I get this is more a next season question but I was just wondering.....If Cam Akers comes back and isn't close to what he used to be, would you be interested in trading for James Robinson? Only asking as they seem to not want him there and he's a good ass running back in my eyes.

Nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year

https://www.nfl.com/news/2021-walter-payton-nfl-man-of-the-year-nominees-unveiled

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ot...ouch-gloves/ar-AARyU1t?ocid=msedgntp#comments

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Just an incredible douchebag move to basically sucker-punch a competitor under a false guise of sportsmanship to win.

If you care about such things.

Rams PFF grades: Best and worst performers in Week 13 win vs. Jaguars​

The Rams faced a difficult stretch in November against the Titans, 49ers and Packers. Things eased up to open December, hosting the Jaguars on Sunday in a game they were heavily favored to win.

The result was an easy 37-7 victory over Jacksonville, snapping the Rams’ three-game losing streak. With the Jaguars playing like, well, the Jaguars, several Rams players earned high grades for their performances.
Below, we take a look at some of the top grades on offense and defense from Pro Football Focus‘ analysis, as well as the lowest-graded players from Week 13.
Top 3 offense

• OL Joe Noteboom: 92.2
• RT Rob Havenstein: 88.0
• WR Cooper Kupp: 87.1

It’s shocking to see Noteboom as the highest-graded Rams player on offense, given his limited role this season. However, he came in as the sixth offensive lineman a handful of times and performed well as a run blocker. He played 16 total snaps, with 11 of those coming in the running game, and he made a difference for Sony Michel and the rushing attack.
Havenstein also played well, allowing just one pressure and earning a team-best 91.8 run-blocking grade.
Kupp was as good as always, catching eight passes for 129 yards with no drops and two catches on contested targets.
Top 3 defense

• DT Aaron Donald: 95.8
• LB Ernest Jones: 89.8
• OLB Von Miller: 78.3

Donald’s 95.8 defensive grade is the highest of his career, even though he only had one sack. He did have two QB hits and a forced fumble, pressuring Trevor Lawrence seven times, so he was definitely productive. But it’s hard to say this was his best game ever.
Jones was a pleasant surprise as the top linebacker, making a game-high nine tackles with a half-sack and a pass defensed, too. He should remain the primary linebacker over Troy Reeder moving forward, especially after earning a coverage grade of 80.3.
Miller’s grade was inflated considerably by his 90.6 coverage grade, which was by far the highest on the team. He didn’t have a single pressure and only made one tackle, so he didn’t exactly flash often.
Bottom 3 offense

• WR Ben Skowronek: 53.3
• WR Van Jefferson: 51.4
• TE Kendall Blanton: 27.3

Skowronek and Jefferson both had a case of the drops. On the Rams’ opening drive, Skowronek dropped a third-down pass over the middle, failing to come up with the low throw. Jefferson dropped an easy pass on a slant later in the game, which was also on third down and would’ve converted over the middle.
Blanton dropped a would-be touchdown in the end zone and fumbled the ball on his lone reception, even though he wasn’t hit on the play. He was excellent as a run-blocker, though, with a grade of 78.2 in that department – third on the team.
Bottom 3 defense

• CB Darious Williams: 53.1
• CB Dont’e Deayon: 48.2
• S Nick Scott: 46.3

Williams missed one tackle and allowed two catches for 14 yards on three targets, with a long of 16 yards; his second reception allowed was a 2-yard loss after he made a great tackle on the screen pass.
Deayon gave up a team-high four catches for 47 yards in coverage and also missed a tackle of his own. The biggest play of the game came with Deayon in coverage, a 28-yarder over the middle to Laquon Treadwell.
Scott made three tackles and wasn’t targeted in coverage, but he missed another tackle and was given a coverage grade of 46.8 at safety.
Other notables

• QB Matthew Stafford: 80.3
• RB Sony Michel: 74.9
• NT Greg Gaines: 72.9
• CB Jalen Ramsey: 71.7
• C Coleman Shelton: 66.8
• OLB Leonard Floyd: 57.6

Stafford didn’t crack the top three on offense but he still put together a great performance with two big-time throws and zero turnover-worthy plays – a key stat after his turnover-filled November.
Michel impressed with 121 yards on 24 carries, gaining 80 yards after contact and forcing five missed tackles. He needs work as a pass protector, though, which is where PFF knocked him down a bit (46.7 pass-blocking grade).
Gaines added another four pressures to his season total, ranking second on the team once again. He also made two stops and four total tackles, though he did miss on two tackle attempts.
Ramsey gave up just one catch for 12 yards on four targets, forcing an incompletion on fourth down in the second half.
Shelton did a good job in place of Brian Allen, taking over after just one play. He earned a 74.1 pass-blocking grade and 63.6 as a run blocker, showing some potential.
Floyd can’t seem to stop missing tackles, whiffing once on Sunday. He only had one pressure on 29 pass-rush snaps, too, so he wasn’t very productive on the edge.

More Gaines, more Jones, less Robinson, less Reeder And Hopkins and Burgess do exist.

Rams Week 13 snap counts: Ernest Jones vaults Troy Reeder, Terrell Lewis’ role disappears​

The Rams underwent an identity change on offense Sunday against the Jaguars. They plugged in Sony Michel as the starter, used 13 personnel (1 RB, 3 TE, 1 WR) for the first time all season and even put Joe Noteboom on the field as an inline blocker, completely changing up their philosophy compared to their previous three games.

The result was a 37-7 win over Jacksonville, helped by a dominant performance by the defense, too. Raheem Morris’ unit experienced some adjustments, too, with Ernest Jones taking over as the top linebacker and Terrell Lewis having his role completely disappear.

With the Rams pulling away in the fourth quarter, they opted to pull many of their starters and give the backups some run. So when looking at the snap counts, there’s a much bigger mix of players than we’re used to seeing.
Offense



Sony Michel was on the field for all but two snaps, only coming off late in the game when Mekhi Sargent took over in garbage time. Darrell Henderson Jr. was active but he wasn’t fully healthy and the Rams didn’t see a need to risk further injury by playing him in a game where Michel looked really good.

At wide receiver, Cooper Kupp played all but four snaps, and Van Jefferson was on the field for 78% of the offensive snaps. Odell Beckham Jr. was also active like Henderson but he was limited to only 53% of the snaps. Ben Skowronek played 16 snaps as the fourth receiver behind the starters.

Brycen Hopkins played 14 snaps, the most of his career. He wasn’t targeted but he did contribute as a blocker in the Rams’ heavy packages with three tight ends on the field. Kendall Blanton also played 10 snaps and Joe Noteboom played 16, partly as a sixth offensive lineman and also in relief at the end of the game.

Brian Allen left the game with a knee injury after just one play and was replaced by Coleman Shelton. David Edwards also exited on the first drive but he wound up missing just four plays, which was good to see.
Defense

Darious Williams played every snap except for one, leading the defense with a 98% snap share. Jalen Ramsey got a few plays off, as did Taylor Rapp and Jordan Fuller, who each played 92% of the defensive snaps. Dont’e Deayon was the third cornerback, playing 71% of the snaps, while Robert Rochell only got on the field for one play as the fourth corner – a somewhat surprising development with David Long Jr. out.

One of the best adjustments the Rams made was pushing Ernest Jones ahead of Troy Reeder at inside linebacker. Jones played 56 snaps compared to just 29 for Reeder, vaulting ahead as the primary linebacker on just about every play. Reeder struggled against the Packers so this was likely a demotion for the linebacker.

At outside linebacker, Leonard Floyd and Von Miller played 48 and 47 snaps, respectively. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo played 16 snaps as the rotational edge rusher, followed by Jamir Jones’ seven snaps as the fourth option. What’s puzzling is that Terrell Lewis didn’t play a single snap despite being active and healthy. His role has been on the decline since Miller arrived, but he went from playing 27% in Week 12 to playing zero snaps on Sunday.

Aaron Donald and Greg Gaines were once again the top defensive linemen, playing 52 and 48 snaps, respectively. A’Shawn Robinson was out there for 33 plays as the defensive end, but Marquise Copeland is eating into his playing time with a 27% snaps share.

In mop-up duty, Michael Hoecht, Terrell Burgess and Bobby Brown III played five snaps each. Even with Long out, Burgess couldn’t find a way onto the field and it didn’t help that he missed a tackle on Tavon Austin toward the end of the game.

The more I hear him talk about stuff the more I'm impressed with him. Such a thoughtful, kind, and genuine sounding guy. The world needs more Brandon Staley's and I will cheer hard for him to continue having success.


In a perfect world, Brandon Staley will be the coach the Chargers franchise has been searching for for nearly its entire existence. He'll finally get the team back to the Super Bowl, and even win it.

It may not happen this year, especially since it's been over 30 years since a rookie head coach won the Super Bowl, and George Seifert's 49ers still had Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. It may not happen next year.

But if Staley has success, it will hopefully lead to the NFL — a league that has a well-earned reputation as a copycat club, with varying success — taking notice and promoting more coaches like Staley. Because if he is who he appears to be, Staley, or at least his approach, should be what team owners and general managers are looking for in their head coaches.

He provided another example of why on Sunday, after Los Angeles' 41-22 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, when he told reporters that while star defensive end Joey Bosa had been cleared by the team's medical staff after undergoing a concussion evaluation in the first quarter, Staley kept Bosa out of the game because of Bosa's history with brain injury.

"As long as I'm the head coach here, we're going to be making decisions like that in the best interest of our players. He was cleared of a concussion, so that's good news," Staley said.

Bosa had two concussions last season alone and has talked publicly about how they affected him mentally, and while he may have been good enough to go back onto the field Sunday, the cumulative effects of brain injuries can be debilitating in the short and long term. Staley was looking out for his player.

It's the pessimist in me, and the fact that I've followed the NFL for well over a decade, to wonder if Staley debated changing his mind and reinserting Bosa after the third quarter, after the Bengals had cut a 24-0 Chargers lead to 24-22.

It's worth giving him the benefit of the doubt, particularly with prior evidence showing that he might be exactly who he purports himself to be.

A 38-year-old who rose from Division III defensive coordinator to NFL head coach in just five years, Staley gained notoriety in October when he gave a detailed answer about the importance of the run game: how it helps a quarterback, how it helps the offense overall, how it brings a physical dimension to a game by forcing the defense to play blocks and tackle.

It was an early sign of how Staley was different. Where some coaches can guard tactical information like state secrets, trying to convince us that being informative is a detriment to their own cause of winning, Staley doesn't take that tack.

A week later, Staley became the rare coach to show support for players when it comes to this year's renewed emphasis on taunting. "I don't have a perfect answer, I just know it's tough on these players. It's tough on them," he said. "They have a really, really difficult job, and it's a game that's based off the energy and emotion of competition. ... I think it's very challenging. I really do. My side is with the players, always."

Those answers and others also show a respect for the media that not all coaches share, either. Regardless of what you think of your favorite team's beat writers, they are professionals who by and large are doing their best to deliver as much information as possible to their respective audiences, and being brusque with them does a disservice to the fans. Staley comes by his respect for media honestly: One of his first jobs was as an agate clerk at a small newspaper in his native Ohio, where the sports editor was the father of one of his high school football teammates.

Staley has embraced analytics, and after a successful conversion against Cincinnati, the Chargers are 13-for-21 on fourth-down tries this year. Staley has said that analytics help coaches make better decisions, while acknowledging that they won't make perfect decisions every time.

Most refreshing were Staley's comments on Jon Gruden after Gruden resigned in late October over a cache of emails in which he spewed hate toward pretty much every group of humans that aren't straight white men.

Staley said nothing about Gruden. He offered no support for the now-former coach from his own division, no pithy words about what a shame it was that Gruden did what he did, or some such. No, Staley spoke about the victims, and spoke volumes in fewer than 300 words.

"I think this is what I think about it: I think that respect and trust in this world are really, really difficult to achieve. And I think about all of the people that were affected by those emails, whether you’re a person of color, your gender, or your sexual orientation. The people that were affected by those emails, that’s who I’m thinking about, because it’s a sacred mantle for someone to call you ‘coach’ or for someone to call you a leader.

"And trust is really, really hard to achieve in this world. It’s really, really challenging to achieve, and especially with people with those groups that I just mentioned. People are really guarded and they’re skeptical of people because of emails like that. And I just think that kindness and lifting people up, and respecting people you don’t know, I just think that’s such a big part of our thing here, is listening to people and learning about people because I think that what you’ll discover is that we have so much more in common than not.

"And I think that for someone like me, it’s just incumbent upon you to set the example every single day so that people that were talked about in those emails don’t need to feel that way. They shouldn’t feel that way. Hopefully, all of us can learn from this, that it’s about bringing people together for me so that people can become the people that they dream about.

"And I think that for me, leading this football team and being someone — hopefully we can be a light for those people in those emails, that not everybody is like that. There’s far more people that will love you than the opposite. And hopefully, this will be a chance for everybody to come together instead of going apart."

In a league where just getting an owner, head coach or front office executive to acknowledge that Black lives actually have value has proven difficult, Staley's words were bracing.

They aren't just words. Staley shows his values in a more tangible way too. His coaching staff is one of the more diverse in the league, and not just the typical position coaches we usually see. Two of his three coordinators are Black, and Mayur Chaudhari, one of only two Indian-Americans coaching in the NFL, is assistant special teams coach.

What all this points to is someone who generally seems like a human being who gets it. Maybe it's partly because of Staley's heartbreaking experiences with cancer. He battled Hodgkin's lymphoma when he was just 24 years old, while his father, a two-time survivor, was first diagnosed when he was in elementary school. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Staley and his twin brother were 12 and she fought for a decade before succumbing to the disease.

In a perfect world, it wouldn't take all that to give someone perspective. But it played a big role in shaping Staley into the man we see now. We can only hope there are more NFL coaches like him in the future.

Admittedly I did not watch the game last night but the Pats only attempted three passes and won? How is that even possible in the modern NFL? I know their defense is balling out this year but holy hell….I can’t imagine this has been done before or at least not since those dudes with leather helmets played (maybe).

I just wanted to point out that OBJ now has 2 TDs in 3 games as a Ram. He had no TDs this year in Cleveland. You know he's got to be feeling it. Come playoff time he should be well into the playbook. If he's going to be dangerous that is when it will be. Kupp, Jefferson and OBJ with a dose of Higbee and Benny Sko is not a bad thing at all come playoff time.

Only perhaps 3 or 4 times have the #1 seeds from both conferences made the Super Bowl. Overall the #1 seeds haven't made it to the Super Bowl as much as the other seeds. IMO the number 2 seed is the best slot. They get the #7 wildcard for their first game and play the weakest of the remaining teams the following week.

The next best seeding could be the number 5 seed (where the Rams sit currently). The Rams would play the weakest of the remaining teams in the second playoff game. That's why I'm not worried. If they beat the Cards on Monday, it's going to be in their heads if they meet in the playoffs. That is one of the impacts of Monday's game. Just like when Seattle took the division but lost their last regular-season game to the Rams. Tell me that playoff win wasn't an in-your-face moment. (So you got the division BFD) The division championship is great but the real prize is the Lombardi and winning a division is no guarantee of that. If McVay stays wedded to the run and Morris stays wedded to playing his secondary more like Staley did his the Rams will be a very tough out. With Michel as the grinder at RB and no one stops Kupp, Jefferson, Higbee, and OBJ for an entire game the Lombardi is still achievable.

What a relief:

McVay: Brian Allen day-to-day with MCL sprain, not being immediately ruled out for Cardinals game​

Dec 06, 2021 at 04:56 PM

Stu Jackson
Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Rams head coach Sean McVay on Monday said offensive lineman Brian Allen is day-to-day after suffering an MCL sprain in his right knee in Sunday's win over the Jaguars.

"We'll just kind of take it a day at a time with him," McVay said during a video conference Monday. "Definitely, that's good news." McVay said they are not immediately ruling out Allen for Monday Night Football against the Cardinals, but that they would be "smart" with him this week.

Allen was injured on the Rams' first offensive snap against the Jaguars and did not return to the game. He was replaced by Coleman Shelton, whom McVay praised for his steadiness, command and communication in Sunday's game. "Hopefully we'll be able to get Brian back, but I certainly have a whole lot confidence in Coleman if he's got to go this week," McVay said.

McVay also said Robert Rochell "got a little bit of a rib deal" on the punt he downed inside the 1-yard line against Jaguars. "He's going to be sore," McVay said. "We'll see how he manages the pain throughout the course of the week, but I would expect him not to practice early on."

Don’t wear blue pants next Monday.

Actually, just fucking get rid of them altogether.

Ok, I know @Merlin loves his slice of Brie and glass of Chardonnay and @RamFan503 likes fancy shyte without pineapple, but I'm talking about the standard stuff at stadiums. Corn dogs, hot dogs, kettle corn, cotton candy, nachos and bbq pork sammiches if your getting fancy. Corn dogs are my guilty pleasure. I absolutely love a corn dog with a tasty corn based breading and mustard.

So stop eating your kale salad and sushi and think about the type of bad food you like most and maybe what stadium does them best. I would say Dodger dogs at Dodger stadium of my youth, but I am not sure if they are still as good. No yuppie food!

I watched the Bears game Sunday...In a lot or respects it looked just like our previous 3 games...spot a team 14 and lose by 10....Cruds had short fields all day....
Keys....CONTAIN....make the midget throw from the pocket, if he breaks contain don't fall for his pump/throw fake as he's running....I'd almost take 15 early and send him flying into the bench...TACKLE...hit low and rally and wrap Connor....Ertz....he seems to be the quick go to option 8-10 yds and find a hole....need the LB's to stay disciplined...Offensively, use the same plan that was used against Jax...mix play action and shorter routes early in anticipation of more later...

Evans first off the bench and in at LG when Edwards went down with a foot injury?

Joe Noteboom lined up next to Whitworth as blocking TE in 12 personel package?

I wasn't happy to see the first, and would be more than happy to see more of the second.

Matt Gay is having an outstanding season as a place kicker:

FG%: 96.0 (23/24) - 2nd in NFL
XP%: 97.2 (35/36 - 7th in NFL

Gay is the only PK in the NFL who has a success rate of over 95% on both FGs and PATs.

Impressive numbers, and much better than the guy he ultimately (after a number of failed experiments) replaced, Greg Zuerlein (81.0/89.3) and the guy who replaced him in Tampa, Ryan Succop (83.0/93.6).

On the flip side, Gay has the lowest average kickoff distance (60.0) and the most kickoffs out of bounds (4) in the NFL. I wonder, though, if this is the result of an issue with Gay or, rather, deliberate efforts to pin teams deep.

FWIW, Gay's touchback % (56.2) is 15th and he is 9th in total touchbacks (41), so I don't think he is incapable of putting it in the end zone on a consistent basis. Perhaps, that's what he should be doing every time.

So, I'm watching games yesterday and I see holding penalties on ticky tack stuff but on the overturned sack by Donald, the lineman is behind AD with a chokehold...no call. I see Rochelle making legal contact within 5 yards and gets called for holding yet, though I'm glad the Seahawks beat the Niners, a Hawk DB CLEARLY interferes incessantly in the end zone and doesn't draw a flag.

I swear, there is no rhyme or reason to how teams can get a baseline as to what is legal and what is not. Referees are the one inconsistent factor that ruins my ability to enjoy watching a game in the NFL.

Monday Night Football: New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills​

First place in the AFC East and major playoff implications are on the line when the New England Patriots head due north to Buffalo to take on the Bills for "Monday Night Football."

The Patriots (8-4) are riding a massive six-game hot streak behind a big-play defense and an offense that is hitting its stride under rookie quarterback Mac Jones. They sit atop the division and currently hold the second overall seed in the AFC. A win on Monday night would give the Pats a comfy two-game lead heading into the final stretch of the season.

Meanwhile, the Bills (7-4), an early AFC favorite, have split their last six games and find themselves a half-game back of the Pats in the AFC East. A win would hand the Bills the division lead and once again give credence to their legitimacy. But in order to knock off New England, Josh Allen and the Bills' offense have to be more reliable than it’s been in recent weeks, not an easy feat against this Pats defense.

Monday Night Football: New England (8-4) at Buffalo (7-4)

Kickoff: Monday, Dec. 6 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Bills -3

Three Things to Watch

1. Top-ranked defenses

If you’re an old-school, “defense wins championships” type of football fan, this might be the matchup for you. Simply put, these are the two best defensive units in the league. The Bills and Patriots are almost statistically identical in almost every major category on both sides of the ball, but especially when it comes to defense.

These are the top two defenses in the entire NFL when it comes to points prevention. New England ranks first, giving up just 15.8 points per contest, and the Bills are right behind them at 16.5. The Bills are the best at slowing down opposing quarterbacks, holding teams to a league-best 62.8 passer rating, while the Patriots rank second at 70.6. Both units force opposing offenses into mistakes as they are tied for second with 25 turnovers forced. Both have big-play secondaries that come through week in and week, ranking first (Pats, 19) and second (Bills, 16) in interceptions. And finally, each defense is really, really good on third downs and in the red zone, both sitting in the top ten in each category.

There is one area where the Patriots are better than the Bills – rushing the passer. New England’s 30 sacks rank fifth and are just three shy of the league lead. Linebacker Matt Judon is wreaking havoc on quarterbacks in his first season in New England, having a career year with 11.5 sacks so far (3rd). New England doesn’t blitz very often, only 22 percent of dropbacks, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them dial up pressure to make Allen uncomfortable from the first snap to try to force him into early mistakes.

2. Josh Allen: Jekyll or Hyde?

I have never read Robert Louis Stevenson’s "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." In fact, I didn’t know Bob Stevenson wrote that book until right now. All I know is, one of those guys in Bob’s book is bad, and the other is good, and they are the same fella. And that’s kind of how I'd describe the way Allen has been playing football as of late.

The evolution of Allen over the last couple of seasons has been really fun to watch. His development from a raw and reckless rookie and young starter into a legitimate MVP candidate has been remarkable. While Allen’s game has greatly matured, there are still those moments of indecision and negligence that hurt his team’s chances. And because of the Bills’ heavy, heavy reliance on the passing game, there may not be another quarterback in the NFL whose performance is more directly correlated with his team’s success than Allen. What I’m saying is, if Allen plays well, the Bills win. If he plays poorly, Buffalo loses.

In the Bills' seven wins this season, Allen has been brilliant, completing 68 percent of his throws, posting a 113.2 rating, with 19 touchdowns, 9.5 air yards per attempt, and only five interceptions and six sacks. In Buffalo’s four losses, Allen has played poorly with just an 81.2 rating, six touchdowns vs. five interceptions, 11 sacks, and a feeble 5.5 air yards per pass attempt.

In order to beat the Pats on Sunday, the Bills have to hope they get the version of Allen that dropped 320 yards and four touchdowns against New England in Week 15 last season, and not the one that had a combined passer rating of 67.4 in the Bills last two losses against the Colts and Jaguars. Most importantly, Allen has to protect the football against a Patriots’ defense that’s forced eight turnovers in the last two weeks.

3. Red zone

With this game shaping up to be a defensive battle, offensive efficiency is going to be of the utmost importance for each team, especially in scoring situations. For as well as the Patriots' offense has been playing in recent weeks, they’ve been struggling to score touchdowns in the red zone. In their last two games, the Pats have scored touchdowns on only three of their eight trips inside their opponents' 20-yard line. I find that kind of odd considering they won their last two contests by a combined 48 points.

But the fact of the matter is, the Pats have been struggling to score touchdowns in the red zone all season long, currently ranking 24th in touchdown percentage (55 percent). Mac Jones has been okay in scoring chances, checking in as the 16th-best red-zone passer this season with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. And despite racking up an average of 144 yards on the ground the last six weeks, New England also has struggled to run the ball in the red zone. Their two-pronged backfield of Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson (no relation to Bob) is averaging less than 2.5 yards per carry inside their opponents' 20.

On the other hand, the Bills' red-zone offense has improved, however moderately, in recent weeks. It’s still not great, ranking 11th in touchdown percentage (62 percent), but still better than it was back in October when it was costing them games (see: "Monday Night Football" vs. Tennessee). Allen has been as dynamic in the red zone as any quarterback since Cam Newton was at the height of his powers. This year Allen ranks third in red-zone completion percentage (65 percent), attempts (74), and touchdowns (18). He’s also second among quarterbacks in red-zone carries (18) and rushing touchdowns (3). A big reason for Allen’s scoring prowess is because he has one of the best red-zone targets in the league in Stefon Diggs. Diggs is second in the league in red-zone catches (16) and targets (24) and third in touchdowns (7). Watching the matchup between Diggs and New England cornerback J.C. Jackson will be fun to watch no matter where the ball is on the field, but it's something to definitely keep an eye on when the Bills are deep in Patriots’ territory.

Final Analysis

This game is going to be as accurate of a barometer for either of these teams as we’ve seen all season. With both defenses stacking up so evenly, this game comes down to which young quarterback can make plays while also not turning over the football. Despite the Bills’ inability to protect the ball, I think they have the offense to cover up their blemishes, mainly because if Allen is on, he can hurt defenses with his arm and ability to extend plays with his legs. The same can’t be said for Jones. I like the Bills to retake the AFC East in a low-scoring affair.

Prediction: Bills 22, Patriots 18

Simple poll.... curious as to how ROD will vote on this

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/mrs_whit77/status/1467664315553443843


We all know and love the guy and will miss him when he decides it's been enough. A 40 year old starting LT in the NFL is amazing.

The Lions finally won a game. Goff threw the winning TD pass with like 2 seconds left on the clock. He looked like the 2018 version of himself. He threw 3 TD passes. Reynolds is blossoming in Detroit where he and Hockenson are the primary receiving threats. I'm glad for both guys. If Goff had a better OL in front of him they would win some games.

Holmes has the draft picks to shore up the OL, WR, and defense over the next 2 drafts.

1. Back in the win column!

2. I guaranteed that win. Way to go out on a limb, no?

3. Seriously, though... those Rams fans who predicted a loss (unironically, and not as some sort of reverse psychology approach)... seriously? Time to look in the mirror.

4. Generally, I'm a "just win" kind of guy, but I see some real benefit in a blowout, feel-good, kind of win at this point in the season. Hopefully, the confidence will carry over into next week.

5. Nice to see the running game doing its job. Sony Michel churned out the Rams' first 100 yard rushing performance of the year.

6. The OL did a good job, despite losing Allen early and Edwards for a few plays. In addition to helping Michel get his, they allowed no sacks (the only sack was a blitz that Michel picked up too late).

7. Considering that Allen went out in the first series and the Rams' OL played well (albeit against lower-tier opponent) without him.... could a "center controversy" be imminent?

8. Who knew that the blocking TE replacement for Johnny Mundt would be Joe Noteboom?

9. Matthew Stafford took a couple of good (and, pretty much, dirty) shots, but played much better as the game wore on. I'm inclined to continue thinking that the "reports" regarding his physical condition are grounded in a grain of truth, but are being overstated.

10. OBJ is still finding his feet in the offense, but it was nice to see him make an early play and get a TD late. There is real upside there.

11. Its good that Darrell Henderson, who was active, did not have to play. We can use his fresh legs next week.

12. Speaking of Henderson, while it's hip around Rams water coolers to lament his fragile nature, if you look at RBs these days, he's pretty average in the durability department.

13. Cooper Kupp continuing to do Cooper Kupp things.

14. The Seahawks finally do something right, no thanks to Gerald Everett, who turned the ball over twice at the goal line.

15. Speaking of former Rams... congratulations to Jared Goff, who finally had a nice moment with walk-off TD pass on the final play to give the Lions their first victory of the year.

16. If Dr. Strange used the Time Stone to look at all the possible futures, there would be more than one in which the Rams don't make the playoffs this year... but not many more.

17. Next week, we find out if the Rams are still fighting for a division title. I think the Cardinals are beatable, but... for God's sake... don't let Kyler Murray break contain to his right!!!!!

18. The Cardinals' D is susceptible to the run, so more of the Noteboom set?

19. In a "next man up" kind of season, its important to acknowledge those who step up effectively. Greg Gaines has done a nice job filling in for SJD.

20. And peace returned to the message boards... for now.

Back on track baybay. Merry Christmas!

---

To all RamsOnDemand members,

We are 7-4 and trucking toward the playoffs after one of the most exciting off-seasons of our lifetime.

However, the last few weeks have been mostly an embarrassment around here.

You can be whatever kind of fan you want, but around here; the Debbie Downer shit and name calling ain't welcome.

The good news; Twitter and Reddit are thriving internet cesspools for anyone who wants more of that.

But, here... No more.

At RamsOnDemand; we are pals at a bar discussing our favorite team. That's how we engage with each other. It's not that complicated and the only way to have meaningful conversation.

We don't desire to lose any members, however warnings and bans will be issued to anyone that doesn't get in line with the roots of our existence.

Consider this notice and it's long overdue.

Go Rams!

CGI and your Rams LOVING Admin Team

Sunday Night Football: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs​

All four teams in the AFC West are separated by a single game, and this dramatic divisional race will get prime-time treatment when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos on "Sunday Night Football."

This rivalry has historically been streaky, dating back to the Chiefs (née Dallas Texans) winning 25 of the first 27 games in the series. Kansas City has won the most recent 11 games, dating back to November 2015, but Denver won the seven previous to that.

The Broncos have yet to figure out Patrick Mahomes in seven starts. That could be tricky at Arrowhead Stadium with the Chiefs coming off a bye — Andy Reid's teams are 19-3 when they play following a week off. But they'll have to end that losing streak when they play Kansas City twice in six weeks to stay in the playoff hunt.

Not only are the Broncos in a three-way tie for second, a game behind the Chiefs, they're also one of five six-win AFC teams vying for the seventh seed. And that's not to mention the 5-5-1 Steelers.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, still have a shot at the AFC's No. 1 seed despite a 3-4 start. They’re just a game back of the Ravens and a half-game back of the Patriots and Titans, although they’ve already lost to Baltimore and Tennessee.

Sunday Night Football: Denver (6-5) at Kansas City (7-4)

Kickoff: Sunday, Dec. 5 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Chiefs -9.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Can Denver's two high safeties slow Mahomes?

Patrick Mahomes has looked rather human this season — merely 10th in the league in QBR (57.4) and touchdown rate (5.6 percent) — and there's been a common thread to how teams have slowed him down. Opponents have used two high safeties, a strategy popularized in recent years by Broncos head coach Vic Fangio.

Of course, that hasn't worked against Mahomes recently for the Broncos. But the strategy is sound. Take away deep passes, drop seven into coverage to clog the middle, and dare the quarterback to make short passes or hand the ball off.

That strategy has been especially effective as the Chiefs' running game has struggled with Clyde Edwards-Helaire out. The second-year back out of LSU hasn't been the game-breaker the Chiefs hoped he'd be, but his return from a knee injury in Week 11 — 12 rushes for 63 yards and a score — was an improvement on what the team was getting from backup Darrel Williams (3.6 ypc).

Denver is a bit banged up in the secondary with Bryce Callahan (knee) out and Kareem Jackson (neck) limited in practice, so the pressure will be on a unit that coughed up 285 passing yards to Justin Herbert last week.

2. Is Kansas City's defense suddenly good?

Everyone knows about the Chiefs' offense, but the unit that has carried Kansas City in recent weeks has been the defense. Over their last six games, they've given up a total of 30 points in the second half. That comes after giving up an average of 32.6 points in their first five games.

It's been easy to come up with reasons why this defense may not have suddenly turned a corner. They were already blown out in the first half by the Titans. The quarterbacks they faced included Taylor Heinicke, Daniel Jones, and Jordan Love. But shutting down Derek Carr and then Dak Prescott is nothing to scoff at.

Much of their success in recent weeks can be attributed to turnovers, as the team has 11 in the last six games after only creating four through Week 5. But for all of Teddy Bridgwater's limitations as a passer, he does a great job of holding onto the ball — his 1.6 percent interception rate is fifth best among qualified passers.

Given the unit's weakness over the past several seasons, proving that they can stop a team with a bey of talented skill-position players without depending on turnovers will be illuminating for Kansas City's impending playoff run.

3. Is this Javonte Williams' chance to shine?

One of those talented skill-position players is Denver's rookie running back. Williams has averaged at least five yards per carry in five of his last eight games but is averaging less than 10 attempts per game during that stretch.

That could change Sunday night as his backfield partner Melvin Gordon III has been held out of practice this week due to neck and hip injuries. If he does play, he's sure to have a more limited role than his usual 55-45 split.

Rookie running backs usually see their usage ramp up in the second half of the year, and this all comes together to portend a breakout. The Chiefs struggle against the run in both traditional (4.6 yards allowed per attempt, 28th in the NFL) and advanced metrics (4.55 adjusted line yards, 26th), so Williams could be trouble on Sunday night.

Final Analysis

The Chiefs are rounding into form at the right time, and it’s hard to discount Reid’s track record when given an extra week to prepare. However, there are some matchup problems that could expose cracks they’ve shown all season long. A nearly double-digit spread is probably too generous for Kansas City, but they are heavy favorites at home for a reason.

Prediction: Chiefs 23, Broncos 17