If someone posted this I missed it. Great watch.

Got a new appreciation for Ramsey after watching this. These guys are going to hungry coming out of the bye....

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We all probably have a rather long wish list but that’s not realistic.

I suspect that Rams can only do one, maybe 2 moves.

I think a move at edge would yield most bang for the buck. Doesn’t have to be a big name like Quinn. Just a solid player there kinda like the Corbett move a few years ago. Someone that Rams consider a scheme fit but is sitting there under the fans radar? Rams current scoring D is excellent but can you imagine the possibilities if they can get more pressure rushing 4?

If there’s cap room left over, and I think there will be, a solid (and healthy) RB would be a smart move. Again, don’t need a McCaffrey, just a solid RB with decent vision that can provide injury insurance. Surely there are a few out there, don’t you think?

Notice I didn’t include OL among my 2 allowed acquisitions? That’s because I don’t consider it a top 2 need for a playoff run at this time. Allen’s back and Shelton will join in a couple of weeks. And Bruss plus Anchrum will be rejoining next year.

Jackson
Shelton
Allen
Aboushi
Hav

That OL can get us to the SB if other parts of our O start doing their job. Not an All Pro line, but plenty good enough, imo.

Speaking of which, I’m excited about Jefferson’s return. I think I’m guilty of underestimating his importance to this O.

So, get me a solid edge upgrade and a solid RB and I’m a happy camper. If they can be 3 year additions rather than a 3 month rentals, so much the better.

Needless to say I’m willing to spend future premium picks, if necessary, to acquire quality talent right now. Right up Snead’s alley, huh?

Rams WR Ben Skowronek reflects on his first career touchdown | Featured on Rams Revealed Ep. 91​

The celebration may have been lacking. However, the sincerity was not.

Following his first professional touchdown, a go-ahead rushing score deep in the third quarter to lift the Rams to victory over the Carolina Panthers, Ben Skowronek's only regret was a lack of foresight.

"I didn't have anything planned," Skowronek said of his end zone uncertainty. "The celebration was not good."

Fortunately for the Los Angeles Rams, the execution was perfect. Allen Robinson II blocked two Panthers on the perimeter as Skowronek found open field on a 17-yard dash, with a top speed of 19.45 miles per hour, according to NextGen Stats.

Highlights: Rams WR Ben Skowronek rushes for a 17-yard touchdown against the Panthers

"Next time maybe I'll think of something on Saturday night before the game," the second-year wide receiver added.

The best touchdown celebrations in Los Angeles, at least so long as Odell Beckham Jr. remains a free agent, belong to tight end Tyler Higbee. While he's yet to register a score in 2022, his repertoire is deep and proven. And so it meant a lot to Skowronek that someone he looks up to as a mentor was more concerned with the play than the pose – or lack thereof – that followed.

"I was talking to Higbee this morning about it," the 25-year old said. "(He told me), 'That was the most excited I've ever been for a touchdown.' Higbee's been kind of taking me under his wing the past two years."

"That play right there was such a good demonstration… of seeing the guys so happy for their teammates," Sean McVay told us Monday on the Coach McVay Show. "They were fired up for him and that's what you love."

Skowronek is our guest on this week's Rams Revealed. And over the course of the conversation, he documents his progress within the offensive system, analyzes how the return of Van Jefferson could unlock more of the playbook, and previews a critical Week 8 showdown with San Francisco.

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Sources: Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft have heated exchange amid Roger Goodell contract discussion​

NEW YORK -- NFL owners voted 31-1 on Tuesday to permit their compensation committee to open negotiations on a new contract with commissioner Roger Goodell, but not before two of the league's most powerful owners, the Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones and New England Patriots' Robert Kraft, engaged in a heated exchange, multiple league and ownership sources told ESPN.

The sources said Kraft joined the overwhelming majority in strong support for the measure, with Jones the lone dissenter in the owners-only session, eventually telling Kraft, "Don't f--- with me."

Kraft replied, "Excuse me?"

"Don't mess with me," Jones said.

The measure then passed, sources said. The NFL and a Cowboys spokesman declined comment. A Patriots spokesman didn't immediately provide a comment from the team.

This isn't the first time Jones has been outspoken and opposed to a new contract for Goodell, 63, and sources said his issue remains the same: the structure of Goodell's compensation. In 2017, Goodell signed a new five-year deal that was different from his previous ones. Jones led a charge that restructured Goodell's deal from mostly salaried to mostly bonuses based on performance. Several committees composed of owners determine whether they feel Goodell has met goals and targets.

Jones is concerned that the triggers for Goodell's proposed bonus pool in a new contract will be too vague and not connected to a strict set of financial goals and metrics without a more rigorous review, sources said. "He believes in corporate good governance and wants accountability on the financial goals tied to Roger's bonus," said a league source familiar with Jones' thinking. "He is sensitive to awarding a big bonus to Roger before he performs and earns it." The source added that, in the past, Jones has thought Goodell's financial targets were too "vague."

The source denied Jones' outburst was connected to any lingering animosity between Kraft and Jones.

The 31-1 vote signals that most owners want Goodell, who has been in the job since 2006, to continue as commissioner for the foreseeable future -- and that he wants to continue in that role. One owner told ESPN that the committee might consider a two- or three-year deal.

In the years since he received his latest contract, Goodell has helped usher in a new 10-year collective bargaining agreement with the union that added a 17th game, helped ensure that the NFL didn't miss any games during the COVID-19 pandemic, and landed long-term broadcast deals with new and existing partners worth more than $100 billion. The NFL's popularity is unquestioned, despite myriad concerns about the long-term health of players, a lawsuit from St. Louis over the Rams' move to Los Angeles that ended up in a $790 million settlement, and repeated scandals and investigations into the Washington Commodes and owner Dan Snyder.

The New York Times reported last year that Goodell's total compensation over a two-year period from 2020 to 2021 was nearly $128 million.

Goodell has said in the past that he doesn't want to be considered someone who stays in the job too long. ESPN reported in 2017 that Goodell told some owners that he would walk away after his next contract, CBA and rights negotiations. "I'm here for you through that," Goodell told some owners. "After that, you guys should start having a conversation."

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Jamie Lee Curtis…whew

Good listen

• 
  TY NSEKHET, LOS ANGELES RAMS
  
  

  Rams signed OT Ty Nsekhe.​

  He'll replace Joseph Noteboom, who was lost for the year with a torn Achilles on Sunday. Nsekhe has often come out with favorable PFF grades -- he had a 72.5 in 145 snaps for the Cowboys last season -- but has never really handled a full workload of snaps. He could get an extended opportunity with a Rams team that has spent the entire season Down Bad on the offensive line.
  SOURCE: Aaron Wilson on Twitter
  Oct 18, 2022, 2:26 PM ET

Didn't see where this has been posted anywhere. He has been solid as a fill in the last few years. I believe he may have started his career with the rams if I'm not mistaken.

Christian McCaffrey
Carolina Panthers · RB
Now that Matt Rhule has been fired, the Panthers are fully in rebuild mode and candidates for the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

So, do the franchise's future plans include McCaffrey? From our perspective, they shouldn't. No offense to McCaffrey, who has been very good through five games, on pace for more than 1,700 yards from scrimmage if he plays a full season. That last part is the catch, though, as McCaffrey's past two seasons have been cut short by injury. But there might be a team willing to take on his $19.55 million (non-guaranteed) salaries over the next two seasons. For the Panthers, trading him now offers better salary-cap relief than the coming offseason.

If McCaffrey is willing to rework his deal and move some future money around, it would more easily facilitate a trade. The return would be interesting because of the money he's owed and the injury factor, but when McCaffrey's right, he's a premier playmaker. The Bills could be candidates. So could the Broncos, who would bring McCaffrey back to the area where he grew up and to the team on which his father, Ed, became a standout receiver.


D'Ernest Johnson
Cleveland Browns · RB
This isn't as big a name as some of the others on this list, but Johnson has risen to the occasion in the past when called upon. He has four career games with 95 or more rush yards. In his only two NFL starts, both last season, he totaled 245 rush yards on 41 carries and hauled in nine catches for 80 yards.

Johnson also has experience on coverage units and as a kick and punt returner. Oh, and he has never lost a fumble on 190 career touches (including returns), adding to his appeal.

Running backs typically don't return much in trades, especially those who aren't true game-changers. But Johnson's meager salary (just over $1 million) and free-agent status in 2023 would be an easy add for any team seeking backfield help.

Could the Colts use a back such as Johnson? It might cost them a late Day 3 pick, or even a swap of picks, perhaps even in the 2024 draft. Johnson has played one -- ONE -- offensive snap this season, stuck behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The Browns don't offer much of a pathway to offensive playing time for Johnson. Moving him, even for a meager return, makes sense.

Kansas City Chiefs | RB Ronald Jones​

Jones was everyone’s favorite Best Ball pick over the summer, with the thought being he could overtake Clyde Edwards-Helaire to become Kansas City’s starting running back. Instead, he hasn’t been active for a single game. Jones is pure insurance behind CEH, Jerick McKinnon, and Isiah Pacheco. He makes more sense on a different roster.




Isaiah Wynn
New England Patriots · OT
On the surface, Wynn is an ideal trade candidate. He has multiple years of starting experience at left tackle and has played other spots on the line. Wynn turns 27 years old in December and likely would not cost as much to trade for, given that he's due to hit free agency in the spring.

It's also been clear that he and the Patriots have not been on the same page for some time now.

But if New England believes it can compete this season, trading Wynn would be a risky move. They're already down to their third QB right now, with Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer (currently on IR) having been knocked out of games. And the Patriots are not as blessed with their typical wealth of OL reserves as they have been in years past.

Wynn also makes a hefty $10.4 million this season. But he plays an important position, and several teams could make a play for a deal if the Patriots are willing. It also doesn't hurt that there's a slew of former New England scouts and coaches working around the league with other clubs who could have some personal insights on Wynn's ability.

Minnesota Vikings | OL Oli Udoh​

Udoh was a 16-game starter in 2021, but the emergence of rookie right guard Ed Ingram has forced him to the bench. On Sunday, Udoh played his first offensive snap of the year as an extra offensive lineman.

While Udoh is only 25, the Vikings appear set at guard. Minnesota has already cleared out a good portion of ex-GM Rick Spielman’s draft picks, and Udoh could be next in line.

Philadelphia Eagles | OT Andre Dillard​

The Eagles designated Dillard to return from IR last week, and it seems like he’ll return to the field soon. The former first-round pick is an outstanding swing tackle, and he’s more than capable of being a starter for a number of teams — just not the Eagles, who have two of the NFL’s best offensive tackles in Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson.


The only problem with the concept of trading Dillard is that Philadelphia is hurting along the offensive line. Mailata was inactive for Week 5, and Landon Dickerson and Jason Kelce both went down against the Cardinals. Given those issues, the Eagles might not be willing to give up any OL depth.

Trade?

Rams ran one O in first half, different O in the 2nd.

In the first half I noticed lots of Panther 8-9 man boxes. Like they were daring Rams to run. And yet McVay kept calling runs up the middle behind a crippled OL anyway. I was screaming at my TV.

Second half, though, McVay adjusted beautifully calling play after play to defeat such D sets. Sweeps, screens, etc. Then everybody on O was getting into the act catching passes all over the field. Reminded me of 2021 late in season.

That Stafford pick 6 was a tipped pass, wasn’t it? PFF thought so and didn’t ding Stafford for it.

Great to see AR doing well in this O. He was face masked and mugged on the lone pass that he DIDN’T catch. How that was missed is beyond me. Seems like Rams get more than their fair share of non-calls this year.

Don’t look now but Rams exceeded 100 yards rushing. Yeah, it was the Panthers and there were a lot of sweeps but Rams OL was held together with duct tape and baling wire. Sooooo…

Jackson at LOT might be a blessing in disguise. Meaning that he may be better (and healthier) there than Boom. Problem is that Rams have no other depth at LOT anymore. Snead’s gotta fix that. Gulp…

For the life of me I can’t explain starting Kolone and Evans over Skura and Aboushi, respectively. Kolone got an 18 from PFF on pass blocking? C’mon… Boom’s injury necessitated insertion of Aboushi when Jackson got moved, but still…

Morris’ D is frustrating to watch, but it’s getting very good results. That’s the name of the game, scoring D.

No blocked punts this week!

Powell is a pleasant surprise as a weapon.

Another Atwell sighting! I’d still rather have Humphrey. This is gonna hurt for another 10 years, man. Sigh…

Is it possible that Ernest Jones is already Rams best LB? What a pick by Snead.

Anybody satisfied with Rams edge pressure? Me neither. Hope this is the area Snead is working the phones on right now.

Allen and Jefferson will be most welcome returns for this O. Hopefully, Kyren Williams can follow shortly. All 3 should provide huge boosts.

Durant and Hill will give Morris some welcome options, as well. Options are always a good thing.

I suspect that there will be at least a couple of new faces added to this Ram roster before the 49er game.

There is light at the end of this tunnel, y’all.

Anyone going to this game in 2 weeks (2 weeks, 2 weeks ...)? Looks like I'll be in town and searching for 2 tickets closer to kickoff.

If the line gels and we get back a few bodies, we'll be in good shape to beat the whiners during the regular season.

This is a very welcome thing for Rams fans.

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Rams Week 6 snap counts: Greg Gaines' role shrinks vs. Panthers​

Cameron DaSilva /October 17, 2022


People raved about the Los Angeles Rams’ depth before the season began, particularly at wide receiver and in the secondary. That depth has been tested at several positions due to injury, leading to more opportunities for backups.

Against the Panthers on Sunday, the Rams mixed things up once again. Darrell Henderson Jr. took over for Cam Akers, and Greg Gaines saw his role dissipate for whatever reason.

Here are the snap counts from Sunday’s win over the Panthers.

Here are the snap counts from Sunday’s win over the Panthers.

Offense​

Joe Noteboom was limited to just nine snaps at left tackle before getting hurt. Alaric Jackson then moved from right guard to left tackle, and Oday Aboushi slid into the lineup at right guard. The other three linemen played every snap.

Darrell Henderson Jr. owned the backfield, playing 71% of the snaps. Malcolm Brown played 25% and Ronnie Rivers played the other 5% in his Rams debut.

Tyler Higbee only played 78% of the snaps, giving way to Kendall Blanton and Brycen Hopkins, who played 10 and nine snaps, respectively.

Ben Skowronek remains the No. 3 receiver, playing 68%, but Brandon Powell’s role grew as he played 38% of the snaps. Tutu Atwell only played two snaps total.

Defense​

Four members of the secondary played every snap: Nick Scott, Jalen Ramsey, Taylor Rapp and Derion Kendrick. That could change after the bye if Troy Hill and Cobie Durant return. David Long Jr. was the nickel corner, playing 31%. Grant Haley didn’t play a defensive snap after getting hurt on special teams.

Aaron Donald played his usual share of snaps at 80%, followed by A’Shawn Robinson (73%) on the defensive line. Greg Gaines’ role shockingly disappeared and there was no injury reported for the starting nose tackle. Marquise Copeland seems to have overtaken him after playing 55% of the snaps.

Leonard Floyd was the Rams’ primary edge rusher, while Justin Hollins and Terrell Lewis continue to evenly split snaps on the other side. Takk McKinley was limited to just six snaps.

For the last couple of years, I have felt that McVay's play calling has had less variety and that he has been surpassed by many others as an innovative offensive mind.
No complaints with Rams SB, I guess.

That said, with the glaring Oline issues, McVay at his best will be needed this year.
Yesterday's game was refreshing in that sense against a strong defense with a makeshift Oline.

Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers​

If it’s not the league-wide roughing-the-passer calls, the biggest hot-button topic after five weeks of NFL play this year is the questionable offseason trade of Russell Wilson from Seattle and the struggles that have followed him in Denver.

After what we saw last Thursday in the 12-9 overtime loss to Indianapolis, it might be criminal to subject our collective professional football-loving world to sit through another Broncos game in prime time. Hell, their home fans started streaming out of the stadium BEFORE OVERTIME BEGAN. Aye-yaye-yaye. There was not even a single touchdown scored in that game. Now we get Wilson and Co. again on our TV sets? Is a replay of "Heidi" not available?

Okay, I kid Denver fans, I kid. At least we’ll get the high-flying Chargers to face off with them making this an intriguing showdown of strength vs. strength. Justin Herbert has lived up to the billing, leading the Chargers to the second-best air attack in the NFL, averaging 291 yards per game. So despite the downtrodden Bronco fans and that offense, there is some intrigue to this one.

Monday Night Football: Denver (2-3) at Los Angeles (3-2)

Kickoff: Monday, Oct. 17 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Chargers -5.5

Three Things to Watch

1. The pressure falls on Russell Wilson… and Nathaniel Hackett

Much has been made of the mercurial Wilson and the offense that is suddenly running in molasses which he and his head coach are in charge of. The Broncos are 31st in the NFL with the ball, averaging a chintzy 15 points per game. And when they get down to the red zone? Egad. These poor boys are dead last in the league converting just 21 percent of their red zone visits into touchdowns. (By contrast, the Chargers are hitting paydirt on 53.4 percent of their red zone trips). Against the Colts, Wilson was 2-of-15 with two picks on throws of 10-plus yards. That is what a contract for $245 million was worth? But not all of this falls on him, especially given the reports that Wilson has been playing with a partially torn lat muscle in his throwing shoulder. Either way, a sizable amount of blame needs to be assigned to Hackett, the new head coach. The offensive play calls have been pedestrian at best and they rarely seem to have Wilson roll out to pass. Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, the receivers have the most dropped passes in the NFL. Yep, bad all around here.

2. Worry not Bronco fans, you’ve got a lock-down defense

Okay, so the offense is flimsy. We get it. But the one thing that should help keep them in any game is that buckin’ Bronco defense. They’re ornery. They are giving up just 289 yards (third in the NFL) and 16.0 points per game (fourth in the NFL). They’ll have a tough assignment this week vs. the Chargers' offense. Keenan Allen is still out for the Chargers but look for them to target Mike Williams again, who has 120 and 134 yards in the last two games. The Broncos will have to move on without standout cornerback Ronald Darby, who was lost for the season in the Colts game, and rush specialist Randy Gregory who is out with a knee injury. In their stead look for cornerback Pat Surtain II to match up with Williams while Bradley Chubb has become a force in the pass rush. He registered 2.5 sacks and seven total tackles vs. the Colts. Also, Baron Browning, Gregory’s replacement, picked up 1.5 sacks and six QB hits on Matt Ryan.

3. Well lookee here, the Chargers have a running game

At the end of last week’s game at Cleveland, it was hard to overlook a very odd stat on the stat sheet. It showed the Chargers with 466 total yards, 238 of those on the ground, 228 through the air. Yes, the Chargers had a better running game than their passing game… for one week at least. They entered last week with the worst rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 64.5 yards per game and a boney-armed 2.7 yards per attempt. Also, the Chargers had gone 17 straight games without having a 100-yard rusher and had just two such efforts since 2020, the fewest in the NFL in that span. But this changed against the Browns when Austin Ekeler went crazy. Ekeler ended the game with 174 yards on 16 carries. Denver gives up 112.4 yards per game on the ground, but that balloons to 135.6 yards over the last three contests. So look for the Chargers to continue to aim for more balance on offense like they had last week.

Final Analysis

If you are the betting kind, the Broncos are 1-4 against the spread this season while the Chargers are the polar opposite at 4-1. The FPI says the Broncos have only a 24.8 percent chance to win here. The Chargers have been a little banged up already this season, but are starting to get some of the injured players back into the rotation. With those combinations of factors, this one is easy. In fact, the Chargers average 24.4 points per game compared to the aforementioned Broncos scoring 15 per game. Hmmm… that sounds like a perfect final score here.

Prediction: Chargers 24, Broncos 15

1. The truth emerges in a favorable matchup. The Rams, troubled though they are, are not a sub-.500/non-playoff team.

2. The offense is still not where it needs to be, but found some success today with a patch-work OL, some creative play calling, and Cooper Kupp finally getting some help.

3. And the truth is... the defense is playing good football. Since the Week 1 debacle, they are giving up just over 16 points a game. When Week 6 ends, they'll be in the Top 10 in yards/game allowed. If they can find (or trade for) another pass-rusher and force a few more turnovers, they can be... dare I say... elite?

4. "Another pass-rusher? Ahem!" - Jalen Ramsey.

5. The truth hit several NFC rivals today as well...

6. The 49ers finally succumbed to their own rash of injuries, getting soundly beaten by the... wait... the Falcons? More truth next week against an angry Chiefs team.

7. The Packers truth is that Aaron Rodgers can't do it alone. They currently have only 3 more points than we do.

8. Truth has hit the Bucs too. Brady is a year older, his skill players have been banged up, and his OL has problems. But for a phantom roughing penalty, they could be on a 4 game skid.

9. The truth is, while the Eagles and Cowboys (battling as I type) are off to great starts, the rest of last year's NFC playoff field has a combined record of 14-16.

10. The truth is, success is hard to sustain.

11. So now we get a much-needed respite. Time to review, relax, renew, retool and reload. Alliteration aside, I think this could be an eventful two weeks.

12. I don't know exactly what to make of the Cam Akers' situation, but I have my theories. Last year, the Rams abruptly ended their association with Desean Jackson, seemingly due to his poor attitude when relegated to a limited role. Is Cam's situation similar? And, if so, does McVay see this as a needed opportunity to "sent a message" and reiterate the "we, not me" philosophy?

13. I don't put any stock in talk of trading for guys like Christian McCaffrey. I do think we'll be in the market for a RB, but not one with CMC's price tag.

14. The Rams took an unconventional route towards an 111 yard team rushing performance, with over half the yards coming from WRs (Skowronek, Kupp, Powell and Atwell).

15. Allen Robinson had his best game as a Ram. As much as I loved the TD catch and sideline gem, my favorite moment came on Skowronek's TD. Robinson made two blocks to spring Skow, and then sprinted to the endzone to join the celebration of Skow's first NFL TD. That was a great team moment for him.

16. The truth about Joe Noteboom that many feared - his perceived inability to stay healthy for a full season - has hit hard (apparent Achilles tear). AJ Jackson seemed to fare well moving over to the LT. That's encouraging, but I also think the name Eric Fisher will come up in the next two weeks. If he's healthy and ready to play, I'd definitely consider adding him.

17. Absent an addition, could an OL (knock on wood... getting and staying healthy) of Jackson, Shelton, Allen, Aboushi and Havenstein be enough? I don't know answer, but I sure would like to see that OL... heck, any OL grouping... play together for a few weeks.

18. The Rams will be playing for the NFC West lead in two weeks. That's the truth.

19. The Eagles and Bills look like the clear favorites at the moment, but remember... its a LONG season. Their truth may come yet.

20. Okay... how many of you are old enough to realize that my theme this week was a deep cut by The Police? For those who do, stay tuned for a two week period leading up to the trade deadline. McVay and Snead may, at some point, be inviting us to take a look at a new toy that will blow our heads in two, oh boy.

Wiki: Jeremiah Kolone

Check out this guys journey, from 2018!! How many guys stick with it after so many ups/downs?!!
From Wikipedia:

After going unselected in the 2018 NFL Draft, Kolone was signed by the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent.[2] He was released at the final roster cuts, on August 31.[3] Kolone was re-signed to the practice squad on September 2, but was released on September 11.[2]

In spring 2019, Kolone was signed by the San Diego Fleet of the newly formed Alliance of American Football (AAF), appearing in seven games as the team's starting center before the league folded.[4][5]

On April 29, 2019, Kolone was signed again by the Los Angeles Rams.[6] He was released at the final roster cuts, on August 31, but was re-signed to the practice squad the following day.[7] He was signed to a future contract on December 31.[2] He was released on September 4, 2020.[2] On September 24, Kolone was signed to the Rams' practice squad, only to be released on December 8.[2][8]

On August 4, 2021, Kolone was signed again by the Los Angeles Rams.[9] He was waived on August 30,[10] but re-signed to the practice squad on September 1.[11] He was activated from the practice squad on December 13, for their game against the Arizona Cardinals, and reverted back afterwards.[12] While on the practice squad, the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20 in Super Bowl LVI.[13] Kolone was signed to a reserve/futures contract on February 15, 2022.[14] He was released on August 30, and re-signed to the practice squad shortly afterwards.[15] He was signed to the active roster on September 14,[16] and made his NFL debut in the Rams' 31–27 win over the Atlanta Falcons, appearing on five special teams snaps.[17]

What a GRIND!

The Injuries…

We are 3-3. Tied for 1st.

Regroup at the bye!

What is on YOUR menu today?

I am still sorting out my main, but to kick this thread off right…

I have these pecan brown sugar crumble cinnamon rolls for the sweet tooth part of the day.

Oh yeah!

SUNDAY - OCTOBER 16, 2022

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!

———

ROD Chat Room;

Game Day Room

.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles​

Although the Philadelphia Eagles are the last remaining undefeated team in the NFL, they may not lead their division for much longer. First place in the NFC East will be on the line when they host the Dallas Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football."

Coming into the season, few would have predicted such high stakes for this game. The NFC East has been one of the worst divisions in the league for the last half-decade, but suddenly it's home to three teams with at least four wins.

The Eagles would obviously remain in first with a win, but the Cowboys can propel themselves into a first-place tie, where they'd have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Philly. And don't forget about the Giants, who are also lurking at 4-1.

After a few blowout wins, the Eagles have had a some close calls against teams with losing records. They came back from down 14 to beat the Jaguars 29-22 and then edged the Cardinals by three (20-17) on the road last week.

Dallas, meanwhile, continues to win with Cooper Rush at quarterback behind a monstrous defense. He's certainly no Dak Prescott, who returned to practice this week but will not play, but he's avoided mistakes and kept Dallas in the game.

The Cowboys have won three straight in this series, but can they pull off one more victory with Rush? Or will the Eagles reaffirm their status as NFC front-runners with a signature prime-time win?

Sunday Night Football: Dallas (4-1) at Philadelphia (5-0)

Kickoff: Sunday, Oct. 2 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Eagles -6

Three Things to Watch

1. Cowboys' pass rush vs. Eagles' offensive line

Few teams have been able to stop Dallas' pass rush this season, but the Eagles may be capable of doing so. Well, that is if they can get back to full health by game time. Their unit is seventh in pass block win rate (65 percent) but center Jason Kelce (ankle), tackle Jordan Mailata (shoulder), and guard Isaac Seumalo (ankle) have all been limited at practice this week and are questionable to play.

Playing with a hobbled offensive line will make an already challenging task near impossible. The Cowboys are one of the top pass-rushing teams no matter how you slice it. They're second in sacks (20), first in pass rush win rate (56 percent), first in pressure rate (33.6 percent), and third in hurry rate (11.5 percent).

Stopping Micah Parsons, who would be an MVP candidate if defensive players were seriously considered, is task No. 1. Dallas has cut him loose instead of dropping him into coverage, and he paces the league with a 33 percent pass-rush win rate while tying for the league lead with six sacks. And he's only in Year 2.

But even beyond Parsons, Dorance Armstrong (four sacks) and DeMarcus Lawrence (three) have benefitted from the extra attention teams have to pay to Parsons. And if anything, Lawrence could be in for a big game, as his 29 percent pass rush win rate is second only to his teammate in the NFC.

2. Can Dallas stop Philly's rushing attack?

For as good as the Cowboys are rushing the passer, they've got room to improve when it comes to stopping the run. They rank 18th in rushing yards allowed per game (117.6) and 21st in yards allowed per attempt (4.7), but even those middling numbers have benefitted from playing just one team (Giants) that ranks higher than 25th in rushing yards per game.

With apologies to those Giants, the Eagles will be by far the toughest rushing attack Dallas has had to face this season. Miles Sanders is looking resurgent (4.8 ypc) and Kenneth Gainwell is one of the better backups in the league. But the real challenge comes with Jalen Hurts, who is toting the ball an astonishing 13.6 times per game and is tied for second among all players with six rushing touchdowns.

One crucial area the Cowboys will need to step up in is short-yardage situations. Opponents have converted 86 percent of runs on third or fourth down with two or fewer yards to go, the highest mark in the league. Dallas also needs to improve its 16 percent stuff rate, which ranks 21st in the NFL, although it may have an opportunity to improve if Philly's line is not fully healthy.

3. Will the Cooper Rush experience finally come to an end?

Rush has to come back down to earth at some point, right? The Cowboys are hoping that by not asking him to do too much, they can squeeze one more win out of him. Rush has completed more than 20 passes in one of his four starts (21 vs. the Giants) but is fifth in QBR (6.76) in large part thanks to his zero interceptions and five sacks taken in that span.

The Eagles' defense is formidable on the front line and back end, so Rush may run into trouble if he has to make bigger plays. His best route to success will likely be doing what he's done: get rid of the ball quickly (2.55 sec. avg. time to throw, fourth quickest) and expose Philly's mediocre linebacking crew.

Of course, the flip side of getting rid of the ball quickly is that Rush will likely be dealing with tighter windows. According to Next Gen Stats, 21.2 percent of Rush's passes have been into tight coverage, which makes him the fourth-most aggressive passer in the NFL. Some of that has to do with a lack of separation his receivers generate, but the Eagles have a rather opportunistic secondary that already has six interceptions this season, so they will be ready to pounce.

Final Analysis

This game would be different if Prescott were playing, but the Cowboys still have a path to victory with Rush under center. The Dallas defense is no joke and will keep this to a low-scoring game. If the Cowboys can run the ball effectively and shorten the game, they'll have a chance to steal one on the road. Still, the Eagles are a more complete team this week and should have enough to pull out a sixth straight victory.

Prediction: Eagles 17, Cowboys 13