WR Brandin Cooks day-to-day, LB Clay Matthews expected to be on practice field this week

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – WR Brandin Cooks(concussion) is considered day-to-day this week as the Rams begin their preparations for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Cooks, who was placed in concussion protocol after exiting Los Angeles' Week 8 win over Cincinnati on the third play of the game, saw concussion specialists in Pittsburgh during the Rams' bye week last week.

"It was good," McVay said of the visit. "More than anything, just getting some clarity on what's been the reason that maybe these things have occurred, how is he feeling. Anytime you can just get some more information with something like this, it's very helpful. He's still day-to-day. He was asymptomatic right after, which is always a positive thing."

The concussion against the Bengals in London marked Cooks' second in 24 days, as he also sustained one at Seattle in Week 5. According to McVay, the goal of seeing the specialist was to help both Cooks and the Rams seek clarity on what he's dealing with and how to handle that as time goes on.

"For him, just being able to learn more about the entirety of what's going on and maybe have a better understanding of maybe why some of these things have occurred, I think it gives him a quieted mind and it gives us a good feeling about how we want to progress moving forward with this," McVay said.

McVay said he and Cooks have had conversations about where Cooks' life is compared to where his professional career is as it relates to brain injuries in football, but out of respect for the privacy of Cooks and the information shared by the doctors in Pittsburgh, declined to elaborate on the details of those discussions.

"He’s got a great perspective on what’s most important: I think, No. 1, he’s got so many great things going,"

McVay said. "We’re not going to do anything to put him in harms way. That’s the No. 1 priority, that will continue to remain that not only with Brandin, but with all of our players. We’ll be very smart with how we ease him back into this whenever that time comes if that’s the decision we make."

McVay said he didn't know precisely where Cooks was in concussion protocol as of Monday. However, the Rams are working on scheduling a second visit to those same specialists in Pittsburgh to assess his progress.

"He's continuing to have good responses day in and day out," McVay said. "We're scheduled for him to probably meet with those doctors in Pittsburgh again. When exactly that will take place, we'll find out a little bit later on."

It's possible that Cooks could play this Sunday against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, according to McVay, but when he returns will ultimately be his decision.

"Usually, what I think they have is a trust that our interest is in their best interest," McVay said. "Using the experts to be able to give their opinion and then you make decisions accordingly as you move forward. You can’t be safe enough with some of these health things. That’s something that we don’t take lightly at all."

Matthews expected to be on the field this week

McVay said he expects LB Clay Matthews to return to the practice field this week.

Matthews missed the Rams' last three games due to a broken jaw sustained in Week 5 against the Seahawks. McVay has previously stated this week – the week after the bye – as being the most realistic scenario for when Matthews would come back from injury.

“I think, really, it’s just kind of getting him back into normal routine, seeing how he’s feeling," McVay said of how they plan to bring Matthews along this week. "Everything’s checked out in a positive manner up to this point, so I think it’s just kind of progressing back to, ‘How comfortable do you feel putting a helmet on?’ Some of the collisions that naturally would occur and just kind of trusting that you’re nice and secure in that absence of some of that stuff that kind of kept it in place and helped it heal over the last couple weeks."

The good the bad and the ugly.
My list:

Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars
Return of the Jedi
Rogue One
Revenge of the Sith
-----------------
Force Awakens
Solo
Attack of the Clones
Phantom Menace
Last Jedi


ESB has it all but not too much of any one thing. It's darker, yet funnier than SW and really expanded on all that was great about the original.

The only reason i don't put Rogue One ahead of ROTJ is because i can't fuck with the original trilogy. The final scene in RO might be my favorite SW scene ever.

The third act of ROTS was outstanding enough to push it way up for me. The drop off from ROTS to TFA is huge.

TFA just didn't work for me. Too much rehash, even for an original 70's fan like myself. Worthless new characters that do nothing. Unnecessary family ties. Whiny villain.

Solo was kind of fun but could have been much better.

The Last Jedi was not only a bad SW movie but a badly made movie. Its like a B movie with blockbuster special effects.

As for the new one coming out soon...i'll wait for Netflix.

And they will assist. It's an article on The Athletic if you have it. I'm sure there will be more discussion coming.

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This is incredible. This stadium is going to be unreal!

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The other thread about Overtime prompted this thread.


Here is my idea of an overtime system. I am still working out the details, but I thought of the overall concept a few weeks ago. Would love to see it tested out in something like the XFL. All input is welcome (unless you are just being an ass. LOL)

One end of the field is Team A's Offense against Team B's Defense. The other end of the field is Team B's Offense against Team A's Defense.

Logistically you Could go several different ways. No Time limit, first team to score a TD Wins. Or you could alternate plays. You could have them start at the 25. You still need to get 10 Yards for a first down. if you don't get it you have to start back at the 25.

Logistically, you would have to figure out how to split up the Refs, which, admittedly, could be a disaster. And unfortunately, this would take FGs out of OT. Would also need to figure out what to do in the event of a Fumble or interception return.

Obviously not a perfect system, but would be VERY entertaining, and like I said, the idea is in it's infancy.

I personally like the no time limit, first TD wins, as it would force strategic thought by the coaches. But the alternating plays Idea would present a different strategic framework, with play calling becoming a bigger strategic piece as the overtime plays out.

The evolution of Los Angeles Rams superstar Todd Gurley
By Mark Wilson

The saying is that running backs have a shelf life of five years in the NFL. If that’s the case, then Todd Gurley is approaching his expiration date. However, as defenders have found out, Gurley is not your average RB. Over his career, Gurley has rushed for over 4800 yards and 50+ touchdowns in 4.5 years.

Todd Gurley was considered one of the top running backs while in college at Georgia. During his three years there, Gurley would account for 3285 yards rushing and 36 rushing touchdowns. However, what made Gurley extra special was that he was a dual-threat out of the backfield. Georgia also knew they had a third receiver. Gurley hauled in 65 passes for 615 yards and six touchdowns. He was the truth.

Leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft, there were slight rumors of Gurley being a top 5 pick. But the good news for the St. Louis Rams is that teams passed with rumors of Gurley’s knees still causing problems. Jeff Fisher took a gamble with the 10th pick and it has paid out well for the franchise.
In his rookie season, Gurley showed flashes of why he was taken in the top 10. In just 13 games, he rushed for 1106 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry. Gurley burst onto the scene his rookie season with four straight games over 120 yards rushing. Gurley would tip that century mark five times in his rookie year. The Rams had finally found their replacement for Steven Jackson.

In his second season during the 2016-17 campaign, Gurley’s production took a little decline in terms of rushing yardage but he proved to be a timely receiver. That season, he rushed for only 886 yards but he also caught 43 passes for 347 yards. There were whispers that he hit a sophomore slump but Gurley was just getting started. Coming into the season with high hopes after an outstanding rookie year, the Rams were expecting an explosion. With five 100+ rushing games under his belt, Gurley failed to hit the century mark in 2016. It was back to the drawing board to fix the issue.

The following year, Gurley got his mojo back on the ground. With 279 attempts, he rushed for 1309 yards and registered 13 touchdowns. Now, he was able to put it all together in one season as he also caught 64 passes for 788 yards. With those accomplishments, Todd Gurley earned his first Pro Bowl nod. Not bad for a player some were ready to throw the towel in on after a slight slump. After not going over 100 yards the previous year, Gurley would finish the season with six. He was officially back.

Now a Pro Bowler, Gurley wanted to prove he wasn’t a one-year fluke. He hit the 2018 season with a vengeance and a chip on his shoulder and finished the campaign with 1251 yards and 17 touchdowns. As a receiver, he didn’t slow down either. Gurley managed to catch 59 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns and earned another Pro Bowl nod while playing in 14 games. Gurley added another six 100+ yard game to his belt including a 208-yard game against the Denver Broncos.

Todd Gurley is a football player, not just a running back. However, during the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl run last season, Gurley appeared to not be the same. Something was bothering him and it just so happened, that the knee issue came at the wrong time. During the playoffs, Gurley was not able to produce the way he was used to and the Rams were forced to use another back (CJ Anderson).

With that injury, the whispers began again. Should the Los Angeles Rams look at do a two-back set and limit his touches or do they continue to use their workhorse as they normally did? Throughout his first four seasons, Gurley has missed six games. As he enters his fifth season, fans and analysts are wondering if that five-year RB myth is coming true for the Pro Bowl player

Les Snead expects to see 'more and more' of Darrell Henderson for Rams

Entering the 2019 draft, the Los Angeles Rams didn’t necessarily have any truly pressing needs. They traded back several times before making their first pick and bolstered the weaker areas of the depth chart with future starters, adding players such as Taylor Rapp, David Edwards and Darrell Henderson. All three have made an impact as rookies, even if the rest of the draft class for Los Angeles has not. Rapp has filled in for John Johnson, Edwards has replaced the injured Joe Noteboom and Henderson has been a perfect complement to Todd Gurley.

Sean McVay has been pleased with the way all three rookies have played this season, and Les Snead shares that same feeling. Snead was on the Rich Eisen Show recently, where he discussed the performance of Henderson and Edwards thus far.He began with Henderson, saying he expects to see more of the rookie as time goes on and he gains experience.

“The last couple games, he has played more. So any time the game is starting to slow down for him, that’s just natural course,” he said. “I think we’ll see more and more of him both running the football and catching the football. But what we do know is when he does have space, he’s proven to be an explosive player, he can break tackles and he can gain yards at a fast rate.”

Marshall Faulk mentioned the importance of having multiple running backs who can handle big workloads, which the Rams have with Gurley, Henderson and even Brown. Snead agreed, mentioning the impact running back tandems can have when working in harmony. “We’ve always seen nicknames like ‘thunder and lightning’ when there’s these dynamic duos that earned those nicknames based on their play. But I think the different styles, whatever the runner brings in his style definitely can help, as well,” Snead said. As for Edwards, Snead mentioned him as a pleasant surprise, stepping in for Noteboom at left guard after playing right tackle in college.

“Because of Joe Noteboom’s injury, we inserted him [Edwards] in as the starting left guard for the last two weeks, and in those two weeks, we’ve played Grady Jarrett, Geno Atkins – who he’s had to go against and has performed admirably. So that’s a very nice, late surprise for us, a fifth-round pick,” Snead said. The Rams haven’t gotten a lot out of their other rookies, but the impact already made by Henderson, Edwards and Rapp has been encouraging.

With Rich's wife Suzy hosting along side Marshall Faulk.

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Got his first win with his first start for the Broncos.

Baker has shown zero growth since last year. He's still a one read QB. Take away that first read and he's lost. His inability to read defenses is why many evaluators didn't see him as a #1 pick in the draft. He should be showing some kind of progress in his second year but IMO he isn't. He could end up another Brown bust. OJB isn't a happy camper because of it.

Just hope Allen's play this doesn't make Wolford a poaching target now. Wolford is probably going to be #2 next year as an upgrade to Mannion long term.

Still a long way to go, but here is the current NFC Seeds.

Thank you KC!

Marrone will make Minshew-Foles choice during bye

There's likely to be plenty of time to drink in an ugly 26-3 AFC South loss to the Texans as the Jaguars make their long flight back home from England.

While he leaves behind a lopsided loss, Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone will decide between veteran free-agent signee Nick Foles, who's coming off a clavicle injury, and rookie Gardner Minshew.

Marrone told reporters following Sunday's loss that he would step away to take some time to make the decision before telling Foles and Minshew of who will take the reins going forward. Marrone said he would make the decision likely around next Sunday before the team returns from its upcoming bye.

"I haven't spoken to either quarterback yet, and I hate talking through the media about my plans, but the plans were -- again, the disappointment of the team, not performing well, will be on my mind now for the next 48 hours," Marrone said after the game. "I think after those 48 hours are over, I'm going to step away a little bit, take a break because I don't have to make a decision and have time. That's what I'm going to talk to the quarterbacks about, and then I'll tell them probably right before we come back on Sunday, we'll be able to discuss where we're going to go. That's pretty much my plan."

Foles was signed in the offseason under much fanfare, but his Jaguars debut lasted less than a quarter when he broke his left clavicle against the Chiefs. He subsequently underwent surgery.

With Foles injured, Minshew looked good in relief against the Chiefs, throwing for 275 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Taking the field with a trademark mustache and headband, Minshew played well and Minshew Mania became a thing.

It might have run its course on Sunday, though, as the Jaguars' offense as a whole struggled and Minshew had three turnovers.

Marrone insisted it will not be one ill-fated game that determines his decision, though.

"Yeah, you know, I've got a lot of questions, and I'm not naïve... And it's not one game, it'll be a body of work," Marrone said.

The Jaguars are 4-5, having gone 4-4 with Minshew starting.

Monday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

The Dallas Cowboys will travel to take on the New York Giants for "Monday Night Football" in Week 9. These two teams opened the season against each other with the Cowboys walking away with a sound 35-17 victory at home.

Dallas (4-3) is coming off of its bye and hoping to fare better than the last time it was in MetLife Stadium. The Jets stunned the Cowboys with a 24-22 loss in Week 6. The Giants (2-6) have lost four in a row since evening their record at 2-2.

So will the result be the same this time around? That remains to be seen, but regardless, this NFC East matchup has several interesting storylines to follow.

Dallas at New York

Kickoff: Monday, Nov. 4 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Dallas -7

Three Things to Watch

1. New players making their debuts

Prior to the Oct. 29 trade deadline, both the Cowboys and the Giants made moves to improve the depth and quality of their defensive fronts.

Dallas sent a 2021 conditional seventh-round pick, which could turn into a sixth-rounder, to the New England Patriots in order to acquire former long-time Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett. The 33-year old had 63 sacks through his first 10 seasons in the NFL, and his ability to play inside or out could make him a versatile piece for the Cowboys.

New York, on the other hand, took a much more youthful approach, parting with a third-round pick in 2020 and a fifth-round selection in 2021 in exchange for New York Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams. The No. 3 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft may not ever live up to draft position, but he can be an impactful player in the right defense.

It will be interesting to see how both players come along with their new teams.

2. Saquon Barkley vs. Ezekiel Elliott

In the modern NFL, seeing a running back selected in the top five of the draft is not a common practice. With that being said, these two teams playing on Monday night have made that bold move, and so far, it has paid off for both.

In 47 games since being drafted fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, Elliott has rushed for 4,650 yards and 30 touchdowns while also adding 1,375 yards and six touchdowns receiving. Sure, there have been a few hiccups off the field, but the Ohio State product is one of the league's best running backs.

Barkley hasn't been on the field as long, but he has still managed to throw his name into the hat for top offensive playmakers in the league. Despite only playing in 21 games, the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft has 2,562 yards (1,680 rushing, 882 receiving) while putting up 18 total touchdowns.

During the first meeting this season, Barkley put up better numbers statistically (139 total yards on 15 touches). But Elliott (14 touches, 63 yards, touchdown) got the last laugh as his team won handily.

3. Daniel Jones' first game against Dallas

The first time these two teams played in Week 1, longtime quarterback Eli Manning was still the starter. Manning's underwhelming performance through two games (556 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, 6.2 yards per attempt) led to his benching.

The ups and downs (seven interceptions, six fumbles lost) have been prevalent for Jones, but the sixth overall pick of this year's draft has undoubtedly added a spark to the offense at times.

It will be interesting to see how he fares against a Cowboys defense that ranks ninth in the league in passing yards allowed per game (228.0).

Final Analysis

It is hard to imagine that Dallas will be able to hand the Giants as much of a lopsided loss the second time around, especially with the Cowboys being on the road. With that being said, it is also hard to imagine a scenario where the Giants win outright.

There is a lot to love about the long-term potential of New York's offense, but will it show on Monday night? More than likely, Dallas will be the more consistent team, which will lead to them covering the seven-point spread.

Prediction: Cowboys 31, Giants 21

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The Bucs have a shot to beat Seattle and due to a stupid OT rule they don't both teams in OT should have a chance. Stupid just because you lose a coin toss you can't have a chance that is total bullshit.

On May 27, 2018, RamsONDEMAND lost a dear friend and legendary member; David Mould

Known here as DaveFan’51, Dave was a Vietnam War Veteran and served with Honor in the United States Marine Corps.

Dave was among our “everyday” members who was best known for his positive demeanour. Win or lose on Sunday, Dave made us all feel better!

Dave will be missed, but here every day in our thoughts and spirit!

We love you Dave! ... but like always.... JMO!!!

In May 2015, RamsONDEMAND lost one of our most legendary members, Rich Harter.

Known here as Thordaddy, Rich was a regular contributor and close friend to all of us. He will be missed, but not forgotten.

We carry on our Rams tradition with Thor by our side.

Pretty boring game so far. I like both QBs but something about Watson just doesn’t make me trust him. I think I always hesitate with QBs who run around too much. People call him an escape artist but he takes his eyes off the receivers too much in order to escape a sack. Just MHO.

Where are they now: Az-Zahir Hakim

Az-Zahir Hakim grew up playing football in Los Angeles, California. He watched the Los Angeles Rams and Raiders and dreamed of one day playing in the NFL.

The year was 1998, when Hakim finished his collegiate career at San Diego State University with 147 receptions, 2,622 receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns. Before he knew it, draft day had arrived, and Hakim was waiting to hear his name called. In the 4th round with the 96th overall pick, the St. Louis Rams selected the standout receiver from Southern California.

Hakim, who was 21 at the time, went into his rookie season under head coach Dick Vermeil and alongside other Rams legends such as wide receivers Ricky Proehl and 4-time Pro Bowl selection Isaac Bruce. Hakim knew that he wanted to be a vital piece with his speed and agility heading into the new season.

“The Rams picked me, and I thought, ‘I have to be one of the players to be a difference maker,’” said Hakim.

In 1999, the Rams added to their receiver group with 7-time Pro Bowl selection Torry Holt and all eyes were on the Rams offense. That year they went on to win the NFC West Division and NFC Conference Title making it to their first Super Bowl since moving to St. Louis where they defeated the Tennessee Titans to hoist their first Lombardi Trophy.

A huge turnaround from the previous season, Hakim was one of those vital pieces for an offense that the football world eventually name “The Greatest Show on Turf.”

Furthermore, Hakim was not only a receiver, but played on special teams. He holds the all-time record for career punt return average in Rams history with at least 75 returns and 1,278 yards, averaging 11.4 yards a return.

In Hakim’s nine seasons playing in the NFL with the Rams, Detroit Lions, the New Orleans Saints, the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins, he registered 4,191 receiving yards, 316 receptions and 28 touchdowns. But in hindsight, what he values the most are the years he spent in St. Louis under Coach Vermeil.

“Not only was he my coach, but he was my friend. He cared about his players, each one of us as individuals. He really took the time to get to know us as people,” said Hakim.

“I thought that was very special because I played for five different organizations and I had many head coaches, and I think Dick Vermeil really separated himself from everybody that I played for. He definitely made an impact on me as a player, especially the little things, the details. I wouldn’t be who I am, I wouldn't be the player I am, I wouldn’t be the coach I am today if it wasn’t for Dick Vermeil.”

So what is Az-Zahir Hakim doing now?

Once a retired NFL player, Hakim had a vision to establish a foundation, Az Hakim Foundation, which would help make a positive difference in children whose lives have been affected by an incarcerated family member. He was inspired to build this foundation from his own personal experiences with having an incarcerated parent.

“I look after kids whose parents have been incarcerated. That was something dear to my heart. My dad was incarcerated my whole NFL career,” said Hakim. “I didn’t look at it as a negative that my dad was incarcerated, he just made some choices that weren’t the best for the family, but at the time we were able to maintain. I wanted to make a difference.”

Hakim and his sister, Sahkeenah, are heavily involved with the Az Hakim Foundation and try to make a difference in young children’s lives. Hakim has envisioned the growth of his foundation and he eventually wants to build his own facility.

“I want to be able to present scholarships for those kids,” said Hakim. “I want to have my own child care facility with an after-school program connected to it and an athletic facility attached. It’s going to be the ‘Land of Az,’ so I’m working towards that.”

Outside of the Az Hakim Foundation, Hakim has stayed in the game of football by coaching. Living in his native city of Los Angeles, Hakim has had different coaching stints from the high school level to the collegiate level and even the semi-professional level. His most recent coaching stint was with the Alliance of American Football (AAF) with the San Diego Fleet. Through a short-lived AAF, Hakim coached the wide receivers while his former teammate and Rams Legend Dre Bly coached the defensive backs.

Even though the AAF is no longer around, Hakim recently accepted a position to coach the wide receivers under head coach Jonathan Hayes with the Xtreme Football League’s (XFL) St. Louis Battlehawks. Hakim will now be heading back to the city where his professional football career began and he couldn’t be more honored.

“I made a call to Coach Hayes and at first, all the spots were filled. But he called me back a week and a half to two weeks later and said he had a spot available. It was a pleasure and an honor,” said Hakim. “It’s good to be back here in St. Louis and I’m very happy to be here and excited about this opportunity.”

What is on your menu today?

Sunday Night Football: New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens
By Tom Bowles

Arguably the two top teams in the AFC face off Sunday night when the New England Patriots take on the Baltimore Ravens in "Sunday Night Football." Another chapter will be added to the rich history between the two teams who have larger aspirations than simply winning their division.

Both have commanding leads in the AFC East and AFC North, respectively, and are angling for the conference’s top seed. A win by the Patriots Sunday night would essentially clinch that honor for them; they’d have a minimum 2.5-game lead (plus tiebreakers) on every AFC team with just seven games left to play. The second-half schedule is harder for the Pats, but it also includes games against the winless Bengals and Dolphins; clinching home-field advantage would seem inevitable.

On the other hand, a Ravens win could change the entire course of the AFC. They’d be 6-2, just 1.5 games behind the Patriots, and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. Their second-half schedule is also difficult, including a game against the NFL’s other undefeated team (49ers). But could you imagine the confidence they’d have? This franchise would have landed a punch one decade after coming oh-so-close to ending the Pats’ perfect NFL regular season in 2007. And the victory guarantees them a minimum two-game lead in a division in which they’ve established firm control.

That 2007 game was one for the ages, a 27-24 Patriots win that wasn’t decided until some Tom Brady touchdown magic with 44 seconds remaining. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was just 10 years old at the time; now he’ll match wits with Brady in a battle of quarterbacking generations. Can Jackson run circles around the most dominant defense in the NFL?

The Ravens have been one of the few to go toe-to-toe with the Patriots in the postseason. Their 2-2 record this century is like going 50-5 compared to the rest of the teams in the conference. Expect the home crowd to be geared up and this game to go down to the wire.

New England at Baltimore

Kickoff: Sunday, Nov. 3 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV Channel: NBC
Spread: New England -3

Three Things To Watch

1: Is Lamar Jackson a better quarterback than Tom Brady right now?

No. But the answer is far closer than some might think.

Looking at strictly passing numbers, Jackson has just 1,650 passing yards to Brady’s 2,251. But add in Jackson’s 576 rushing yards compared to Brady’s three, and the totals even out. Jackson has so many yards on the ground he’s sixth in the AFC in rushing. That’s right; dynamic young running backs like Phillip Lindsay, Sony Michel, and James Conner trail him on the stat sheet. Michael Vick’s NFL record 1,039 rush yards as a quarterback appears to be in serious jeopardy.

Brady has a slightly better QB rating than Jackson (95.0 to 94.1). But Brady, while steady under center, has been little more than a game manager the past three weeks. He’s thrown just three touchdown passes in that span, as the dominant defense has provided a cushion where aggressive quarterback play just isn’t needed.

To be fair, Jackson has struggled in the air over the same stretch, throwing for just one touchdown and three interceptions. Last week, he was 9-for-20 against the Seahawks in a performance that raised questions about his throwing accuracy. But does it really matter when he’s destroying defenses on the run? The last three games have showcased those legs to the tune of 338 yards and two touchdowns. His 7.7 yards per carry average makes him a dynamic threat capable of unleashing big plays at any moment.

The question will be, of course, whether Brady can respond in kind. His top receiver, Julian Edelman, remains healthy, but the search for other weapons has been a season-long quest. The route of the troubled receiver with talent hasn’t worked out. Antonio Brown came and went; Josh Gordon was released off injured reserve this week. There needs to be a second player who emerges to allow Brady to open up the field.

Could that be running back James White? He’s caught at least four passes in five straight games. How about recent acquisition Mohamed Sanu? He broke into the offense with two catches last week but didn’t feel like a game-changer... yet. And Phillip Dorsett, still recovering from injuries, has yet to replicate his two-touchdown performance in the season opener.

Someone in that group needs to step up to allow Brady to work his own magic. Without it? Players like Jackson, especially with their ability to run at any moment, are on the verge of eclipsing Brady’s play and providing a better weapon for their teams.

2: Can the Ravens crack the Patriots' defense?

The Patriots defense, halfway through the season, continues to put up historic numbers. Baker Mayfield was the latest quarterback to fall victim last week; he threw for less than 200 yards, giving up the ball once while running back Nick Chubb's pair of fumbles limited an undisciplined Browns team.

Overall, the Patriots have 25 takeaways. That’s six more than any other team in the NFL. They’re allowing just 7.6 points per game, leading the league in total yards allowed and ranking second against the pass. That success is key considering Jackson’s still developing as a passer; stripping him of that option, or better yet forcing a few key interceptions, would swing the game.

And that’s what the Patriots defense has done. Two weeks ago, they had the Jets’ Sam Darnold seeing ghosts on the sideline after four interceptions. Their +17 margin is better than the total takeaways of all but one NFL team (Steelers). So the Ravens will need to take care of the football. To their credit, their seven giveaways are tied for the third-fewest in the NFL, impressive considering they start a 22-year-old quarterback in his second season.

Ironically, it’s typically the Ravens defense that’s causing havoc. But this unit is just 26th against the pass, likely to give Brady opportunities Sunday, while allowing 22.3 points per game. Chances are, the Patriots will match that 22 points which means the Ravens offense has to find a way to break through. Remember, no team has scored more than 14 points against the Patriots all season.

3: A Quick look at special teams

No matter how bad they’ve been offensively through the years, the Ravens have always had a secret weapon: Justin Tucker. The three-time first-team All-Pro has been one of the NFL’s best kickers for nearly a decade, and 2019 has been no exception. This year, he’s perfect on field goals (16-of-16) as well as extra points in what’s been a down year for his position overall. From Cody Parkey’s miss for the Bears in January’s NFC Wild Card game to future Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri's struggles with the Colts this season, kickers can’t seem to avoid the negative spotlight.

Those problems have made their way over to the Patriots. Longtime dependable kicker Stephen Gostkowski is out for the year after suffering a left hip injury. Replacement Mike Nugent was unimpressive, missing three field goals and an extra point in four games before being cut this week. Now, the Patriots turn to former Jets kicker Nick Folk, a 34-year-old who last played for the now-defunct Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football. He was 12-for-16 on field goal attempts there, hitting one for 55 yards, but remains a shaky selection heading into Sunday’s contest.

Folk’s last game in the NFL was against the Patriots in a 2017 "Monday Night Football" game. He missed three field goals and an extra point before being released by the Buccaneers later that week. And now that’s who this team is depending on in late-game situations? The Patriots special-teams unit hasn’t really been tested because they haven’t been involved in a close game late. But if the Ravens can keep the score in the ballpark, it’s easily the biggest weakness they can exploit.

Final Analysis

The Ravens will be jazzed up for a game they feel they can win with Lamar Jackson under center. The Patriots’ undefeated season is also softer than some might realize; seven of their eight opponents don’t have a winning record. There’s an opening here for the Ravens to break through.

But the Patriots, in the end, should always get the benefit of the doubt with Tom Brady in big games. The spread seems dead-on in a game that has the potential to tilt either way in the fourth quarter.

Prediction: New England 24, Baltimore 21

Anyone looking for a link? I got one.

Pro Football Focus midseason highlights: Rams Special Teams

The Rams' bye week comes at an optimal time, exactly halfway through the 2019 season. In the third of a three-part series this week, theRams.com takes a look at Pro Football Focus' top evaluations of Los Angeles' special teams through the first eight games.

Best grade: 71.8 at Atlanta.

It's probably not too surprising to learn that Week 7 against the Falcons marked the best performance by the Rams' special teams this season.

Between field goals, the forced fumble on a punt return which was recovered in the endzone for a touchdown and what Johnny Hekker's fake punt led to, special teams accounted for 16 of the Rams' 37 points in that contest. LB Troy Reeder, who caused the fumble, received a special teams grade of 93.1 for his efforts.

Kicker Greg Zuerlein, who made three of four field goal attempts, also saw none of six of his kickoffs returned as they went into or out of the endzone for touchbacks.

Top-graded individual performances

Zuerlein: vs. Tampa Bay, 82.4 field goal grade. He made both of his field goal attempts, including a long of 58, as well as all four of his extra point attempts.

Punter Johnny Hekker: vs. San Francisco, 68.5 punting grade. He averaged a season-high 53.8 yards per attempt on five attempts. The number of attempts also tied most in a single game for Hekker this season.

Punt and kick returner JoJo Natson: vs. San Francisco, 63.3 overall return grade. Natson saw a season-high four opportunities to return punts and kickoffs combined. His 24.7 yards per return off three kickoffs still stands as his best average in a game this season.

Reeder, one of three undrafted free agents to make the initial 53-man roster, has been the top-performing special teams player according to PFF with a grade of 78.3. Seventh-round pick Nick Scott has recorded the most snaps on special teams with 180 through eight games.

Scott, Reeder and LB Travin Howard lead the unit in tackles with three each.

My wife is a whiners fan so I ate crow a few weeks ago. I told her that they are now 8-0 so that's not luck. It's a good team. But are they really 8-0 good or have they just been benefitting from an easy schedule which includes a game when the Rams might have been at their worst? The cardinals gave them a good game and if not for that time out just before half-time that blew up, the cards might have won. But it is what it is. The whiners are 8-0 and they might extend that win streak more. I still think Grabmypole wins inspire of himself and not because of him.

But then again, the Rams won a lot of close games last season and things sort of went in our favor. Hopefully the whiners don't get that this year. I still am hopeful that McVay and company can turn things around that get on a roll so we can get pay back against the whiners.