said " 8 an 0 "
believe it
train

Bobby Trees and Eric Weddle will be making a guest appearance on the TV cop show The Rookie Sunday night. Never seen the show, but should be worth recording even if they only have a quick cameo. Go RAMS!!!

Just a small tweak to point out... we’ve added an indicator to show the OP (Original Poster) inside of threads.

Yellow OP Ribbon on upper left of avatars.

MOD EDIT:The logic is... the first post is pretty obvious who started it... but in the replies it’s helpful to see if a reply is from the starter.

Cheers!

Many here are long time Ram fans who have lived well and died hard with this team. Still, I’m shocked how many look at the current team and haven’t learned the lessons the team history taught us. The following stories of The Bus and Kurt Warner should give us pause before we label our current backfield tandem.

For two years under Ground Chuck, Jerome Bettis steamrolled his way to All Pro status. But under new coach Rich Brooks, he played hurt, the OLine was a mess, and the new scheme was decidedly pass oriented. Suddenly after he was traded, he went on to the Hall of Fame as a Steeler.

For three glorious years, Kurt Warner won MVP’s, a Super Bowl, and directed one of the deadliest offenses in NFL history. Then free agency, OLine injuries, a broken thumb, and defensive adjustments made him look ineffective. During subsequent stints in the Meadowlands and Arizona, he played with a couple of the worst OLines in the league. He was known as a fumbler (something inevitable when you’re sacked more times than any other qb). Most thought he was washed up. Then the Cards employ Russ Grimm to overhaul the OLine and acquire a couple pretty good receivers in Boldin and Fitzgerald. Suddenly. Warner “remembers” how to win again. Hmmmmm....

My point is that every time I see posts where my brethren suggest we shouldn’t have secured Goff and we should drop Gurley as soon as financially possible, I hope someone will send this message to them. Look at the totality of an offense before you give up on a player. It’s a team game. Let McVay’s process continue to develop before you panic. We should have learned what happens when you give up on a player too soon.

Last year a number of teams tagged and traded players, specifically edge rushers like Dee Ford, Frank Clark, and Jadeveon Clowney.

I am thinking this is what the Rams will do with Fowler so they can get their pick this year. While they won't get a #1, I can see them getting a #2 or more if Fowler can finish strong.

In fact getting Ramsey can actually improve Fowler's value by increasing his sack totals.

This also makes sense because teams can only receive 4 comp picks and with Brockers, Blythe, Bortles, Littleton, & Christian due for FA, you still would be likely to get 4 comp picks.

This is all about maximizing your young depth to replace high priced FAs, which re-shapes the team's salary structure to accommodate a longer championship window.

Also about maximizing your resources.

So these next 8 games are huge to see if Fowler can demand a decent trade value and to see if Obo can replace him. If the answers are yes and yes, thats a big help towards the Rams long-term success.

I saw this article... then went looking at their remaining schedule. They have a real shot.


Oakland is certainly in the hunt. Prior to the start of the 2019 season, you would likely find more people betting the Raiders' under win total than their over and you could get great odds if you believed Oakland would make the playoffs. The Raiders' have arguably the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL, as their remaining opponents have a combined record of 22-40. Oakland's next two opponents -- the Bengals and Jets -- are a combined 1-15 heading into the weekend. They have just one remaining game against a team with a winning record -- the Chiefs -- who will host the Raiders in Week 13.

Week 10 injury report roundup

The teams playing on Monday night won’t release their final injury reports until Saturday and are not listed here.

With that housekeeping out of the way, here are all the injury reports for Sunday.

Lions at Bears

The Lions listed QB Matthew Stafford (hip, back) as questionable, but he said this week that he’s fine. DE Da'shawn Hand (ankle), S Miles Killebrew(concussion) and S Tracy Walker (knee) have all been ruled out for this weekend. G Joe Dahl (ankle), DT Mike Daniels (foot), G Graham Glasgow(back), DT Damon Harrison (groin, not injury related), P Sam Martin (abdomen), DE Romeo Okwara (groin) and DT A'Shawn Robinson (ankle) are all considered questionable.

DT Eddie Goldman (thigh) is the lone questionable player for the Bears. LB Isaiah Irving (quadricep) has been ruled out.

Ravens at Bengals

The Ravens listed QB Lamar Jackson (illness) as questionable after he returned for a limited practice Friday, but all signs point to him playing on Sunday. WR Marquise Brown (ankle, thigh), DT Daylon Mack (knee, hip), WR Chris Moore(thumb), T Ronnie Stanley (knee), S Earl Thomas (not injury related, knee) and G Marshal Yanda (illness) are also listed as questionable.

T Cordy Glenn (concussion) may be in the Bengals lineup for the first time this year after being listed as questionable. WR A.J. Green (ankle) won’t be as he’s been ruled out again. CB Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) and G Alex Redmond (knee, ankle) are also out.

Bills at Browns

The Bills have no players with injury designations this week.

The Browns ruled out S Eric Murray (knee) and DE Olivier Vernon (knee). T Kendall Lamm (knee), S Damarious Randall (hamstring) and TE Ricky Seals-Jones (knee) are listed as questionable.

Chiefs at Titans

The big news for the Chiefs is that QB Patrick Mahomes (knee) is set to start after missing the last two games. DE Frank Clark (neck), G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (ankle) and CB Kendall Fuller (thumb) all have a shot to return after being listed as questionable. T Eric Fisher (groin) and DE Alex Okafor (ankle) have been ruled out.

Titans WR Corey Davis (hip) is set to miss the game after being listed as doubtful. LB Jayon Brown (groin), DT Jurrell Casey (shoulder) and TE Delanie Walker (ankle) will definitely miss the game.

Falcons at Saints

QB Matt Ryan (ankle) will start for the Falcons as they return from the bye. CB Desmond Trufant (toe) is listed as questionable while DE John Cominsky(ankle), C Wes Schweitzer (concussion) and RB Ito Smith (neck) have been ruled out.

The Saints listed CB Patrick Robinson (hamstring) as questionable with everyone else, including RB Alvin Kamara (ankle), set to go on Sunday.

Giants at Jets

TE Evan Engram (foot), C Jon Halapio (hamstring) and WR Sterling Shepard(concussion) are out for the Giants this weekend. T Mike Remmers (back) is likely to miss the game as well after being listed as doubtful.

Jets RB Le'Veon Bell (knee, ankle) is listed as questionable, but all indications are that he will play. TE Chris Herndon (hamstring) carries the same tag and expectation. LB C.J. Mosley (groin) remains out while LB Neville Hewitt (knee, neck), C Ryan Kalil (knee) and CB Darryl Roberts (calf) are listed as doubtful to play. DE Henry Anderson (shoulder), T Kelvin Beachum (ankle), LB Jordan Jenkins (calf), DT Steve McLendon (hamstring), WR Demaryius Thomas(hamstring) and G Brian Winters (knee, shoulder) round out the questionable contingent.

Cardinals at Buccaneers

DE Zach Allen (neck), CB Tramaine Brock (hamstring) and RB Chase Edmonds(hamstring) are out for the Cardinals. T Justin Murray (knee), LB Terrell Suggs(hamstring) and S Deionte Thompson (knee) are listed as questionable.

The Buccaneers ruled out CB Carlton Davis (hip), LB Carl Nassib (groin) and LB Anthony Nelson (hamstring). Everyone else on their 53-man roster is healthy enough to play.

Dolphins at Colts

S Reshad Jones (chest) and CB Ken Webster (ankle) are out for the Dolphins. C Evan Boehm (hip), DT Davon Godchaux (shoulder), C Daniel Kilgore (knee) and DE Avery Moss (ankle) are listed as questionable.

The Colts say QB Jacoby Brissett (knee) will be a game-time decision after a week of limited practices. WR Parris Campbell (hand) and WR T.Y. Hilton (calf) won’t be on hand to catch anyone’s passes. Cornerbacks CB Pierre Desir(hamstring) and Quincy Wilson (shoulder) join Brissett in the questionable category.

Panthers at Packers

Panthers T Greg Little (concussion) is out again this weekend. CB James Bradberry (groin) and DE Vernon Butler (back) are listed as questionable.

The Packers added CB Jaire Alexander (groin) to the injury report on Friday and listed him as questionable. S Adrian Amos (hamstring) also has a questionable tag and TE Robert Tonyan (hip) is listed as doubtful.

Rams at Steelers

WR Brandin Cooks (concussion) returned to practice Friday, but has been ruled out for the Rams. LB Bryce Hager (shoulder) is also out and WR JoJo Natson(illness) is listed as questionable.

Steelers RB James Conner (shoulder) will miss his second straight game and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (foot) is listed as questionable after a Friday addition to the injury report. G Ramon Foster (concussion), RB Roosevelt Nix (knee) and RB Benny Snell (knee) are also out for Pittsburgh.

Vikings at Cowboys

The Vikings ruled DT Linval Joseph (knee), S Andrew Sendejo (groin) and WR Adam Thielen (hamstring) out for Sunday night’s game. CB Trae Waynes (ankle, not injury related) and DE Stephen Weatherly (groin) are listed as questionable.

WR Amari Cooper (knee, ankle) returned to practice Friday and the Cowboys listed him as questionable. T Cameron Fleming (calf) has been ruled out.

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Steelers-Rams: Brian Batko's Week 10 scouting report

When Rams have the ball

Key performers: QB Jared Goff, RB Todd Gurley, WR Cooper Kupp, WR Robert Woods, TE Gerald Everett, LT Andrew Whitworth, C Brian Allen, RG Austin Blythe, RT Rob Havenstein

What’s been working: The Rams have built an explosive attack with the system of offensive-minded head coach Sean McVay. McVay has turned 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff into a two-time Pro Bowler despite a disappointing rookie year, and after finishing fifth in the league in passing last season, Goff ranks sixth so far in 2019. Kupp is his favorite target, and his 792 receiving yards are third-most in the NFL behind Michael Thomas and Mike Evans. His 410 yards after the catch are second only to Chargers running back Austin Ekeler.

Who’s hot (or not): A season after being a key to a Super Bowl run, the Rams offensive line is looking leaky. Their 12 sacks allowed are the sixth-fewest among all offensive lines, but that’s to be expected with veteran bookends Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein. The rushing yards per game are down from 139.4 last year to 97.3 this year, and at 3.9 yards per carry, only 10 teams are running the ball with less efficiency. San Francisco sacked Goff four times four weeks ago and New Orleans got home for three in Week 2.

Game plan: The Rams have changed up their backfield pecking order the past two games, rotating dynamic rookie third-rounder Darrell Henderson with oft-injured Todd Gurley. Even against the struggling defenses of Atlanta and Cincinnati, the Rams have failed to establish the ground game early on, so they might just come out firing with Goff and his support cast of pass-catchers. Kupp will mostly work out of the slot, trying to feast on mismatches, while Josh Reynolds will need to replace Brandin Cooks, who’s dealing with a concussion.

Keep an eye on: Gerald Everett might not be George Kittle or Hunter Henry, but will he be the latest tight end to gash the Steelers over the middle? A second-round pick in 2017, Everett is a handful to bring down after the catch, and the Rams could use more “12” personnel with him and fellow tight end Tyler Higbee, given the Cooks injury plus the rushing struggles.

When Steelers have the ball

Key performers: DE Michael Brockers, DT Aaron Donald, OLB Dante Fowler, ILB Cory Littleton, OLB Clay Matthews, CB Jalen Ramsey, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, FS Eric Weddle

What’s been working: Aaron Donald continues to dominate offensive lines as one of the best defensive players in the NFL, if not No. 1. But the Rams also made the biggest trade of the season a couple weeks ago, bringing in shutdown corner Jalen Ramsey to bolster a reeling secondary. They have a top-10 run defense, and a pass defense that has just six interceptions — only two courtesy of a player still on the active roster — should only get better with Ramsey in the fold.

Who’s hot (or not): In addition to Ramsey and backup quarterback Blake Bortles, edge-rusher Dante Fowler gives the Rams three former top-five overall draft picks of the Jaguars on their roster. Fowler is having a career resurgence in Los Angeles and now has 4½ sacks over the past two games, giving him a team-leading 6½ on the season. He’s also tied with Donald for the most quarterback hits at nine.

Game plan: In their 3-4 scheme, the Rams will usually rush Fowler from the blind side and Clay Matthews opposite him, while moving Donald all around the line of scrimmage to try to avoid double-teams. Expect Ramsey to shadow JuJu Smith-Schuster, while Cory Littleton shoulders plenty of coverage responsibility from his linebacker position. Littleton has two interceptions this season and the highest coverage grade among linebackers, per Pro Football Focus.

Keep an eye on: Eric Weddle is new to the Rams, but he’s a familiar face to the Steelers and vice versa. After spending three seasons in Baltimore, he has added an experienced presence in the secondary, but will he be up to make a big play at Heinz Field? Weddle is second on the team with 59 tackles. Between his time with the Chargers and Ravens, he’s 3-10 against the Steelers.

Special teams

Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein is always a long-range weapon, but he is 16 of 20 on field goals this year. And yet, he’s 4 for 4 on kicks of 50-plus yards. All four of his misses have been between 40 and 49. … Punter Johnny Hekker is a four-time Pro Bowler who has booted a 71-yarder this season, 7 off his career high. … Diminutive receiver JoJo Natson handles kick and punt return duties, ranking sixth in the NFL in the latter (9.8 yards per return). … Nick Scott, a rookie safety out of Penn State, caught a 23-yard pass from Hekker on a fake punt three weeks ago.

Keys to victory

To win, the Rams must…

Stay rolling on the road. The off week came at a nice time for a West Coast team that played at Atlanta, then in London, and now travels to Pittsburgh before finally returning home next week.

Make Mason miss. A high-percentage passing game worked for the Steelers against the Colts but might not be sustainable when Aaron Donald & Co. are bearing down.

Recalibrate to competition. Yes, the Rams are enjoying a two-game win streak, but they now take a step up in class from the going-nowhere Falcons and Bengals.

To win, the Steelers must…

Avoid 99 problems. Donald will be amped up in his Pittsburgh homecoming, so protecting Mason Rudolph will be of the utmost importance to the offense.

Ram it downfield. The Rams are only giving 4.8 receptions and 37 receiving yards per game to opposing running backs, which could limit the short throws to Jaylen Samuels.

Lock Kupp up. Cooper Kupp is coming off a career-high 220-yard performance, so whatever the Bengals did, well, don't do that.

Game Preview: Rams and Steelers set for first meeting in Pittsburgh since 2011

The Rams (5-3) travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers (4-4) in Los Angeles' first regular season game at Heinz Field since 2011.

Both teams are looking to extend win streaks heading into the matchup. L.A. has won two straight, while Pittsburgh earned their third consecutive win last week with a 26-24 victory over the Colts.

To get you ready for the contest, theRams.com compiled a quick preview featuring who to watch, what to watch for on offense and defense for both the Rams and the Steelers and three keys to victory for L.A.

Five players to watch

• Rams CB Jalen Ramsey: He will likely be matched up with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh's new No. 1 receiver, though Smith-Schuster is also questionable for Sunday's game with a foot injury.
• Rams LB Clay Matthews: What kind of impact can he make in his first game since Oct. 3?
• Steelers RB Trey Edmunds: It remains to be seen until Sunday, but Edmunds figures to lead the backfield in carries if last week's game is any indication.
• Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick: The former Alabama star has played a big role in helping Pittsburgh's defense produce the second-most takeaways in the NFL through the first half of the season.
• Rams WR Josh Reynolds: Starting in place of the injured Brandin Cooks, it will be interesting to see how Reynolds is used against the Steelers since he can play all three receiver spots in the Rams' primary offensive package.

What to watch for…

On offense for the Rams

What the approach at running back looks like.

Rookie Darrell Henderson Jr. made the most of his opportunities in the three weeks before the bye and has given Rams coaches the confidence to use him more. However, those opportunities also came in games where either Todd Gurley (49ers) or Malcolm Brown (Falcons and Bengals) missed time.

Gurley has been healthy for the last two games, and Brown is set to return from an ankle injury. Combined with the trust established by Henderson, this means Sunday's game will be the first time Rams feel good about using the top three running backs on their unofficial depth chart this season.

The utilization of Reynolds will also be worth watching. In Los Angeles' primary offensive scheme – 11 personnel, or one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers – Reynolds is capable of playing in all three receiver spots.

On offense for the Steelers

Similar to the Rams, it will also be the backfield.

Edmunds paced Pittsburgh's available running backs with 12 carries for 73 yards, both team highs. However, Jaylen Samuels saw more action in the passing game with 12 receptions for 73 yards.
When healthy, Conner handled both duties, so it will be worth watching to see if the Steelers choose to split them again with Conner out this week as well.

On defense for the Rams

The Matthews effect, and in the bigger picture, how it initially impacts the linebacker rotation.

Prior to his freak accident of a broken jaw against the Seahawks, he had produced six sacks in five games for the Rams and was an important part of their pass rush. However, younger linebackers like Ogbonnia Okoronkwo earned the right to continue seeing playing time with how they capitalized on the extra snaps afforded by Matthews' absence.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said Thursday that Matthews won't play every snap, but they'll be glad to have him back. At the same time, he said the Rams will continue to rotate linebackers, wanting to make sure the others get some playing time as well.

On defense for the Steelers

Fitzpatrick.

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger put together a breakdown earlier this week showing the safety's nose for the football since joining the Steelers. It also showed that Fitzpatrick is capable of making plays all over the field.

Three keys to victory

1. Take good care of the ball: As mentioned before, Pittsburgh has 22 takeaways, trailing only New England's 27 for most in the league.
2. Establish a run-pass balance: Even though the Rams offense averages the fifth-most passing yards per game at 287, the Steelers defense allows the 10th-fewest at 228. In other words, while Los Angeles will have its chances – it's a difference of 59 yards – it won't be able to rely exclusively on their aerial attack to move the ball against Pittsburgh. An effective run game would also help win the time of possession battle and tire out one of the league's top defenses.
3. Protect QB Jared Goff: Besides takeaways, the Steelers also have a knack for getting to the quarterback this season – their 29 sacks are fifth-most in the NFL.

He's becoming another Raider's boy in Vegas. So the pay, hookers, and blow must be excellent in Vegas....
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I've watched a few Steelers games this year, and while he hasn't been putting up numbers like he did with Roethlisberger, JuJu is a huge part of their passing game.

I don't like the word "help" but the Rams could use some assistance from other matchups from week to week. Some don't want to talk about it but it's reality. We're the #7 seed on the outside looking in, and we're 0-2 in the NFCW.

I put my preferred winners in bold. This week i see:

Falcons @ Saints
This one is obvious.

Panthers @ Packers
We have a tie breaker having beaten CAR but i think the Packers take that division so i'd rather push CAR down further in the WC standings. There's certainly different opinions on this one.

Vikings @ Cowboys
Again i feel that it's best to concede to DAL likely winning their division. MIN is the #6 right now, so let's push them down to 6-4 and with a Rams win we're 6-3

Seattle @ SF
Well shit. I have to take the Niners in this one. We have to catch SEA first. With a SEA loss and Rams win we're a half game back.

Philadelphia is on a bye.
------------------------------
Anyone see it differently?

Check it.

So I've been a fan for 40+ years, even if only tangentially in the mid-90s and '00s. When I get push-back on my fandom (not often but it has happened on other forums in the past) and I have to "prove" my bonafides I respond with one name:

TJ Rubley.

Whats the most excruciating experience/player/coach that you've endured as a fan that proves your attachment to the Rams?

(Just a mental exercise and something I figured would be fun to hear from folks about)

Josh Reynolds steps into Rams lineup again, in place of Brandin Cooks
By Gary KleinStaff Writer / 11/8/19



The role is familiar, and becoming much more comfortable, for Josh Reynolds.The Rams’ third-year receiver once again will step into the lineup for an injured starter.With Brandin Cooks sidelined while dealing with the aftermath of multiple concussions, Reynolds will start Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.Last season, Reynolds replaced Cooper Kupp after Kupp suffered a season-ending knee injury. Reynolds started the final eight games, and two postseason games, including the Super Bowl.

Cooks’ long-term status has not been determined — he met with a concussion specialist Thursday in Pittsburgh, coach Sean McVay said — but Reynolds said he was better prepared for a short- or long-term assignment.“One of the big things that’s kind of changed from last year to this year is actually having that third year to be able to know the playbook more,” Reynolds, a fourth-round draft pick in 2017, said this week. “And me just knowing how to be a pro and be able to fit into this position.”Last season, Reynolds caught 29 passes for 402 yards and five touchdowns. He reverted to a reserve role this season after Kupp came back from surgery seemingly stronger than ever.

Kupp has a team-best 58 catches for 792 yards and five touchdowns. Receiver Robert Woods has 38 catches, and Cooks had 27 receptions before he suffered a concussion on the third play of the Rams’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 27 in London.Reynolds had only two receptions in five games this season before he came onto the field in place of Cooks. He caught three passes for 73 yards, including one for a 31-yard touchdown, in the 24-10 victory over the Bengals as the Rams improved to 5-3. Reynolds’ ability to come off the bench and instantly produce, “shows how locked in he is daily on everything,” quarterback Jared Goff said.“He’s a guy who I have as much confidence in as anybody on our team,” Goff said. “I get excited once he gets his chance.”

Running back Todd Gurley also has confidence in the 6-foot-3, 196-pound Reynolds.
“Josh always comes in and does his thing,” Gurley said. “He’s just a tall, lanky dude that can run, and he’s going to catch the ball the opportunity presents itself.”

Old friends
Gurley and tight ends Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee are looking forward to matching up against Steelers linebacker Mark Barron, who played for the Rams for four-plus seasons before he was released after last season. Barron, 30, has one sack and one interception.
“Got to be ready for my boy,” Gurley said. “He’s definitely going to be ready.”After practicing against Barron “a million times,” Everett, joked, “he knows what to expect.“Great competitor — that’s my guy,” he said. “But you know how it is on Sundays.”Barron continues to exhibit toughness, blitzing ability and coverage skills, McVay said.“Hopefully,” McVay quipped, “he continues having a good season after this week.”
Etc.
Linebacker Bryce Hager will “most likely” be placed on injured reserve because of a neck injury, McVay said. Hager began the season as a starting inside linebacker, but was injured against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 29. Hager sat out a game and then returned to play on special teams but the condition has persisted, McVay said. ... Linebacker Clay Matthews (jaw) was a full participant in practice, putting him on track to play Sunday. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said linebackers Samson Ebukam and Obo Okoronkwo would rotate with Matthews, who had six sacks in five games before he was injured against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 3. “He’s not going to play every play like he did before,” Phillips said. “The other guys have come in and played well. We want to give them some playing time too.”

Word is that Hager is going to IR. This will create a roster move. But the Rams don't have to necessarily bring up an ILB, since they only have one (Dakota Allen). They are already 2 deep with Young and Reeder. What this does is clear the way for Young and the eventual release of Hager.

Since there is no time table for Cooks' return they might bring up Webster on Tuesday. Or they might bring up CB Deayon or OL Brewer. But with both Shelton and Corbett on the roster that seems unlikely unless they are going to make a move on the o-line and finally put Blythe back where he belongs, on the bench. He blows one or two blocks a game and they are impactful missed blocks. Edwards has struggled at times but nothing like Blythe.

They need to bench Havenstein and Blythe and play Corbett and Brewer at OG's and Edwards to RT. They aren't going to make the playoffs with these two (Blythe and Havenstein) on the right side.

Russell Wilson weighs in on whether 'load management' would work in the NFL

The topic of load management, players taking games off here and there to rest during the season, has been a major conversation in the NBA and reigning Finals MVP and now Los Angeles Clipper Kawhi Leonard is at the forefront of the discussion. Many have given their opinions on the matter, including basketball icon and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan who does not agree with it and says the players are "paid to play 82 games" and therefore they should play 82 games. Others disagree and believe the players need some time off just like everyone else.

People have brought up the fact that franchises often sell tickets based on their star playing and when that player sits out for a game, they hear it from the fans and the entertainment experience suffers.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson weighed in on this concept on the Dan Patrick Show, and spoke on whether he believes it would work in the NFL.

Wilson, who has not missed one game in his career, commented that the NBA and NFL are very different beasts and therefore the conversation around load management is drastically different between the two. He said because a football season is substantially shorter, it would not make as much sense.

The weight each NFL game holds is very different from the weight each NBA regular season game holds, and for that reason alone, Wilson does not believe load management is something that would creep into the NFL.

He said on the show:

"I think the reality is, for players, every week matters. In the NFL, every game matters. There's no bad teams, really. There's a lot of great players, every team has great players. Every team has people who can really make a lot of plays. So you'll see games where 'how did that team win that game?' And 'how did that team do that?' That's just because it's a battle every week."

Click to expand...

He also brought up the idea of a longer NFL season with this conversation, something he also does not agree with.

"I think with football there definitely are some tough injuries and everything else, but the reality is we only get 16 chances to do it. I know there's talk about having a 17-game season and possibly having every player sit out one game, which I think is a terrible idea," he said. "I think that has nothing do to with really player health or safety or anything like that."

What he does believe it has everything to do with is money. "I think that more has to do with, you know, trying to get more games in. At the end of the day, the NFL's a business, but to make people sit out a game makes no sense when there's not enough games in the first place if you do that," he said.

Wilson is in MVP conversation this year and has helped lead the Seahawks to their 7-2 record and the second spot in the NFC West, behind the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.

After 9 weeks, we have 20 players still “alive” in Survivor. 9 of which... with zero strikes! Well done!

A little hard to list all 20, but here are the zero strikers;

@Flatlyner
@rafa
@Ram65
@RamBall
@RAMBUSH
@RamFanInPC
@RamFanWA
@shovelpass
@snackdaddy

In Pickem, lots of players within range of the top.... it’s a very tight field with more than 20 grouped really close.

Your leaders;

@Riverumbbq 87
@Frogbelly 86
@SanAnRam 86
@SierraRam 86
@CGI_Ram 84
@Corbin 84
@Flatlyner 84

Great season in Survivor and Pick’em!

I don't start many new topics , so maybe this is in the wrong forum . I just purchased my tickets and was wondering if anyone on the board would be attending .
6 of us will be in section 112 with Ram jerseys on ( my grandsons first real game ) . He''s wearing his favorite player Cooper Kupps jersey . If anyone wants to tailgate before the game , let me know . I live in Pa . And Steeler fans are the worst there is , so watch yourself . Hopefully I'll see a few of you fellow Ram fans and come home with a win .

Didn't see a thread so here we go. Last Prime Time game in Oakland. Rivers 14th game in Oakland. Chargers are healthy again. Raiders getting better with big home-field advantage. Chargers with another late season run.

I like the Chargers in this one.

Aaron Donald "excited" to return home to Pittsburgh for Rams-Steelers

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Since joining the Rams as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, DT Aaron Donald has played in 86 regular season games. Not one of them, however, have taken place in Pittsburgh.
That changes with game No. 87.

Sunday's contest against the Steelers marks the first time he'll get the opportunity to play back home.
"It's going to be cool," Donald said. "Going back to Heinz Field where I played college (football) at, and (against) a team I grew up watching and rooting for, to go out there and play and my hometown, too, it's definitely a good feeling."

Pittsburgh born and raised, Donald's reputation began with a dominant preps career approximately 15 minutes east of the city at Penn Hills High School.

A three-year starter, Donald would collect first team All-State Class AAAA honors from the Pennsylvania Sports Writers in each of his final two seasons. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named him the WPIAL Class AAAA Player of the Year and to its 'Fabulous 22', which annually recognizes the top 22 high school football players in the WPIAL and City League, after he amassed 63 tackles (15 for loss) and 11 sacks as a senior.

His success would continue at the college level.

Choosing to stay home and play for the University of Pittsburgh, Donald became the first Pitt player to achieve first team All-America recognition since defensive end Hugh Green in 1980. He was also just the sixth Pitt player since 1976 to finish as the national leader in a stat category after posting an NCAA-best 2.2 tackles for loss per game in 2013. Also among his 20 honors:

• The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the nation's Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
• The Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the Defensive Player of the Year.
• The Outland Trophy, given annually to the nation's Best Offensive or Defensive Interior Lineman.
• The Rotary Lombardi Award, given annually to the nation's Most Outstanding Lineman or Linebacker.

Those accolades led to him beginning his professional football career more than 600 miles west of his hometown at first – the Rams drafted him heading into their second to last season in St. Louis. The distance then grew to about 2,500 once the team moved to L.A., but Donald hasn't let it diminish his connection to Pittsburgh.

In the offseason, it's where he lives and works out. Eight months after being rewarded with a six-year contract extension, he gave a historic financial commitment to his alma mater this spring which made him the youngest seven-figure donor in school history. In turn, the football program named the ground floor of its practice facility the Aaron Donald Performance Center.

This year, he also founded the AD99 Solutions Foundation which aims to serve underprivileged Pittsburgh youth by "providing the necessary resources needed in a free, safe environment so they may excel athletically, academically, and socially," according to the foundation's website. Both of his siblings are on the foundation's staff – his sister, Akita, is the foundation's executive director, while his brother, Archie III, is its major donors officer.

“I think anybody that has been around Aaron Donald, there’s nothing that you can say except for just be impressed by the human being," Rams head coach Sean McVay said. "You look at how much he has done for the University of Pittsburgh, giving back to them, really using all the success he’s had in that platform to really do a lot of really good things for that university."

"That's where my family's at, that's where I was born and raised at, that's where I was molded at, and that's what made me who I am," Donald said, when asked why it was important to him to maintain that bond. "That's home to me."

Donald spent the entirety of the Rams' bye week last week – Wednesday through Sunday – in Pittsburgh visiting his family and kids.

He'll soon be reunited with them again, thanks to the generosity of Pitt: He said the school helped him out with box seats for his family for Sunday's game.

"It's going to be good for me to be back there, with them in the stands, cheering for me," Donald said.

Yes, Sunday will be the first NFL regular season homecoming – bye week excluded – for Donald. Given what he's already accomplished, though, one would imagine family, friends and the rest of his supporters already have an idea of what to expect, both on and off the field.