I think we can all admit Goff and the entire offense has been down this year. But I wanted us to take a stroll down memory lane to the last two seasons. It honestly looks like we’re watching a different QB. IMO, something happened during the bye week last year that caused him to regress. Or maybe he had a concussion or injury we didn’t know about. He’s a few good games this year(Saints, Seahawks, Falcons, Bengals), but overall hasn’t looked the same.

These are all the reasons we gave him $134 million.


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Watch those highlights and tell me that’s a guy who can’t get it done. There is something deeper going on that we don’t know about.

Your opinion of the salary cap considering Kroenke has the deepest pockets?

To live in the best country in the world where we have real football not that crap that call football in these other countries. Yes Sir, I'm very proud to be an American.

Patriots cheating conspiracy video surfaces

“Patriots Cheaters 2019”

Nods head excitedly

A Patriots cheating conspiracy surfaced on YouTube this week with an unequivocal title, but it appears to lack the supporting evidence of Spygate and Deflategate.

The video, which was promoted by Dallas radio host R.J. Choppy, comes from the second quarter of New England’s 13-9 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday. It shows the officials moving the first-down marker from the Patriots’ 5-yard-line to the 4 in between first and second down, seemingly adding a yard to the Cowboys’ yards to gain.

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But, as Yahoo! Sports points out, the issue seems to be with the initial ball placement being put at the 15-yard-line, instead of the 14, after a roughing the passer penalty came on the same play as a Michael Gallup catch.

The play-by-play had Gallup being tackled at the 29, which should have brought the ball half the distance to the goalline and somewhere between the Patriots’ 14 and 15. The drive ended with the Cowboys kicking a field goal on fourth-and-5.

At worst, it appears this was more the referees making a mistake — no shocker there — than a widespread conspiracy involving the Patriots.

It comes after Twitter fingers were being pointed toward New England after a man was spotted on a roof watching Cowboys practice in last week’s leadup to the game.

Thanksgiving Day: New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons

For the second time in three weeks, NFC South rivals New Orleans and Atlanta will meet, this time on Thanksgiving night in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This marks the second straight season the teams will play each on the holiday. The Saints won last year's Turkey Day meeting, 31-17.

New Orleans (9-2) can clinch the division title by beating the Falcons, something they weren't able to do earlier this season when Atlanta ambushed the Saints 26-9 in the Superdome in Week 10. That snapped New Orleans' six-game winning streak but the team has won its past two games both against NFC South foes.

This past Sunday, the Saints jumped out to an early 14-0 lead over Carolina and were up 31-18 late in the third quarter before the Panthers railed. After Carolina tied the game with a little more than nine minutes remaining, Drew Brees led another late fourth-quarter drive to set up Wil Lutz' 33-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired. New Orleans got an assist from Carolina kicker Joey Slye, who missed three kicks, including a 28-yard field goal that would have given the Panthers the lead with two minutes to play.

After knocking off the Saints, the Falcons won back-to-back games for the first time season with a victory over Carolina. But Atlanta wasn't able to maintain the momentum, falling at home to Tampa Bay last Sunday. The Buccaneers rattled off 18 straight points to break open a close game and went on to win 35-22 behind 446 yards of offense.

New Orleans at Atlanta
Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 28 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Saints -7

Three Things to Watch

1. Curtailing Michael Thomas

Last Sunday in Atlanta, the Falcons reverted to the defensive woes they were experiencing prior to their bye week. Jameis Winston looked like a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback against the Falcons, piling up 313 passing yards and three touchdowns. Chris Godwin torched Atlanta for 184 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.

Pass defense has been an issue for the Falcons all season. They are giving up 266.4 yards per game through the air, which ranks 27th in the NFL. They also have surrendered 22 touchdown passes, a number surpassed by only four teams. Opponents have completed 68.4 percent of their pass attempts, tied for the fourth-highest percentage. Part of the blame falls on a pass rush that has mustered only 18 sacks, third-fewest in the league.

If Godwin could enjoy his most productive day against Atlanta, one must wonder what Thomas could do against the Falcons' secondary. He currently leads the NFL in targets (124), the average number of receptions per game (9.5) and average receiving yards per game (112.9). His six touchdowns are tied for seventh. If a wide receiver ever deserved consideration for MVP, then Thomas is making his case.

Despite the lopsided loss to the Falcons a couple of weeks ago, Thomas did his part. He caught 13 passes, the most in a game this season. His 152 receiving yards rank as his second-highest total so far this year. If Drew Brees can find anyone else who can draw some attention from the Falcons' defensive backs, Thomas should produce another dominant performance.

2. Protecting Drew Brees

The first meeting proved to be embarrassing for the Saints' offensive line and painful for Brees. The Falcons sacked Brees six times for 46 yards. The running game managed just 52 yards on 11 attempts. The offense committed six penalties for 50 yards. The linemen accounted for four penalties (holding, tripping and two false starts).

The mistakes continued against Carolina. The line was flagged three times, twice for holding and once for a false start, totaling 24 yards. Additionally, Carolina declined another holding call and one for an illegal shift. The good news: The Panthers got Brees down on the ground just twice for 11 yards.

3. Motivation for both teams

Multiple factors should spur the Saints toward victory. With a win, they would secure the NFC South title and the automatic playoff bid that goes with it. They find themselves in a tight race with San Francisco for the top seed in the playoffs. Additionally, the Falcons embarrassed the Saints in New Orleans earlier this month.

In contrast, why would the Falcons care about this game? They have been mathematically eliminated from any chance of winning the division. Their faint wild-card chances require winning their final five games plus hoping that both Green Bay and Minnesota lose all of theirs, and they'll still need help. Do they have any interest in playing spoiler and denying their Saints the opportunity to celebrate on the Falcons' home field?

Final Analysis

It would seem that the Saints would be at a disadvantage by playing on the road during a short week. However, they have a tremendous amount at stake. Is there any chance of dismissing the Falcons and looking ahead to next week's showdown with San Francisco for the No. 1 seed in the NFC? That is highly unlikely after the embarrassing beating suffered against Atlanta less than three weeks ago.

In contrast, it appears that the Falcons' burst of competitiveness has ended. The reality of their postseason prospects has dawned on them. As frustrating as this season has been for the Falcons, letting a rival munch on turkey and don divisional championship hats on their home turf after a victory will worsen their plight.

Prediction: Saints 34, Falcons 24

Thanksgiving Day: Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys

For the first time since the 1994 season, the Buffalo Bills will be playing a football game on Thanksgiving Day. The opponent: traditional host Dallas, fresh off of last week's disappointing 13-9 road loss to New England.

In fact, the Cowboys (6-5) are 3-5 since starting the season with three straight victories. Beating up on lesser opponents has been relatively easy for this team. It's getting victories over teams above .500 that has been the issue.

Outside of an ugly 31-31 loss to Philadelphia in Week 8, the Bills (8-3) have been steady. Their other two losses (Patriots, at Browns) were by a total of nine points. Buffalo has a two-game lead over the rest of the pack in the AFC Wild Card chase and has won its past two games, including last week's impressive 20-3 home victory over Denver.

The Bills are 3-4-1 on Thanksgiving while the Cowboys have enjoyed plenty of success on the holiday, posting a 31-19-1 record. These two teams last played in Week 16 of the 2015 season, a 16-6 Buffalo victory at home. Dallas finished 4-12 that season while the Bills went 8-8.

Buffalo at Dallas
Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 28 at 4:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Dallas -6.5

Three Things to Watch
1. Can Buffalo stay strong on the road?

The Bills currently have one of the league’s more impressive road records, as they sit with only one loss away from Buffalo. That loss came at the hands of the Browns, who are steadily improving week-after-week, and it was only by three points (19-16). Dallas, on the other hand, has already dropped two of its five home games this season, which seemingly presents an opportunity for the Bills.

There are still a lot of people who don't believe in Sean McDermott’s team, so going to AT&T Stadium during a nationally televised game on Thanksgiving would go a long way in earning them some respect moving forward. If the Bills struggle, the opposite could happen, especially for a team currently in the driver's seat for a wild-card berth in the AFC.

2. Dallas passing attack vs. Buffalo pass defense

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott struggled on the road against the Patriots this past Sunday. After averaging 322.1 passing yards and 2.1 touchdowns through the first 10 games, the Mississippi State product only completed 57.6 percent of his attempts for 212 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception against New England's stout defense.

As if that wasn’t enough, Prescott's No. 1 receiver, Amari Cooper, didn’t have a single reception on the day.

Considering the Bills defense ranks third in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (184.18), Dallas will need Prescott and company to get back to being the No. 1 passing offense in the league, the one that averages more than 300 yards per game.

3. Cole Beasley revenge game?

One weapon that Prescott won’t have available in this game is Beasley, who is now a member of the Bills after signing a four-year, $29 million free-agent contract back in March.

The former undrafted free agent out of SMU spent his first seven seasons in the NFL playing for Dallas, and he hauled in 319 receptions for 3,271 yards and 23 touchdowns during that time. This season, Beasley has amassed 49 receptions, 525 yards (10.7 ypr) and four touchdowns through 11 games.

It should be fun to watch Beasley take on his former team on Thursday, especially considering he’ll be going against the sixth-ranked passing defense in the league. Dallas' D did its part last week, holding Tom Brady and the Patriots to 282 total yards (181 passing) and just one touchdown.

Final Analysis

The Cowboys are currently 6.5-point favorites in this game, which seems like the perfect spread for our predicted outcome. This AFC-NFC matchup features two relatively balanced teams who can attack you in multiple ways, both offensively and defensively.

In three games against AFC teams this season, Dak Prescott has mostly struggled. He's averaged 245.3 passing yards while throwing a total of one touchdown with two interceptions. This Bills defense might not be the ideal situation to right that ship, but he has to if Dallas wants to maintain its lead in a watered-down NFC East.

It ultimately ends up being a close game, but the Cowboys are able to come up with a late, go-ahead touchdown to secure their seventh victory of the 2019 season.

Prediction: Cowboys 24, Bills 17

Thanksgiving Day: Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

The NFC North's second-oldest rivalry will get your Thanksgiving Day football started this year. The Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions will do battle for the 180th time in NFL history, and the 18th time on Turkey Day (Bears lead 9-8 in those meetings).

The Bears (5-6) have won two of their last three and are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. The Lions (3-7-1), on the other hand, have lost four in a row and seven of eight after a promising 2-0-1 start. Chicago looks to get back to the .500 mark, while Detroit hopes to get back on track in its annual holiday showcase.

Chicago at Detroit
Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Spread: Bears -2.5

Three Things to Watch

1. All eyes on the quarterbacks

Embattled Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky may not have exactly silenced his critics, but he gave himself some breathing room with his performance in last week's ugly win over the New York Giants. He completed 25-of-41 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 6.8 yards per attempt, ran for an additional score on the ground and completed passes to seven different receivers. But he also took two sacks and threw two interceptions.

Trubisky also continues to show the hesitation and indecisiveness that have plagued his 2019 season. But over the last three games, the No. 2 overall pick from 2017 has completed 65-of-107 pass attempts (62 percent) for 641 yards and five touchdowns. So there is some positive amid the negative (he's also taken eight sacks and thrown three picks during that same stretch).

While Trubisky has been inconsistent, his health hasn't been an issue aside from the shoulder injury he sustained earlier this year. The supposed "hip pointer" that Trubisky sustained against the Rams two weeks ago has come under serious doubt.

Health is one thing that the Lions don't have with regard to their quarterback room. Matthew Stafford has missed the last three games after injuring his back in the loss to the Oakland Raiders back in Week 9. His return for this season is up in the air.

Jeff Driskel replaced Stafford with mixed results. He has completed 59 percent of his throws for 685 yards and four touchdowns (with four interceptions and 11 sacks) as the Lions have gone 0-3 without Stafford. Now it's David Blough's turn, as the team announced Wednesday night that the undrafted rookie from Purdue (acquired from Cleveland in a trade in late August), will see his first NFL action because Driskel is dealing with a hamstring injury. The Lions had tried to re-sign Josh Johnson to have depth at least temporarily, but were blocked from doing so by the XFL as Johnson appears to be signing with that league. Johnson began the year on Detroit's roster but was released just a couple of weeks into the season.

So, needless to say, the signal-callers for both teams will have most, if not all, of the attention on them.

2. Defense continues to make an impact

Despite the issues that both teams have had on offense, their defenses have done everything in their power to keep their teams competitive. Over the last four games, the Bears and Lions have combined to register 32 tackles for a loss, 17 sacks, 44 QB hits, 34 pass deflections, and seven takeaways. The Bears have allowed only 10 fourth-quarter points during this stretch, while the Lions have only given up an average of 3.4 rushing yards and allowed only three rushing TDs during this same span. Whoever has the better defense may win this game.

3. Coaches under scrutiny

Both head coaches have made headlines this year, especially within the last week or so. Lions coach Matt Patricia has been answering questions about his job security lately. After winning Super Bowls XXXIX, XLIX, and LI as the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, Patricia was expected to carry that success over to Detroit and be an upgrade over his predecessor, Jim Caldwell. Instead, the Lions are 9-17-1 under Patricia's watch; they're still struggling to run the ball with success (3.9 yards per carry, no individual 1,000-yard rusher under Patricia); and their defense has given up 25 points or more in 13 of the 27 games he's coached. Another loss this week won't help matters.

Job security may not be an issue for Matt Nagy yet, but he's certainly in an uncomfortable position. It's amazing how one year can make a difference, as the Bears went from 12-4 with a division title and a playoff berth to fighting for their playoff lives with less than a month left in this season. The Bears offense went from being one of the best in the NFL in 2018 to ranking at or near the bottom of nearly every offensive category in 2019. Nagy went from being Coach of the Year to bearing the responsibility of the regression of both the offense and Mitchell Trubisky. He's also been taken to task for the Bears' lack of a rushing attack (78.5 ypg, 29th in NFL), and he keeps hearing questions about his game planning.

Both coaches are definitely in must-win mode. A win for Patricia will give him job security for at least one more week, while a win for Nagy will take at least some of the focus off of him.

Final Analysis

The Bears won the first season meeting with the Lions in Chicago three weeks ago, beating Detroit 20-13 at home in Week 10. They also swept both 2018 meetings, including last year's Thanksgiving matinee in which backup Chase Daniel started for an injured Mitchell Tribusky. Tribusky will play this time, but it's the Bears' defense that will lead the way once again, taking advantage of the Lions' quarterback situation to secure the season sweep.

Prediction: Bears 21, Lions 13

At RamsONDEMAND we are thankful for YOU!

Thanksgiving wishes across the miles from our house to yours... May your home be filled with laughter and happiness on this special day!

Happy Thanksgiving RamsONDEMAND!

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I was in Greenville South Carolina with my wife at Burlington WayTooMuchShitForWomenToLookAt Coat Factory, and I stumbled across these fairly sweet sweatshirts. For like $12. And wouldn't you know it - NONE of them are above a medium. The hell, man? Finding any Rams gear in this neck of the woods is the equivalent of getting hit by lighting -twice - while riding your unicorn on your way to cash your winning lottery ticket.

And who wears Medium anymore?
This is America.



Which reminds me. I owe @ramsplaya16 $12. Doh.

(Top photo of Sean McVay: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

By Rich Hammond | The Athletic

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Ever wonder how pilots deal with turbulence? Subtle moves involving speed and elevation can make a difference. Nothing drastic, nothing rash. Stay calm and keep flying.

Such is life for an NFL coach. Rare is the smooth season. Injuries, off-field issues and player regression and poor play can present sudden bumps, and a coach must rely on his experience to get through them.

But what if that coach has never dealt with tough times? What if he’s Sean McVay, age 33 and less than three years into the job, and he’s never been faced with significant adversity? What if, in the span of 10 months, he’s gone from “genius” to “exposed” in the eyes of pundits who were absurdly breathless both times? What does he do with a team that once had Super Bowl aspirations but now is 6-5 and not in playoff position?

It’s clear that the rest of this Rams season is going to be a referendum on McVay, and if he approaches it the right way, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In many ways, McVay now is being presented with an opportunity, a chance to show that he’s the complete package as a head coach.

What’s on the checklist? Critical Rams fans frequently ding McVay for his play-calling and for too-slow in-game adjustments. There’s a way to fix that, by bringing in some help, but that can’t be addressed until after the season. For now, McVay can work on his messaging, and give this team what it needs to hear.

McVay has done an extraordinary job since Jan. 2017. He took over a 4-12 team, got the players to believe in him and each other, installed a modern offense, elevated Jared Goff and won a division title. Then the Rams got even better in 2018, won another NFC West title and reached the Super Bowl.

One season does not turn a coach into a failure. It’s just that this is different for McVay. He has passed every test to date, but he has never faced one like this. In many ways, it will be his most difficult, and it will be fascinating to watch. There’s nothing to say McVay can’t do it; it’s just that he’s never had to do it.

Also, a disclaimer: Outside of players and coaches, nobody knows what is actually said in the Rams’ locker room, during the week and after losses. The internal message could be completely different from the public message, but the public message is hitting the ears a little weird right now.

The Rams are spiraling. Yes, they’ve had injuries and something weird has been going on with Todd Gurley all season. But this team is far too talented to be 6-5 and, quite likely, a non-playoff team.

Yet after an embarrassing 45-6 loss to Baltimore on Monday night, most everyone with the Rams spoke in measured tones. Eric Weddle had some fire, but from McVay down, the rest of the team said all the normal things about watching the tape, getting better, sticking together and eliminating mistakes.

“You be honest with yourself about what we could do better,” veteran offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth said. “That’s coaches, players, everybody. The thing is, eventually, it’s one of those things where it’s not just players, it’s not just coaches — it’s all of us together, collectively. How do we get on the same page? How do we do things better? Is it the plan, is it the plays, is it the players? All those things have to be looked at with alligator skin. You’ve got to be tough about it and look internally and say, ‘Hey, how can each and every one one of us be better?’”

That’s very smart from Whitworth, but also very analytical and calm, and those sentiments echoed across the locker room. It didn’t sound like a team particularly worried or upset about its spot in the NFL standings, and that started with McVay. In speaking this week about the upcoming games and the struggle the Rams face, he actually used the phrase “take it one game at a time.”

No. This requires more. There’s a difference between anger and panic, and the Rams need some anger right now, and it needs to start with their head coach. Where is the urgency? Again, perhaps that messaging is being delivered behind closed doors, but players also take their cues from what a coach says publicly, and this is not the time for “I’m OK, you’re OK” stuff from McVay.

McVay’s clear strength, for the past 34 months, has been in building people up. He is, by nature, a positive, encouraging person. It doesn’t mean he can’t (and won’t) get after players, but it’s time to bring that attitude to the podium. Get guys on their toes. Don’t be afraid to talk about pride and job competition.

“Anybody that’s had any sort of success in sports,” McVay said this week, “you’ve seen them overcome some adversity, different forms and fashion. But what you have to do is, you have to move forward. Those times don’t last unless you allow them to. I can promise you we’re not going to allow that to continue to fester with us, and it’s going to be something that we look at as — that adversity is an opportunity for us to respond the right way.”

All true, all smart, but this has remained the messaging week after week, and things are not getting demonstratively better for the Rams. Then there are the micro issues. Even if McVay hit every correct note with his public tone, it wouldn’t change the fact that the Rams cannot consistently score.

Over 32 regular-season games in 2017 and 2018, no team scored more points than the Rams. Now they have fallen off the cliff, and rank 14th in the NFL with an average of 22.6 points per game. They have scored a total of 249 points, one more than this week’s opponent, the Arizona Cardinals, who have a rookie quarterback, a first-year head coach and far less talent across the board on offense.



Sean McVay has been the Rams’ offensive play-caller since his 2017 hiring. (Robert Hanashiro / USA TODAY Sports)

Some of this is out of McVay’s hands. While he works in concert with general manager Les Snead in personnel matters, McVay didn’t choose to overhaul the Rams’ offensive line. He certainly didn’t choose to deal with the murky Gurley situation, and McVay deserves plaudits there. McVay has been taking the public hits for not using Gurley more, even though he’s clearly trying to manage a sub-optimal situation.

There are, however, fair ways to critique McVay, and the red flags even started to rise late last season. Teams like Chicago and Philadelphia found ways to slow the Rams’ offense, yet McVay seemed slow-footed weeks later when New England enjoyed similar defensive success in the Super Bowl.

Coaching is never static. Critics who say McVay has been “figured out” are being ridiculous. The coaching game involves constant adjustments, readjustments, and adjustments to those readjustments. It never stops, and innovative coaches, like McVay, always have to deal with it.

Of course some of McVay’s stuff is going to get “figured out.” That’s going to happen for the rest of his career. When it does, he needs to, well, find new stuff, and there’s been a bit of an issue there, even during the season.

How about just this month? The Rams entered their bye week after victories over Atlanta and Cincinnati, teams that, at the time, had a combined record of 1-12. The Rams built some momentum but still needed to be much better, and it seemed reasonable to think that the bye week would be a perfect time for McVay to go into the lab and give the Rams’ offense some fresh material for their final eight games.

Instead, McVay gave players the entire week off from practice — which seemed reasonable, given their recent travel and a growing list of injuries — and the Rams’ offense has been completely flat since the bye. The team scored 12 points against Pittsburgh, 17 against Chicago and 6 against Baltimore.

The lack of in-game adjustments also has raised some eyebrows, which makes it fair to question whether it’s time for McVay to get some help, perhaps from an older, grizzled offensive coordinator.

McVay’s main task right now — setting the proper tone for the entire team amid its skid — is complicated by the fact that he also runs the offense. That’s a lot for one coach to take on, and since the end of the 2017 season, when Matt LaFleur left, McVay has not used an offensive coordinator, at least not in name. He now has Shane Waldron as pass-game coordinator and Aaron Kromer as run-game coordinator, but even those coaches have other responsibilities (quarterbacks and offensive linemen, respectively).

McVay gets help — former UCLA offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch also is on the staff — but maybe it’s time for something more. If McVay doesn’t want to hand over play-calling duties, he can perhaps at least bring in a veteran coach for some guidance. Minnesota brought in Gary Kubiak as a consultant after last season. Is there a chance that Jay Gruden, one of McVay’s mentors, might be interested in a role?

McVay’s most impressive move as Rams coach was his first big one. In hiring Wade Phillips as his defensive coordinator, McVay showed confidence, that he wasn’t afraid to bring in a high-profile assistant to run a big part of his time. It was the proper move and it got rewarded. McVay doesn’t need to hand over the entire offense now, and he shouldn’t, but he also shouldn’t shoulder the entire weight.

To be certain, McVay’s seat is not warm. The cabin air pressure is just fine. McVay had the Rams in the Super Bowl within this calendar year, and nobody within Rams headquarters can imagine a different, or better, leader for this team.

McVay is also only two weeks removed from one of his best coaching performances. Against Chicago, the Rams entered with a young, reshuffled offensive line and the outlook appeared gloomy. McVay went back to basics, shifted primarily to sets with two tight ends and ran the ball. It still wasn’t very aesthetically pleasing, but the Rams did enough to get the victory. In the postgame locker room, the Rams gathered around McVay and presented him with a game ball.

This isn’t a time to panic. McVay is fine but everyone, in any industry — coaches, players, accountants, truck drivers — always can stand to improve. That is being brought into sharper focus now for McVay because of the Rams’ struggles this season. McVay always likes to look on the bright side, so he should view this as a chance to prove that he can guide the Rams through tough times for the first time.

FOX SINGLE


█ Anchorage
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Three first-year eligible players -- safety Troy Polamalu, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and linebacker Patrick Willis -- are among the 25 semifinalists of modern-era players for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2020.

The list also includes four others -- linebacker Carl Banks, running backs Fred Taylor and Ricky Watters, in addition to defensive tackle Bryant Young -- although previously eligible for the Hall of Fame, are semifinalists for the first time. All other players on the 2020 list have been a semifinalist in previous years.

To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated individual must not have participated as an active player for five consecutive seasons.

» Steve Atwater, S -- 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets | (Times as a Semifinalist: 9 -- 2012-2020)

» Carl Banks, LB -- 1984-1992 New York Giants, 1993 Washington Redskins, 1994-95 Cleveland Browns | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2020)

» Ronde Barber, CB/S -- 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 -- 2018-2020)

» Tony Boselli, T -- 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve) | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2016-2020)

» Isaac Bruce, WR -- 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 -- 2015-2020)

» LeRoy Butler, S -- 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 -- 2018-2020)

» Alan Faneca, G -- 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals | (Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2016-2020)

» Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 -- 2015-2020)

» Steve Hutchinson, G -- 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 -- 2018-2020)

» Edgerrin James, RB -- 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 6 -- 2015-2020)

» John Lynch, FS -- 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos | (Times as a Semifinalist: 8 -- 2013-2020)

» Clay Matthews, LB -- 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 – 2012, 2017, 2019-2020)

» Sam Mills, LB -- 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 -- 2016, 2019-2020)

» Troy Polamalu, S -- 2003-2014 Pittsburgh Steelers| (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2020)

» Simeon Rice, DE -- 1996-2000 Arizona Cardinals, 2001-06 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2007 Denver Broncos, 2007 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2018, 2020)

» Richard Seymour, DE/DT -- 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders | (Times as a Semifinalist: 3 -- 2018-2020)

» Steve Tasker, ST/WR -- 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills | (Times as a Semifinalist: 7 -- 2004, 2008-2010, 2012-13, 2020)



» Fred Taylor, RB -- 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2020)

» Zach Thomas, LB -- 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2019-2020)

» Hines Ward, WR -- 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 -- 2017-2020)

» Ricky Watters, RB -- 1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2020)

» Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2020)

» Patrick Willis, LB -- 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2020)

» Darren Woodson, S -- 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys | (Times as a Semifinalist: 4 -- 2015, 2017, 2019-2020)

» Bryant Young, DT -- 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers | (Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2020)

The Hall of Fame Board recently passed a resolution that suspended the Hall of Fame's Selection Committee Bylaws for the Class of 2020 election cycle only. The measure is intended to honor the NFL's Centennial Celebration through a special Centennial Class that will be comprised of 20 members in 2020. The group will include five Modern-Era players to come from the list announced today in addition to 10 Seniors (a player who has been retired for more than 25 seasons), three Contributors (an individual other than a player or coach) and two Coaches.

The Modern-Era players list will be reduced to 15 Finalists that will be announced on Jan. 2, 2020. The finalists will then be presented to the full 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee during its annual meeting on Selection Saturday," on Feb. 1, 2020, the day before Super Bowl LIV. The Selection Committee will elect five Modern-Era players for the Class of 2020.

The determination of the Seniors, Contributors and Coaches will be made by a special 25-person Centennial "Blue-Ribbon" Panel who will review the backlog of deserving Seniors, Coaches and Contributors. The Blue-Ribbon Panel is comprised of Hall of Fame Selectors, Pro Football Hall of Famers, media members, football historians and industry experts.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2020 will be introduced during NFL Honors, a two-hour prime-time awards special to air nationally on the eve of Super Bowl LIV at 9 p.m. (ET and PT) on FOX.

The Centennial Class of 2020 will be formally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the annual Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls from Aug. 6-9, 2020 and the Centennial Celebration in Canton on Sept. 16-19, 2020.

Niners are first 10-1 underdog in a decade, plus five more wild stats about 49ers-Ravens matchup

When the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers meet on Sunday, we could easily be watching a preview of Super Bowl LIV.

Entering Week 13, these two teams are arguably the hottest in all of football. The 49ers (10-1) are fresh off a prime-time shellacking of the Green Bay Packers and are tied with only the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots for best record in the NFL. The Ravens (9-2), meanwhile, possess the MVP frontrunner in Lamar Jackson, who single-handedly tore apart the defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams on Monday night and have now won seven straight to all but lock up the AFC North.

When the Ravens and Niners clash in Baltimore at 1 p.m. ET, we could also be watching one of the most unusual games, at least statistically speaking, of the entire 2019 season.

For starters, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported, the 49ers are the first 10-1 team in more than a decade -- 12 years, to be exact -- to enter Week 13 as an underdog. The consensus among oddsmakers has the Ravens favored by six points, and yet we haven't seen a 10-1 team without a point-spread advantage since 2007, when the Green Bay Packers took on the Dallas Cowboys, who were also 10-1 at the time. (Green Bay went on to lose by 10, failing to cover the spread.)

Now, is it that big of a deal that a 10-1 team isn't favored against a 9-2 team? Not necessarily. The 2015 Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Cowboys and Carolina Panthers, who were 10-0 but opened as underdogs to a 3-7 Dallas team, was probably even more of an anomaly. We all know both the Ravens and 49ers are capable of winning this weekend. It's also not every year the NFL sports a 10-1 team to begin with. But the fact the Niners also enter Week 13 with one of the most highly touted defenses in recent history makes their six-point underdog status all the more notable.

Check out these other crazy numbers in advance of this week's anticipated matchup:

• As NFL Network's Tom Pelissero noted this week, defensive coordinator Robert Selah has San Fran allowing just 136.9 passing yards per game, which is the fewest yards allowed by any team since 1980. NFL Research indicates the Miami Dolphins once actually allowed fewer yards, but that came during a lockout-shortened season, and even that was back in 1982.
• The Ravens may be favored by six, but when you consider what they've done in recent weeks, six points almost seems absurdly low as a projected advantage. The Niners may have a strong "D," but in Baltimore's last five games, Lamar Jackson and Co. have outscored opponents -- including playoff contenders like the Patriots, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks -- 202 points to 62. That's a difference of 20 touchdowns, or an average of 28 points per game.
• The 49ers are unbeaten on the road (5-0) this season, but both they and the Ravens have the same record against the spread (6-4-1). San Fran is 3-2 in away games ATS, while Baltimore is 2-3 at home ATS. Something's got to give.
• While San Francisco easily has the top pass defense in the NFL, the 49ers are actually quite vulnerable against the run, allowing an average of 111.1 yards per game on the ground -- 19th in the league. Any idea where the Ravens happen to rank in rushing offense? No. 1, and by a country mile. So if Selah's unit has you convinced the Niners are going to spoil Baltimore's return home and upset the oddsmakers, you might want to think again.

The Ravens and 49ers kick off on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.

First Look: Rams resume NFC West play at Cardinals

The Los Angeles Rams return to NFC West play by traveling to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Cardinals this week, with both teams still seeking their first divisional win this season.

In advance of the matchup, here’s an early look at the Cardinals, including notable additions, their top statistical performers in their most recent game, where they rank in certain statistical categories and key storylines.

Notable additions

• Traded for RB Kenyan Drake in October. Acquired from the Dolphins in exchange for a conditional 2020 draft pick, Drake quickly carved out a role with Cardinals, posting 15 carries for 110 yards and one touchdown against the 49ers on Oct. 31 while starter David Johnson and backup Chase Edmonds sat out due to injury. His 212 yards in three games with Arizona are 38 more than he had in six games with Miami this season.
• Drafted QB Kyler Murray No. 1 overall in April. The former Oklahoma standout is the Cardinals' leading passer (2,703 yards) and rusher (418) so far this season.

Top performers in Week 11 (Arizona's bye week was Week 12)

Murray completed 24 of 33 pass attempts for 150 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-26 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Drake led the backfield with 16 carries for 67 yards, both game highs, adding six receptions for 13 yards.

WR Christian Kirk led all cardinals receivers with 41 yards, tying with Kirk for the team lead in catches with six. Wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald (five for 37) and Pharoh Cooper (three for 35) accounted for each of Murray's passing scores.

Defensively, safety Budda Baker registered a team-high 13 total tackles. LB Jordan Hicks added 12. Hicks and rookie safety Jalen Thompson each recorded an interception.

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

Rankings

Offense

• Points Per Game: 15th (22.5)
• Yards Per Game: 20th (343.9)
• Passing Yards Per Game: 18th (226.2)
• Rushing Yards Per Game: 15th (117.7)

Defense

• Points Allowed Per Game: 30th (28.8)
• Yards Allowed Per Game: 31st (415.2)
• Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 32nd (297.5)
• Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 23rd (117.6)

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

It's going to be another big test for the Rams' defense in Week 13. All eyes will be on the backfield, and not just because of Murray – this week could be the first time the Cardinals have Drake, Johnson and Edmonds all at their disposal.

According to AZCardinals.com's Kyle Odegard, Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Monday that there is "definitely" a way to integrate all three into the team's offensive gameplan against the Rams this week. Should the entire trio be available, that would have Los Angeles preparing for three different running backs capable of rushing for 100 yards in a game.

Furthermore, without there being film of them using all three in the same game, that makes preparation for L.A.'s defense much more difficult, given the unpredictably of what Arizona's offense may throw at it.

For the Rams' offense, Sunday's game could be a chance to get back on track given where the Cardinals' defense ranks statistically.

Don't sweat it, Ram bros. I did some prognostication and determined without doubt the Rams will sit in the 6 seed by week 14.

3 weeks to spare! Big shout out to Playoff Machine.

You're welcome.

I was curious how many people on here were raised on this and hold it true to this day or how many are against it. Do you teach your children?

My story

I was raised around drugs. Drug deals happened in my life from my earliest memory up until 12 when some murders happened and people disappeared(shit you not)

Well, from as far back as I remember I was always taught, “didn’t see shit, didn’t hear shit, don’t know shit.” And I truly believe in this. The only way I would snitch on anything is if it was child related. I can honestly say I could witness something like a murder, and I truly don’t believe I would say a damn thing.

My wife is the opposite. She would give me up in a second if she knew I killed someone...never tell where the bodies are! Lol

But I raise my kids like this as well. Not to the extreme that I was brought up with. But I won’t hear any snitching out of them on each other. I make sure they at least known to never snitch on family.

I’ll tell ya, when D.A.R.E started in school, my parents were tripping out. They made sure I knew daily! Lol

I picked up a game in the pick em standings

BIG CHANGES, ... Snead will be quite busy once again, no way the Rams open Kroenke's new palace looking like they have this season. If we are truly a 9 - 7 or 8 - 8 team, why on earth overpay a bunch of veterans who aren't difference makers ? If we are going to die, i'd rather die young while trying to develop future talent. Matthews was my toughest cut today, I thought we might get another solid year out of him, but he hasn't looked the same since returning from his jaw breaking incident.
One major re-sign, one costly outside free agent signing along with several vets moving on down the road. 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. The savings from these cuts not only allows us to sign Scherff & Littleton, but also 2021 future potential free agents Kupp, Ramsey, Everett & JJ3. Both Cooks & Gurley will face 2021 salary restructure, trade or ?
jmo.

Re-Sign :

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

Free Agent Signing :

Brandon Scherff


Departing Free Agents :

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

Cuts :

Eric Weddle (4.25mil savings)
Tanzel Smart
Matthews (3.5mil savings)

PUP :

Joe Noteboom

Trades :

Robey-Coleman (4'th rd.) - 4.5mil savings
Rob Havenstein (3'rd rd.) - 1.5mil savings
Troy Hill (6'th rd.) - 3mil savings

2020 NFL Draft * :

1) N/A
2) DE - Carlos Basham, W.F.
3a) OT - Lucas Niang, TCU
3b) DT - Rashard Lawrence, LSU (From Havenstein Trade)
3c) C/OG - Cesar Ruiz, Mi
4a) CB - AJ Terrell, Clem (From Robey-Coleman Trade)
4b) ILB - Shaq Smith, Md.
5) S - Khaleke Hudson, Mi.
6a) WR - KJ Hill, Oh.St.
6b) QB - Brian Lewerke, Mi. St. (From Troy Hill Trade)
7) DE/DT - Robert Windsor, PennSt.


Rams 2020 53 Roster :

OFFENSE (23)

QB :
Goff
Wolford

OL :
Scherff
Niang *
Ruiz *
Edwards
Evans
Brewer
Corbett
Trewyn

RB's :
Gurley
Brown
Henderson

TE's :
Everett
Higbee
Mundt
Blanton

WR's :
Cooks
Woods
Kupp
Reynolds
Webster
KJ Hill*

DEFENCE (27)

DL :
Donald
Basham *
Joseph
Gaines
Lawrence *
Copeland


ILB's :
Cory Littleton
Patrick
Smith *
Kiser
Young

OLB's :
Okoronkwo
Polite
Durham
Ebukam
Carraway
Lawler

CB's :
Ramsey
Long
Williams
Deayon
Terrell *
Alexander

Safeties :
Johnson
Rapp
Gervase
Scott

Special Teams (3) :

Hekker
Zuerlein
McQuaide

Practice Squad :

OL - Demby
RB - Kelly
QB - Brian Lewerke*
C - Shelton
C - B. Allen
ILB - Reeder
ILB - D. Allen
ILB/S - Howard
S - Khaleke Hudson *
DE/DT - Robert Windsor *

We still have a shot if we do....

Arizona is not unbeatable.
We almost beat seattle before

Now the 49ners...... can we dream they have locked up 1st seed by week 16!?

All this noise about McVay the wonder boy has been figured out is not true. And those that are saying we need to get rid of him now is just plain dumb. First you need to realize that more than half the league is running his offense. Because it’s a copycat league. The last 2yrs teams took 2 good offensive coaches away from us. Leaving us with Waldron as our passing game coordinator. Honestly it’s just time for McVay to hire some new blood coaches that are innovative and creative. It took the whole league 2yrs to figure out Mcvay. And honestly if the line was not a mess and Gurley was healthy I really don’t think they have him totally figured out. This year is hands are tied up because he don’t trust his offense line. Because no trust in the line means less running and that means less play action plays. It’s no coincidence we went from the #1 play action team to almost dead last in play action. McVay has not become dumber folks in less than a year. I know he has a answer for this 6-1 defense teams are throwing at him every week too. I bet when the line gets right we will be just fine. Because right now we suck at run blocking and pass protection.

Quick question for all that want a new coach. Please tell me who we can get that is better?

I am not advocating this nor could I bare to even see it or consider it however If there is only one way to relieve some cap space and regain those picks plus......I think you all know it. Out of all the huge contracts we have handed out only one is productive and possibly the best player in the nfl or at least in the running and thats Aron Donald. So the question is do we ride out the storm and let other key players go really not be able to add key players and in doing so if you can't add some mean Nasty O-line players GOFF will be done not even the next Jim Everett he may become the next David Carr. So you wasting Donald prime years and possibly ruining another huge investment? So Donald is the only one that can help the team the most by receiving a kings ransom for him. Does anyone of you have the guts or does anyone have any other ideas cause this is no easy fix no money no draft picks and no new free agents nor the ability to resign all key free agents coming up this team could backslide to being the nfl laughing stock unless someone gets creative here. Suggestions please.

He played a pretty solid game was the only lb that could keep up with Lamar. He set the edge well and engaged blockers to make them make a move.

RIGHT WHEN THE GAME IS OVER. Good or Bad, call 307-622-9119 and give your rant! We want you guys in on this ordeal to make it a talking point!!! Participate yo!!! The Rant will then be posted on this thread!!