With all the job layoffs, the virus etc etc Santa is hurting for the Kids,Big Time.Me I don't have much but 100 bucks to the Col.

Austin Corbett enjoying rewarding third NFL season

Drafted 33rd overall by the Browns in 2018, Austin Corbett saw scarce playing time as a rookie within a veteran Cleveland offensive line room, then was traded to the Rams halfway through his second season for a 2021 fifth-round pick.

However, the change of scenery brought opportunity sooner than expected, as injuries along Los Angeles' offensive line afforded him the chance to start in seven of the eight games he played. In turn, that sample size gave the Rams enough confidence to keep him in a starting role this year, in what has been a rewarding third season for the former University of Nevada standout.

"Coming into the offseason, my goal was just to be a starter on this team," Corbett said during a video conference Monday, reflecting on his journey to L.A. "That's every competitor's goal, right? You're not just going to go on a team just to sit there and put a jersey on, you want to contribute, you want to do your part for your brothers next to you."

A look at evaluations from inside and outside the Rams locker room offer some insight in why their faith in Corbett was well-placed.

According to scouting service Pro Football Focus (PFF), Corbett allowed the fourth-fewest pressures (11) and tied for the seventh-fewest sacks allowed (1) among offensives guards who logged at least 500 snaps in 2019. This season, PFF has twice recognized him as the highest-graded Rams offensive player, most recently after Los Angeles' Monday Night Football win at Tampa Bay.

Earlier this season, Corbett had the fourth-highest run block win rate of any offensive guard in the NFL, according to ESPN – undoubtedly a critical component to Los Angeles' top-10 rushing offense.

"That kid's strength and explosiveness is what kind of sets him apart," center Austin Blythe said during a Sept. 30 video conference. "I mean, you guys have seen it, he just comes off the ball and mauls people."

And yet, as well as Corbett has played, Rams run game coordinator/offensive line coach Aaron Kromer on noted episode 49 of the Rams Revealed podcast in early October that he is still learning, given Corbett was coming off only his 10th NFL start – he's approaching his 19th this Sunday – and had played so little in Cleveland.

But the progress Corbett displayed in less than a year since the Rams acquired him was promising, and also reminded Kromer of why they liked him coming out of college.

"The guy is just powerful. He's a bigger Blythe-type body, but he can get his hips under you, he really does a good job with using his power, and he's athletic and can run," Kromer said on Oct. 1. "We really liked him coming out of college, it's just Cleveland picked him in the second round and he was gone. He's a guy that's developed as well."

It's been a rewarding season for Corbett off the field, too. In addition to becoming a full-time starter, he and his wife also welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Ford, on Sept. 8.

No matter who or what his sources of motivation have been, though, they've powered him to a strong first season as a full-time starter.

"Looking back, it's been awesome," Corbett said during a video conference Monday. "And really, the bright side of the whole season is that it's my first season as a dad now, and so there's been a different meaning behind why I'm playing this game. I think it really made me just find the love for football even more. And to be able to move on and do it with such a great group of teammates and a great line, you just can't ask for much more."

.

here are all his touches from the game. man he looked good in space.

he ran into the back of woods twice, still some timing issues to work through.

Login to view embedded media
.

Even if the Hawks beat the cards the window for the division championship is still wide open. If the Rams can beat the Hawks and sweep the Cards they probably take the division with having the tiebreaker in a sweep of the Hawks and Cards.

What I still can't fathom is WTF was Staley doing by starting his second-string CBs and playing them most of the game? There is no way the Niners should have easily move into position for that final game-winning FG. Yeah, Goff played like crap. But Staley takes some of the blame by backing off after totally stifling the Niners then backing off when it mattered most.

I'm angry but not giving up. McVay and Goff need to really need to change the passing offense. McVay needs to go to a much faster scheme giving Goff multiple short options. At least one of those pressures came with no dump off options. The door is open but the margin doesn't give them much room for error.

I consider myself a good fan, but don’t have the time for dissection as some of you guys on this board do. What is your opinion on how the Niner front seven seem to dominate us. Personally, it reminded me of the Super Bowl loss for most of the game. Perhaps, the Niner secondary flood the zones where McVay likes to throw, and force him to do the things he hates most..to run the ball...thoughts?

Well, that game blew like a fucking F5 tornado, and some of the players I really want (Ossai, Horn, and Myers) won't be there when we first pick. Time to make a brand new mock offseason:

Fire: John Bonamego.

(Yes, I've made my feelings personally known. We can do so much better at special teams, like go with an up-and-coming coach from the college ranks. He's a downgrade, even with Bones ruining his reputation in Dallas.)

Hire: Justin Lustig, Syracuse.

(Lustig has done an amazing job at Syracuse as their special teams coach; his kicker won the Lou Groza award, and they were ranked in the top in almost every category, and he's only forty-four. He deserves a shot at the NFL, if he wants. This is the kind of young, innovative coach that we can use on special teams.)

Cut:

Kenny Young
Justin Lawler
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Nick Scott

(Both Lawler and Okoronkwo have injury issues. Young has not been effective at all. And I've made my feelings on Scott perfectly clear - and yes, cutting them all saves money.)

Re-sign:

Matthew Gay - 3 years, 1.5 million per year.
Darious Williams - RFA (first round tender).
Johnny Mundt - RFA (original round tender)
Natrez Patrick - RFA (original round tender)
Coleman Shelton - ERFA
Travin Howard - ERFA
Raymond Calais - ERFA
JuJu Hughes - ERFA

(Gay, in my opinion, should be the kicker of the future. Williams gets a first round tender. The rest are RFAs and ERFAs, so I see no reason not to re-sign them.)

Release:

John Johnson III
Leonard Floyd
Troy Hill
Gerald Everett
Malcolm Brown
Josh Reynolds
Samson Ebukam
Derek Rivers
Austin Blythe
Morgan Fox
Jake McQuaide
Kai Forbath

(I hate to let JJ3 and Floyd leave, but both of them could return a third round compensatory pick each - picks that can be used as ammunition to trade up. Hill, Reynolds, and Everett have been solid role players, but I can see them going for starting roles on lesser teams. Brown should be replaced by Akers and Henderson. Ebukam and Rivers haven't been effective this year and can be replaced by the combination of Hollins, Lewis, Polite, and two draft picks. Fox will go for a starting role. Blythe is replaceable. McQuaide has been great, but I can't see us paying huge money for an aging long snapper. As for Forbath, I'd rather forget he was ever on the team.)

Restructure:

Jared Goff
Aaron Donald

(Not sure whom else to restructure. I'm not a cap expert; hell, I don't even know if we should restructure Goff if the money goes straight into dead money, unless I'm totally mistaken - which I very well could be?)

Trades:

Michael Brockers to the Tennessee Titans for 2021 fifth round pick and 2022 seventh round pick.

(Tennessee needs good players on the defensive line; both DaQuan Jones and Jack Crawford are unrestricted free agents. Brockers could fit in the middle, and we could get much needed salary relief and two picks to boot.)

Rob Havenstein and 2022 seventh round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for 2021 fourth round pick and 2021 sixth round pick.

(Cincinnati's offensive line is horrible. Jonah Williams is a good player at left tackle, but their right tackle signing has been an enormous bust. We give Zac Taylor a lineman he knows for a pick. I feel that Noteboom should be starting at right tackle for us anyway, if Whitworth doesn't retire, like I hope.)

2021 second round pick to the New York Jets for 2021 third round pick (Jets original pick) and 2021 fourth round pick.

(We trade down for our man, and the Jets move up to take a falling wide receiver after taking offensive line to protect Lawrence with their first second round pick.)

Draft:

3rd (Jets) - Nick Bolton, ILB, Missouri. (6'0", 232 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Bolton is short, stocky, and probably maxed-out. His drop-backs aren't always pretty. But hot damn can this kid play. He is a super physical linebacker who can move sideline-to-sideline. He never quits on the play, can rush the passer, can cover running backs and tight ends, he literally does it all. The absolute only reason he falls is because he's a shorter linebacker (probably 5'11", but he's listed at 6'0") who doesn't fit the profile of a top inside linebacker like Parsons or Moses.)

3rd - Quincy Roche, OLB, Miami. (6'4", 235 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(No, that's not a typo. Roche is severely underweight, probably won't gain more weight, and can get overwhelmed at the point of attack. The positive is that he is extremely explosive, creating sacks and tackles-for-a-loss, from Temple to Miami. His get-off is elite, and while he'll never be a great run defender, he can get into the backfield and cause havoc.)

3rd (compensatory) - Joe Tryon, OLB, Washington. (6'4", 251 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Tryon reminds me a bit of Floyd. He's doesn't have a go-to pass-rush move, and he needs to be more consistent at setting the edge. But he's a fast rusher who has insane length, can drop into coverage and neutralize a tight end, and he's quite intelligent.)

4th (Jets) - Chazz Surratt, ILB, North Carolina. (6'3", 230 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Surratt has been suspended for selling team issued shoes, has had a season ending wrist injury after the suspension, struggles to get off blocks, and is very, very raw, as he was a former quarterback less than two years ago. But he's intelligent, has amazing athleticism, and has shown that he could be a potential stud at linebacker.)

4th (Bengals) - Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina.

Login to view embedded media
(Mukuamu really struggled against Florida, and the inability to cover quick-twitch receivers drops him here, as some might consider him as a safety. I think he could be a great corner because of his length, his ball skills, and physicality. I like this kid, and I hope he drops here.)

4th (compensatory) - Josh Ball, OT, Marshall. (6'8", 350 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Shockingly enough, Ball could end up getting bigger without losing his agility. He is already a very athletic and very strong left tackle who can utterly bury opposing D-linemen. He's dominated competition at Marshall. Main thing to watch is that he was kicked out of Florida State, so character is something to watch. But you simply don't see players like this in the fourth round, and he could be a steal here.)

5th (Titans) - Jimmy Morrissey, OC, Pittsburgh. (6'3", 305 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Morrissey could stand to get bigger for the NFL, he's more of a technician than a downhill blocker, and he's not the athlete you'd expect him to be. But this kid is a former walk-on who is now a team captain for Pitt, has started since his red-shirt freshman year, and has improved every year (not allowing a single sack and grading out as Pitt's best run blocker. I like this kid a lot, and I think he could be a great pro.)

6th (Bengals) - Bobby Brown III, DL, Texas A&M. (6'4, 315 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Brown's main problem is his motor, as it runs cold at times, and when it does, he should not be on the field, as he does nothing. But this year, he's been pretty damn good. He's a solid interior lineman who can play almost anywhere on the line. He's built like a tank, and when his motor is hot, he plays like one as well - stuffing the run, pushing the pocket, etc.. Basically, you're hoping to get a couple of solid-to-good years out of him, but he is a really damn good lineman.)

6th - Talanoa Hufanga, S, Southern California. (6'1", 215 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Hufanga has a medical history, and he needs work in coverage (he can do it, but he needs to make more splash plays there.) But he's an incredibly physical safety who has made numerous splash plays against the run, plays hard on special teams, and he fits this system to a tee.)

7th - Mike Strachan, WR, University of Charleston. (6'5", 225.)

Login to view embedded media
(Now this is totally left field. Strachan is sushi raw. He's lacking in route running. He's a late-bloomer, coming from the Bahamas. And he's playing against inferior competition. What's so good about him? He's a huge deep threat, a former track star who is averaged sixteen yards a catch with 19 touchdowns in his junior year alone, and he simply doesn't drop passes thrown in his area. Think Kenny Golladay. We need a deep threat that we lost with Cooks, and we also need a bigger receiver for the endzone, like what we've lost with Watkins. Strachan fills both parts. Not bad for a seventh round pick.)

Undrafted Free Agents:

Shaun Beyer, TE, Iowa. (6'5", 246 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Beyer is mostly a blocking tight end for Iowa, but he has soft hands, as seen in the video. It would be an interesting pickup.)

Trey Ragas, RB, Louisiana. (5'10", 227 lbs.)

Login to view embedded media
(Here's our Malcolm Brown replacement. Ragas simply does not go down with the first tackle. He's a punishing runner, and showed up against even the greatest front-sevens like Alabama; in fact, he averaged over 7.5 yards after contact. He's not a good receiver at all, but as a pass-blocker, he's shown that he can hang with linebackers. Ragas will never be a feature back, but he has a role to play with the Rams.)

Blake Ferguson, LS, LSU.

(No highlights. But we need a long-snapper with McQuaide gone, and apparently Ferguson is the best one I could find.)

Roster: (Starters in bold; rookies in italics.)

QB - Jared Goff, Bryce Perkins.
RB - Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr., Trey Ragas, Raymond Calais.
WR - Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Nsimba Webster, Mike Strachan.
TE - Tyler Higbee, Brycen Hopkins, Kendall Blanton, Shaun Beyer.
OL - Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Austin Corbett, Bobby Evans, Joseph Noteboom, Chandler Brewer, Tremayne Anchrum, Josh Ball, Jimmy Morrissey
DL - Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, A'Shawn Robinson, Greg Gaines, Bobby Brown III, Michael Hoecht, Jonah Williams.
LB - Joe Tryon, Nick Bolton, Micah Kiser, Justin Hollins, Chazz Surratt, Terrell Lewis, Jachai Polite, Quincy Roche, Travin Howard, Christian Rozeboom.
DB - Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, David Long, Jordan Fuller, Taylor Rapp, Terrell Burgess, J.R. Reed, Talanoa Hufanga, Israel Mukuamu.
ST - Matt Gay, Johnny Hekker, Blake Ferguson.

(We're stuck with Goff, like it or not...until 2022 when we - hopefully - draft Sam Howell to replace him. Perkins earns the backup job after a year on the practice squad.)

(Akers earns the starting job, but Henderson gets a lot of carries as well, along with Ragas on short yardage situations. Calais returns kicks.)

(Woods, Kupp, Jefferson...no surprises there. Webster returns punts, and Strachan waits for an opportunity and plays special teams, along with redzone situations.)

(Higbee remains the starting tight end, and hopefully Hopkins can show what he can do. I like Blanton more than Mundt, and it's not because I'm a Mizzou fan; I really do think he's a good blocker and decent receiver. Beyer plays on special teams.

(Whitworth comes back! And there's a couple of position switches, but I want to get the best players on the field. Corbett could make an excellent center, Evans is a solid guard, and Noteboom protects the side where most of the top pass rushers play. Brewer will come back, Anchrum is a Swiss army knife when it comes to backing up positions, and Morrissey and Ball wait their turn to start.)

(Aaron Donald is obvious. SJD and Robinson make a solid run-stuffing core. Gaines will step in on obvious run downs, and I actually like Hoecht and Williams. BB3 will sub in on passing downs before he gets a chance to start.)

(I think that Tryon and Bolton are the only two rookies who will start on this squad...unless Kiser goes down with another injury; then Surratt will make it three. Roche, Polite, and Lewis will make a solid pass-rushing corps if they play like I think. Howard stays on the team for special teams and maybe as a starter if Bolton isn't ready. Rozeboom is my choice to round out the linebacking corps; I liked him at South Dakota, and I think he'll play really well.)

(All of the starters in the back five are obvious, even Long, whom I think should get a chance. Burgess comes in on big nickel. Reed is someone I really like. Hufanga and Mukuamu wait their turn.)

(I shouldn't have to explain for special teams, right?)

Anyway, this is my mock offseason! Leave a comment or tell me how much of an idiot I am. Either one's fine by me.

This is for you OS...

Did you guys really think we were gonna run the table after losing our LT who was playing at an elite level? C'mon man. Would you have been happier if we lost to Tampa but beat the crap out of the Whiners? Well me too. But it didn't go down that way.

We're gonna get Whit back. We still have a fine defense. The Rams do have a couple young players who could figure things out down the stretch and give them a boost in Akers and Jefferson. And again we're 7-4 and in the playoff and division lead hunt.

Can I get a Kumbaya up in here????

You can use your own criteria, but I normally think of no Super Bowl appearances, ownership and hometown. Like I place the Rebuilding Since 1959 Detroit Lions a little higher on the respectability ladder than the Browns. Cuz, it's the freakin' Browns. Even if lets say the Jets won a Super Bowl in the 1960's, they are more pathetic than the Jags because the Jags haven't been a franchise that long....Anyway...

1. I #%$&% hate the 49ers.

2. Before I get into Rams criticism, I will say two things about the hated San Francisco franchise. First, they just seem to match up well against us (much like we match up well against Seattle) and, second, they played a good game.

3. Now, let's get with the venting. Goff is first on the list. He has to play better. He can play better. His mistakes are not acceptable. Indeed, as we saw yesterday, they are the difference between winning and losing.

4. McVay also gets a lot of venom today. His play calling (after a great performance at Tampa) was terrible. He's seen the 49ers' defense too many times now to be incapable of coming up with solutions, particularly in key moments when we only need 5-6 yards to keep a key drive going.

5. Its sad, and a bit surprising, that when the Rams were trying to force overtime, I didn't feel confident that we could win in the extra period. Tie...? Sure. The defense played well for much of the game. But the offense... they looked bad all day.

6. While the defense can't be blamed, I (as many have noted) don't get why Jalen Ramsey was not assigned the task of shutting down Debo Samuels. He was, quite frankly, the 49ers only threat, and Ramsey's coverage AND TACKLING ability could have prevented some key plays.

7. Aaron Donald was a beast. He basically willed the Rams back into the game.

8. Cam Akers continues to show flashes and will likely become more and more of a factor down the stretch.

9. Losses by Arizona and Tampa really tempered the impact of yesterday's debacle. If the Eagles could manage to beat the Seahawks tonight, we keep the NFC West lead.

10. That said... the #5 seed will get the NFC West "Champion" in the the first round of the playoffs. Tempting.

11. Back to McVay... if coaching consists of (1) designing a system, (2) finding and developing personnel, (3) creating a unity and a culture, (4) game planning, and (5) game day coaching, I'd say McVay gets an "A" in categories 1-3, a "B" in category 5, and a "C" in category 5. If he can improve in 4 and 5, then he'll be a "great head coach."

12. Back to Goff... while I don't think he's peaked at 26, I think everyone needs to just accept what he is... a good QB. Not a great QB, and certainly not a terrible QB. What is fair to ask, in my opinion, is whether Goff has the drive and self-critical analytical skills to become a great QB. Time will tell.

13. For those in the "Goff sucks" camp... I'm not going to devote time to trying to convince you otherwise. Instead, I'd simply ask... what's your Plan B?

14. Looking ahead to the next week, I think we'll match up well with the Cardinals, who are allowing 123.4 yards/game and a 4.5 ypc on the ground. If the Rams can run the ball, they'll have success offensively. On defense, as long as they don't let Murray hurt them with his legs too much, and Ramsey makes Deandre Hopkins work for his targets, we should be able to contain them.

15. A win next week really puts the Rams in a great position as far as making the playoffs goes. They'd be (depending on what Seattle does) either the NFC West leader or the top WC team (#5 seed) with a one game lead over Tampa (plus the tiebreaker), and at least a 2 game lead over everyone else in the NFC. With 4 games remaining, that would put the Rams in the driver's seat to return to the postseason.

16. When I (against my better judgment) dream of off season acquisitions, I do think about obtaining a WR (even one who only plays in limited situations) with elite size and speed to scare opposing defenses.

17. I wouldn't mind having a PR who can do the same to opposing special teams.

18. Matt Gay is good enough, at least for this year.

19. WEAR YOUR MASKS!!!

20. Onward!

Mods: This is not a Goff thread. This is not a McVay thread. This is a bootleg/rollout thread.

Buried in hundreds of posts related to this last Whiner game is the frustration around getting Goff out of the pocket, and the perception that this is a good thing for our offense. I wanted to dig in and see what the numbers tell us. First, let's start after we gauged them with this tactic last year, to the point that they instituted a special defensive scheme just to stop us from using it. Any numbers before that are not relevant since this was supposedly addressed...

In the interest of full disclosure, I have posted on this before and seem to have an unhealthy obsession with the use of this play. Especially when considering the 9ers, whom I have hated with a passion ever since we stopped being able to beat them twice per year (i.e. pre-Montana). As an example, here is what I posted after our first meeting with the Whiners.

JackAttack85 said:

Couple of things I couldn't figure out.

1) They instituted a special bootleg defense because we smoked them with this last time. We don't run it AT ALL? We just assume they got this covered now? I mean, I bet that Warner dude flying around might have been neutralized if he was burned a few times.
...

Click to expand...

Now let's look at yesterday's game to compare perception with reality. Here is every drive/play where rollout/bootleg was used.

1st Drive: No bootlegs, ends in Brown fumble.
2nd Drive:
2nd and 7 from Rams 32 yard line - Woods completion, gain of 30 yards.
1st and 10 from 9er 38 yard line - Goff rolls out for 2 yard gain.
Ends in FG.
3rd Drive: No bootlegs, ends in Sherman INT.
4th Drive: No bootlegs, ends in punt.
5th Drive: No bootlegs, ends in punt.
6th Drive: No bootlegs, ends in punt.
7th Drive: No bootlegs, ends in Goff fumble.
HALFTIME
8th Drive: No bootlegs, ends in Goff pick-6.
9th Drive: No bootlegs, ends in punt.
10th Drive:
1st and 10 Rams 27 yard line - Goff rolls out for 6 yard gain.
Ends in punt.
11th Drive: No bootlegs, ends in FG.
12th Drive: No bootlegs, ends with Akers TD.
13th Drive:
2nd and 6 from Rams 18 yard line - Woods completion, gain of 12 yards.
Ends in punt.
14th Drive: No bootlegs, ends in punt.
END OF GAME

What does this tell us?

Well, they ran it 4 more times than the last game against them, with an average of over 12 yards. I guess that's progress.

I must admit, I thought we were MUCH more successful early, I hadn't realized we only tried this twice in the first half. That was enlightening. Another takeaway from breaking it down, was that we never rolled Goff out on 3rd and short. Given the number of 3rd and shorts we failed to convert, I find this baffling. Especially considering the defense that shut us down on those plays included stunts that would have been vulnerable.

Those of you who have GamePass, this "Condensed Game" mode of looking at all the plays without commercials or announcer chatter in between, is a great way to separate your initial impression from reality. In this case, it only confirmed for me what I posted in GDT as it happened (or didn't happen)...

Thoughts?

https://nflcdns.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/58341/LA_Gamebook.pdf



Offense


Defense


ST

Are you gonna continue to tank for Trevor or are you tanking for a bounty of picks? Lawrence is so valuable that they could really clean up and help turn that team around more than what a new QB could do. Darnold hasn't had the support to show if he's worth a shit, really.

I think I would trade away to whoever the highest bidder was.

But passing up on Lawrence is the kind of move that gets mf fired if he booms and they bust on the picks in return.

Monday Night Football: Seattle Seahawks vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The City of Brotherly Love anxiously awaits the arrival of the Seattle Seahawks as they will take on the Philadelphia Eagles on "Monday Night Football." It will be the third straight meeting between these two teams at Lincoln Financial Field with the Seahawks winning the last one in the NFC Wild Card game last January by a score of 17-9 after winning the regular-season matchup by the same score of 17-9 back on Nov. 24, 2019.

When you draw up the ideal winning formula for the Seattle Seahawks (7-3) it entails a balanced offensive approach, playing with swagger on defense, and not backing down from any opponent. Pete Carroll's team executed this formula to a tee last Thursday night, beating Arizona 28-21 in a critical NFC West showdown. Russell Wilson took care of the football, staying turnover-free while completing 23 of 28 passes for 197 yards with two touchdowns. Carlos Hyde injected some much-needed life into the rushing attack with 79 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. Carlos Dunlap II capped off a very good night for the defense, sacking Kyler Murray on fourth down with 34 seconds left. Dunlap has ignited this pass rush with 3.5 sacks since being traded from Cincinnati and the Seahawks as a team have collected 13 sacks over the last three games.

Philadelphia (3-6-1) has lost two in a row and now trails Washington (4-7) for first place in the watered-down NFC East. Last Sunday, the Eagles dropped a 22-17 decision to the Browns as Carson Wentz' season-long struggles continued. Wentz completed 21 of 35 passes while tossing two more interceptions and taking five more sacks, a microcosm of Philadelphia's offensive struggles in 2020. The Eagles also only converted two of their 12 opportunities on third down. Fans are calling for head coach Doug Pederson to make a change at quarterback, but he has remained steadfast in his commitment to Wentz rather than turning the reins over to rookie Jalen Hurts. The offense's issues overshadowed a solid performance by the defense, which held Cleveland to 324 total yards and limited the Browns' ground game to 3.4 yards per carry.

Monday Night Football: Seattle at Philadelphia

Kickoff: Monday, Nov. 30 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Seahawks -4.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Seahawks' commitment to offensive balance

Starting running back Chris Carson is on track to return this week to join Carlos Hyde in forming a 1-2 punch that should do well against Philadelphia's 26th-ranked rushing defense. The weather also is expected to be a bit of a factor so that would be further motivation for Carson and Hyde to get things rolling right away to buy time for the passing game to get settled in. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett will be tested against a pass defense that's allowing 209.3 yards per game, good for fifth in the NFL. If Russell Wilson can stay patient and pick his spots to get the ball to Metcalf and Lockett along with tight end Will Dissly over the middle it will get the Eagles on their heels and make it harder for them to stack the box to try and stop the run.

2. Philadelphia's offense vs. Seattle's defense

Carson Wentz will need to take what the Seahawks' defense gives him this week and not force unnecessary plays when they are not there. One way to avoid getting into tough situations would be for head coach and play-caller Doug Pederson to emphasize the running game. The Eagles are currently averaging 4.9 yards per carry and Miles Sanders (5.7 ypc) has provided a spark in his first two games back after missing a month because of injury. In the days leading up to the win over the Cardinals, Seattle defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. led an accountability meeting with his defense that sparked the unit's best performance of the season. The Seahawks limited Kyler Murray and the Cardinals' offense to 314 total yards, which was their lowest output of the 2020 season in large part because of that highly productive meeting. Looking ahead to Monday night, you can expect this rejuvenated defense to attack Wentz all night long as the Eagles have surrendered a league-high 40 sacks so far this season.

3. Seahawks' offensive line vs. Eagles' pass rush

The most important mission for the offensive line this week will be keeping Wilson relatively upright. Brandon Graham leads the Eagles with seven sacks to go along with 11 tackles for a loss. It's no secret that Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will scheme pressure looks early and often as the Eagles rank second in the NFL in sacks with 34. It's going to be imperative for Seattle's front line to play assignment-sound football and not let Graham or anyone else run wild and get to Wilson. The Seahawks have surrendered 33 sacks, which ranks 30th overall in the league. Some of this can be attributed to the injuries in the backfield, which has forced Wilson to pass more, but pass protection remains an issue. The fewer hits Wilson takes in the pocket on Monday night, and definitely the fewer times he ends up on the turf behind the line of scrimmage, the better Seattle's chances are of winning this game.

Final Analysis

Seattle should come out of the gates flying after getting a few extra days to recover from last Thursday's win over Arizona. The defense should continue to improve thanks to the addition of Carlos Dunlap and the return of guys like safety Jamal Adams from injury. Russell Wilson should be able to avoid Philadelphia's aggressive pass rush enough times to make plays down the field. The Seahawks should be able to move the ball and put enough points on the board to outscore a struggling Eagles offense. Philadelphia will put up a good fight, but they don't have the firepower to match up with Wilson and company. Seattle takes care of business on the road, covers the spread, and most importantly, ensures that it stays at the top of the ultra-competitive NFC West.

Prediction: Seahawks 33, Eagles 20

McVay needs to be better.
His offense gets in these predictable funks and some teams just seem to know what we want to do when we want to do it.
His play calling on 3rd down hasn't been good enough.
Everybody could see outside zone isn't working, hasn't been working for weeks, but we keep putting our QB in bad spots by running it twice and setting up 3rd and difficults..
He can't keep wasting TOs and using them in weird times.
He literally kept the 9ers alive with a bad TO.
Everyone knows Goff does better on roll outs and in up tempo. How many games do we have to fall behind by two scores before McVay starts calling those. Also, if I can guess what were doing on 3rd down 1/2 the time, thats a problem.
I'm sorry, I love McVay, think he is a great coach and I am glad to have him... that said, it would be cool if while we're all finally "being honest about Goff" maybe we should be "honest" about McVay too?

Five games left, were 7-4 and with Seattle's cupcake schedule, odds are we were always going to be a game back when we played them. Whether we're one game back or two will be decided this week when we play Arizona.

All this loss meant today, big picture, us that to win the NFCW, we have to win the rest of our games. We will be favored in three for sure, possibly four.

So, one game at a time, starting with the Cardinals. Despite their defensive showing today, their defense isn't that good - we should have no problem with their defense.

But this offense might be our toughest test to date.

A loss to Arizona and we're looking at a wildcard. The good news is, we've beaten three playoff teams and the Niners won't be making the playoffs.

We will be in the playoffs either way and from there, anything can happen.

Sources: Philadelphia Eagles rookie Jalen Hurts getting first-team reps at QB

Rookie Jalen Hurts has been getting first-team reps at quarterback ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles' Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks, sources told ESPN.

Carson Wentz is still expected to start, but there's been a noticeable increase in Hurts' snaps with the first team at QB, signaling the likelihood of a more expansive role as Wentz's struggles continue.

Hurts, the team's second-round pick in April, has been used primarily as a gadget player to date, with just two of his 31 snaps resulting in him throwing a pass. But signs point to more opportunities with the ball in his hands Monday night.

Coach Doug Pederson hesitated last week when asked about potentially making a quarterback change before ultimately saying Wentz would remain the starter.

Wentz is in the midst of his worst season as a pro. He is first among all players in interceptions (14), fumbles (10) and sacks (40), ranks 32nd in completion percentage (58.4), 31st in yards per attempt (6.2) and has the worst off-target percentage (23%) among all qualifiers, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Pederson has been asked increasingly about making a change to Hurts, who racked up 52 touchdowns last season for Oklahoma (32 passing, 20 rushing) and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Joe Burrow. A move to Hurts on a long-term basis is complicated by Wentz's contract situation. The Eagles signed Wentz to a four-year, $128 million extension last summer. He carries a dead cap hit of nearly $60 million in 2021, per Spotrac, a number that falls to $39.5 million in the 2022 offseason.

The 3-6-1 Eagles need a spark on offense after matching a season low with 17 points each of the past two weeks. Owner Jeffrey Lurie skipped last week's game at the Cleveland Browns, sources confirmed. A team spokesman said it was out of caution prior to visiting his mother on Thanksgiving, but sources believe his absence was tied in part to his growing frustration with his team's performance.

The Eagles have had decent success in Hurts' limited snaps this season, averaging 8 yards per play with two touchdowns, according to NextGen Stats.

Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers

The NFL's oldest rivalry takes center stage during our Thanksgiving weekend feast of football. The Week 12 edition of "Sunday Night Football" once again gives the spotlight to the "Black and Blue" division as the Green Bay Packers (7-3) host the Chicago Bears (5-5) at Lambeau Field. This will be the seventh Sunday night showdown between these two teams since 2006, and both franchises are aching for a win.

The Bears were on their bye last week, which should allow them to get healthy and patch some holes. But the Packers fell to the Colts in overtime, while the Vikings (4-6) lost to Dallas, and the Lions (4-7) have since lost two straight. So the Bears have a little bit of breathing room in the standings, even if the Packers hold a two-game lead. But make no mistake that the Bears have some issues to correct before they take the field for this game.

The Packers are in the driver's seat in the division while the Bears are fighting for their slim playoff hopes. Let us be thankful for the 201st meeting between these charter franchises.

Sunday Night Football: Chicago at Green Bay

Kickoff: Sunday, Nov. 29 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Green Bay -9.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Offense gets the glory

This side of the ball continues to be the Achilles heel for the Bears in 2020, and it's a major part of why they're in the midst of a four-game losing streak. They haven't reached the 20-point mark since Week 8 against New Orleans and have only reached that point in four games this season. One of the most glaring stats for the Bears this year is that they've only scored 14 total third-quarter points.

Overall, the Bears have the second-worst total offense in the league (300.9 ypg), eighth-worst passing offense (222.7 ypg), fifth-worst scoring offense (19.1 ppg), and worst rushing offense (78.2 ypg). The Bears are averaging just 6.0 yards per pass attempt and 3.6 yards per rushing attempt, and they're just 45-for-135 on third-down conversions. Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was given the play-calling duties against Minnesota two weeks ago, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference. Injuries and poor offensive line play continue to limit this offense.

The offensive line can't get enough push on run blocks and can't hold off pass rushers long enough for Nick Foles to get a proper throw off, all while dealing with a bevy of injuries. Foles has taken 14 sacks during this losing streak, and he suffered a hip pointer during the final possession of the Vikings' game. Tyler Bray wound up finishing the game. Foles is doubtful for Sunday night as he hasn't practiced this week, which means that Mitchell Trubisky will return to the starting lineup.

Trubisky, who has been out the past couple of games with a shoulder injury, returned to practice and will see his first action since injuring the shoulder on a running play against New Orleans in Week 8. This will be his start since being benched and replaced by Foles in Week 3. Running back David Montgomery also is expected to play after recovering from a concussion over these last two weeks. Cordarrelle Patterson started in place of Montgomery against Minnesota, and the results were very less than stellar (12 carries, 30 yards, 2.5 ypa). Bottom line, the Bears need to get this offense moving.

Offense is the least of the Packers' worries this season. Aaron Rodgers continues to be lights-out on a weekly basis; he ranks fifth in passing yards (2,889), trails only Russell Wilson in touchdown passes (29), and ranks fourth in yards per attempt (8.2). He's also 10th in completion rate (68.2 percent) and leads the league in passer rating (115.8). Offensive line play is another problem that the Packers don't have, as Rodgers has only been sacked once in each of the team's last two games. Pressuring Rodgers will be crucial for the Bears defense, especially if the Bears want to neutralize Rodgers' favorite pass catchers in Davante Adams (questionable with an ankle injury, 68 rec., 847 yds., 10 TDs), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (limited in practice, 25, 518, 4), and Robert Tonyan (limited in practice, 32, 391, 6).

Green Bay continues to take the by-committee approach with its rushing attack. Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams have combined for 870 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. The Packers rank in the top 10 in total offense (7th, 392.9 ypg), passing offense (8th, 277.0 ypg), and scoring offense (3rd, 30.8 ppg). They rank 12th in rushing offense (115.9 ypg), but will present a formidable challenge for the Chicago defense.

2. Defense wins the game

This is what will ultimately decide this game. And both teams are very capable on this side of the ball. The Bears and Packers rank ninth (340.1 ypg) and 12th (344.3 ypg), respectively, in total defense. Both teams are tied for ninth (21) in sacks, while the Bears are ninth (6) in interceptions while the Packers are 10th (5).

However, each team has seen their weaknesses exposed recently. Against Minnesota two weeks ago, the Bears gave up five plays that went for 20 yards or more. Meanwhile, the Packers blew an 11-point third-quarter lead against the Colts last week. Both teams also have injury concerns heading into this game.

The Packers have numerous members of their secondary: Kevin King, Jaire Alexander, Will Redmond, Josh Jackson, Chandon Sullivan, and Ka'dar Hollman are listed as questionable. For the Bears, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks is still dealing with the hamstring injury he sustained against the Vikings. He has not practiced as a result.

3. This rivalry gets the national spotlight

Since 2006, the Bears and Packers have played each other 14 times on the league's signature national broadcasts. They've matched up eight times on NBC (Sunday night, Thursday night), three times on ESPN (Monday night), and three times on the various Thursday night combo broadcasts (NFL Network, FOX, CBS). And during this stretch, this rivalry has been featured once on Thanksgiving Day, once on Christmas Day, and once on New Year's Eve. This week's game will mark the first time during this span that the Bears and Packers are going against one another on the Sunday night after Thanksgiving.

Final Analysis

The Packers lead this all-time series 99-95-6 and have won 11 of the last 14 games overall, including both of last year's meetings. Chicago last defeated Green Bay in Week 15 of the '16 season and hasn't won at Lambeau Field since Thanksgiving Day of the '15 campaign. Unless the Bears can get healthy and get this offense in gear, the Packers will win their third consecutive game against their archrivals.

Prediction: Packers 28, Bears 14

Sunday, November 29

San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams , 4:05 p.m. on Fox

New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m. on Fox

Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m. on CBS


TV MAPS

Sunday, November 29

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets, 1:00 p.m. on CBS

Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots, 1:00 p.m. on Fox

Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. on Fox

Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 p.m. on CBS

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. on CBS

New York Giants at Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. on Fox

Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills, 1:00 p.m. on CBS

Las Vegas Raiders at Atlanta Falcons , 1:00 p.m. on CBS


TV MAPS

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

.

I expect left overs to be a large portion of this menu.

That may be fitting.

We need to EAT these niners left overs.

We were out schemed and out played in the first matchup this season.

For Thanksgiving we went non-traditional food. We could not help it. . .

We made a ham the next day.

I've been planning for weeks to make Chic - fil - A style nuggets.

Not necessarily for the game but to take to work the next day and share.

Scattered Thoughts.

Go Rams.

What's on your menu?

All of the quarterbacks on the Denver Broncos' roster are ineligible to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints after being deemed high-risk, close contacts in COVID-19 tracing, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Saturday.

Drew Lock and Brett Rypien, the two quarterbacks on the active roster, and practice squad quarterback Blake Bortles were deemed to be high risk because they were not wearing their masks, a source told Schefter.

The Broncos will not be forfeiting, a source told Schefter.

Broncos reopen facility, set to practice Saturday
The concerns have arisen since the Broncos moved quarterback Jeff Driskel to the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday morning after a positive test result.

Lock, Rypien and Bortles, who were on the field during an open viewing period at the start of Saturday's practice, were pulled from the workout before it was finished, sources told ESPN. All three have taken additional POC tests since Thursday and all three have come back negative so far.

On Saturday, Fangio said the quarterbacks are more than six feet apart from each other during meetings and that "all our meetings are set up to where everybody's spread out."

Anyone else watch the shit outta this channel?

Me and the wife watch this shit so much we could damn near get by without any other channels! Lol

I love it.

Login to view embedded media