First Look: Rams host Cardinals in final game at Coliseum

The Rams close out their season and time at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum hosting the Cardinals on Sunday.
In advance of the contest, here’s an early look at Arizona, including notable additions, their top statistical performers in their most recent game, where they rank in certain statistical categories as well as key storylines and what they mean for L.A.

Notable additions

• Traded for RB Kenyan Drake in October. Acquired from the Dolphins in exchange for a conditional 2020 draft pick, Drake has 46 carries for 303 yards and six touchdowns over his last two games. Overall, he has 111 carries for 583 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games with the Cardinals after 47 carries for 174 yards and zero touchdowns in six games with the Dolphins.
• Drafted QB Kyler Murray No. 1 overall in April. The former Oklahoma standout is the Cardinals' leading passer (3,397 yards) and second-leading rusher (544) so far this season.

Top performers in Week 16

Murray completed 11 of 18 pass attempts for 118 yards and one touchdown in a 27-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He exited the game late in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return.

Drake led the backfield with 24 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns, all game highs, adding three receptions for 18 yards.

WR Larry Fitzgerald led all Cardinals receivers with four receptions for 48 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, linebacker Budda Baker led the way with six total tackles.

On special teams, kicker Zane Gonzalez made two of three field goal attempts and all three of his extra point attempts.

Rankings

Offense

• Points Per Game: 17th (22.5)
• Yards Per Game: 22nd (338.3)
• Passing Yards Per Game: 24th (210.3)
• Rushing Yards Per Game: 9th (127.9)

Defense

• Points Allowed Per Game: 28th (27.4)
• Yards Allowed Per Game: 31st (400.5)
• Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 31st (279.9)
• Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 25th (120.6)

Early storylines to watch, and what they mean for the Rams

When the two teams met in Week 13, it was unclear how the backfield carries would shake out with Drake, David Johnson and Chase Edmonds all healthy and available for the Cardinals for the first time this season. Drake has since cemented the role of Arizona's No. 1 running back, and he's done so in dominating fashion as the aforementioned stats indicated.

The Rams' run defense bounced back from a disappointing performance against the Cowboys by holding the 49ers' rushing attack mostly in check, but it will undoubtedly be tested once again by Drake.

There's also the status of Murray as he deals with his hamstring injury. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury told Arizona reporters on Monday that Murray is "day-to-day," and on Tuesday he said it is still unknown whether Murray or backup Brett Hundley will start against the Rams, according to AZCardinals.com's Kyle Odegard.

Well, playoffs are over. Time to get down to work:

Coaching Firings:

Wade Phillips
Joe Barry

(Wade probably retires after this year, and no, Barry isn't the answer, as @jrry32 pointed out.)

Coach Hirings:

Kris Richard (DC)

(Yeah, Kris Richard is our new defensive coordinator! He's young (40), innovative, and he ran a good D in Seattle. He's currently the defensive backs in Dallas, and he's gotten HC offers, but he's turned them down. He's local (born in California, went to USC), so he may be waiting for the right job.)

Re-sign:

Jalen Ramsey - five years, 84 million.
Andrew Whitworth - one year, 9 million.
Greg Zuerlein -three years, 9 million.
Dante Fowler - franchise tag
Morgan Fox - RFA
Donte Deayon - RFA
Johnny Mundt - ERFA
Nsimba Webster - ERFA
Kendall Blanton - ERFA
Coleman Shelton - ERFA
Marquise Copeland - Practice Squad
Jachai Polite - Practice Squad
Landis Durham - Practice Squad
John Wolford - Practice Squad
Jeff Holland - Practice Squad
Adonis Alexander - Practice Squad
Nate Trewyn - Practice Squad
Ethan Wolf - Practice Squad

(Might as well get the Ramsey signing out of the way this year. Whit coming back is huge, and Zuerlein needs to come back as well. Fowler is a tag-and-trade candidate, and the rest are RFAs, ERFAs, and practice squad members.)

Cut:

Eric Weddle
Clay Matthews
Jamil Demby
Tanzel Smart

(No real surprises...except for Matthews. I don't think that he'll be effective next year with him being another year older. Weddle can't pack his bags soon enough, and Smart and Demby simply can't hack it at the NFL level.)

Release:

Cory Littleton
Michael Brockers
Blake Bortles
Bryce Hager
Jojo Natson
Austin Blythe
Marqui Christian
Mike Thomas
Josh Carraway

(Unfortunately, we can't keep everyone. That means that Littleton goes to another team. Brockers is unfortunately not going to stay either. Christian goes for an opportunity to start, as well as Bortles. The others I'm fine with losing.)

Free Agency:

Emmanuel Ogbah - three years, twelve million.

(Ogbah fits the defensive end position like a glove, and he's only twenty-six. He's struggled with injuries, but when healthy - and next to Aaron Donald - he should prove why the Browns drafted him in the second round.)

Trade:

Rob Havenstein, 2020 sixth, and 2021 sixth to the New York Jets for 2020 third round pick.

(I get that it's a lot of cap room to move Havenstein, and that the trade could be unrealistic, but the Jets literally have nobody at offensive tackle. They have Chuma Edoga - who was hurt - and Connor McGovern - who has been ineffective - as the lone tackles who aren't free agents. That's literally it. They're going to want someone to protect Darnold.)

Dante Fowler to the Baltimore Ravens for 2020 first and 2021 fourth.

(The Ravens might be more apt to trade for help because of Lamar Jackson's rookie contract. Add in that one of their best pass rushers in Judon is a free agent this year, and the need to get a younger player, and I can see the Ravens paying big.)

Robert Woods to the Green Bay Packers for a 2020 first.

(Aaron Rodgers would benefit from another receiver opposite Davante Adams. In return, we get good picks.)

Nickell Robey-Coleman to the Atlanta Falcons for 2020 sixth round pick.

(I know that NRC's value isn't that high. I still want to get rid of his contract to re-sign Ramsey and - eventually - Kupp and JJ3. Getting a pick back is a bonus.)

Draft:

1st (Packers) - Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin.

(The best center in this year's draft. He does everything great, and he's bigger than Allen at 6'3", 321 lbs..)

1st (Ravens) - Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville.

(Becton is a mountain of a man at 6'7", 340 lbs. He's so light on his feet that he could definitely fit at left tackle in the pros.)

2nd - Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State.

(Reminds me of a faster Robert Woods, and he's one of my prospect crushes in this draft.)

3rd (Jets) - Darrell Taylor, DE, Tennessee.

(Taylor is an athletic freak who could thrive at the defensive end position in Richard's defense.)

3rd - Leki Fotu, DT, Utah.

(Fotu is huge at 6'5",. 335 lbs., and has better pass rushing skills than given credit for.)

3rd (compensatory) - Luq Barcoo, CB, San Diego State.

(Barcoo leads the nation in passes defensed, and he's a long, fast corner. I have no idea why he's not getting more attention.)

4th - Charles Snowden, OLB, Virginia.

(Snowden could fit as a WILL because while he's abnormally-tall for a linebacker (6'7"), he's still fast enough to cover tight ends.)

6th (Falcons) - Jeremy Chinn, SS, Southern Illinois.

(Chinn's a solid strong safety who actually reminds me of Rapp.)

7th - Sewo Olonilua, RB, TCU.

(An athletic freak and a huge back (6'3", 240 lbs.), Olonilua is my biggest prospect crush.)

Merry Christmas one and all.

Be safe and remember to enjoy the day!

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Cameron DaSilva

11 hours ago
The Los Angeles Rams may not be playing for a postseason berth or anything more than their pride in Sunday’s season finale, but the game will carry some meaning for the venue in which they’ll play.
Sunday’s game against the Cardinals marks the last home game for the Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – a stadium they moved back into in 2016 after leaving St. Louis. They also played there from 1946-1979, spending more than three decades at the near-100-year-old stadium.

To commemorate this farewell game, the Rams will be wearing a special patch on their jerseys against Arizona. Here’s a look at it from Paul Lukas of Uni Watch.

The #LARams will be wearing this patch on Sunday to commemorate their final game at the LA Coliseum.



Next year, the Rams will move into the brand new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which is nearing completion. They’ll share the venue with the Chargers, as well.
Going from the Coliseum, which opened in 1923, to a state-of-the-art stadium like SoFi Stadium is going to be quite the change for Rams players and fans.

Cameron DaSilva
9 hours ago


Two pleasant surprises on the defensive side of the ball for the Rams this season have been Dante Fowler Jr. and Cory Littleton. On a one-year contract, Fowler has produced 11 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hits, showing that betting on himself was a good gamble to make.
Littleton, by the same token, is in the final year of his contract and having a stellar season. Though he wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl, he’s been one of the best linebackers in all of football this season.

Both of their campaigns are great to see, but it also could be bad news for the Rams. Because of the contracts Fowler and Littleton are going to command, the Rams may not be able to afford both of them.
With the salary cap expected to be between $196.8 million and $201.2 million in 2020, the Rams are projected to have around $23-27 million in cap room next year. In addition to Fowler and Littleton, three other starters are slated to become free agents: Andrew Whitworth, Austin Blythe and Michael Brockers.
The Rams would probably like to bring back all three, but doing so and retaining Fowler and Littleton will be near-impossible.
Based on the fact that Za’Darius Smith got a contract worth $16.5 million per year from the Packers last year, it’s easy to imagine a scenario where Fowler gets nearly that much in free agency next year – if not more. Smith had 8.5 sacks in 2018 before becoming a free agent, and Fowler has 11 through 15 games.
Dee Ford got $17 million per year deal from the 49ers after being traded by Kansas City, while Danielle Hunter is making $14.4 million per year on the deal he signed in June of 2018.
In other words, expect Fowler to seek a contract in the range of $15-17 million per year. The Rams can structure his contract to lessen the cap hit in 2020 when they’re thin on space, but that also pushes more money to the back of the contract when players such as Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley and Jared Goff will have big cap hits, too.
As for Cory Littleton, his comparison is fairly easy. The Panthers basically set Littleton’s floor earlier this month when they signed Shaq Thompson to a four-year, $54.16 million deal – an average salary of $13.54 million.
The Cowboys gave Jaylon Smith $12.75 million per year this offseason, as well, which is a good comp for Littleton. Myles Jack’s contract with the Jaguars is paying him $14.25 million per year, while Deion Jones is making the same amount with the Falcons.
None of those players are significantly better than Littleton, if at all. Jones is the only one of them that has even made the Pro Bowl. Littleton is 26 years old, so he still has plenty of prime years ahead of him at inside linebacker.
He’ll almost certainly get at least $13 million per year with his next contract, which again, might be more than the Rams are willing to spend.
If you combine his projected salary of $13 million with Fowler’s potential of making $15 million, that’s a big chunk of change the Rams would have to shell out to keep both. Again, contract structure doesn’t mean they’re going to get that much in Year 1, but both deals would put Littleton and Fowler among the highest-paid players at their positions.
The same is already true of Aaron Donald, Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks – and Jalen Ramsey is going to break the bank in the near future, too.
So when it’s all said and done, the Rams will probably have to choose between Fowler and Littleton. Keeping both is going to be extremely difficult unless major changes are made to the Rams’ salary cap – which seems unlikely, given the way this team is set up.
Be prepared to see at least one of the two in another uniform next season, if not both.

New to this so not sure who to post it to but it shows NP for myself and YoungRam

Happy Holidays to all.

The Rams had a tough go of it this season, and it looks like Santa & Rudolph may have lost their way a bit here, but these family arguments will happen when you can't decide who is naughty or nice.

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Still, some Christmas cheer babes showed up to take our minds off of missing out on the play-offs ...

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Then to make matters worse, last night I was hit by my own car, and the lawyers at my insurance company want to know who to sue ...

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Thank Goodness these guys finally showed up to mellow my post-season blues ...

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McVay wants to send out current Rams roster "on a good note"

Sunday's Week 17 game against the Cardinals will be the final one for the current group of Rams players with Los Angeles officially eliminated from playoff contention.

For Rams head coach Sean McVay, it will be an integral part of his message throughout the week.

“I think it’s important," McVay said, when asked about emphasizing that. "You want to make sure that you cherish every moment and you make sure that you maximize the day."

L.A.'s roster could look much different next season with several players' contracts expiring.

Among the starters, left tackle Andrew Whitworth, defensive lineman Michael Brockers, outside linebacker Dante Fowler, kicker Greg Zuerlein, inside linebacker Cory Littleton and center Austin Blythe are scheduled to become free agents in 2020, according to spotrac.com. Whitworth told NFL Network's Mike Silver after Saturday's game that he intends to play next year.

In the immediate future, the group has a chance to help guarantee a winning record for the Rams in each of their first three seasons under McVay.

"You want to make sure that you appreciate, enjoy the opportunities, appreciate the relationships that you build – knowing that inevitably there is change that occurs year in and year out whether it be good or bad," McVay said.

That inevitable change is a natural part of the NFL. It is what allows other teams to reach the postseason and contend for a Super Bowl, much like the Rams did last season.

At 8-7, Los Angeles is locked into a third place finish in its division for 2019. While a ninth win would be a humbling departure from the repeat division titles across the 2017 and 2018 seasons which featured 11-5 and 13-3 regular season records, respectively, it carries more meaning than one would think.

"I think it’s important," McVay said. "I think it demonstrates, too, the character that I do believe we have in this locker room. For guys to continue to compete, we’re going to battle and we’re going to compete to the best of our ability to try to finish out with a winning record. That is something that I said to the team today and I think it’s important for us. We know the challenge because Arizona is a tough football team."

While the season has not gone the way McVay or any of the current Rams likely planned, it has given him perspective and appreciation. Now, his goal is to finish the season in positive fashion, regardless of what the future holds.

"For us, this will be the last time with this team that we’ll get a chance to go out and compete together," McVay said. "I think we want to be able to enjoy the week of preparation and let’s see these guys go out on a good note."

Just noticed him on the team site listed on the PS. I must have missed this if this happened a while ago.

He was a real good SEC LB at Auburn.

Was not drafted in 18' although a lot of sites listed him as a 4th rounder or so.

Denver had him at Edge, I thought he might be best inside.

The Sean McVay Show will air on ESPN 710 at 6:00 pm, the Rams Radio Network here in the Southern California market. Hear his comments about Saturday's night's game that for all intents and purposes ended the Rams season.

by Dan Schmelzer3 weeks ago Follow @DSchmelzerFS



Round 2, 52nd Overall: Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest

Edge rusher stands out as one of the more obvious needs on the Rams roster. They simply need to find more talent at the position and hopefully a guy who can have a long-term impact. With their second-round selection, the fill that edge rusher need by bringing in Carlos Basham Jr. out of Wake Forest.
Basham is quick off of the ball and consistently gets good upfield burst. He is not the most athletically gifted player on the edge, but Basham has a nice combination of quickness and power that allows him to make plays against the run and as a pass rusher. The Los Angeles Rams find themselves a talented player at an important position of need with this pick.


Round 3, 84th Overall: Trey Adams, OT, Washington

The Rams offensive line has been an absolute nightmare this season. They have struggled to open up holes in the running game and protect quarterback Jared Goff all season long. The Rams have needs at both the interior offensive line and offensive tackle that must be addressed this offseason. With their third-round pick, address their need at offensive tackle by bringing in Trey Adams.
Adams is a rock-solid left tackle who excels as both a run blocker and a pass protector. He is extremely powerful at the point of attack and shows tremendous natural hand usage. Adams also shows good mobility for an offensive lineman, mirroring opposing edge rushers extremely well in pass protection.
The only real issue here is durability. Adams suffered a torn ACL in 2017 and missed most of 2018 with a back injury. He has stayed healthy this season, but the long-term durability concerns are legitimate, which is why he has slipped so far in this mock draft. Taking Adams would be a bit of a risky pick, but if it hits, the Los Angeles Rams will have found their franchise left tackle of the future.


Round 4, 116th Overall: Shane Lemieux, OG, Oregon

In the fourth round of this mock draft, the Los Angeles Rams go back to the offensive line, bringing in Oregon offensive guard Shane Lemieux. The selection of Adams helps the Rams fill their offensive tackle need and Lemieux undoubtedly helps them on the interior.
Lemieux is quick off of the ball and does a great job of reaching the second level in the run game. He is a relatively athletic player who also shows more than enough power on the inside. Lemieux is a rock-solid player who could come in and be an immediate contributor for the offensive line-needy Los Angeles Rams.

Round 6, 179th Overall: D.J. Wonnum, EDGE, South Carolina

Back to the defensive side of the ball here, as the Rams take a shot on some upside by bringing in South Carolina edge rusher D.J. Wonnum. Wonnum is a quick and high motor player who is always productive when he is on the field. Unfortunately, durability has been an issue and is a concern for the next level.

Round 7, 211th Overall: Chris Owens, IOL, Alabama

The Los Angeles Rams round out this mock draft with some more offensive line depth. Chris Owensis a big and powerful center who has grown as a player over the last year. He is quick off of the ball and extremely powerful at the point of attack.
Owens is a strong run blocker who can have success in both gap and zone schemes and is a dependable pass protector in the middle of the offensive line. Whether he ends up playing center or guard at the next level, Owens is a quality offensive lineman who could be a major steal this late.

Dec 21, 2019, 07:02pm
MLB Sees Record $10.7 Billion In Revenues For 2019



Maury BrownContributor
SportsMoney
#SportsBiz, National MLB Writer, BBWAA Member, Motorsports Writer

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The business of Major League Baseball continued to be strong in 2019 with record revenues for the ... [+]
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Revenues for Major League Baseball continue to grow and should accelerate in the coming years.
Gross revenues for the league were $10.7 billion for 2019, up from $10.3 billion last year, according to industry sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. That marks the 17th consecutive year that MLB has seen record growth.

The league surpassed the $10 billion mark in 2017 after seeing steep growth. League sources indicate that that trajectory should reoccur over the next few seasons as new national television deals kick in. FOX reached an extension in 2018 that starts in 2022 and runs through 2028 with a reported value of $5.1 billion, a 40% increase from the current media rights agreement. Negotiations for extensions with ESPN and Turner Sports are on-going and would arrive at the same time. In 2020, a $1 billion uniform deal with Nike kicks in.

More importantly, industry revenues that account for expenses and other investments came in at $9.7 billion for 2019, up from $9.4 billion last year. MLB player payrolls, bonuses that raised average annual value of new deals for the likes of Mike Trout, and benefits for the year came in at $4.7 billion.

Increases in revenues continue to be tied to media rights, new or extensions of sponsorship deals, and steady revenues at the gate in the face of attendance decline.

Since 1992, when Bud Selig took over as commissioner on a full-time basis, league gross revenues have grown from $1.2 billion, an 386% increase when accounting for inflation.

My family and I shall be attending our first ever NFL game this Sunday. We are visiting from the UK and have little knowledge in the finer details of the sport. This isn’t really a problem but what I would like some help with is pre game. I have been told you do something called tailgating. This is something that doesn’t happen at UK sports before games so I’d like to know what to expect and how best to enjoy the occasion.

Injury Update: Ramsey being evaluated on knee, Henderson Jr. likely to be placed on injured reserve

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Running back Darrell Henderson Jr. will likely be placed on injured reserve after sustaining a high ankle sprain against the 49ers that will require surgery, Rams head coach Sean McVay said Sunday. That procedure will take place after Christmas.

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey's knee injury, meanwhile, is still being evaluated. McVay said it was an LCL and that more information would be available later in the week.

Additionally, right tackle Bobby Evans (hip) should be ok, but the team will take things day to day with him over the next week, according to McVay.

McVay also said right tackle Rob Havenstein being inactive was a result of the Rams being smart and not wanting to push him.

"He's been practicing, he hasn't really been in a position where he feels like he can do the things to play at a high level," McVay said of Havenstein.

When it comes to how these injuries will impact Los Angeles' approach heading into Week 17, the Rams will use their best judgement balancing getting the win with keeping players healthy heading into the offseason.

"You want to be smart about it," McVay said. "You don't want to force guys to play that aren't in a position to be able to do that. But I think we do have a lot of good competitors. You're always pushing through some bumps and bruises at this point, but if it is something where they're going to have to have it fixed, or you're putting them at further risk for injury, we would definitely take that into consideration and we wouldn't want to expose guys for that."

Rams aim to respond the right way one final time in 2019

SANTA CLARA, Calif. –Though the Rams are eliminated from playoff contention following Saturday's loss to the 49ers, that doesn't mean they will use it as an excuse to not play up to their standard next week.

The same mindset Los Angeles has had all season following a loss is the same it will take into the season finale: Responding by playing with pride.

"We've got an opportunity to finish this season the right way, finish with a winning season, and we've got a bunch of winners in that locker room," Rams head coach Sean McVay said. "That's what I expect us to do as we move forward into Week 17 against a tough Arizona Cardinals (team)."

Both team and individual milestones are up for grabs in the Rams' final game at the Coliseum.

A win over the Cardinals would guarantee Los Angeles a winning record not only this season, but in each of the first three in the McVay era.

From an individual standpoint, Tyler Higbee needs just 22 yards to set a single-season franchise record for most receiving yards by a tight end. He has 650 this season. Higbee's 61 catches are already a single-season franchise record for a tight end.

A rushing touchdown would move running back Todd Gurley past Marshall Faulk to become the Rams' all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with 59. A performance of 400 or more passing yards from quarterback Jared Goff would set a franchise record for most 400-yard games in a career. He is currently tied with Marc Bulger with four.

"Disappointing year, but we've got one more game," Gurley said. "Finish on a good note, having a winning season."

More important than any individual accolades, though, is using the season finale to show who the Rams are and what they're about, according to both Gurley and left tackle Andrew Whitworth. The Rams' mindset will be the same against the Cardinals as it was against the 49ers, according to Whitworth.

"To me, we'll be as fired up next week as ever," Whitworth said.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald shared similar sentiments.

"All we can do now is finish this last game strong, and try to prepare and come back better next year," Donald said.

Next year brings a new era, more specifically a new venue for home games in SoFi Stadium. Goff wants to ensure a proper sendoff at the Coliseum.

His mindset: "Being who you say you are."

"We've got a good group in there, and even though we are eliminated, you do play for some pride at this point," Goff said. "As tough of a pill as that is to swallow, it's what you have to do. We've got the guys in there that will do that, and I believe in that.

"It will be the last one at the Coliseum, you want to go out on a good note and we just want to finish this season with a win. There's no consolation to not making the playoffs, but from a pride standpoint, you want to finish on the right foot."

Michael Thomas passes Marvin Harrison for most single-season receptions in NFL history

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas set the NFL record for most catches in a season with his 144th catch of the season on Sunday, breaking the previous mark set by Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison (143). Thomas did it in the fourth quarter against the Titans on his 11th catch of the day, finishing the game with 12 catches for 136 yards.

For Thomas, it was the ninth game this season he's had 10 catches or more.

Thomas scored a one-yard touchdown from Drew Brees on his next target after breaking Harrison's record. The touchdown was Thomas's ninth of the season. He finished the game with 145 catches for 1,688 yards, giving him the opportunity to become the first receiver to eclipse 150 catches in a season next week.

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Thomas entered Sunday with 133 catches on the season, the fourth-most in a season in NFL history. He was behind Harrison (143), Antonio Brown (136) and Julio Jones (136). Harrison set the mark in 2002 when he finished with 1,722 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Thomas has 268 receptions over the last two seasons, which is the most in a two-season span in league history. He has broken Brown's NFL record for receptions in a two-season span (265 in 2014 and 2015). He also passed Randy Moss (5,396) for the most receiving yards through a player's first four seasons in NFL history.

Monday Night Football: Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, longtime rivals, are set to clash for the NFC North title Monday night, but they're both alive for a larger prize: the conference's top seed. They're two of five teams jockeying for that spot, part of a top-heavy NFC playoff race where each contender could end up with 12 wins or more.

The fact the Packers (11-3) are in this position, one year removed from a 6-9-1 season, is impressive. Buoyed by first-year head coach Matt LaFleur, running back Aaron Jones has provided the type of rushing production rarely seen during the Aaron Rodgers era. It's created a multi-dimensional offense that can beat you any number of ways.

The Vikings (10-4), meanwhile, have won eight of their last 10 games with a resurgent Kirk Cousins under center. One year removed from bowing out of playoff contention in the regular-season finale, they clinched their spot on Saturday night courtesy of the Rams' last-second loss to the 49ers. Both a bid for the top seed (which requires a tie in the San Francisco-Seattle game next week) and the division would remain difficult, but the team's belief in itself and head coach Mike Zimmer is back in full force.

The Vikings also remain the lone undefeated team at home this season (6-0). Can they keep their momentum rolling at U.S. Bank Stadium? Or will the Packers continue their unlikely push to climb back atop the NFC? A win for them Monday night clinches the NFC North and equals the most regular-season wins for one of the NFL's most iconic franchises since 2014.

Green Bay at Minnesota

Kickoff: Monday, Dec. 23 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Vikings -5.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Who runs for the Vikings? And how in the world can that measure up to Aaron Jones?

The Vikings were dealt a blow Saturday when Dalvin Cook was ruled out with a left shoulder injury. Cook, whose 1,135 rushing yards rank fourth in the NFC, didn't practice all week after getting hurt in last week's win against the Chargers.

That would leave Alexander Mattison in position to start. Problem is, he's also nowhere near 100 percent. A sprained ankle suffered in Week 14 against the Lions leaves him questionable, putting third-string option Matt Boone in position to start.

To be fair, Boone ran for 56 yards and two scores in the second half last week after Cook's injury. But that was against a Chargers defense that already seemed to have given up. Try taking on a Packers unit that has 23 takeaways, seventh in the NFL, and whose rush defense has improved as of late (less than 100 yards allowed in two of the last three games). One of those success stories was against the Giants' Saquon Barkley; how do you think a second-year player with 32 career carries is going to fare?

It's a huge loss for the Vikings when you consider who is coming at them from the other sideline. Jones has been fantastic for the Packers, tied for the NFL lead with 14 rushing touchdowns (three of which have come in the past two games). He's also the team's third-leading receiver (425 yards) and has proved efficient in the red zone. The Vikings have the fourth-best red zone defense (47.5 percent conversion rate) but Jones will be one of their stiffest challenges of the year.

With that track record, it's notable that it's Cook, not Jones, suiting up for the Pro Bowl this January. With Cook out, Jones will be motivated to show the voters they made a mistake in front of a national audience.

2. Aaron Rodgers vs. Kirk Cousins

Some thought Cousins, snubbed for the Pro Bowl this week, should have earned a spot over Rodgers (8th career selection). His 111.1 passer rating is second in the NFC; 12 of his 25 touchdown passes have come over the last six weeks. Most importantly, a quarterback once considered a turnover machine is on track for the lowest full-season interception total (five) in his NFL career.

The problem for Cousins though could be as simple as the day of the week. He's 0-8 lifetime as a starter in Monday night games for both Washington and Minnesota. It feeds into a narrative that one of the better quarterbacks statistically this decade can’t pull through in clutch moments.

"If we get beat Monday night, it's not going to be because of Kirk Cousins," head coach Mike Zimmer said. "It's going to be because we didn't win as a team... hopefully, he has a great game and hopefully we win, but it's not all on him."

Rodgers doesn't need that type of protection concerning his track record. But the interesting thing about his game in 2019 is that one of the league's best quarterbacks has been more of a game manager than a game-changer. Currently riding the second-longest interception-free streak of his career, Rodgers is on pace to miss the 4,000-yard mark for just the fifth time in 12 NFL seasons as a starter. Three of those times, he was hurt or failed to start the full 16 games.

Where the pass yards have gone down, though offensive efficiency has gone up. A plus-14 turnover margin ranks second in the NFL behind the Patriots; their nine giveaways are second-fewest in the league behind the Saints. A clean game on a night where the Vikings are down one of their two best offensive players may be all Rodgers needs to pull out a victory on the road.

3. Which team's front four can excel?

Another Pro Bowl comparison/snub could be made for the Packers' 1-2 sack machine: the Smiths. Preston and Za'Darius have combined for 21.5 sacks through 14 games but neither one was selected; across the way, defensive end Danielle Hunter (13.5 sacks) got the nod for the Vikings.

Which side breaks through and creates pressure can be the x-factor here; these two defensive fronts don't get talked about enough because both defenses are a bit further down the stats sheet than they'd like.

But the ability for both teams to force turnovers will be a game-changer. Cousins, especially can be prone to fumbles — his 10 total through 14 games are tied for seventh in the league. Cousins has also gotten a bit lucky in that seven of those 10 have been recovered, masking some offensive line deficiencies that could be exposed by the right defensive attack.

Final Analysis

The Vikings have had the Packers' number, especially at home. Some of the pressure also is off with their postseason spot secured following the Rams loss on Saturday night. There's still plenty to play for, however, and the Bears await in Week 17.

But the loss of Cook transforms a game that began as evenly matched for both sides. Expect the edge on this line for the Vikings to go down significantly with Cook’s absence — so jump on board quickly. It's not an upset when a team currently in position for a first-round bye beats its top rival to win the division.

Like it or not, get ready for some meaningful NFL playoff games at Lambeau Field during the NFL's 100th anniversary season. Could history write itself any other way?

Prediction: Packers 24, Vikings 13

A 30,000 foot view with no punches pulled.

I’m a results oriented guy so forgive me if I speak bluntly.


This team was too Jekyll and Hyde this year. All 3 units had inexplicable ups and downs. Frankly, we lost too many games to inferior teams. This means that a ton of the blame goes to the coaches.

McVay needs to take a long and hard look at his coaching staff and schemes, starting with himself. And I think that McVay should hire a damned O coordinator which would allow him to focus on the Big Picture to a greater degree. McVay should retain the playcalling duties but listen carefully to his OC. I think that McVay is currently spread too thin on the O side.

Kromer should be allowed to be 100% OL coach and immediately relieved of his ‘run game coordinator’ duties. Let the man do what he does best, coach the OL. And heaven knows that this OL needs his undivided attention.

Shane Waldron probably shouldn’t be ‘passing game coordinator’ at all. Maybe not the best possible QB coach that McVay could hire, either. I think that Goff could be better under a more gifted coach, frankly.

Gurley is a shadow of his former self. Not his fault, but the Rams need to prepare for a future without Gurley as soon as ‘21. Might be a good idea to get a promising RB this offseason in draft, FA, or some kind of trade. Our O is predicated on having a powerful RB and running game, so I feel that this is a fairly high priority. Sure hope that the Rams realize that Gurley’s best days are behind him.

Speaking of running game, they need to figure out how to regain one by improving the OL. Player development of current players, draft, FA, or trade are all options on the table, I think. But this is Job One this offseason. I couldn’t care less which method they decide upon. I only care that they get it done one way or another and that they do so this offseason. The importance of re-establishing a powerful running game OL simply can’t be overstated. With it we are a SB worthy team. Without it we are an 8-9 win team. ‘Nuff said?

I seriously question whether Wade should remain our DC in ‘20. Nice guy, great career, but I think that McVay can do better. I also think that McVay could have his choice of virtually ANY available DC hire candidate. I’m personally hoping for a promising young and aggressive outsider. Sort of a Sean McVay type D oriented savant waiting for his chance while somewhere impressing in his current D coaching duties. McVay should NOT ‘settle’ for anyone he considers less than the very best available candidate.

Hope Littleton can be extended. He’s invaluable to the D and he’s earned it.

Fowler probably won’t be able to be extended due to cap restrictions. If Demoff can work some magic, I would love to extend Fowler, of course, but I’m afraid that the chances are kinda slim. Sigh...

Brockers is almost certainly a cap casualty.

I predict that Weddle will be released as a cap move since his play has not met expectations. A JJ, Rapp, and Christian S unit would be a strong one without Weddle.

Matthews is a bit iffy, too, I think. There’s the salary, his limited run D, and maybe the Rams like their options with other inexpensive edge players waiting in the wings, OR their options in the draft.

CB depth has been a pleasant surprise. Hill, Williams, and Long opposite Ramsey is looking very good, huh? Nice to feel that CB is not a screaming need, that’s for sure.

Speaking of pleasant surprises, how about Higbee? Goodness. I was optimistic when Higbee was drafted but I never saw him becoming such a good blocker AND O weapon. Can’t wait to see what McVay has planned for him next season.

Well, those are my ideas about ‘fixes’ needed along with a short list of likely painful cap casualties. A good draft and shrewd FA will be needed, no doubt, but if Snead can pull that off we could be right back in the thick of the SB hunt, despite playing in the strong NFC West.

My 3 biggest priorities?

Finish the OL.
Replace Wade Phillips.
Hire an OC to take a lot off if McVay’s plate.

BIG BIG CHANGES, ... Actually, this is more of an adjustment to my 3.0 Mock than anything completely new, but i'll likely be giving this mock thread a rest until closer to or following the first free agency period. Time to let the other fellas voice their opinions.

Two major re-signings this time around, zero costly outside free agent signings. Three trades for additional draft picks and also to increase overall available CAP. As you can see, the Rams will be getting much younger, but I believe this remains a play-off caliber roster when healthy.

I expect Wade Phillips will retire following this season and our next DC will insist on keeping Littleton on-board, ... and between our Trades and CAP Casualties, we will have enough capital to re-sign Whitworth to a final season and re-sign Littleton long-term. Since Whitworth informed Nate Silver following the 49'er game that he intends to play in 2020, there is no better fit than right here for him to finish his career.

Where's the beef ? Now showing on our O & DL, right where it belongs.

jmo.


Re-Sign :

Andrew Whitworth
Cory Littleton
Greg Zuerlein
RFA Donte Deayon, ERFA's John Kelly, John Carraway, Johnnie Mundt, Coleman Shelton, Jake Gervase, ... and all other current Practice Squad members.


Departing Free Agents :

Donte Fowler
Michael Brockers
Austin Blythe
Mike Thomas
Blake Bortles
Bryce Hager
Marqui Christian
RFA-JoJo Natson
RFA-Morgan Fox

Cuts :

S - Eric Weddle (4.25mil savings)
DT - Tanzel Smart
RB - Malcolm Brown (1.mil savings)

PUP :

Joe Noteboom

Trades :

Gerald Everett (3'rd rd.) - .5mil. savings
Rob Havenstein (3'rd rd.) - 1.5mil savings (Trade involves Havenstein & a 2021 5'th rd draft pick for the new 2020 3'rd)
Robey-Coleman (5'th rd.) - 4.5mil savings

2020 NFL Draft * :

1) N/A
2) DE - Carlos Basham, W.F.
3a) OT - Lucas Niang, TCU (From Everett Trade)
3b) DT - Rashard Lawrence, LSU (From Havenstein Trade)
3c) S - Ashtyn Davis, Cal
3d) CB - Jaylon Johnson, Ut (Comp Pick)
4) RB - Lamical Perrine, Fl
5) C/OG - Cesar Ruiz, Mi or Sean Pollard, Clem (From Robey-Coleman Trade)
6) WR - Denzel Mims, Baylor
7) TE - Colby Parkinson, Stan



Rams 2020 53 Roster :

OFFENSE (23)

QB :
Goff
Wolford

OL :
Whitworth
Noteboom
Niang *
Ruiz* (or Pollard*)
Edwards
Evans
Brewer
Corbett
Trewyn


RB's :
Gurley
Henderson
Perrine*

TE's :
Higbee
Mundt
Blanton

WR's :
Cooks
Woods
Kupp
Reynolds
Webster
Mims*


DEFENCE (27)

DL :
Donald
Basham *
Gaines
Lawrence *
Copeland
Joseph


ILB's :
Cory Littleton
Patrick**
Howard
Matthews**
Reeder

OLB's :
Ebukam
Okoronkwo
Polite
Durham
Carraway
Lawler

CB's :
Ramsey
Long
Williams
Deayon
Johnson *
Hill

Safeties :
Johnson
Rapp
Davis*
Gervase


Special Teams (3) :

Hekker
Zuerlein
McQuaide

Practice Squad :

RB - Kelly
ILB - Kiser
C - Shelton
C - B. Allen
S - Scott
CB/S - Alexander
OG - Fedd-Jackson, NC St. (UDFA)
QB - Kellen Mond, Tx A&M (UDFA)
WR - Kadarius Toney, Fl (UDFA)
TE - Parkinson*


* Denotes drafted rookie
** Denotes hybrid OLB/ILB

...that Kurt is on the tree.

Think this works a lot better with the entire roster vice having two threads so please excuse the reposting of the offense:

Key
Elite
Above Average
Average
Below Average / Unproven
Not Good Enough
(Cap hit or FA status for 2020 is in parenthesis)

OFFENSE

WR: Kupp ($1.1M); Webster (ERFA) ; Natson (RFA)
WR: Woods ($9.1M); Reynolds ($.8M)
WR: Cooks ($16.8M with a potential out in 2021 that brings $13M cap hit); Thomas (UFA)

LT: Whitworth (UFA); Brewer ($.5M)
LG: Corbett ($1.1M); Noteboom ($.9M)
C: Blythe (UFA); Shelton (ERFA); Allen ($.8M)
RG: Edwards ($.6M); Demby ($.6M)
RT: Evans ($.8M); Havenstein ($7.8M, dead cap drops to $1.6M after 2020 season)

TE1: Higbee ($8.6M); Mundt (ERFA)
TE2: Everett ($1.9M); Blanton (ERFA)

QB: Goff ($36M); Bortles (UFA)
RB: Gurley ($17.2M); Brown ($1.1M); Henderson ($.9M)

Offense notes:

I bumped Higbee up to blue, think he's here to stay as a plus passing game weapon now. I know Whit's a weak blue, but he's still upper half of the starters in this league IMO. Gurley & Goff I am giving the benefit of the doubt due to OL play this season. There are some guys in that below average/unproven range who might turn things around or step it up, but overall the sheer amount of them in the OL group shows the roster weakness.

Contract-wise Whit coming off the books will be $16.6M relief. This is very likely due to the Rams estimating that he will continue to decline.

Offseason outlook for this side of the ball shows that the WR group is relatively locked due to contract to Cooks. TE group is unlikely to change. Offensive backfield also unlikely to change very much. Major renovation is all going to occur on the OL.

DEFENSE

5T: Brockers (UFA) ; Fox (RFA)
1T: Joseph ($.7M) ; Gaines ($.7M)
3T: Donald ($25M) ; Smart ($.7M)

WILL: Fowler (UFA) ; Ebukam ($.8M) ; Okowrongkwo ($.7M)
OLB: Matthews ($5.7M) ; Patrick ($.6M) ; Lawler ($.7M)

ILB: Littleton (UFA) ; Howard ($.6M) ; Hager (UFA)
ILB: Reeder ($.6M) ; Young ($.7M) ; Kiser ($.7M)

LCB: Hill ($3.5M) ; Williams ($.7M)
RCB: Ramsey ($13.7M) ; Long ($.9M) ; Deayon (RFA)
Slot: Robey ($4.5M)

SS: Rapp ($1M) ; Christian (UFA) ; Gervase ($.6M)
FS: Weddle ($4.7M) ; Johnson ($1M) ; Scott ($.6M)

Defense notes:

Defense is going to see enormous change due to departure of key starters in FA and projected cuts. It's unavoidable if they plan to sign Ramsey IMO.

Contract-wise Brockers coming off the books frees up $10.7M. Fowler is $12M. Littleton is $3M. Hager is $.5M. Christian is $.7M. Potential gains could be had with Robey-Coleman coming off (no cap hit) from trade or cut, Weddle ($.5M cap hit), Matthews ($2M cap hit). At this point and of those we can say Weddle is a sure cut and Matthews is likely if they need extra wiggle room.

I can see why they might be considering the change at DC. When this much flux is expected it's probably a good call to get your guy in house to be part of the decision making.

SPECIAL TEAMS

P: Hekker ($4.6M)
K: Zuerline (UFA)
LS: McQuaide ($1M)
PR: Webster (ERFA)
KR: Henderson ($.9M)

Teams notes:

I'm good with the teams as-is. Hekk has had a down season, so has Zuerline, but both should bounce back. Web & Hendy both are still unproven in that you don't know what they can be just yet but I'm comfortable with both. Natson probably won't be tendered very highly but I doubt he has many options so if the Rams want to bring him back I think it happens.

Zuerline represents a cap savings of $2.5M if he departs in FA. Not a big number there have to think they retain him given all the other needs.

Cameron DaSilva

5 hours ago
Andrew Whitworth is the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, and if all goes according to plan, he’ll keep that title in 2020. He’s in the final year of his contract with the Rams but he wants to continue playing next season.
Whether that’s with the Rams or not remains to be seen, but his intention is to return to the field next season.


Michael Silver :
After last night's game, @RamsNFL LT Andrew Whitworth, who recently turned 38, told me he hopes to keep playing in 2020: "My intention is to play football. We'll see if it works out." @AroundTheNFL @nflnetwork

Whitworth, 38, has spent the last three seasons with the Rams after beginning his career with the Bengals. Although he struggled to begin this season, he’s turned it around and played at a high level recently.
He made the Pro Bowl in 2017 with the Rams and was a first-team All-Pro that year, but he hasn’t made either squad since. If Whitworth retires or doesn’t return to Los Angeles in 2020, it’ll leave a gaping hole at left tackle for the Rams, which Joseph Noteboom will have a chance to fill.