• To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

20 Random Don't Care How, I Want a Win Now Thoughts

1. The Rams are a dynamic passing team that can overwhelm defenses and score quickly to win games.

2. And sometimes, they're not.

3. That's okay, though. Great teams find many ways to win.

4. Matthew Stafford had a bad day today. This wasn't his only bad day as a Ram, but this time, it was different.

5. The defense did enough to keep Stafford's errors from completely turning the game around.

6. The running game - mostly Sony Michel - provided an alternate way for the offense to succeed.

7. And the special teams unit, which finally has a true return specialist in addition to a Pro Bowl placekicker, won the day for us in the end.

8. Michel has been a godsend this year. And his style of running really fits the scheme that Sean McVay wishes to run.

9. With Darrell Henderson going down (not sure the severity at this moment), the possibility of Cam Akers providing a significant contribution in January increases.

10. Speaking of January... welcome back to the playoffs (and, quite possibly, and NFC West title).

11. The injuries have been brutal this year. Hoping that Ernest Jones and Brian Allen are okay.

12. But the "next man up" mentality has really taken hold. Getting four straight wins with injuries and COVID absences is pretty remarkable.

13. Aaron Donald continues to amaze. His 12 sack of the year was such a smart, veteran play. He was stymied at the line by a double-team, so he switched on the fly to a "contain" role. The second Cousins broke the pocket, he pounced and made the play like a linebacker or safety. Its almost not fair to opposing blockers.

14. Greg Gaines officially has my vote for "most improved player." He has not only made us forget SJD... he's made us forget Michael Brockers.

15. Cooper Kupp with 100 yards receiving. Ho-hum.

16. OBJ's is such an asset in the Red Zone.

17. The Rams stand at #2 in the NFC at this moment. It is unlikely that we catch the Packers, so my question is... how much difference between #2, #3 and #4 is there? It could be more of a match-up issue (i.e. I'd rather be #4 and play Arizona right now than #3 and play the 49ers).

18. The Rams could use some work on defending screen passes.

19. Will this be the last week that COVID impacts the Rams significantly? At some point, you'd think the virus will have run through the team.

20. I said earlier this year that I'd try to stop and take a moment here and there to enjoy the season. Things are getting tense, but I'm still trying to do just that. It has been an enjoyable season thus far.

Netflix comedy specials

I see a lot of live comedy and I do tend to prefer edgy comedians like Doug Stanhope, Anthony Jeselenik and Jim Jeffries, but Jimmy Carr is up there with his ability to

We went to see him about 4 weeks ago in Plymouth here in the UK not realising he'd already filmed a Netflix special of the material earlier on in the tour. I'd have gone anyway and it was fun watching it again last night.

As unwoke as you can get and not all the gags hit, but some very funny stuff that many will be highly offended by.

In style, he's closer to Jeselnik than Stanhope, but uses a lot of puns a bit like Gary Delaney for those of you who know who he is.

I also watched the new Jim Gaffigan special, Comedy Monster, last week. He seemed a tad edgier than his normal self, even saying bastard once and intimating at gay biker sex. If you like Gaffigan you'll enjoy it. If you're meh or don't like him, it won't convert you.

  • Locked
covid

I have been reading the post about the loss of Big Whit due to covid .
I don't think people know that you can test positive for Covid and still be perfectly fine !
You can test positive and never get sick or have any symptoms !
Having had the virus or being Vaccinated helps the individual ward off the virus ! -- the Fatboy

Game Day Menu - Viqueens Edition

I am probably going to make cheesesteaks. Was going to do chili again, but it is unseasonably warm here, so not in the mood for it.

Shaved ribeye, onions, peppers... Maybe even some sautéed mushrooms. Throw in in the oven and melt the provolone all over it. Top with chopped iceberg lettuce (dressed in a homemade Italian vinaigrette), tomato, Dukes mayo and hots. Yummmm.

Whatcha eatin??

SNF - WFT at Cowboys

Sunday Night Football: Washington Football Team vs. Dallas Cowboys​

The Dallas Cowboys clinched themselves a playoff spot in the best way possible Thursday night: sitting on the couch. A San Francisco 49ers loss ensured that they won't fall out of the top seven in the NFC, bringing them back to the postseason for the first time since 2018. It makes their matchup against the Washington Football Team a little easier Sunday as they look to earn their next Christmas present from Santa: the NFC East.

Indeed, a Dallas win over Washington (or a Philadelphia Eagles loss) will be all it takes to clinch their fourth division title in the last eight years, dating back to when Tony Romo was still the starting quarterback in 2014. Despite declining offensive production, the defense has stepped up behind two first-time Pro Bowlers, Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, to keep this team in the hunt for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

For Washington, this game is make-or-break if there's any hope left to make the postseason. Sitting at 6-8, it will likely take winning out plus a momentous turnaround in their precarious health situation. The good news is that part's heading in the right direction, their COVID-19 protocols list down to nine players from a high of 25 before Tuesday night's loss against the Eagles. Starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke is among those activated, beefing up a roster that was forced to lean on a number of backup and practice squad players last week.

But Washington still has to turn around and play Dallas on short rest. Heinicke was symptomatic with COVID, still building back his energy along with a number of other affected players. That'll make pulling off the upset an uphill battle against a Cowboys team that's undefeated (4-0) against their division, including a 27-20 win over Washington two weeks ago.

Sunday Night Football: Washington (6-8) at Dallas (10-4)

Kickoff: Sunday, Dec. 24 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Cowboys -10.5

Three Things To Watch

1. Can Heinicke jumpstart Washington's offense?

Heinicke returns to the lineup just two weeks after having one of his worst games of the season against the Cowboys. He was 11-for-25 for just 122 yards, a touchdown, and an interception as Washington struggled to move the ball against this defense. The team coughed the ball up on two of their first three possessions, falling behind 24-0 in the first half with a deficit that proved too much to overcome. Now, Heinicke faces a second matchup at less than 100 percent, still in recovery from a COVID case that left him down for the count.

"I tried to do some laundry," he told the Washington Post. "And I put all the dry clothes in a little hamper bin and walked to my living room. It was 20 steps, and I was out of breath."

That story makes it hard to believe Heinicke will be running at full strength in the middle of the fourth quarter days later. At least the extra rest allowed some nagging knee and elbow injuries time to heal (Kyle Allen replaced him in the Cowboys game).

As Heinicke jumps back in control of the offense, he may also be without one of his top targets. Running back Antonio Gibson is struggling through a toe injury, didn't practice Thursday and is questionable for Sunday's game. That puts extra pressure on the passing game, as backup Washington running back J.D. McKissic is sitting on injured reserve with a neck injury. It would put Jaret Patterson in line to start, a backup who has a total of just 41 carries all season.

2. The Dallas defense turnover machine

Washington's offensive struggles have the Cowboys defense licking their chops after forcing four turnovers and scoring on a fumble return in their matchup two weeks ago. Parsons was all over the field in that game, forcing a fumble, collecting two sacks and producing two additional quarterback hits against Heinicke.

The Cowboys have a NFC-leading 31 takeaways overall as they thrive on momentum-changing plays. One player who wasn't as active that game, Diggs, will be seeking a team record-tying 11th interception after reaching double digits in last week's 21-6 victory against the New York Giants. The defensive numbers overall the past three games have been Super Bowl-esque: eight interceptions, eight sacks and four forced fumbles.

As for Washington? Only Carolina and Chicago have more giveaways in the NFC than their 21. Taking care of the football is crucial against a team that has won with defense against inferior opponents (Giants, New Orleans Saints) over their recent three-game win streak.

3. What's going on with Dak Prescott?

It's a good thing the Cowboys defense is hitting on all cylinders. Prescott has been struggling over the past month, throwing for just five passing touchdowns and five interceptions in his last five games. He threw for less than six yards per attempt in all but one game during that stretch, absorbing 14 of his 25 sacks this season and looking nothing like the franchise-defining leader he was to start off the year.

It's not like Prescott's missing his supporting cast: every major offensive piece except tackle Tyron Smith (ankle) is expected to start Sunday night. This deep dive by NFL.com suggests it's a combination of things: a nagging calf injury, chemistry issues with Cowboys receivers, and even an inconsistent running game. (I'd dispute that last one, as they average 128.2 rushing yards per game, good enough for sixth most in the NFL.)

The bottom line is Prescott needs to get back in rhythm for the Cowboys to compete against the top teams in their conference. His last three-touchdown performance was Oct. 17 against New England; can a depleted Washington team end that slump this Sunday night?

Final Analysis

The last time Washington went to AT&T Stadium, it pulled off a 41-16 shocker that proved the difference in their surprising run to the NFC East title.

This time around? Washington's scored 37 points in their last two games combined. Don't expect much from a team whose season is slipping away behind COVID-19 and injuries to key personnel (don't forget they're missing reigning defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young to a torn ACL). This game will be more about Dallas shoring up its offensive weaknesses, clinching their division while looking to produce a deep playoff run come January.

Prediction: Cowboys 24, Washington 13

Week 16 - The Late Games

Sunday, Dec. 26

LATE GAMES
Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 pm (CBS)
Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 pm (CBS)

EARLY GAMES
Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons, 1 pm (FOX)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 1 pm (FOX)
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 pm (CBS)
Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans, 1 pm (CBS)
Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings, 1 pm (FOX)
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, 1 pm (CBS)
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets, 1 pm (CBS)
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 pm (FOX)

SNF
Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 pm (NBC)

Monday, Dec. 27

MNF
Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints, 8:15 pm (ESPN)



ALREADY PLAYED

Saturday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)

Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers, 4:30 pm (FOX, NFL Network, AMAZON)
Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals, 8:15 pm (NFL Network)

Thursday, Dec. 23
San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans, 8:20 pm (NFL Network)

Week 16 - The Early Games

Sunday, Dec. 26

EARLY GAMES
Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons, 1 pm (FOX)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 1 pm (FOX)
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 pm (CBS)
Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans, 1 pm (CBS)
Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings, 1 pm (FOX)
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, 1 pm (CBS)
Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets, 1 pm (CBS)
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 pm (FOX)

LATE GAMES
Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 pm (CBS)
Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 pm (CBS)

SNF
Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 pm (NBC)

Monday, Dec. 27

MNF
Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints, 8:15 pm (ESPN)



ALREADY PLAYED

Saturday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)

Cleveland Browns at Green Bay Packers, 4:30 pm (FOX, NFL Network, AMAZON)
Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals, 8:15 pm (NFL Network)

Thursday, Dec. 23
San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans, 8:20 pm (NFL Network)

GDT - Rams at Viqueens

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

.

2019 Draft class shout out

It's kinda wild that the Rams first 6 picks in the 2019 draft all made contributions in the Seattle win.

Rapp has been a full-time starter all year.. warts and all.. but he's solid in the run game, at least.

Evans was a spot starter at RT. Not good.. but not tragic.

Henderson had a few reps and looked good.

Long contributed a second game in a row after being sent to the doghouse early in the season. He may have earned more playing time.

Gaines is a motherfucking beast!!

Edwards is a consistent and decent guard.

Nick Scott had his best game as a pro.

It's nice to see a few of those guys step up... maybe it can be a building block for Long and Scott, especially.

OT: Merry Christmas to you all! Rubiks Cube

Hello all and a very merry christmas!

This is an off topic conversation for sure.

My niece has gained a real like for solving puzzles. I've never been a master at a rubiks cube. I've been able to solve for one color for a while and that is what I was encouraging my young niece to do. Understand the places of the pieces and how to manipulate the cube.

I am just curious if any of you brilliant people have a way to help me help her learn....?

I tried to follow instructions for hours tonight but I got lost in the algorithm over and over again needing to restart.

Like I say I can match one color but I also know that solving one color will never lead to the true success of the puzzle. You will learn the mechanism of the puzzle but not the thinking it takes to solve the full puzzle.

Like I say I've been trying for hours. I finally gave up and Googled and found a solution center that helped me solve the cube so that when she wakes up it'll be back to solved.

Ultimately I am wondering if anyone has a good spot to look to help my niece, who is inclined to solve puzzles, be a bit more confident in understanding the steps it takes to solve a CUBE.

ULTIMATELY! LET'S GO RAMS!

Bennie Skow and the Big 11

Skow showing he can be a functional WR in the passing game is really, really intriguing to me. He's a big boy.. a willing blocker.. and seems to understand his role.

If he continues to attach himself to Kupp's hip this offseason, he could be a real contributor. The 11 grouping would be very, very effective with him Kupp and Woods or Jefferson. I like the idea of him out there with Jefferson and the Rams running PA and going deep to Jefferson.

A 7th round pick who looks like he could be an actual contributor. That's good stuff.

Updated Vegas Super Bowl Odds

NFL FUTURES BETTING ODDS​



SUPER BOWL 56 ODDS​

ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL 56 (2/13/22)
TeamBetMGM OddsWynnBET Odds
Green Bay Packers+475+475
Kansas City Chiefs+475+450
Tampa Bay Buccaneers+550+600
Los Angeles Rams+900+1000
Buffalo Bills+1100+1100
New England Patriots+1100+1000
Dallas Cowboys+1200+1200
Arizona Cardinals+1600+1400
Indianapolis Colts+2000+2000
Tennessee Titans+2000+2000
San Francisco 49ers+3000+4000
Los Angeles Chargers+3500+3000
Baltimore Ravens+4000+3000
Cincinnati Bengals+4000+3000
Philadelphia Eagles+5000+7500
Cleveland Browns+6600+7500
Minnesota Vikings+10000+7500
Pittsburgh Steelers+12500+10000
New Orleans Saints+15000+10000
Las Vegas Raiders+25000+15000
Miami Dolphins+25000+20000
Denver Broncos+30000+25000
Atlanta Falcons+50000+50000
Washington Football Team+50000+25000
Seattle Seahawks+75000+50000
Carolina Panthers+150000+100000
New York Giants+250000+500000

Odds Subject to Change - Updated: Fri., Dec. 24 - 11:02 AM ET



Login to view embedded media View: https://giphy.com/gifs/nfl-ad-donald-aaron-9qDAS53G2Xe2gUIDpm

WR DeSean Jackson wanted out of LA: After his release, signed with the Raiders

I posted this because to my surprise, DeSean Jackson asked for his release from the Rams because he wanted more touches.
confused smiley



DeSean Jackson goes unclaimed on waivers from Rams
Nov 04, 2021


The Rams tried to find a trade partner for DeSean Jackson before Tuesday’s deadline. No one bit. They then proceeded to waive him, giving every team the chance to claim him and take on his contract. No team wanted to do that, either.

His role with the Rams didn’t pan out the way he or the team expected, finding it difficult to get on the field due to the depth Los Angeles already had at wide receiver with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Van Jefferson.
[www.msn.com]


Nov 7, 2021 DeSean Jackson signs with the Raiders

D .Jackson stats with the Rams (7 games)
8 Catches - 221 YDS - 1 TD


D.Jackson stats with the Raiders (6 games)
7 Catches - 116 YDS - 1 TD

CrAF - Browns at Packers

Christmas Afternoon Football - Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay Packers​

The Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers are headed in two opposite directions entering their game on Christmas Day. The hope for the Packers is that Santa gifts them a win that continues their march toward NFC home-field advantage.

For the Browns, they just need a victory to take their playoff bid off life support.

That's how big a swing it was for Cleveland in the closing seconds of a devastating Monday night loss against the Las Vegas Raiders. As Daniel Carlson's field goal sailed through the uprights, the Browns went from leading the AFC North to dead last in the four-team division. The margin is razor-thin in a conference where no playoff spots have been clinched with three weeks remaining. Thirteen teams have a record of .500 or better, and 12 of them are separated by just two games.

That puts the Browns in desperation mode heading to the confines of Lambeau Field, one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL. It's why the Packers are so keen on securing the No. 1 seed (6-0 at home this season), and they enter the holiday season red-hot, averaging 37 points per game in three wins over the Rams, Bears, and Ravens.

Can the Browns stop Aaron Rodgers from steamrolling through them? Their defense may need to step up as it remains unclear whether starting quarterback Baker Mayfield will be cleared to lead the offense.

Cleveland (7-7) at Green Bay (11-3)

Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 24 at 4:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX/NFL Network
Spread: Packers -7.5

Three Things To Watch

1. Who will start at quarterback for the Browns?

It remains unclear whether Mayfield will start Christmas Day as he remains away from the team after COVID protocols kept him out of Monday night's contest against the Raiders. In all, 22 players were still on the Browns' Reserve/COVID-19 list prior to kickoff. While that number is expected to be drastically reduced by Saturday, the fact that Mayfield and backup quarterback Case Keenum remain on it is cause for immediate concern.

Without a negative test, Mayfield is in line to return Saturday based on NFL rules, meaning no practice for nearly two weeks before returning to the field against one of the sport's top teams.

Even if Mayfield plays, he's been a shell of his healthy self for months. He's averaged less than one passing touchdown per game this season (13 TD, 7 INT) while posting a measly 5.8 yards per attempt over the last month. Opponents realize he's struggling to throw the deep ball and have crowded the line of scrimmage, making it harder for Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb to establish a rhythm on the ground.

Battling a myriad of injuries this season, from his right knee to a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, one could argue the extra rest might help Mayfield a little bit. But he'll have trouble shaking off the rust with a Packers defense that has forced six turnovers during their three-game win streak.

2. Can the Packers offense be stopped?

It remains to be seen how Rodgers will do in the NFL MVP race after controversial comments around his COVID-19 vaccination status were paired with him missing a week after contracting the virus.

But while Rodgers' off-field persona remains controversial, he continues to put up MVP-style numbers on it. The quarterback has 13 touchdowns and no interceptions in the last four games, putting up 300+ yards in three of them. Much of that yardage has come by way of his top target; wide receiver Davante Adams has 384 yards and five touchdowns during that stretch. The Pro Bowl tandem remains inside the top five in the conference in every important category despite each missing at least one game this season.

Can the Browns defense stop them? Let's put it this way: three cornerbacks and a safety still on the COVID list sure don't help matters much.

3. Who stays turnover-free?

Both of these teams pride themselves on taking care of the football. The Packers' 10 giveaways are the fewest in the NFL; they've coughed the ball up just once during the last month. The Browns, meanwhile, remain tied for fourth with 14 giveaways despite their offensive troubles. Even third-string quarterback Nick Mullens could be commended Monday for a turnover-free performance; not bad for a guy who was signed from the practice squad on short notice.

A turnover for the Browns early at Lambeau could spell disaster for a team that needs some luck on its side to pull the upset. A model for them could be the Chicago Bears from two weeks ago, benefitting from a 97-yard punt return to pull ahead 27-21 at the half. It was just the second time all season Green Bay had trailed at home at halftime; the other was to the Detroit Lions in Week 2. That was a very different time for Green Bay, an ugly six-quarter start to the season before the Packers woke up and put a vastly inferior opponent away during the second half.

Final Analysis

The Packers enter this game with superior talent at positions on both sides of the ball. The sheer numbers of Browns still struggling to get off the COVID list (check this link with updates up until kickoff) make it difficult to band their team together for a playoff run that's clearly fading.

Expect the Packers to keep rolling as they look to pad their one-game advantage over the rest of the NFC.

Prediction: Packers 31, Browns 13

CrNF - Colts at Cardinals

Christmas Night Football - Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals​

One of the best games of Week 16 will take place on Christmas night down in the desert. Indianapolis (8-6) looks to continue its late-season surge toward the top of the AFC South on the road at Arizona (10-4). Both teams are in tight races for their respective division titles and need to win to keep pace with the Titans and Rams.

Jonathan Taylor rushed for 170 yards to further cement his MVP case. The defense shut out the Patriots for the first three quarters as they made rookie quarterback Mac Jones look human for the first time in a while. Darius Leonard set the tone, and the rest of the defense followed his lead in this game. These factors resulted in a 27-17 win over New England.

Offensively, you have to credit head coach Frank Reich and his staff for putting the game in the hands of Taylor and the offensive line. The talk leading up to this game was about Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense shutting down the run, but the offensive line had none of it on Saturday night. Carson Wentz managed the game well, as he only needed to throw 12 passes and had the self-awareness to realize that feeding Taylor was the ticket to victory. The crowd noise was a huge factor and never let the Patriots get comfortable all night long.

While Indianapolis is riding high, Arizona is coming off rough trip to the Motor City as they were demolished 30-12 by the Lions. The Cardinals have lost four out of seven after starting the 2021 season at 7-0. It was the first time in NFL history that a team with just one win defeated an opposing team with 10 or more wins by double digits. That is a testament to Lions head coach Dan Campbell and his staff for having his team ready to play smash-mouth football.

Defensively, Arizona allowed 338 yards and had zero answers once again for Jared Goff, who threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns on the day. Craig Reynolds also caused problems on the ground as he rushed for 112 yards on 26 attempts and a touchdown. All of a sudden, the Cardinals are in a virtual tie for first in the NFC West, with a tiebreaker over the Rams for now based on divisional record.

Indianapolis (8-6) at Arizona (10-4)

Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 25 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Spread: Cardinals -1

Three Things to Watch

1. Colts' offense

The best weapon to beat Arizona this week will be Taylor, who continues to emerge as an MVP candidate. This week, Taylor is going up against a vulnerable Cardinals run defense that has allowed 4.6 yards per carry, which ranks 27th in the NFL. Indianapolis has rushed for 2,198 yards a team after 14 games, which leads the NFL. Thus, it's not rocket science that the running game needs to be the priority this week against Arizona.

Success in the running game opens the play-action pass for Wentz to spread the football around to T.Y. Hilton, Michael Pittman Jr., and the rest of the wide receivers. Wentz does need to be more accurate this week and complete around 65 percent of his passes to give the Colts the best chance to win on Saturday. Moving forward, Indianapolis will need Wentz to complete more than five passes to make a deep run in the playoffs, as Head Coach Frank Reich discussed earlier this week.

"I think for us to go where we want to go, there are going to be games where Carson will be the quote-unquote star of the game," Reich said Tuesday, via FOX 59. "I think that'll have to happen.''

2. Can Arizona’s offense get back on track?

Kyler Murray has not been great over the past four games, and the loss of DeAndre Hopkins exacerbated his issues last Sunday. Murray completed 23 of 41 passes for 257 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Murray's accuracy was off, and he also never got comfortable as Detroit did a great job of getting heat on him.

Christian Kirk, Zach Ertz, and A.J. Green combined for a solid for 19 receptions, 232 yards, and a touchdown. However, there was just something missing all day long as the offensive line lost the battle of the line of scrimmage against a physical Detroit defense. Looking ahead to Saturday, it will be crucial for head coach Kliff Kingsbury and the offensive staff to recommit to the run game to set up the pass because this team is at its best when it can do both at a high level.

3. Colts' defense

This group is a salty one led by Leonard who is putting up another All-Pro-caliber season. Leonard has collected 107 tackles, six forced fumbles, and three interceptions with three games left in the regular season. DeForest Buckner is another game wrecker along the defensive line with 55 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Buckner will have to set the tone this week by dominating the offensive line of the Cardinals.

Cornerback Kenny Moore II leads the secondary with 83 tackles and 13 passes defended on the year. Look for Moore to be matched up with Kirk or Green as they hope to take advantage of not having to deal with Hopkins. Stopping the run is another strength of this defense; they have given up 109.6 rushing yards per game and held five of their last seven opponents under the century mark. This week, they must create multiple turnovers and keep Murray contained in the pocket to force him to win the game with his arm.

Final Analysis

Taking care of the football will be paramount for both teams, each of whom is in the top four of the league in turnover margin. However, Arizona has a minus-2 margin during its two-game skid, and the Cardinals can't afford to let that trend continue since it will become increasingly important to make the most out of every possession down the stretch.

The Colts need additional balance on offense to win this game, and they will get that done successfully. Wentz will end up completing about 15 or so passes, and Taylor should surpass the 100-yard mark this week as well. That combination will end up being enough for the Colts to grind out a narrow win down in the desert. Look for the heat to crank up a little bit for Kingsbury after this game as the second-half slide continues.

Prediction: Colts 27, Cardinals 20

Any need to change game plans???

The way the Rams have played over the last three weeks looks like a great plan for the rest of the year and playoff run.

Balanced offense, pound the run game even if there are no long runs, play action, move Stafford a little.

Lots of pressure on opposing QBs, bring some blitzes occasionally, tackles not just hits blowing people up.

Safe ST play, catch the ball on punts, kick offs through the end zone, make field goals.

STAY HEALTHY!!

Filter