Anyone else having issues?? Hope they fix this quick. Anyone know how to watch it if this isn't fixed.

What a frigging joke...

LOOK: Rams' Matt Gay mocks NFL uniform policy by tweeting photos of himself in long, baggy pants

The kicker said he was fined $5,000 for having "improper pant length" in Los Angeles' season-opening loss to the Bills

www.cbssports.com

Matt Gay mocks NFL uniform policy by tweeting photos of himself in long, baggy pants​

Los Angeles Rams kicker Matt Gay shared that he was fined $5,000 by the NFL for having "improper pant length" in the team's season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills last week. To express his frustration with the league's uniform rule, Gay tweeted photos of himself in long, baggy pants.

"How to dress as a kicker in the @NFL per @nflcommish to avoid a $5,000 pant length fine. Thanks guys now I feel safe and can do my job super well," Gay wrote Friday. "Sorry my third pic I'm showing leg skin."

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Along with plenty of laughs, Gay also received support after the post. His teammate Jalen Ramseyagreed with his stance on the pant length debate on social media.

"I was literally about to post this. Of all the things to take a stance on they want to die on THIS hill," the three-time All-Pro cornerback tweeted.

Gay didn't just wear the baggy pants to take photos. He also wore them during practice, as captured in a video by The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue.

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Gay was not the only player to face early trouble with the NFL's uniform rules. Houston Texans defensive end Jerry Hughes Jr. was also fined for violating the rules in regard to how his pants fit when his team played the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 11. Hughes posted the letter he received from the league on Sept. 15 and highlighted the part in which the NFL reminded him that his pants must cover the entire knee area.

"Out here fighting for a W!!! But y'all want me to focus on how my pants are riding up. $5k," Hughes wrote, adding an angry emoji for emphasis.

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There is no way to tell if the players' complaints, even when they include funny photos, will change the minds of NFL officials, but at least Gay gave Twitter a little bit of entertainment.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers Prediction​

Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season will be highlighted by the league's oldest rivalry when the Chicago Bears pay a visit to the archrival Green Bay Packers for "Sunday Night Football."

Related: NFL Predictions for Every Game in Week 2

These teams had very different starts to the season in Week 1. The Bears (1-0) overcame a lackluster first half to defeat the San Francisco 49ers at home, while the Packers (0-1) were outplayed in all phases of the game by the Vikings in their loss at Minnesota.

The Bears now look to take that momentum and pick up a rare win at Lambeau Field, while the Packers hope to bounce back by continuing their success against Chicago.

Sunday Night Football: Chicago (1-0) at Green Bay (0-1)

Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 18 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Packers -10

Three Things to Watch

1. Fields vs. Rodgers

Fields won his season opener while Rodgers lost his, but the Week 1 numbers for both men are deceiving. Last year's 11th overall draft pick completed just 8 of 17 passes for 121 yards against the Niners last Sunday. And while he threw a pick and was sacked twice, he did throw for two touchdowns. Fields averaged 7.1 yards per attempt and finished the game with an 85.7 passer rating. He fought through the tough field conditions caused by the rain and overcame a very slow and sluggish first half.

On the surface, Rodgers had a decent day in terms of the box score. He completed 22 of 34 attempts in Minneapolis for 195 yards. But he didn't throw a touchdown pass, and only 95 of those yards were accounted for by wide receivers. He was sacked four times, threw an interception, and only averaged 5.7 yards per attempt. The dropped passes by his young receiving corps didn't help, especially the first-quarter drop by rookie Christian Watson, which would have been a surefire touchdown.

Not everything was the offense's fault because the defense had its issues as well (more on that later). But the end result was the Pack dropping its second straight season opener. Now, Fields is already 0-2 lifetime against Aaron Rodgers, as the Bears lost both of last year's meetings by a combined score of 69-44. But in those games, Fields accounted for 515 total yards and three touchdown passes. As we all know, however, Rodgers "owns" the Bears (22-5 record, 6,549 passing yards, 61 touchdown passes against them).

2. How the Bears can win again on Sunday

In addition to seeing improved play from Fields, the offense also needs more out of its running game. The Bears ran for just 99 yards last week on 37 carries (2.7 ypc), with 45 of those thanks to the feet of second-year back Khalil Herbert, who scored the game's only rushing touchdown. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy (a former Packers offensive assistant) would certainly like to see more out of David Montgomery (26 yds.). Taking advantage of the Packers' struggles against the run last week will go a long way on Sunday.

Darnell Mooney only caught one pass for eight yards last week. But after seeing how Minnesota's receivers had their way with the Packers secondary, both Fields and Getsy will look to get him the ball more often at Lambeau. You can also expect to see more chances for Dante Pettis, Byron Pringle, and Equanimeous St. Brown. They caught three of Fields' throws for 91 yards, with Pringle and St. Brown accounting for Fields' TD passes. The offensive line will also need to be on its A-Game in order to limit the Packers' pass rush like the Vikings did (only sacked Kirk Cousins once last weekend).

Getting two sacks last Sunday, 1.5 of which came from rookie defensive end Dominique Robinson, was a good start for this defense. And now they look to take advantage of a Green Bay offensive line that's less than 100 percent. This revamped secondary is also paying off already. Safety Eddie Jackson snagged his first interception since 2019 during the fourth quarter against the Niners, while fellow safety Jaquan Brisker recorded the first fumble recovery of his career. Cornerbacks Kyler Gordan and Jaylon Johnson combined to make 10 tackles, two of which were for a loss.

But getting better when it comes to stopping the run will be of great importance. The Bears allowed five 49er ball carriers to total 176 rushing yards, with Trey Lance leading the way with 54 yards. The Packers can do damage with their two-headed monster of AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones. So getting more efficiency from Fields, getting more production on the ground, seeing more from Mooney and Co., and continuing defensive efforts are the keys to victory for the Bears in Wisconsin.

3. What the Packers need to clean up

They have issues to sort out on both sides of the ball, starting with the offense. Whichever wide receivers are healthy enough to play Sunday (Allen Lazard is questionable with an ankle injury) need to step up their production yesterday. The aforementioned Dillon was his team's leading receiver at Minnesota (5 rec., 46 yds.), but those were catches that came out of the backfield. The same can be said for Jones (3, 27). But the drop by Watson, who finished with 34 receiving yards, was most glaring.

Veterans Randall Cobb (2 rec., 14 yds.), Sammy Watkins (3, 18), and Juwann Winfree (1, 17) weren't much help. Rodgers got some help from his tight ends as Tyler Davis, Robert Tonyan, and Josiah Deguara combined to grab six balls for 67 yards. But Deguara was mostly used as a fullback on some run plays, and this position group can't do it by themselves. The bottom line is that this group of receivers needs to step up — Davante Adams is not coming back.

The Packers should lean on the run game more to take pressure off the passing attack. Using Dillion and Jones as a one-two punch against a Bears defense that's still rebuilding could work in their favor; they ran for 111 yards and their only touchdown against the Vikings. But we all know that Rodgers would prefer to throw the ball. Regardless of what plays they run, they may have to use a patchwork offensive line again as they could be without Elgton Jenkins (pectoral muscle), David Bakhtiari (knee), Jon Runyan (concussion), and Jake Hanson (shoulder). The Bears will look to take advantage by exposing any holes within this offense.

As for the defense, after only sacking Kirk Cousins once last week (he threw for 277 yards), they now face a much more mobile quarterback in Fields. This unit also struggled against the run, giving up 126 yards on 4.5 ypa, and had no answer for Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson, who led all Week 1 receivers in yards (184), was tied for the lead in touchdown catches (2), and was fourth in yards after the catch (81). The Bears seemed poised to use a running back committee for now, and they won't hesitate to attack this defense.

Mooney didn't have a breakout game last week, but he's licking his chops after seeing what Jefferson did last Sunday. The Packers need to pressure Fields early and often and stay disciplined against the run. This defense has the talent and experience to overcome last week's miscues, and they may do just that this week with home-field advantage.

Final Analysis

The Packers lead the all-time series 103-95-6. They've been victorious in each of the last six meetings, including the last three at Lambeau Field. The Bears haven't defeated Green Bay since 2018 and haven't won in Green Bay since Thanksgiving 2015. The Bears have been outscored by the Packers 331-215 since that game.

Although the opportunity is ripe for the taking for the Bears, I don't see Green Bay staying down for long. After losing last year's season opener, the Packers went on a seven-game winning streak en route to a 13-4 record and their third straight NFC North crown. Plus, they've been too good for the Bears to handle in recent seasons. I'm not saying they'll go on a similar run this year (especially with the health issues), but they will defend their home field on Sunday.

Prediction: Packers 28, Bears 20

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 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

.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

LATE GAMES - 4:25pm ET
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys
Houston Texans at Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders

EARLY GAMES - 1pm ET
Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
Washington Commodes at Detroit Lions
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers

SNF - 8pm ET
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills (Mon)
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles (Mon)

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Already Played

THURSDAY
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (Thu)

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2022

EARLY GAMES - 1pm ET
Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
Washington Commodes at Detroit Lions
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers

LATE GAMES - 4:25pm ET
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys
Houston Texans at Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders

SNF - 8pm ET
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills (Mon)
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles (Mon)

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Already Played

THURSDAY
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (Thu)

What is on your menu?

I planned early this time; baked ham and swiss sliders.

I will share pics if they turn out worth a damn.

Hopefully all the previous rules established by @RhodyRams & @CGI_Ram continue to be applied.
Rhody, feel free to edit this thread as needed.

L.A. Rams - 27
Deadbirds - 17

Just showed the Dungeon. For those interested. AD is getting notoriety. Doing up his old house.

How was everyone's experience with the Amazon Prime TNF experience?

I watched the first half through game pass before switching over to prime. Once I figured out how to get it on the Prime Vision experience I was pretty impressed. I really liked being able to see the All-22 and then also the names on the players, the stats, the route tracing, etc.

What did you all think?

This isn't good. There is no way they can limp into the season with banged up RBs and with Hollins and Lewis on the edges. They will have to consider Jonah Williams at 5T. He has the size, strength and speed to play the position.

With their limited cap it will be hard to make a move to bring in an impact player to play the edge position. If Floyd's injury persists they may not have an option other than seek a hired gun.

Inside (lineman) story: Aaron Donald's 100th sack phenomenon​

Aaron Donald is synonymous with the number he wears on his jersey: 99.

That is also the number of sacks the Rams’ star defensive tackle has amassed since he entered the NFL in 2014.

On Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, Donald could join the 100 club.

“Anytime you accomplish something, it’s a great honor,” Donald said Thursday. “But obviously, I’m just out there playing. Not thinking about it, just playing the game trying to do what I can to help my team to win.”

Donald, 31, entered the season with 98 sacks. He had one in the Rams’ embarrassing season-opening defeat to the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.

It was “a humbling experience,” Donald said of the defeat, echoing coach Sean McVay.

The Rams are eager to put it behind them when they play a Falcons team that blew a 16-point, fourth-quarter lead in a 27-26 defeat to the New Orleans Saints.

“Guy are locked in,” Donald said. “Just talking to a couple of the veteran guys. … I know where everybody’s minds’ at.

“So, I think we’re in a good place.”

The 6-foot-1, 280-pound Donald continues to climb the NFL career sack list and earn a certain spot in the Hall of Fame as perhaps the most productive interior lineman in pro football history.

Donald, the 13th pick in the 2014 draft, is a three-time NFL defensive player of the year. He is a seven-time All-Pro and has been voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his eight NFL seasons.

“Aaron is the greatest football player that probably most of us have been around,” Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said, adding, “We’re just lucky enough to be able to watch it.”

The NFL did not make sacks an official statistic until 1982. Former Buffalo defensive end Bruce Smith is the all-time leader with 200. Donald ranks 40th on a list dominated almost exclusively by defensive ends and outside linebackers.

By the count of Profootballreference.com , which tabulated sacks since 1960 and includes Rams legends such as Deacon Jones (173½ sacks) and Jack Youngblood (151½) among the top six, Donald ranks 62nd.

Von Miller (117½), Chandler Jones (107½), Cameron Jordan (107), Justin Houston (103), J.J. Watt (102) and Robert Quinn (101) are active players with 100 sacks or more. All are defensive ends or linebackers.

Donald accrued more than one-fifth of his sacks in a single season. In 2018, he produced 20½, the most by an interior lineman. The Rams advanced to the Super Bowl LIII where they lost to the New England Patriots.

Last season, Donald had 12½ sacks. He had two in the Rams’ 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI — increasing his career postseason total to six — and clinched the win by pressuring Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow into a desperation pass that fell incomplete.

After Donald hinted at retirement, the Rams gave him a three-year $95-million extension that includes $65 million in guarantees, according to overthecap.com. He is the highest-paid non quarterback in NFL history.

Donald grew up in Pittsburgh watching the Steelers and standout defensive players.

Nose tackle Casey Hampton, linebacker James Harrison and safety Troy Polamalu were among Steelers players he tracked, along with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

“Just gravitate to them type of guys,” Donald said.

Rams defensive tackle Greg Gaines is amazed by Donald, and him being on the verge of his 100th sack.

“Rushing inside, you don’t have as much space, like you always have somebody on your right or left,” Gaines said. “So getting 100 sacks from an interior lineman has got to be up there in football feats.”

I hate Asshole Face when he’s coaching, however he’s a great interview and this is easily one of the best guests I’ve seen on The Herd.



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Let’s talk our week 2 matchup!

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Thursday Night Football: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs​

After missing the playoffs last season, the Los Angeles Chargers can point to one game in December that would have changed everything: a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

At the time, the Chiefs held a one-game lead over the Chargers in the AFC West. A win by Los Angeles would have given them control of the division through a season sweep of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, head coach Andy Reid, and Co. They took a 14-13 lead into the fourth quarter and held a 28-21 edge with 2:19 left to play.

That's when Mahomes reminded everyone why he's a perennial MVP favorite. He went 75 yards in just over a minute, including a highlight-reel 32-yard run that left the Chargers' defense on their heels. Just like that, the game was tied; the Chiefs would wind up winning the coin toss and marched to victory in overtime, 34-28, similar to how they shocked the Bills in an AFC Divisional Playoff game one month later.

Now both teams battle for control of the division once again, this time on "Thursday Night Football" after starting the season 1-0.

The Chiefs came out swinging to start 2022, a 44-21 thumping of the Arizona Cardinals in which Mahomes threw three touchdown passes in his first three possessions. He ended the first week leading the league in virtually every major passing category: yards (360), touchdowns (5), and passer rating (144.2).

Herbert and the Chargers faced a stiffer test, obtaining revenge on another late-season opponent, the Raiders, that snuffed out their postseason chances. However, the 24-19 game remained in doubt until a Khalil Mack strip-sack of David Carr on the Raiders' final drive.

Mack had a phenomenal Chargers debut, posting three sacks, four quarterback hits, and a forced fumble. But can the linebacker and his defensive unit penetrate a Chiefs offensive line that didn't allow a single sack in Week 1?

They'll try and repeat that performance in Arrowhead Stadium as the Chargers meet one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL head-on. In fact, two of the Chiefs' four losses there in the last two seasons have come at the hands of the Chargers.

Can L.A. waltz in and hand them a third?

Thursday Night Football: Los Angeles (1-0) at Kansas City (1-0)

Kickoff: Thursday, Sept. 15 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: Amazon Prime Video (available on TV in local markets)
Live Stream: fuboTV (only available in KC and LA markets)
Spread: Chiefs -3.5

Three Things To Watch

1. What can Mahomes do for an encore? And will he be 100 percent?

Since that Chargers game in December, it's like Mahomes has flipped a switch. With the notable exception of the AFC Championship, he's been lights out his last eight games (including the postseason): 26 touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 71.3 percent completion rate. He's also been the team's leading rusher during that stretch, putting up 233 yards and a touchdown. Take out his game against the Cincinnati Bengals and those numbers get even more impressive.

The trendline is clear: whatever problems Mahomes had earlier in 2021 (a struggle that included two interceptions in a Chargers loss at home) have been fixed. When he's on his game, he's unstoppable, and Week 1 proved the Chiefs' offense is still firing on all cylinders despite the offseason loss of Tyreek Hill.

Indeed, there's no shortage of weapons. Free agent pickup and Hill replacement Juju Smith-Schuster fit right into the lineup, catching six passes for 79 yards. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire produced 74 total yards and two receiving touchdowns. Ten different Chiefs players caught passes, one more than Herbert's nine during a game where he was managing injuries within the Chargers offense (more on that in a minute).

Perhaps the only question about Mahomes' performance Thursday night surrounds his left wrist. He fell on it during the first quarter against the Chargers, but tests didn't reveal any major damage, and he would have been a full practice participant on Monday. "I'll be sore for the game Thursday," Mahomes acknowledged during a radio interview this week. "But I'll be fine."

Keep in mind the injury is to Mahomes' non-throwing arm and he stayed in the game, putting up 44 points against an NFC playoff team last year. So, while you can expect Mack and the Chargers (who posted six sacks and three interceptions) to knock him to the ground more than the Cardinals did last week, it's unlikely even aggravating that wrist will slow him down much.

2. Can the Chargers stop Travis Kelce?

We've gone this far and haven't even mentioned the Chiefs' biggest weapon: Travis Kelce. Simply look here if you're concerned about how a revamped Chargers defense can slow down Kansas City. Kelce was unstoppable the last time these two teams played, putting up a career-high 191 yards, 10 catches, and two touchdowns.

Now the Chiefs' primary weapon, Kelce is starting off this season nearly as strong: 10 catches, 121 yards, and a touchdown against the Cardinals. That was easily the most receiving yards by an NFL tight end in Week 1 and seventh most in the league overall.

"He's just so slippery with his routes, it's hard to even imagine," Mahomes said of Kelce after the Chargers game in December. "His shoulders start rocking and that's why he dances, I think. He's running and it looks like he's running slow, but he's moving fast."

Take one more look at the game-winning route in December, and you'll see the challenge the Chargers defense has in store. They're without cornerback J.C. Jackson, too, still recovering from ankle surgery and a DNP in the team's first injury report.

3. How will Justin Herbert manage the offense? And just who will be available to throw to?

Speaking of injuries, Herbert was dealt a big one to his offense with top target Keenan Allen also on Monday's DNP list. Allen hurt his hamstring against the Raiders and said after the game there's just a "small" possibility he'd be ready to play by Thursday night.

Herbert was able to persevere without his top target against the Raiders: in fact, his 129.4 passer rating ranks second to Mahomes after Week 1. And he's experienced incredible success at Arrowhead thus far in his career: seven passing touchdowns, no interceptions, and two wins in his first two starts.

The task becomes more difficult, though, without Allen because it allows opposing defenses to focus on the Chargers' other main target, Mike Williams. Williams had just two catches for 10 yards Sunday, none until the fourth quarter, as Herbert also spread the ball around to his offense. The problem was, he just wasn't as effective: the team scored only seven points in the second half with Allen in the locker room.

"I think a great thing that we do," Herbert said after the game, "is we're able to shuffle guys around and play multiple positions. We had some receivers step up."

That list included DeAndre Carter and Gerald Everett, combining for 118 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. Neither is a marquee name, but they'll both need standout games for a second week in a row for the Chargers to compete.

Final Analysis

The Chargers will come to Arrowhead seeking revenge; their defense will be amped up and is clearly boosted by the presence of Mack, marking life easier on All-Pro Joey Bosa and Derwin James Jr. Expect them to penetrate the Chiefs offensive line a few times. They'll keep it close.

But the Chiefs are in a rhythm and more talented on the offensive side of the ball. Justin Herbert may be a great QB in the making, but he'll get a reminder Thursday night of the benchmark Mahomes has set for him to get there.

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Chargers 27

I’m in town helping wife with some fam stuff and was thinking about going to SoFi and seeing the game. Anyone else going?

I was thinking about picking up a ticket in the 300 level, if anyone has seats around there, I’d gladly Zelle ya for one if one’s available…

Also, I have church in Culver City (home church from we lived here) from 10-11am, so I can prob be dropped off around 11:30 if folks are getting together…

What games are you looking forward to this week?

THURSDAY
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (Thu)

SUNDAY
EARLY GAMES
Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
Washington Commodes at Detroit Lions
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers

LATE GAMES
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys
Houston Texans at Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders

SNF
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

MONDAY
Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills (Mon)
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles (Mon)

You finally achieve that ultimate goal, and you enjoy the fruits of your labor.

And then, the worst that can happen to a team happens... you get civilized.

Along comes a brash, tough opponent. An opponent who feels that a chance at the top was unfairly denied to them, and they're hungry.

You take them too lightly, and you get clubb(er)ed into submission.

And then, in the aftermath, injury piles on top of insult.

You feel lost. You feel doubt. You feel afraid. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT!!?!?! YOU WANT TO BREAK ME DOWN!?!?!? FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR LIFE WE'RE AFRAID!!!!

But then, you get perspective... the players realize that they have to want it for the right reasons. Not for the people, or the money, but for themselves. Because when the cheering stops and everyone stops chanting their names, they have to live with themselves. And if they lose, they lose with no excuses, no fear.

Finally, the rematch comes...

The opponent vows... they're goint to "bust you up."

"Go for it" is the reply.

Cue: Gonna Fly Now





Or am I being a bit dramatic?

I know names have been thrown around, but what running backs (realistically) should we sign for our injured position group. My vote is for Dovontae Booker although I wish we could pry Hunt away from the Browns. Anyone else?

I saw Jourdan's tweet and then watched his interview. Jourdan asked great questions and got him to open up, and he was articulate and descriptive when describing the various roles of the offensive line. I'm a bigger fan of his and hope he does well.

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Pete carrIm stunnned. Didn’t see this coming for the start of the season….

Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks​

"Monday Night Football" kicks off its slate of games for the 2022 NFL season with what should be an intriguing contest with Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos visiting the Seattle Seahawks. The scene should be fantastic as the "Bronco Busters" shirts will be back in force. In addition, the 12s get a bonus Super Bowl and Christmas rolled into one with the return of Wilson to Seattle. The reaction should be wild and place Wilson safely as the most hated superstar to leave Seattle, surpassing Alex Rodriguez by a significant margin.

Denver heads into the 2022 season with heightened expectations following the blockbuster trade for Wilson, since the rest of the team is set up well to go to war in the loaded AFC West. The receiving corps should be good enough for Wilson to operate the passing game without too many issues. The offensive line will see its scrutiny level go up, as Wilson probably won't have a ton of patience if he gets hit a lot. If key guys like Bradley Chubb play up to their capabilities, the defense is talented enough to keep the Broncos in every game. The division is loaded, so the math will not work for every team, even if there are three wild-card spots. Someone has to finish last, after all. So, it will be vital for Denver to win the games it is expected to; the margin for error in the division, and AFC as a whole, is very slim.

Seattle is in a rebuild/reload hybrid scenario entering this season. There are talented players in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Quandre Diggs, and others. But the quarterback position battle didn't go quite as planned. In the preseason, Geno Smith beat out Drew Lock due to his experience in the offense and ability to take care of the football. Smith did not have a turnover in the preseason, while Lock gave the ball away four times, including three interceptions against the backups for the Dallas Cowboys in the final preseason game. On a more positive note, the rookie class has three guys listed as starters, starting with left tackle Charles Cross, right tackle Abraham Lucas, and cornerback Tariq Woolen. These guys will play a massive part in the reboot of this team, along with running back Ken Walker III, when he gets healthy. Coby Bryant (CB) and Boye Mafe (LB) also will see playing time on defense to bring additional speed and overall athleticism that was missing last season.

Monday Night Football: Denver (0-0) at Seattle (0-0)

Kickoff: Monday, Sept. 12 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN/ABC
Spread: Broncos -6.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Will Denver "Let Russ Cook" on offense?

New head coach Nathaniel Hackett appears to be ready to tailor the offense entirely to the needs and wants of Russell Wilson. This is a brilliant tactical move by Hackett, and he has no choice, at least from the start of the season, but to turn Wilson loose and see if he can still carry a team on offense by throwing the football. He certainly has an intriguing group of pass catchers, which includes Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and KJ Hamler at wide receiver and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. But the Broncos also are seemingly equipped to run the ball with the tag-team duo of Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III. It will be interesting to see what sort of balance Denver's offense shows, considering the unique circumstances of this game. Wilson also will be on the receiving end of the onslaught of noise from the Seattle fans (12s) in Lumen Field, so we'll see if he opts for a no-huddle offense to counter.

2. How will Seattle respond?

This game is the Super Bowl for Seattle this season, as the Seahawks are not a bona fide playoff team in the NFC unless true chaos unfolds. Expect to see a concerted effort to run the football early to establish a physical mentality and to relieve pressure on the young offensive line. Rashaad Penny finished strong down the stretch last season and should have plenty of yardage opportunities if he can get to the second level. The emergence of a solid running game will allow Smith to get some easy completions to Metcalf and Lockett, provided they can win their battles with cornerback Pat Surtain II and the rest of the Broncos' solid secondary. Taking care of the football also is vital for Smith, as this team is not good enough to overcome games with multiple turnovers.

3. Seahawks defense

A lot remains to be seen about the Seattle defense since most of the starters didn't play a ton during the preseason. The pass rush must be a significant factor, even if they don't register a ton of sacks on Wilson. Darrell Taylor looks to build on his sack total of 6.5 from the 2021 season, and his opportunities should increase under the new 3-4 alignment the Seahawks are running with new defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt calling the shots. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks is tasked with filling the leadership role vacated by Bobby Wagner, the former cornerstone who's now with the Rams. Last season, Brooks finished second in the NFL with 184 tackles, to go along with a sack, fumble recovery, and five passes defended as he took a massive leap in his second season. Jamal Adams needs to get back his havoc-causing ways of flying all over the field because he is at his best when he does a little of everything on defense. Forcing turnovers and limiting explosive plays are other keys to victory. The best chance to beat Wilson in this scenario is to make him have to produce long drives that go the length of the field.

Final Analysis

This game will be a roller-coaster ride because, as the Bills-Rams kickoff game on Thursday night showed, early-season play can deteriorate at times due to the starters not seeing many reps during the preseason. Also, despite some wishes of a portion of the fan base who want Seattle to tank for quarterbacks C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young in the 2023 NFL Draft, they will be disappointed, as that's not in Pete Carroll's DNA; you will see the Seahawks put together a spirited effort, energized by the raucous support of the 12s in Lumen Field. The bottom line is for Smith and the offense to take care of the ball so Seattle can hang around into the second half. The pressure on Wilson will then increase and set up the Seahawks' defense to get a late turnover that Smith will convert into a touchdown, giving Seattle a satisfying upset win to start the season.

Prediction: Seahawks 20, Broncos 17

After 5 years as the best division in football, the NFC West does not look good in 2022.

Trey Lance is who we expected him to be in week 1.
The Cardinals look like the Rams playoff opponent.
Seahawks roster is poor.

This may be great for Rams.
could give the Rams the chance to get things right, something needed.

Still see Rams with 10+ wins, but right now others do not seem like winning football teams.

Anyone else not getting anything for it?