1. Every win feels good...

2. ...but that was a bit closer than it should have been.

3. Okay, the Colts got a free 7 points off a fluke play, so there is that.

4. The defense is not fully in synch, in my estimation. I think they'll get there, though. Sooner rather than later, I hope.

5. Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey had big plays late. Guess that's why we pay them the big bucks.

6. Sebastian Joseph-Day has really made himself into a player, and this may have been his best game as a pro (9 tackles, 1 sack, 2 QB hits). You can also see how Donald reacts to him... he knows that SJD really works at his craft.

7. Matthew Stafford faced a higher degree of difficulty today. He wasn't perfect, but he was pretty darn good.

8. Cooper Kupp is having an All-Pro season. He is the complete package.

9. I didn't love the run call to Kupp on 3rd down on the go-ahead drive, but I understand the thought behind it. Colts called a perfect run blitz and Higbee really had no chance of picking it up.

10. In two games, the Rams have trailed for a total of 2:03 minutes (the time it took for the Rams to strike back after the punt gaffe).

11. FWIW, the Rams have defeated two 2020 playoff teams who had a combined record of 32-19 last year.

12. If you're reaction to #11 is, "yeah, but the teams the Rams beat aren't really that good," then I guess you're not impressed with the 49ers' start against Detroit and Philly (9-23 last year, combined) either.

13. Darrell Henderson did some good things but, man... that guy has trouble staying healthy. Hopefully his rib injury is minor and won't keep him out against Tampa next week. We're going to need all hands on deck.

14. Liked what I saw from Sony Michel in his limited action spelling Henderson. Really glad to have him on the roster.

15. Matt Gay looks really solid. Remember the adventure we had at PK at the start of last year. Ugh... don't ever want to go through that again.

16. Wentz showed flashes of the things that made Eagle fans so optimistic about him a few years back, but man... there's another guy who can't stay healthy.

17. Kenny Young's ejection was a bad moment. Who were the two guys who gave him a much needed talking-to... Donald and Ramsey, of course.

18. Out of the gate, the rookie who has seen the most playing time: Robert Rochell. Can't say I called that one. On the flip side, Terrell Burgess is really struggling to find a role coming back from his injury.

19. The OL is holding up nicely over the first two weeks.

20. Really looking forward to see how this team looks against the defending champs next week!

Has the talent but not durability. I just hope he is healthy for the playoffs.

Time to see what Funk can do.

It just needs to be able to make plays at the right time which they can do.

Two seasons ago the Chiefs defense was ranked #25 and they won the SB.

We can't rely on this defense. The offense need to be a juggernaut.

It can happen. As a matter of fact this Rams team reminds me of that Chiefs team.

Have fun guys

I have been lurking around here and there, my wife has had a second bout with cancer and it’s been rough for her and our family. But she is doing well, and will finish Chemo in mid January. Glad to have football back as we are huge ram fans. I wish you all a great game day and Go Rams!

What are you planning today?

Get those shopping lists going…

I am doing a crockpot of sloppy joe’s with sides….

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/6lkNP4rKlwg

Sunday Night Football: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens​

It wasn’t long ago that the Baltimore Ravens, not the Kansas City Chiefs, seemed destined for Super Bowl glory. Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s first year as a starter led the Ravens to the best regular-season record in the NFL; they clinched home-field advantage and were expected to host the Chiefs in the 2019 AFC Championship Game.

But the Tennessee Titans upended those plans, upsetting the Ravens in the Divisional Round that year. The Chiefs went on to win the AFC, then the Super Bowl, while the Ravens have taken a step back ever since. Making the playoffs as a wild card team last season, the Ravens again advanced to the Divisional Round (exacting some payback against the Titans in the process) before scoring a measly three points against the Buffalo Bills.

This year, the Ravens’ bad luck began before the season even started: they’ve already piled up a dozen players on injured reserve. All-Pro offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, out for this weekend’s game, is just the latest in a series of physical and medical ailments. Cornerback Marcus Peters, running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, plus linebacker L.J. Fort are all out for the season with torn ACLs.

How will their patchwork lineup hold up against a Chiefs team invigorated after their comeback win against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1? This weekend will be the second time in the first five games (Buffalo, Week 5) the Chiefs will face an AFC team that made the playoffs last season. A slow start against the Browns was erased with a fourth-quarter comeback that appeared to happen with a flip of a switch, the Chiefs’ calling card in recent years with their explosive offense capable of throwing up points in bunches.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has plenty more healthy weapons to work with over Jackson, that’s for sure. Will it be enough for the Chiefs to remain unbeaten in an AFC West division where no one lost in Week 1?

Sunday Night Football: Kansas City at Baltimore

Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 19 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Chiefs -3.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Can the Ravens' running game step up around Lamar Jackson?

Jackson remained the All-Pro mastermind of the Ravens' offense, passing for 235 yards in the season opener while rushing for another 86. It’s hard to fault the best player on the field for a wacky, 33-27 loss in overtime against a pesky Las Vegas Raiders team that was playing their first home game in front of fans.

At the same time, Jackson’s two fumbles wound up costing the Ravens 13 points. A strip-sack by the Raiders’ Carl Nassib made the difference after a goal-line interception by the Ravens gave their team a chance. Jackson’s third sack was only the second time in the last eight games the offensive line had given up that many.

That O-line, of course, will be down one of their best players in Stanley, facing a Chiefs defensive unit that got to Baker Mayfield twice (along with forcing an interception). Can they still protect the fastest quarterback in the league?

It’ll help if the defensive line has to key in on somebody else. Running back Ty’Son Williams, forced into service with all the injuries, impressed with 65 yards on nine carries in his NFL debut. He, along with Latavius Murray, scored touchdowns in what was the league’s top-ranked rushing offense last year. 189 total yards left them leading that category again after Week 1.

Against the Raiders, it wasn’t enough. But this group needs to take care of the ball and run right at the Chiefs to have a chance.

2. Can Patrick Mahomes be stopped?

With 10 minutes, 24 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs were down nine against the Browns in Week 1. They had trailed the entire game in their home opener as the defense struggled to contain Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb and the rest of Cleveland's offense.

Three-and-a-half minutes later, the Chiefs were up by four, a lead they never relinquished the rest of the way.

That’s what happens when you have Mahomes, who threw a 75-yard touchdown bomb to Tyreek Hill, then threw an easy eight-yard touchdown to Travis Kelce after the Browns made a special teams miscue. Mahomes’ numbers to start the year picked right up where he left off in 2020: 337 yards, three touchdown passes, no turnovers, another touchdown on the ground, and an AFC-best QB rating of 131.4.

Those numbers are strikingly similar to when Mahomes rolled over Baltimore during the regular season last September: 385 passing yards, four TD passes, no sacks, no interceptions, and a QB rating of 133.5. How does the vaunted Ravens defense stop that?

“They don’t give that guy a half-billion dollars for no reason,” Ravens defensive tackle Calais Campbell said then. “He just made play after play. You’ve got to give him respect.”

Is there a better strategy to stopping him? This Baltimore Sun article goes in-depth in the various ways Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale has tried to slow down Mahomes through the years. Blitzing will again be part of the package this weekend, attempting to attack a Chiefs’ offensive line that has five new starters compared to 2020.

The Browns didn’t have much success against them, though; it’s not like Mahomes was really slowed down. Despite facing a better defense, expect the MVP to still wriggle away from defenders and throw at least one deep touchdown pass.

3. Tyreek Hill & Travis Kelce vs. ... who, exactly?

Hill and Kelce remain a dynamic duo for Mahomes in the Chiefs’ offensive system. Combined, they collected nearly 275 receiving yards, three touchdowns and caught 17 of their 22 targets in Week 1.

Compare that to the Ravens' wideouts, none of whom caught more than six passes against the Raiders. But former Chief Sammy Watkins had a team-high 96 receiving yards, averaging 24 yards per catch, and might be motivated to perform against his former team. It was an important connection for Jackson to make down so many offensive weapons.

The Chiefs spoke highly of Watkins this week, making it clear the defense has been keyed in on him in practice.

“He’s obviously a bigger body who can make a lot of catches,” Mahomes said. “But he has the speed to break it away at any time. I think you saw that in their game on Monday night and obviously when he was here with us. So, I’m happy for him that he’s in a good spot and I know it’ll be a great challenge for our defense to have to battle him.”

Watkins needs to slip past the Chiefs' defense once, maybe twice, for the Ravens to have a shot at the upset. Who else besides Jackson will make the big plays downfield in this offense?

Final Analysis

For all the hoopla surrounding the Chiefs’ home-field advantage, they’ve played just as well on the road. They’re a whopping 15-1 in their last 16 regular-season games and their only road loss in 2020 occurred in Super Bowl LV to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were playing in their home stadium.

Expect Jackson and the Ravens to play hard. Head coach John Harbaugh hasn’t lost the locker room. But an alarming deficiency in personnel makes it easy to bet against them, and the spread, especially with Mahomes and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid involved (15 straight wins in September).

Unfortunately for the Ravens, an 0-2 start looks like a tough reality in an AFC North where they may already fall two games behind top rival Pittsburgh after Sunday night.

Prediction: Chiefs 38, Ravens 27

Sunday, Sept. 19

THE LATE GAMES
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 pm (CBS)
Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 pm (CBS)

THE EARLY GAMES
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers, 1 pm (FOX)
Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears, 1 pm (FOX)
Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns, 1 pm (CBS)
Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts, 1 pm (FOX)
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 pm (CBS)
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins, 1 pm (FOX)
New England Patriots at New York Jets, 1 pm (CBS)
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 pm (FOX)
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 pm (CBS)

SNF
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 pm (NBC)

Monday, Sept. 20
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 pm(ESPN)

---

ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, Sept. 16
New York Giants at Washington Football Team, 8:20 pm (NFL Network)

Sunday, Sept. 19

THE EARLY GAMES
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers, 1 pm (FOX)
Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears, 1 pm (FOX)
Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns, 1 pm (CBS)
Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts, 1 pm (FOX)
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 pm (CBS)
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins, 1 pm (FOX)
New England Patriots at New York Jets, 1 pm (CBS)
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 pm (FOX)
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 pm (CBS)

THE LATE GAMES
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:05 pm (FOX)
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 pm (CBS)
Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 pm (CBS)

SNF
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 pm (NBC)

Monday, Sept. 20
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 pm(ESPN)

---

ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, Sept. 16
New York Giants at Washington Football Team, 8:20 pm (NFL Network)

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

Wondering if anyone else saw the performance of QB Jake Haener for Fresno St tonight? They drove down the field with only 50 seconds left to score a go ahead TD with 10 seconds to play. He threw for 455 yards in addition to getting injured on the second to last drive in which he took a shot to the hip but kept playing and threw a previous go ahead TD with 3:00 to play. The guy can make all of the throws despite being only 6'1". I'm not sure I have ever seen a performance like this in College football before.
As a Bruin fan, I an devastated by the loss. But, I have to say it was of the best college FB games I have ever seen.

Thought it was worth a mention.

I can go back 50 years as a Rams' fan, and Brown was even before my time.

The original Fearsome Foursome was Lamar Lundy and Deacon Jones at end, with Merlin Olsen and Rosey Grier inside. Grier's playing career came to an abrupt end in a 1967 pre-season-game. The Rams' Front Office acted quickly (much like the current Front Office has done) in replacing Rosey by making a trade with the Detroit Lions and acquired Roger Brown who stepped-in at DT.

George Allen had been a defensive coach and personnel man in Chicago before becoming the Rams' head coach, so he knew Roger Brown pretty well.

Brown was a stud. Six Pro Bowls in a ten-year-career; and twice an All Pro. He was one of the first true 300-lb NFL linemen. The re-worked Fearsome Foursome did not lose a step in 1967, going 11-1-2 and holding opponents to an NFL-best 14 points-per-game. 1968 was almost as productive ... 10-3-1 record, with opponents scoring just 14.3 per-game.

By 1969, Coy Bacon and Diron Talbert were starting for Lundy and Brown on the D-Line. Still a terrific group but not the original Fearsome Foursome.

Brown was a successful businessman post-playing-career, and lived to 84. Member of the College Football Hall of Fame, and the Lions' Ring-of-Honor. Seems like he had a tremendous life.

Just a little Nostalgia.

Matthew Stafford has been in the NFL since 2009.

Stafford has played every NFL team except the Lions (on the schedule this season).

What NFL teams are left for the Matthew to get a victory against?

Sean McVay's record vs the other 31 NFL teams.

McVay has played every team in the NFL since the Rams hired him as their head coach.

Can you name all of the teams McVay has yet to get a victory against?

That is all....
Edit: sorry if this was already posted. I hadn't seen it yet.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/BaldyNFL/status/1437970173290598402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1437970173290598402%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2021%2F09%2F15%2Frams-jalen-ramsey-week-1-brian-baldinger-breakdown%2F

If a woman is on the panel, why does she have to be the host or hostess? Whatever you want to call it. Do I sound chauvinistic?

... are the Red Sox wearing our colors for??

Feel free to move mods, as this is not football related... Wanted eyes on this bullshit....

NASA Upped the Chance of Asteroid Bennu Slamming Into Earth – Putting the Odds in Perspective​

Using NASA’s Deep Space Network and state-of-the-art computer models, scientists were able to significantly shrink uncertainties in Bennu’s orbit, determining its total impact probability through the year 2300 is about 1 in 1,750 (or 0.057%). The researchers were also able to identify September 24, 2182, as the most significant single date in terms of a potential impact, with an impact probability of 1 in 2,700 (or about 0.037%). Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Like Hitting a Bullseye With Your Eyes Closed

Two statisticians put into perspective the chances of asteroid Bennu striking Earth in the next 300 years.

Even Harry Stamper would probably like these odds.

Recently NASA updated its forecast of the chances that the asteroid Bennu, one of the two most hazardous known objects in our solar system, will hit Earth in the next 300 years. New calculations put the odds at 1 in 1,750, a figure slightly higher than previously thought.

The space agency, which has been tracking the building-sized rock since it was discovered in 1999, revised its prediction based on new tracking data.

Even with the small shift in odds, it seems likely we won’t face the kind of scenario featured that in the 1998 science-fiction disaster film “Armageddon” when Stamper, played by Bruce Willis, and his team had to try to blow up a huge asteroid that was on an extinction-making collision course with the Earth.

This mosaic of Bennu was created using observations made by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which was in close proximity to the asteroid for over two years. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

(In an unrelated development, NASA plans to launch a mission in November to see whether a spacecraft could hit a sizeable space rock and change its trajectory just in case it ever needs to.)

This begs the question of just how good should we feel about our odds? We put that question to Lucas B. Janson and Morgane Austern, both assistant professors of statistics.

They compared Bennu’s chances of hitting Earth to the approximate likelihood of:

Flipping a coin and having the first 11 attempts all land heads.

Any four random people sharing a birthday in the same month (the odds of this are 1 in 1,750 exactly).
Throwing a dart at a dartboard with your eyes closed and hitting a bullseye.

Winning the state’s VaxMillions lottery on two separate days if every eligible adult resident is entered and a new drawing is held every second.

Bottom line? Janson, an affiliate in computer science, says that if he were a betting man, he would put his money on our being just fine. Then again, he points out, if he is wrong, “Paying up would be the least of my worries.”

Anyone have a link to the full condensed Rams Bears game? I remember they used to get posted.. didn't know if whoever it was is still doing it.

Much appreciated!

I like the joke gifs I have on Jeff Fisher because I am regretful about my rabid support of him in the beginning. He was a really good coach who took us from the NFL trash heap to respectability, but then hit a brick wall at 7-9. I watched and re-watched the Super Bowl 34 victory tape, over and over, and I liked his fiery tenacity. That last drive where Dyson was tackled by Mike Jones on the one yard line is equal in my mind, to the Warner-Ike Bruce TD in that game. Fisher inspired Eddie George and McNair, "Look at em! They're celebrating! Get in the game!." We were celebrating, and George was ripping our defense's heart out. DMarco Farr said they could not have stopped him if they had handed the ball to him, instead of throwing to Dyson because the Rams defense was tired and wrecked. Even though I loved Fish's tenacity, I should have gotten a glimpse of his fatal flaw in that last play. It should have been a run up the gut with George, but Fisher thought he was smarter (or his OC) than everyone else, and lost the game.

* I can't claim that I knew Sean McVay would be as good as he has been, but I hoped.
* Jeff Fisher: Good coach who should not have player personnel powers. I was wrong about him.
* Steve Spanuolo: DC of the Super Bowl winning NY Giants, but didn't know what a control freak he would be as HC. I was neutral on Spags.
* Scott Linehan: definite WTF? Supposed to be an offensive guru, but was no McVay. I wasn't wrong about him.
* Mike Martz: Brilliant OC. He was Vermeil's mad scientist, however, like Icarus. he flew too close to the sun. We should have won Super Bowl 36, but we won't gto into that.
* Dick Vermeil: loved this guy, but I thought he was a retread HC after his burnout in Philly. I was delightfully wrong about him.
* Rich Brooks: totally wrong about him. I was an Oregon Ducks fan and he was a semi-legend in Eugene, so I expected great things from him.
* Chuck Knox: Again? I was right that he was going to fail, again.
* John Robinson: Former USC National Championship winning HC. I expected great things from him and he did well, on the back of Eric Dickerson, Jim Everrett, & Co. No Super Bowl.
* Ray: Malavasi Never heard of the guy when he took over for Chuck Knox. He led us to a Super Bowl, so there is that.
* Chuck Knox: I wasn't too aware about the original hiring of him at my young age. It did seem to me that he was too reliant on running the ball and he never found an answer to the QB question. He screwed up (or Carrol Rosenbloom did) when they got rid of Ron Jaworski.
* Tommy Prothro: Man, I don't remember him at all. I remember players from his two seasons as HC, but not him.
* George Allen: Charismatic HC. I vaguely remember him from when I was young, but more so when he was the HC of the Redskins and the "Over the Hill Gang." I have no clue how @den-the-coach remembers him so well, because I am a little older than den and he remembers so much.

1969 Was when I became a fan of the Los Angeles Rams, so that is where my HC memory began.

So what are your hits and misses as far as predicting how well a HC would do for the Rams? Were you right about Robinson, Vermeil, Martz and McVay? Who were your wrong about. You know who I was most wrong about....

I found this to be very informative as I didn't know how the rules had changed for covid the last couple of seasons. Some interesting thing like teams being able to add practice squad players as a 54th and 55th roster spot twice during the season if needed. Can only have six with over two years accrued experience. etc. Anyway, I thought this was good info so figured I'd share it.

Here’s how much money NFL practice squad players make​

Eric Mullin
Thu, September 16, 2021, 6:15 PM

Here’s how much money NFL practice squad players make originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The practice squad is an important part of an NFL franchise

All 32 teams are bound to encounter injuries throughout a rigorous 17-game season, and the practice squad provides them with replacement options who are already familiar with the system.
It won’t be uncommon to see teams promote and sign practice squad players to their active rosters throughout the 2021 season, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still being a factor.
With that said, here’s everything you need to know about NFL practice squads for this season.

How many players are on an NFL practice squad?​

The NFL increased the size of practice squads to a maximum of 16 players ahead of last season. Practice squads were originally set to increase from 10 to 12 in 2020 and then up to 14 in 2022, but the number was raised to 16 to help prepare for the effect that COVID-19 would have on the season. The size of practice squads remains at 16 for this season.

How much money do NFL practice squad players make?​

Players with two or fewer accrued NFL seasons earn at least $9,200 per week, which equals $165,600 for 18 weeks spent on the practice squad. (A player accrues a season when they are on full-time pay status for at least six regular-season games). Players with more than two accrued seasons make a minimum of $14K per week and $252K for the whole season. For comparison, the minimum salary for a rookie on an active roster this season is $660K.
Practice squad players can be paid more than those minimum figures and their salaries do count against a team’s salary cap.
If a practice squad player is promoted to the active roster, he earns the prorated minimum salary for a player with his years of experience. So a rookie called up to the active roster ahead of a game would see his pay increased from $9,200 to over $36,000. A player with seven-plus years of experience would earn over $59K.
A practice squad player actually being signed to an active roster comes with a guarantee of three game checks.

What are the rules for NFL practice squads?​

Here are some of the most notable rules to know regarding practice squads:

• A maximum of six players on a practice squad can have more than two accrued seasons of experience.
• Teams are allowed to protect four practice players per week from being signed by rival teams. There is no limit on how many times a player can be protected throughout the season. These protections can be made after 4 p.m. ET on Tuesdays.
• The only way a practice squad player can be scooped up by another team is if they are signed to the active roster. A team cannot sign a rival practice squad player to their own practice squad. A practice squad player cannot sign with their team’s next opponent, unless it’s at least six days before the game (10 if it’s a bye week).
• Each week, teams have the ability to promote two practice squad players without having to create space for them on the active roster, giving teams access to a 54th and 55th roster spot. This transaction must be made by 4 p.m. ET the day before a game. Following the game, these promoted players revert back to the practice squad without going through waivers. A player can be promoted to the active roster via this mechanism twice per season. If a team wants to call up a player for a third time, they must sign him to their roster.
• If a team encounters a late positive COVID-19 case, they can promote an additional practice squad player within 90 minutes before kickoff.

.

Login to view embedded media
.

Super Random question but I just bought my first house with my fiancé and when I was doing the initial walkthrough I go into the master closet and see a bunch of Rams jerseys and 99 super bowl hats etc.

For most of you I’m sure this doesn’t seem out of the ordinary but to find another Rams fan in NJ is not such a common occurrence and I thought there’s no way this guy is a fan of such a far away away team and doesn't post on a message board.