’s happened just three times all year. Head coach Bill Belichick is known for running a tight ship and the Patriots, despite a struggling offense, have kept pace early and cut down the scoring.

Speaking of that offense…

2. Will Mac Jones and the Patriots get back on the same page offensively?

It feels like getting off to a hot start is imperative for the Patriots after infighting during a 24-10 loss last Thursday to the Buffalo Bills. After struggling for just 195 passing yards, just days removed from his best game of the year (382 yards), Jones was caught on the sidelines yelling “Throw the (insert swear word here) ball!”

The end result against the Bills was 355 net yards but only 10 points; 20.8 points per game this season ranks just 20th in the NFL. Criticism has been increasing around offensive coordinator Matt Patricia, the former Pats defensive coordinator who was placed in this role after Josh McDaniels was hired over the offseason by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph turned up the heat on Patricia and Joe Judge this week, who are combining to call the plays for the Pats.

“It’s a very conservative pass game – lot of screens, all kind of screens. It’s how a defensive guy would call offensive plays, right?” Joseph said. “‘Let’s not turn the ball over, let’s get four yards a play, and let’s try to burn clock.’ That’s what they’re doing and that’s what he’s going to do on Monday night.”

Feels like a dangerous game for an inferior team to play, right? Belichick has made a career of turning bulletin board material into winning motivation. What’s more, there appears to be a definitive movement within this organization to get more aggressive this week.

Watch out for Hunter Henry, who had a season-high 63 yards receiving against the Vikings; the Cardinals' defense is notoriously weak on tight ends. And arguably the Patriots’ best offensive player, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, has been making the most of the screens he does catch. His 56 receptions lead the team and will remain in a key pass-catching role with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers likely to sit this one out (concussion protocol).

3. Can Kyler Murray pierce through the Patriots' defense?

Murray’s year has been rocked by inconsistency. That said, the Patriots have struggled against signal-callers as mobile as Murray this season: they’re 0-3 against Justin Fields of the Bears, Lamar Jackson of the Ravens and Josh Allen of the Bills. That trio ranks first, second and fourth in the NFL, respectively, in rushing yards by a quarterback.

Can Murray keep up the trend? He was effective on the ground in his return from injury last week in a losing effort: 56 yards, eight yards per carry, and a rushing touchdown. But Murray has also been easier to defend with a defensive front due to some mistakes through the air (six interceptions in his last seven starts).

Whether Murray has his top target, DeAndre Hopkins, could be key to opening up the ground game. Hopkins was suffering through an illness this week but was back to full participation in Friday’s practice, a crucial add with tight end Zach Ertz out for the season with a torn ACL and wide receiver Greg Dortch nursing a thumb injury.

“He catches everything,” Belichick said of Hopkins this week. “[He] has great hands, and he’s long so he’s never covered. Even if he’s covered, there’s a place where the ball can be that he can get it and still make the catch.”

The Pats' secondary has been bent the past two weeks against top receivers: Justin Jefferson and Stefon Diggs have combined for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Will Hopkins be the next to break them?

Final Analysis

On paper, you might argue the Cardinals have more talent than the Patriots; it’s a tough matchup for the way New England’s team is built. But something has just simply been off with Arizona all season. The Cards dig themselves early holes, then try and fight out of them too late while the offensive rhythm varies wildly from drive to drive.

The Pats still have a real shot at the playoffs despite a more dysfunctional season than normal. But Belichick is a Hall of Fame coach for a reason; expect him to pull the team together this week and shore up an inconsistent offensive scheme for a game he needs to have.

Prediction: Patriots 20, Cardinals 17

Did a little research of perhaps the six best teams in the NFL at this point.

In no particular order, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Buffalo, San Francisco, Dallas and Cincinnati.

Other than the Bengals, it’s my opinion all those teams have more OL-talent than the Rams. However, all six of those teams have enjoyed very-good-to-terrific health and continuity on the O-Line.

The starting-five offensive linemen for those six teams have missed a combined 15 games thus far in 2022. That’s COMBINED. So it’s 2.5 missed games per-team for those six teams.

The Rams projected starting-five OL alone has missed 27 games thus far. And, that doesn’t even consider the three projected top-reserves who are all on season-ending-IR.

We have discussed the Rams’ O-Line injuries; and, like most here, I recognize that the Rams have other issues and there have been other disappointments. Like most, I hope to see an off-season up-grade in OL-talent.

All that being said … six teams … 5 starters per-team … 30 players … 15 total missed games.

The Rams … 5 projected starters … 5 players … 27 missed games.

The injuries to the Offensive Line is not the Only Story of the 2022 Rams. It is the Lead Story, in my opinion.

By-the-Way ... the 2021 Super Bowl Champion Rams' O-Line had a total of 5 missed games for the entire season.

Whether you like Mayfield or not this really is a must watch. This guy isn't a Ram fan. But he breaks down Baker's passes in Thursday's game showing how good Mayfield's technique has become. It shows Mayfield's developmental growth because I watched a similar breakdown of Mayfield when he was in Cleveland and there were issues to be sure. He still makes some choice issues but what QB doesn't. He still tends to lockon presnap where he's going. But there are times when he makes throws where things breakdown that are still amazing. It also shows Tutu's growth as a WR. This is why regardless of Stafford's decision about next year I think Baker will stay at least one year more just to continue his development in this offense under McVay. It shows why if Stafford retires either next year or the year after why Mayfield might be the Ram's QB of the future. The breakdown clearly shows the talent that Mayfield has and why the Rams could be in good hands at QB with Baker in McVay's offense. I'm always harping about scheme fit and IMO Mayfield is a good scheme fit for McVay.

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