Weddle is to the ‘19 Rams what Aeneas Williams was to the ‘01 squad. Grizzled, Intelligent, and Efficient. But that’s not why I want him to succeed Wade.

weddle changes games in real time based on his pre-snap reads. He relays Wade’s plays in the huddle and changes both scheme and assignment frequently when he sees the called defense has a hole. His previous teammates left him alone to do better than the OC playcall.

I simply believe he both knows the system, players, and schemes better than most coaches and understands Wade’s system very well. When he retires, I want him on the D coaching staff.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio believes NFL should get rid of divisions altogether, suggests new playoff format

In just a few short weeks, we'll have the winner of the NFC East hosting one of the wild-card teams to open up the playoffs. On its face, there's nothing wrong here, as that's been the format for years. This year, however, highlights how this playoff system is broken, to a degree.

As things stand heading into Week 15, both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are 6-7 on the year and vying for first place in the NFC East. Whichever team wins that division will host a game on Wild Card Weekend. For a team that will finish with possibly a .500 record, it seems odd rewarding what feels like a division winner by default a home playoff game. For teams like either Seattle (10-3) or San Francisco (11-2) -- one of which will play on Wild Card Weekend -- it feels like one will get a raw deal.

So, how do we fix that? Well, Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio believes the NFL could take a page out of the NBA's book and simply rid themselves of divisions altogether, rolling with the six best teams in each conference .

"Since the league went to 32 teams, which was when the Texans came in in 2002, my ideal suggestion -- which has never been put forth in front of anybody important -- I don't think there should be divisions," Fangio told reporters Wednesday during his press conference. "I think you've got 16 [teams] in each conference, everybody should play each other once. That's 15 games. If you want a 16th game, you play a natural rival from the other conference. You know, Jets and Giants play every year. Eagles-Steelers, Texans-Cowboys, etc. play every year and keep it at 16 games.

"You'll avoid the problem which is going to happen this year where probably an 8-8 team is hosting a 12-4 team. You're going to get the six best teams in each conference and the divisions always flow. There are some that are easy some year, there are some that have a bunch of good teams. That switches back and forth every couple years. I just think it'd be a good way to avoid it."

Fangio does make an interesting point here. If this was the way that the NFL handled their playoffs, you'd rid yourself of the mediocre teams in the NFC East and substitute them in the playoff race for the Los Angeles Rams (8-5) and Chicago Bears (7-6), two clubs that have been surging as of late, but have a much tougher road to the postseason because of the divisions they're in.

"I just don't think divisions are going to get you the best six every year," Fangio said of the current system. "You want the best six? Do it like they do in college: You play everybody once."

Of course, you can't ignore the elephant in the room that the NFC East -- specifically the Dallas Cowboys -- brings massive TV ratings whenever they play, so the league won't exactly lose much revenue if Dallas makes it in. In fact, they'll gain ratings because of it. That's not the conversation, however. It's more about getting the best teams in and, under the current format, that's not happening this year.

Unfortunately for Fagnio, it doesn't look like change is around the corner. While speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meeting, commissioner Roger Goodell noted that re-seeding the playoffs hasn't been a subject they've covered.

"This is not the first time this conversation has occurred or this situation's occurred," Goodell said, via NFL.com. "Teams go into the season with the first objective is to win the division. That's what they work on -- we win the division and get into the playoffs. That is something we've considered over the years. I have not heard that this year and I don't anticipate hearing it again. It's been discussed in the past but I don't see that as an issue. If it comes up we'll certainly have a conversation. I don't anticipate it."

Fangio made some logical points and highlighted a key flaw in the current playoff format in the NFL. While he may have suggested a pretty sound substitution, the league seems pretty content where things are at, for better or worse.

NFL Week 15 playoff picture, scenarios, key games and projected playoff bracket

Only 20 teams remain in NFL playoff contention entering Week 15, the fewest at this point in the season since 2005, and a number of teams could see their postseason hopes go up in smoke this weekend. Others are closing in on first-round byes.

Here’s how the postseason scenarios are shaping up.

What does the AFC playoff picture look like?

y-1. Ravens (12-2)
2. Patriots (10-3)
y-3. Chiefs (9-4)
4. Texans (8-5)
5. Bills (9-4)
6. Steelers (8-5, own tiebreaker over Titans because of better conference record)
x: Clinched playoff berth; y: clinched division.

Who can clinch playoff berths in the AFC this week?

Ravens (12-2): Baltimore clinched the AFC North with Thursday night’s win over the Jets. The Ravens will also clinch a first-round bye with a Patriots loss, or a Chiefs loss/tie. Baltimore will clinch the No. 1 seed with a Patriots loss and a Chiefs loss/tie.

Patriots (10-3): New England will clinch a playoff berth with a win or a tie against the Bengals.

Bills (9-4): Buffalo will clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Steelers.

What does the NFC playoff picture look like?

1. 49ers (11-2)
2. Packers (10-3, own tiebreaker over Saints because of better conference record)
y-3. Saints (10-3)
4. Cowboys (6-7, own tiebreaker over Eagles because of head-to-head win on Oct. 20)
5. Seahawks (10-3)
6. Vikings (9-4)
y: Clinched division title.

Who can clinch playoff berths in the NFC this week?

49ers (11-2): San Francisco will clinch a playoff berth with a win/tie, or a Rams loss/tie, or a Packers loss combined with a Vikings loss.

Packers (10-3): Green Bay will clinch a playoff berth with a win combined with a Rams loss/tie, or a tie combined with a Rams loss.

Seahawks (10-3): Seattle will clinch a playoff berth with a win combined with a Vikings loss, or a win combined with a Rams loss/tie, or a win combined with a Packers loss and a Vikings tie, or a tie combined with a Rams loss.

What are this week’s key games?

• Texans at Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m.: The winner will have a one-game lead in the AFC South race.
• Bears at Packers, Sunday, 1 p.m.: The Bears could be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss or tie combined with other results. The Packers could clinch a playoff spot with a win and are in contention for a first-round bye, but are only one game ahead of the Vikings in the NFC North.
• Rams at Cowboys, Sunday, 4:25 p.m.: The Rams are a game behind the Vikings in the race for the last NFC wild-card berth. The Cowboys are tied with the Eagles atop the NFC East, but own the tiebreaker.
• Bills at Steelers, Sunday, 8:20 p.m.: The Bills can clinch a playoff spot with a win. The Steelers are tied for the final AFC wild-card spot, a game behind the Bills.

Which teams are still alive?

In the AFC, the Titans, Colts, Browns, Raiders and Broncos are still alive for playoff berths, although the last four of them could all be eliminated this week.

In the NFC, the Eagles, Rams and Bears are still alive, although the Bears are clinging to life.

Which teams can be eliminated this week?

Bears (7-6): Chicago will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss/tie against the Packers combined with a Vikings win, or a loss combined with a Rams win.

Browns (6-7): Cleveland will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss combined with a Steelers win/tie, or a loss combined with a Titans-Texans tie, or a tie combined with a Steelers win.

Colts (6-7): Indianapolis will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Saints, or with a tie combined with a Steelers win/tie.

Raiders (6-7): Oakland will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss combined with a Steelers win/tie, or a loss combined with a Titans-Texans tie, or a tie combined with a Steelers win.

Broncos (5-8): Denver will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss/tie against the Chiefs, or a Steelers win/tie, or a Titans-Texans tie.

Which teams are already eliminated?

In the AFC, the Bengals, Dolphins, Chargers, Jets, Jaguars cannot make the playoffs.

In the NFC, the Cardinals, Giants, Lions, Falcons, Redskins, Panthers and Buccaneers cannot make the playoffs.

A matchup of fire and ice: Cowboys WR Amari Cooper vs. Rams CB Jalen Ramsey is one of the best Week 15 has to offer

FRISCO — Amari Cooper is quiet.

Jalen Ramsey isn’t.

Will the Cowboys receiver have to remind himself not to get sucked into Ramsey’s verbal game when the two meet Sunday afternoon?

“No, I don’t think I’ve got to remind myself of nothing,’’ Cooper said. “I’m just going to be me, go out there and play football and let the chips falls where they may.’’

Cooper vs. Ramsey is one of the more intriguing individual matchups that will take place in the NFL this weekend. Only four receivers in the league enter Week 15 with more yards receiving than the 1,054 amassed by Cooper. The LA Rams parted with two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder to acquire Ramsey from Jacksonville in mid-October.

The two have faced each other once before. Cooper was in his second season with Oakland and Ramsey was a Jaguars rookie in 2016, when the Raiders traveled to Jacksonville. The result:

Oakland won the game easily, 33-16. Cooper had four catches for 29 yards with no touchdowns.

“Yeah, I mean, Jalen Ramsey is a pretty good corner,’’ Cooper said in his typical, understated way. “He’s long, he’s fast, he has all of the tangible things you want in a corner.

“It’s going to be a challenge. It’s going to be a battle.’’

Cooper has battled through a series of lower-body injuries to stay on the field this season. The extra rest he has going into Sunday’s game — the team last played on Dec. 5 — is a benefit.

“I’m feeling good,’’ Cooper said Thursday afternoon. “I’m feeling a lot better than I have in the past.

“I’m good to go.’’

Inconsistent Cowboys defense looks to keep pace Sunday with Rams

FRISCO — Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff hurried his offense Sunday to the line of scrimmage with about 30 seconds remaining on the play clock. This permitted him 15 seconds with coach Sean McVay’s voice in his helmet.

Fifteen seconds to see together how the defense was aligned.

Fifteen seconds to determine how to react.

After 12 seconds passed, Goff shouted, “Right-L!” to teammates and continued with the play call’s verbiage. Soon, his in-helmet speaker went silent. The play began, and Goff completed a 15-yard pass. The first-quarter drive culminated with a quick snap that caught the Seattle Seahawks with only 10 defenders on the field on a first-and-goal run.

Touchdown.

This is part of the Cowboys’ challenge Sunday. On offense, the Rams manipulate the play clock, hurrying up and slowing down the game’s pace at their leisure. The element is one piece to a larger task for a Dallas defense that has yet to speak its lofty group expectations into existence.

“The big thing is tempo,” said Kris Richard, the Cowboys’ defensive passing-game coordinator. “That’s where they try to control the game is with tempo. It’s not a huge menu of plays. Just like any team that runs a lot of no-huddle, the menu isn’t very large.

“But what they do, they’re very good at. And obviously, getting to the line of scrimmage, the play caller is basically able to dictate the plays or tell the quarterback where to put the football based upon the look. So there’s a lot of that that also takes place.”

When the Rams hurry up to the line, they aren’t only forcing their opponents to do the same.

It’s more complex than that, Richard said.

As play caller, McVay can communicate with Goff via a one-way speaker in the quarterback’s helmet until 15 seconds remain on a 40-second play clock. During that 25-second period, McVay not only can advise Goff on how to attack the defense based on its alignment, but Rams coaches also are monitoring the communication between their opponent’s coaches and players to determine what the defense is about to run.

“It’s really, if you think about it, that’s what the no-huddle offense is for,” Richard said. “Get up there. ‘Oh, let’s see what it’s going to be. ‘Can we steal hand signals?’ That’s why you do no-huddle. You get no-huddle out there.

“OK, you force them into a no-huddle defense, which in turn, now you’ve got to use all the hand signals, and you’re stealing hand signals or you’re doing whatever you’re doing. And now you’re able to use the play clock. ‘OK, hey, we’re getting this coverage. Oh, I see this hand signal. Oh, I see that. I see this. I see that.’ And that’s how the ballgame is played.”

Quarterback Cooper Rush, befitting his name, is working to simulate Goff and the Rams’ uptempo offense during the practice week.

That means he and the scout team have hurried to the line of scrimmage. Sometimes, the ball is snapped immediately. Other times, Rush will take his time to replicate McVay and Goff’s communication. He varies speeds as the Rams do.

Dallas gained a grasp of the Rams’ system on Jan. 12 during a 30-22 playoff loss in Los Angeles to end last season. Between that experience and the scout team’s work, there shouldn’t be any surprises on what to expect from a pace standpoint or on the fly-sweeps and reverse runs the Rams employ to disrupt a defense’s gap integrity.

What can differentiate this upcoming result from the last meeting is how the defense executes.

Dallas, however, has been inconsistent in that pursuit.

The Cowboys are chasing greatness, but when last seen on the field, they were simply chasing. They missed 19 tackles on Dec. 5 against the Chicago Bears, according to Sportradar. The stat database tracks missed tackles for every NFL team, every week. The Cowboys’ total was the most by any team in any week this season. For the year, the club has missed 104 tackles, third-most behind only the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions.

Dallas’ defense is not predicated on deception.

What offenses see is largely what they get, and the Rams are sure to be looking.

“They’re going to know what we’re in for the most part,” safety Jeff Heath said. “It’s going to come down to who outplays who.”

Second regular season meeting between Rams and Cowboys in McVay era has plenty at stake

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The first time the Rams played the Cowboys in the Sean McVay era, they came away with a 35-30 victory at AT&T Stadium that moved them to 3-1 in McVay's first season.

Quarterback Jared Goff, who completed 21 of 36 pass attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns, still has fond memories of that game in AT&T Stadium.

"I love playing there," Goff said. "It’s a good atmosphere, it’s a lot of fun, it’s indoors – you feel fast out there. It’s a fun place to play."

At the time, it was a milestone victory for Los Angeles. And much like when the two teams played in the divisional round of the playoffs last season, plenty is at stake.

In 2017, McVay was approaching his fourth game as the Rams' head coach when they were preparing to face the Cowboys. Los Angeles had a 2-1 record through the first three weeks and sought to build momentum off their 41-39 road win over San Francisco.

The Rams would rally from an 11-point first half deficit to earn that 35-30 win and a reputation as contenders.

“It was a good game," running back Todd Gurley said. "It came down towards the end, offense did a pretty good job and then defense ended up getting a good stop. We all know we won the game, that’s all I do know."

While McVay didn't go so far as to using words like contenders, he did view the result as an important sign of progress for his team.

"It was a big game," McVay said. "I thought that game really, in a lot of ways, represented, because of the caliber of team that they were and being our fourth game, a great step. To be able to go on the road against a team that had a first-round bye (in the playoffs) the previous year, I want to say they had 7 and 1 at their place the previous year, and come from behind, I thought it was a true team effort."

Gurley ran 23 times for 121 yards, adding seven receptions for 94 yards and one touchdown in the win. His touchdown, along with kicker Greg Zuerlein making a career-high seven field goal attempts, are two of McVay's most vivid memories.

"Everybody remembers the Gurley seam play that gave us the lead and we never relinquished it," McVay said. "Greg Zuerlein was unbelievable with all the kicks he made."

Including Gurley and Zurlein, both Los Angeles and Dallas retain much of the same personnel that produced the previous regular season thriller as well as last year's dramatic divisional round playoff game which L.A. won 30-22, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is the NFL's leader in passing yards under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and he's maintained a strong connection with top receiver Amari Cooper. There's also running back Ezekiel Elliott, whose 4,048 rushing yards from 2016-18 were most in that span. The running back who had the second-most? Gurley, with 3,441.

"They've got a good running back back there that can help everything move, and they're throwing the ball real good," Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. "Got some big-time weapons on the outside that's helping them. We've just got a good matchup against a good team and good players, we've just got to go out there and execute."

The Rams did just that against Cowboys in 2017, and their record at the quarter mark of the season gave the team confidence, according to McVay.

The Cowboys, at 6-7, could use some now, too, after the Eagles moved into a tie with them for first place in their division with a Monday Night Football victory over the Giants. Dallas holds the fourth seed in the NFC playoff picture because they own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Los Angeles be looking for a boost similar to 2017 this weekend, sitting a game behind the Vikings for the final wild card spot.

"it was a special memory," McVay said of that regular season game, "but we’ve got to be ready to go again."

This is kinda a shocker. I thought Jared and Todd were tight as team mates? Then TG's comments about McVay's "Idiot" comment. I'm not sure what to make of this but man, I sure hope this isn't some "Me" not "We" BS.


Rams' Todd Gurley stiff-arms QB Jared Goff's compliment
6:29 PM PT

• 
  
  Lindsey ThiryESPN

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Last week, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley let his head coach shoulder the blame. This week, it's his quarterback who intended to deliver a compliment, but perhaps didn't find the right words.
"Sounds like I suck and then I made a good play," Gurley said straight-faced, with a shrug. "So, yeah, I guess so."
Gurley was referring to a touchdown run in Sunday's 28-12 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, during which he tangled with cornerback Tre Flowers and threw a stiff-arm that caught the attention of quarterback Jared Goff.
So much so that Goff lit up when asked about it afterward. "He's a bad dude," Goff said. "It was vintage Todd."
"Not my first time stiff-arming nobody," Todd Gurley said of this move on Seattle's Tre Flowers on Sunday. Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
Vintage? Gurley didn't think so ... and made it known Thursday.
Against the Seahawks, Gurley rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries and caught four passes for 34 yards. And that stiff-arm? Nothing special. "Not my first time stiff-arming nobody," Gurley said. "Just a regular stiff-arm."
The Rams are 8-5 and chasing the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC's final wild-card berth. On Sunday, they play the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys (6-7) at AT&T Stadium.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gurley has played an increased role in the offense recently, and indications point to the trend continuing Sunday.
"The approach for us is that Todd is a big-time player," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "He's shown that he's feeling good and when he's doing those kind of things -- whether it be through the pass game, through the run game -- good things seem to happen for the Rams."
After he averaged 14.9 touches per game through the first 10 weeks, Gurley has seen an average of 21 over the past four games.
When asked Thursday how he felt at this point of the season compared to last season, Gurley responded, "It's Week 15 in the league, ain't nobody feeling rested. It's Week 15, no one in this league is feeling well rested."
Gurley had a season-best 28 touches in a Week 11 victory over the Chicago Bears. In a Week 13 blowout of the Arizona Cardinals, he had 20 touches, and when the Rams defeated the Seahawks on Sunday, he had 27.
McVay recently shouldered the blame for not giving Gurley more opportunity early in the season.
"Me not being an idiot," McVay said last week when asked what caused him to get the ball to Gurley more.
Gurley offered no alternative to McVay's explanation.
"He said it, I didn't," Gurley said, chuckling. "That's all I got to say. I don't have anything else to say."
The Rams' offense has appeared to benefit from Gurley's increased production, as Goff broke a monthlong touchdown drought to pass for four scores in the past two games.
Gurley was asked Thursday if the offense and other teammates benefitted when he was in rhythm.

"I feel like we all feed off of each other. I don't really have to explain too much, you see the results over the last couple of years," said Gurley, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards in each of the past two seasons as the Rams won back-to-back division titles and last season advanced to Super Bowl LIII. "When we're running the ball, stuff is going well, stuff is opening up -- so it's like, it's not too much really to explain, just got to go out there and do it, whether it's in the passing game or the running game."
Gurley has rushed for 721 yards and nine touchdowns on 177 carries in 12 games this season. He also has caught 26 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown.

Every QB I have used this year on my Fantasy Team has tanked when playing for me......so, I’m putting Jimmy Strap On for my starter this weekend...Tank You Jimmy..can any of you come up with some additional hijinx??? Let’s go Rams!

Thousands of ‘penis fish’ wash onto California beach
By Nadine DeNinno
December 12, 2019 | 5:24pm | Updated

Enlarge Image

A fat inkeeper worm found in Bodega Bay.

It’s a bird … it’s a plane … it’s a penis fish?
Thousands of “pulsing penis fish” have washed ashore on a California beach as seen in jarring photos that are raising eyebrows due to the creature’s phallic shape.
The quirky marine life is officially called fat innkeeper worms (Urechis caupo), and an expert writes for Bay Nature that he believes a recent storm in the Drakes Beach area is the reason so many of them mysteriously appeared on the beach.
Spotted by Ivan Parr on Dec. 6, the biologist from the Western Section of The Wildlife Society explains that the 10-inch fat innkeeper worm typically lives underwater, burrowing in mud or sand, but the storm likely carried them ashore.
“I’ve heard my share of imaginative theories from beachcombers, such as flotsam of a wrecked bratwurst freighter,” he writes.
However, Parr explains that a sausage ship accident is not the cause of this scene.

“We’re seeing the risk of building your home out of sand,” he says. “Strong storms — especially during El Niño years — are perfectly capable of laying siege to the intertidal zone, breaking apart the sediments, and leaving their contents stranded on shore.”
The spoonworm, which can live for up to 25 years, feeds and swims using its “spatula-shaped proboscis.” It typically eats bacteria, plankton and other small particles which it collects using “sticky mucus nets.”

Parr says he’s heard of sightings over the years in California at Pajaro Dunes, Moss Landing, Bodega Bay and Princeton Harbor.
The creature dates back 300 million years and also can be eaten — an anonymous colleague at The Post who has dined on a stir-fried fat innkeeper worm before in Shanghai, China, describes the taste as being “like a Livestrong band mated with a clam.”

Found this bit of info on Troy Hill. He really has been playing well since becoming starter. I had my doubts when they signed him to an extension, but he has been a doing a good job.

Yeah, this might be disgusting to our pineapple on pizza hating bretheren, one of which is @RamFan503. We need to do a road trip to Iowa to taste this masterpiece, What do you think 503, should we meet up at Fongs and eat some wonderful pizza?

Cameron DaSilva
6 hours ago



(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)


The Los Angeles Rams are back on the road for their next two games after beating the Seahawks at home in Week 14. First, they’ll head to Dallas where they’ll take on the 6-7 Cowboys, who have lost their way in recent weeks.

As poorly as the Cowboys are playing, though, they’re still a team with an abundance of talent – just like the Rams. There are star-studded matchups all over the field, and many of them will determine which team comes out on top Sunday afternoon.
The Rams have the edge in a lot of areas, but Dallas has a trio of offensive playmakers that rivals any in the league. Here are five key matchups to watch at AT&T Stadium in Week 15.


Rams OTs vs. Cowboys DEs

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

This is the matchup that could dictate how Los Angeles’ offense operates. There aren’t many pass-rush tandems in the league better than Robert Quinn and DeMarcus Lawrence. They both rank in the top six among all defenders in pass-rush win rate this season, which shows just how well each one is playing.
Andrew Whitworth will be the one blocking Quinn, while it’s not exactly clear who will be assigned to Lawrence. Rob Havenstein may return from injury, but the Rams won’t say whether he’ll replace Bobby Evans as the starter. Either way, Evans or Havenstein will have their hands full on the edge.

Aaron Donald vs. Xavier Su’a-Filo

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

This is a lopsided matchup that favors the Rams, as is the case every week when Donald suits up. Su’a-Filo was the backup left guard until Connor Williams tore his ACL, and he’s not exactly an above-average blocker.

Donald probably won’t have more than a few rushes where he’s one-on-one with Su’a-Filo, considering how often he’s doubled by opponents. That means Tyron Smith will give his fellow lineman some help with Donald, as will Travis Frederick from his center position.

Interior pressure is the best way to throw a quarterback out of rhythm, so Donald winning his reps will be critical.

Jalen Ramsey vs. Amari Cooper

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

A marquee matchup between a top corner and wide receiver is always fun to watch. As good as Dallas is at wideout, this is the battle that will get most of the attention. Cooper has been significantly better at home than he has on the road with the Cowboys, averaging 7.8 catches and 126.3 yards per game with five touchdowns at AT&T Stadium this year.
Prescott should look his way often on Sunday afternoon, which means Ramsey could be busier than normal. Cooper has seen 100 passes come his way this year, an average of 7.7 per game. Expect Ramsey to be physical at the line and talkative after the whistle, trying to get Cooper off his game from the start.

Cooper Kupp vs. Jourdan Lewis

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Lewis is a shifty cornerback who’s best when pressing at the line of scrimmage. The Rams do a lot of things to free up their receivers at the line, like stacking them and using motion, so this should get Kupp open against Lewis.

Since Kupp’s 220-yard performance against the Bengals, he only has one game with more than six targets and just 198 yards on 19 receptions in his last five starts. He hasn’t been as heavily involved since Robert Woods took over the bulk of the targets and Tyler Higbee’s recent emergence, but getting him going always helps the offense.

Cory Littleton vs. Ezekiel Elliott

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Elliott is one of the best running backs in the game despite him having a down year in 2019. Littleton, on the flip side, is having his best season as a pro and will be tasked with tackling Elliott whenever the Cowboys offense is out there.

Littleton is one of the surest tacklers in football and rarely misses opportunities. Limiting Elliott’s yards after contact will be a big part of this game and the more often Littleton can get his hands on the Cowboys running back, the better the Rams will fare.

Liz Roscher
December 12, 2019, 8:26 AM PST


Clinton Portis is one of ten ex-NFL players charged with defrauding the NFL's veteran player healthcare fund. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday that 10 ex-NFL players have been charged in a scheme that allegedly defrauded the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account of nearly $4 million.

Clinton Portis, Carlos Rogers, Robert McCune, John Eubanks, Tamarick Vanover, Ceandris Brown, James Butler, Frederick Bennett, Etric Pruitt, and Correll Buckhalter were charged in two separate indictments. The Washington Post reported that Joe Horn and Reche Caldwell will also be charged.

According to the indictment, the scheme allegedly operated by submitting false claims to the reimbursement account for expensive medical equipment that was never purchased. The ringleaders would find eligible players and offer to submit claims for them, and then fill out fraudulent claims for expensive medical equipment like hyperbaric oxygen chambers, ultrasound machines that are typically used on pregnant women, and electromagnetic therapy devices used on horses.

They would obtain fabricated support documents such as invoices, and letters or prescriptions from medical providers, and then submit the claims. In exchange for obtaining the false documentation and submitting the fraudulent claims, the ringleaders allegedly received “kickbacks” and bribes for as much as $10,000.

The claims were around $40,000 to $50,000 each, and were submitted between June 2017 and December 2018. According to the indictment, the players submitted $3.9 million in false claims, of which $3.4 million was paid out.

The Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account is meant to cover medical expenses for former NFL players after their NFL veterans insurance runs out.

“Ten former NFL players allegedly committed a brazen, multimillion dollar fraud on a health care plan meant to help their former teammates and other retired players pay legitimate, out-of-pocket medical expenses,” assistant attorney general Brian Benczkowski said in a statement on Thursday, via the Washington Post. “Today’s indictments underscore that whoever you are, if you loot health care programs to line your own pockets, you will be held accountable by the Department of Justice.”

Sack binge sends LA Rams defense past last season's total
AP


THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams have put consistent, strong pressure on opposing quarterbacks for the past two months.

Linebacker Clay Matthews realizes sacks and pressures don't win games by themselves, but the Rams' success in pursuing passers is playing a significant role in their pursuit of a playoff spot.

“That’s what you’ve been seeing all year, really,” said Matthews, who has eight sacks. “You’ve got a number of guys who are close to 10 sacks, constantly bringing pressure and making quarterbacks uncomfortable. That’s what I think the culture should be.”

With 11 sacks in the last two games, the Rams (8-5) have moved up to fourth in the league with 43 sacks this season. They've already surpassed their full-season total from last year's Super Bowl campaign as they head to Dallas on Sunday to play a key matchup for both teams' playoff hopes.

“We were just talking about that earlier,” said Aaron Donald, who leads the Rams with 11 sacks. “'We’ve got 43 sacks this season? That’s pretty good.' But we’ve got room for improvement. We’ve missed a lot of sacks. We’ll keep getting better.”

With Dante Fowler already registering a career-high nine sacks, the Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the NFL’s only teams with three players in the league’s top 25 with at least eight sacks apiece.

After recording only 13 sacks in their first six games before the arrival of cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the Rams have racked up 30 in the seven games since, culminating in 11 sacks over the past two games.

Donald recorded 20 1/2 sacks last season in a performance that could stand for years as the apex of quarterback pressure from an interior lineman. The superstar defensive tackle has 11 this season, but Donald is grateful to have much more help getting after the quarterback.

"We just all play off each other,” Donald said. “There’s times that Dante is going to make an inside move and I play off of him and wrap around, or I get a little wide and he wraps off of me, goes inside and gets a free sack. We play good together. When you’ve got a bunch of guys that can get after the quarterback like we’ve got and they can move around and everybody is playing good off each other, you tend to have a lot of success.”

Fowler and Matthews both direct praise to Rams outside linebackers coach Chris Shula for putting them in positions to succeed in coordinator Wade Phillips' defense.

Ramsey's presence is also frequently cited as a key to the Rams' success. The pass rushers are feeding on the freedom created by the secondary's ability to play man-to-man coverages since the arrival of Ramsey, who excels as a lockdown corner.

The Rams finished 15th in the league with 41 sacks last season despite a record season from Donald, who dropped the quarterback more times than any interior lineman in NFL history. Fowler contributed to the rush after his midseason arrival from Jacksonville, but the Rams didn't converge on the quarterback with the urgency they've showed in recent weeks.

Fowler has seven sacks in the last six games.

“It just makes me more confident in myself,” said Fowler, who could hit free agency next spring. "I just kept telling myself I could do it, and I’m just glad I was able to show you guys I could do it and be consistent. Just to be able to work with guys like AD and Clay ... I probably wouldn't be able to do it without everyone."

The big three aren't the only defensive players getting after quarterbacks. Michael Brockers, who does much of the unsung work on LA's defensive line, has three sacks as well.

Linebackers Samson Ebukam and Cory Littleton are also taking advantage of chances to chase the quarterback, combining for six sacks and 12 quarterback hits. Littleton does everything for the Rams as their leading tackler, while Ebukam has seized the chance to play a pressure role in recent weeks, getting all of his 3 1/2 sacks over the past three games.

“We’ve just continued to step up and take a step forward for this defense,” Matthews said.

NOTES: WR Cooper Kupp could be the Rams' punt returner in Dallas if Nsimba Webster isn't able to return from a hip injury. Coach Sean McVay indicated that the valuable Kupp could be under orders to fair-catch most punts if he is forced to take the role. ... TE Gerald Everett still has a knee injury that could sideline him for yet another game, but McVay wasn't sure. ... The Rams didn't hold a practice Wednesday, instead doing just a walk-through workout. ... RT Rob Havenstein could be ready to return from a knee injury that has sidelined him for a month, but neither Havenstein nor McVay would speculate on his role. Rookie Bobby Evans has played solidly in Havenstein's place.

What do you do if you are the punter for the LA Rams and you get invited to be guests at a Kings game? Well... you drive the Zamboni. That's what you do. You just have to love Johnny Hekker. Punter/Real Human. @Selassie I
Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1204621229824462849

Pretty good interview with AD. And you can even hear the questions.

I used to live in Arizona. I saw first hand how some of the people reacted to wealthy NBA players. I thought they had moved on from that type of behavior.

congrats to, well nobody, since some dumbass forgot to post this thread last week. But all that means is some lucky person will win double credits this week.


the Rams,coming off a huge win against the Seahawks, fly into Arlington to take on the Cowboys , losers of 3 straight games, with playoff implications for both teams on the line, as if anyone reading this didnt actually know that.

So on to the contest. Closest prediction to the final score, including the correct winning team gets 6000 ROD credits. Pick the actual final score and win 10000 ROD credits.

Good Luck and



GO

Rams Pro Football Focus tidbits heading into Week 15

Pro Football Focus (PFF) has a team of more than 300 staffers evaluating every NFL play from the Hall of Fame game to the Super Bowl. After each game, players, as well as each team's offensive, defensive and special teams units, are graded on a scale of 0 to 100; the closer a player or unit is to 100, the better. A full explanation of their evaluation process can be found here for additional context.

Here's a look at some of the noteworthy Rams-centric assessments leading into Week 15.

LITTLETON STAYS CONSISTENT WITH TACKLING

Already one of the top tacklers at his position this season, it should come as no surprise that linebacker Cory Littleton has remained one of the Rams' most consistent players in that category.

Sunday's tackling grade of 81.1 marked the ninth time Littleton has posted higher than an 80. He finished with a team-high 10 total tackles against the Seahawks in Week 14.

At his current pace, he'll have a good chance at beating his career high for tackles in a season. He has 112 with three games remaining and had 125 in 2018.

WHITWORTH'S SECOND-HALF SURGE

Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth has fortified that side of the line in recent weeks, especially when it comes to the passing game.

PFF's Rams-focused Twitter account shared yesterday that Whitworth's pass-blocking grade of 88.2 is tied for the fourth best over the last seven games among offensive linemen who have played a minimum of 350 snaps this season. It's up from 74.4 through his first six games.

It's an important development, because it comes as the Rams close out the regular season facing two of PFF's top 10 pass-rushing edge defenders (Cardinals' Chandler Jones, 49ers' Nick Bosa). The Cowboys' Robert Quinn is No. 31 but shouldn't be taken lightly.

ANOTHER STRONG GAME FOR WOODS

Rams wide receiver Robert Woods nearly eclipsed 100 yards receiving for the second game in a row. Still, his seven catches for 98 yards and one touchdown on Sunday understandably caught the attention of the evaluators at PFF.

Woods' receiving grade of 83.9 against the Seahawks gave him back-to-back weeks of placing in the top 10 at his position in that category. It also signified his best receiving performance of the season in the eyes of the scouting service.

Thursday Night Football: New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are set to host the New York Jets to kick off Week 15 in what will be the final installment of “Thursday Night Football” for the 2019 NFL season. The red-hot Ravens continue to ride a huge wave of momentum after winning a franchise-record ninth consecutive game on Sunday, defeating AFC playoff contender Buffalo on the road, 24-17, and clinching a playoff berth in the process. With a record of 11-2, Baltimore now sits alone atop the AFC standings thanks to some help from the Chiefs’ Week 14 victory over the Patriots. The Ravens also control their own destiny to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. The next order of business is to lock up their second straight AFC North title by extending their win streak to 10 games with a victory over the Jets on Thursday.

The seemingly snake-bitten Jets continue to plow ahead despite another disappointing season plagued by injuries. Their resiliency was on full display at home last Sunday when they knocked off the Dolphins to bounce back from an inexcusable Week 13 loss to the 0-11 Bengals. Kicker Sam Ficken connected on a 44-yard field goal as time expired to give the Jets a 22-21 win over the Fins. A victory that made for sweet revenge for head coach Adam Gase after suffering an embarrassing loss to the 0-7 Dolphins (his former employer) back in Week 7. Unfortunately, the Jets’ fourth win in five games isn't enough to keep them in playoff contention. Now 5-8 on the season, with no possibility of making the postseason, pride will be the Jets’ only motivation as they make their way to Baltimore in search of a colossal upset against the heavily favored Ravens.

New York at Baltimore

Kickoff: Thursday, Dec. 12 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: FOX/NFL Network
Spread: Ravens -14.5

Three Things to Watch

1. The Ravens’ run game vs. the Jets’ run defense

Thursday's most intriguing matchup pits the Ravens’ top-ranked rushing attack against the Jets' elite run defense. The Jets rank second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (78.8) but give up just 3.0 yards per carry, which paces the league. That bodes well for New York against the strength of the Baltimore offense. However, slowing down a Ravens’ ground game that averages a mind-boggling 200.9 yards per contest to go along with a league-best 18 rushing touchdowns is easier said than done.

The Ravens don’t just feature the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL, they do so by a very wide margin with 51.8 more rushing yards per game than their next closest competitor (San Francisco, 149.1 ypg). That gap is the same as the difference between the No. 2-ranked 49ers and the No. 22-ranked Chargers. Even more impressive, Baltimore remains on pace to break the NFL’s single-season team rushing record, which is currently held by the 1978 Patriots.

With the dangerous combination of elusive quarterback Lamar Jackson to go with the power run game of Mark Ingram II, the Jets will face a unique set of challenges unlike any they have faced all season. Will arguably the league's top run defense have anything for the potent Ravens’ ground attack on Thursday? We shall see.

2. Record-setting night for Lamar Jackson?

If the Jets’ defense isn’t up to the challenge, Lamar Jackson is sure to make them pay. The MVP frontrunner joined Michael Vick last week as just the second quarterback in league history to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark. And Jackson appears poised to make another run at history on Thursday. He needs just 23 rushing yards against the Jets to break Vick’s single-season rushing record for a quarterback and still has two more games to spare. While the Jets’ run defense is indeed stout, they did allow 37-year-old Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to rush for 65 yards on only 7 carries just last week. So it’s safe to say that Jackson has an excellent shot at breaking the record.

The dual-threat signal-caller is also capable of doing plenty of damage with his arm against the Jets’ 18th-ranked pass defense (242.0 ypg). Jackson leads all NFL quarterbacks with 28 touchdown passes. And a beat-up Jets secondary — which could be down as many as three starters, including star safety Jamal Adams (ankle) — will certainly have its hands full.

With that being said, it could be a tougher than expected outing for Jackson’s favorite target — tight end Mark Andrews — who leads the Ravens in receptions (54), receiving yards (707), and receiving touchdowns (7). The Jets’ defense has been among the stingiest in the NFL in regard to opposing tight ends, allowing just two touchdowns all season.

3. The Jets' offense

The Jets opened the checkbook with the offseason signing of star running back Le’Veon Bell in hopes of bolstering their run game. So far, that has not been the case, as New York ranks a woeful 31st in the NFL in rush offense (75.6 ypg). And while Bell has been an important cog in the Jets' passing game, he has yet to rush for more than 70 yards in a game all season and has just three rushing touchdowns. Bell is expected to return for Thursday's matchup after missing Sunday’s contest against the Dolphins with an illness. But based on his performance thus far, there may not be much hope for him on the ground against the Ravens’ sixth-ranked run defense. That goes for an anemic Jets’ run game as a whole.

However, there may be a glimmer of hope for second-year quarterback Sam Darnold and the Jets’ passing game on Thursday night. Over his last five games, Darnold has thrown nine touchdown passes against two interceptions while averaging a respectable 269.4 passing yards per game. Wide receiver Robby Anderson has caught fire of late, tallying 18 catches for 303 yards and a pair of scores over his last three contests. And leading receiver Jamison Crowder remains a threat, along with red-zone favorite Ryan Griffin and safety valve Bell.

Of course, there are concerns for the Jets’ passing game as well. For starters, the Ravens’ ninth-ranked pass defense has recorded just as many interceptions (11) as touchdown passes allowed. And a blitz-happy Baltimore defense that racked up six sacks and 12 QB hits last week against Bills quarterback Josh Allen will likely be a handful for a makeshift Jets offensive line that has allowed the fourth-most sacks (47) in the NFL this season.

Final Analysis

If the Jets show up in Baltimore with the same train wreck of an offense that they brought to Cincinnati two weeks ago, Thursday night is going to be very embarrassing for them. In fact, it’s going to require a flawless effort from the Jets on both sides of the football to even have a fighting chance against the red-hot Ravens, who will be battling for a division title and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Even with a flawless performance, the Jets will be hard-pressed to keep pace with the NFL’s top-scoring offense. And a Baltimore defense that hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game since Week 5 isn’t likely to oblige. Ravens roll to a franchise-record tenth consecutive win in front of the home crowd to secure their second straight AFC North title.

Prediction: Ravens 31, Jets 13

.

Login to view embedded media
.

My favorite part is the reaction to Gurley's stiff arm.

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.facebook.com/Rams/videos/873649209741739/

If the Falcons pull an upset, it is very possible.

I may have just noticed a small tell from Goff.

It's only from a small sample size of a video that was game film review from Bobby Evans.

I noticed that every time Goff was going to throw the ball he would wipe his throwing hand on the towel hanging from his waist.

I haven't really noticed this before. Have any of you noticed?

I didn't see one instance of him wiping it when handing the ball off - only when he was going to throw.