smell.
I've wondered if most people would just plug their noses or used a clothes pin to shut up the ole honker. It's not even bad hygeine, some people just have a natural odor that is bad. So which would you have?

Los Angeles Rams’ future offseason outlook following trade of CB Aqib Talib to Miami Dolphins
Here’s how things are shaping up for the future.
By 3k Oct 30, 2019, 8:00am

The Los Angeles Rams shipped CB Aqib Talib off to the Miami Dolphins today to clear some cap space at the expense of a fifth-round pick. The move would seemingly offer an opportunity to house some money in 2019 toward an extension for CB Jalen Ramsey allowing them to not put all of it into the future outlook.

Getting Ramsey extended was a requirement in order to try and match the value of what the Rams gave up to get him as he will need to provide multiple Pro Bowl-caliber (or close to as much) seasons to justify the move.I think there’s only one other player scheduled to be a free agent over the next two seasons that the Rams absolutely have to lock up: WR Cooper Kupp. Like Ramsey, Kupp is under contract through next season but will only be 27-years old in 2021’s free agency period.

But the Rams have some very difficult decisions on some current players to make in the next two offseasons and that’s before seeing how they perform on the field for the rest of this season let alone those who are contracted through 2020. Already, the Rams are on the hook for more than $90m in 2021 for QB Jared Goff, RB Todd Gurley, WR Brandin Cooks and DL Aaron Donald. Ramsey and Kupp would perhaps near another $40m on the books annually forming a top 6 on the roster beyond 2021. That’s not leaving a ton of room to address the likely vacancies let alone any that might pop up if the Rams decide not to renew some of the upcoming free agents.

LA Rams’ 2020 NFL Draft order with comp pick projections
The first-round pick was part of the package in the trade for Ramsey (2020 1st, 2021 1st, 2021 4th). The Rams’ original fifth was part of the trade for EDGE Dante Fowler Jr. The fifth they picked up in the deal that sent Marcus Peters to the Baltimore Ravens is the one shipped with Talib to Miami.

Here’s some of the flashpoints looking at the roster situation over the next two offseasons:

2020 LA Rams Free Agents
2021 LA Rams Free Agents



The O-line
LT Andrew Whitworth is retiring. RG Austin Blythe is an impending free agent. Many Rams fans were worried the departure of LG Rodger Saffold III and C John Sullivan would mean the line would be unreliable. How much moreso would it be with two more departures? And bear in mind that with Kupp and Ramsey extensions, the Rams likely won’t be able to fill left tackle on the market. Internal upgrades or draft picks and or UDFAs would be the likely solution, and I’m not sure that’s going to make anyone very comfortable given how good Whitworth has been since arriving and the attempted solutions between he and Orlando Pace’s time as the Rams premier blocker.

The edge rusher depth chart:
ER Dante Fowler is on a one-year prove-it deal. We’ll have to see how he does down the stretch, but if he ends up “proving it” that means he’s going to earn more than the $12m he got this year.ER Clay Matthews is on the books through next season, but he’s all but certain to hang them up after 2020.
ER Samson Ebukam plays out his rookie contract next year.

Suffice to say, change is coming here. A premium investment is probably unlikely given how much the position commands and the commitments the Rams already have in their top 6.

S John Johnson III
Talib’s departure marks the ninth consecutive defensive back the Rams haven’t re-signed (slot CB Nickell Robey-Coleman is an outlier here given his role). S Darian Stewart, CB Janoris Jenkins, S Rodney McLeod, S T.J. McDonald, CB Trumaine Johnson, CB E.J. Gaines, DB Lamarcus Joyner, CB Marcus Peters and Talib have all come and gone without the Rams expressing a willingness to commit to their services in the long term. Ramsey obviously has to be re-signed, but that could be an outlier comparatively especially if the Rams opt to move on from John Jonathan Johnson Johnston after next season.
ILB Cory Littleton
He was a special teams star. He transitioned into a talented starting inside linebacker. As a former restricted free agent, the Rams were able to keep him on an inexpensive tender in 2019. He’s unrestricted after this season. He’ll command more than the $3m he’s getting this year.
DL Michael Brockers
The Rams’ youth revolution probably means Brockers is headed for a similar fate as Saffold’s. That’s not the worst for him personally, but it does mean another starting position to address.
TE Gerald Everett
The Rams already splashed for TE Tyler Higbee through 2023. With the top 6 soaking up space, the Rams might move on from Young Gerald.

The Rams have a lot of decisions coming their way the next two offseasons, and the top 6 means they’re going to have to be selective about the way ahead. Without assuming anything from the youth that haven’t really affirmed their status yet, here’s a rough sketch of the 2021 Week 1 starters who are already on the roster including the Kupp and Ramsey deals:

• QB Jared Goff
• RB Todd Gurley/RB2 Darrell Henderson Jr.
• WR1 Brandin Cooks
• WR2 Robert Woods
• WR3 Cooper Kupp
• TE Tyler Higbee/TE2?
• LT ?
• LG Joseph Noteboom
• C Brian Allen
• RG ?
• RT Rob Havenstein
• DL Aaron Donald
• DL ?
• DL Sebastian Joseph-Day
• EDGE ?
• EDGE ?
• ILB ?
• LB Troy Reeder?
• CB Jalen Ramsey
• CB ?
• S Taylor Rapp
• S ?

That’s a lot of question marks for a team without a first-round pick the next two years that has as much committed on the books as the Rams will with deals for Ramsey and Kupp. That’s not to say the roster’s going to fall apart, but it does mean the Rams will be relying heavily on the names already penciled in on that least as well as relying on their own ability to identify non-premium solutions in the two years ahead.

And the Rams don’t have a ton in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft to adjust personnel all that much:

Daylight saving time is ending this weekend. These states want to make DST permanent

Here we go again: Time to fall back after we sprang forward.

The end of daylight saving time is fast approaching, and with it comes an "extra" hour of sleep and the slow disappearance of early-evening sunlight.

Unless you reside in the states of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) or Hawaii or the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, adjust your clocks back one hour Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. – lest you wake up an hour early to everything in the days ahead.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which established daylight saving time from the second Sunday of March through the first Sunday of October.

The law also allows states to remain in standard time all year and does not require states to adhere to daylight saving time. However, it does require that states get approval from Congress before making daylight saving time permanent.

In fact, those against changing clocks during the year include President Donald Trump, who tweeted in March that making DST "permanent is O.K. with me." Other advocates argue that shifting time twice a year can cause an increased risk of stroke and heart attack, as well as affecting adults 65 or older more drastically.

Those in favor of shifting time include the National Parent Teacher Association, which says that children would have to commute to school in the dark with year-round daylight saving time, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, which says that the time changes save energy and cut crime.

Seven states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington – have approved legislation to make daylight saving time permanent. These states still need the OK from the federal government to enact the change, however.

A handful of other states, including Alaska, California,Iowa, Massachusetts, Texas, Utah and Vermont have introduced legislation to make changes to how they observe daylight saving time.

Some of those states in New England, rather than introduce permanent daylight saving time, are proposing a workaround by making a year-round Atlantic Standard Time (AST) — a new additional time zone one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. In doing so, these states would effectively be observing daylight saving time permanently without having to put it to a vote in Congress.

Other states, such as Texas, are considering moving to permanent standard time altogether rather than daylight saving time.

To make matters more complicated, some states considering switching to a form of permanent daylight saving time, including Delaware and Oregon, require that the other states in their time zone switch with them, meaning that their proposals may be indefinitely postponed.

Notebook: McVay on Cooks and Matthews' injuries, Talib trade

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke with reporters on a conference call Tuesday afternoon, discussing WR Brandin Cooksbeing in concussion protocol, LB Clay Matthews' progress ahead of his projected return and what CB Aqib Talib meant to the team, among other topics. TheRams.com compiled a quick notebook expanding on each of the three topics below.

Cooks "feeling good"

WR Brandin Cooks was placed in concussion protocol after sustaining a helmet to helmet hit on the third play of Sunday's game against the Bengals in London. As of Tuesday afternoon, Cooks is "feeling good," according to McVay.

"He’s very aware of what’s going on and he can talk about what occurred pre-concussion," McVay said.

Cooks also sustained a concussion in Week 5 against Seattle, which means the one against the Bengals gave him his second this month. The team is in the process of gathering more information by sending Cooks to a specialist in Pittsburgh and from there, they will be taking things a day at a time, per McVay.

"Anytime that you have something like this occur, you want to consider the human being first and foremost, and that’s what we are going to do, take our time. No question, it will be something that we are going to be smart with," McVay said. "I think being able to get some answers, hear some other opinions on what’s going on, and other cases that have been like this will give us some clarity to hopefully, make the best decision for Brandin Cooks the person and the football player.”

Talib thanked for positive impact during Rams tenure

The Rams traded CB Aqib Talib and an undisclosed draft pick to the Dolphins in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick on Tuesday. Though he only played 13 regular season games for Los Angeles, he left a lasting impact on its locker room.

“Aqib has meant a whole lot. He’s meant a whole lot to our team," McVay said. "I think just the confidence, the swagger, the veteran leadership that he’s brought – he’s been, really, a big part of what’s gone on since he got here and he’s been nothing but positive since he got here. Like I’ve said, I think he’s a Hall of Fame player."

Moves like this are always made in the best interest of the team both in the short-term and long-term, according to McVay. Circumstances regarding the defense in recent weeks played a part in the decision as well.

"Sometimes … (it) needs to be done," McVay said. "But again, like I said, I can’t say anything but great things about the human and what he’s meant to our locker room, the positives he’s brought to this team and what he’s meant to us the last year and a half."

Matthews "on track" to return after bye week

McVay has previously said the most realistic scenario for LB Clay Matthews returning would be after the bye week. Based on McVay's comments Tuesday, that still looks like it will be the case.

"He’s feeling good," McVay said. "I really just think it’s going to be a matter of how quickly and how comfortable does he feel as far as, ‘All right, I’m ready to go,’ and play full contact…in the absence of some of that restrictive protection that he’s had. He’s on track for that."

Matthews, who had his jaw wired shut as part of the recovery process, has had those materials removed. Once Week 10 arrives, McVay said they will be taking things day by day with Matthews.

I hate to post a new thread just for this tweet.

But at the same time I feel like this topic could be a pinned board thread.

We have a few guys on our team that absolutely dominate using leverage.

In this *brilliant play you can see Kupp use leverage brilliantly at full speed running down the field.

It's at the time that he hits about the 15 just after truly getting in front of Higbee.

Kupp makes a few, very suttle, adjustments in one or two steps towards the inside while leaning slightly with his upper body.

That split second. Those two steps. Kupp was using his knowledge and repetitions in practice of leverage.

The defender froze for just enough time to Kupp to get himself into the endzone.

Donald does these things frequently.

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ODDS TO WIN 2019-20 SUPER BOWL LIV (2/2/20)

Updated 10/29/2019

Team Odds
New England Patriots 8/5
New Orleans Saints 5/1
San Francisco 49ers 7/1
Green Bay Packers 10/1
Kansas City Chiefs 16/1
Minnesota Vikings 16/1

Baltimore Ravens 20/1
Dallas Cowboys 20/1
Indianapolis Colts 25/1
Los Angeles Rams 25/1
Seattle Seahawks 30/1
Houston Texans 30/1

Philadelphia Eagles 40/1
Carolina Panthers 60/1
Los Angeles Chargers 60/1
Oakland Raiders 60/1

Buffalo Bills 100/1
Chicago Bears 100/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 100/1
Detroit Lions 200/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 200/1
Tennessee Titans 200/1
Cleveland Browns 300/1

Arizona Cardinals 1000/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1000/1
Denver Broncos 2000/1
New York Giants 2000/1
New York Jets 5000/1
Atlanta Falcons 10000/1
Cincinnati Bengals 10000/1
Washington Redskins 10000/1
Miami Dolphins 50000/1

ODDS TO WIN 2019-20 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP (1/19/20)
New England Patriots 2/5
Kansas City Chiefs 8/1
Baltimore Ravens 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
Houston Texans 15/1

Los Angeles Chargers 30/1
Oakland Raiders 30/1
Buffalo Bills 50/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 50/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 100/1
Tennessee Titans 100/1
Cleveland Browns 150/1
Denver Broncos 1000/1
New York Jets 2500/1
Cincinnati Bengals 5000/1
Miami Dolphins 25000/1

ODDS TO WIN 2019-20 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP (1/19/20)
New Orleans Saints 2/1
San Francisco 49ers 3/1
Green Bay Packers 5/1
Minnesota Vikings 8/1
Dallas Cowboys 10/1

Los Angeles Rams 12/1
Seattle Seahawks 15/1
Philadelphia Eagles 20/1
Carolina Panthers 30/1
Chicago Bears 50/1

Detroit Lions 100/1
Arizona Cardinals 150/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 500/1
Washington Redskins 500/1
New York Giants 1000/1
Atlanta Falcons 5000/1

Odds Shark current NFL Power Rankings

Team Rank
New England 1
San Francisco 2
Kansas City 3
LA Rams 4
Minnesota 5

Baltimore 6
Dallas 7
Houston 8
Philadelphia 9
Green Bay 10

New Orleans 11
Indianapolis 12
Chicago 13
Buffalo 14
Seattle 15

LA Chargers 16
Detroit 17
Pittsburgh 18
Jacksonville 19
Tennessee 20

Carolina 21
Tampa Bay 22
Cleveland 23
Denver 24
Atlanta 25

Oakland 26
NY Giants 27
Cincinnati 28
Arizona 29
NY Jets 30
Washington 31
Miami 32

How are NFL Power Rankings compiled?

Power Rankings for NFL are updated at the conclusion of each week’s play.

Ranks are based on a rolling 10-game range; early in the season, this date range reaches back to regular-season games of the previous year.

NFL Power Rankings Explained

Standings only tell part of the story for fans who like to bet on the NFL.

A first-place team may have a lousy defense, but lucked into a 3-0 record by playing three teams even worse than themselves.

However, beating the point spread requires the whole story – what are the stat strengths and weaknesses of each team and how can you exploit that data to find edges for your NFL bets?

Check out the NFL Power Rankings here at Odds Shark to get the REAL standings as you handicap the NFL football odds.

See below the ratings chart for details on how we create the power ranks.

If you are a regular Odds Shark visitor, you know how many different types of stats and comparative numbers are crunched on a daily basis to help you make sense of the NFL stats and odds.

There are sortable stats for team offense, time of possession, most ATS wins, points per game, how each National Football League team ranks in home and road scoring and more.

We include home and road rushing and passing yards data, along with important indicators of offensive success like how many yards they generate per play.

We weave in turnover ratio, penalties per game and more stats to calculate an overall NFL offensive power number.

We run the same math on the relevant defensive stats: yards per play allowed, each team’s rank against the run and defending the passing game.

This helps create an overall power number, which we then calibrate against a strength-of-schedule multiplier.

If Buffalo has played four 0-4 teams, their NFL power rank is unlikely to be as high as the 0-4 Chiefs who have played four stronger teams.

Of note, the rankings will be different from other power ranking systems because we weight the data over a rolling 10-game date range.

We don’t start from scratch in Week 1, we look back 10 regular-season games to give a bigger sample of data.

And we feel it is a more accurate reflection of true power if we consider only the past 10 games, not a full 16-game schedule.

As the games continue, the value of NFL power rankings here at Odds Shark will emerge and you will find yourself checking in weekly before making your football bets.

The goal is to find legitimate comparisons between teams and then to find line value associated with stat edges you discover.

And we focus on a smaller batch of games as a team’s quality of play over the past few weeks is more important than something they did way back in Week 1.

Good luck with your NFL handicapping!

For two glorious years, the Los Angeles Rams dazzled the NFL with an explosive offense and an opportunistic defense that allowed yards on the ground but produced turnovers when necessary. Most everyone expected more of the same in 2019. Flawless execution was the standard by which the Ram identity was formed under Sean MvVay.

After half a season of inconsistency in all three phases, the Rams are forming a new identity on the fly. Coach McVay is unwavering and predictable about his process and belief in his coaches and players. But there is a new direction being formed and it’s so subtle that most wont appreciate it until the players learn to execute the plan effectively.

On offense, a dominant run game characterized by the usage of 11 personnel and zone blocking which sets up play action has been “played out” as defenses have learned how to stop it consistently. As the offensive line no longer has the veteran cohesion previously enjoyed, variances of 12 personnel and power blocking have both diversified the attack and slowed the growth of cohesion for the offensive line. Goff’s reads need to go from long to short to a quicker read to help mitigate the time the line has to hold its blocks. As Goff is forced to longer distances on later downs because the first down wins are diminishing, McVay has countered with more spread/pass first looks. The offense will remain a work in progress as they learn new rules in their schemes.

The defense has officially moved on from both its starting corners, Peters and Talib. Weddle is an upgrade over Joyner from the neck up, but he’s a step below his All Pro form physically at this stage. The loss of JJ to IR has kept Rapp at safety instead of the hybrid LB/SS role originally planned. While the edge pressure has improved, Phillips has relied more on generating pressure in a gambling fashion at the sacrifice of too many open receivers when the rush fails to get home. The younger defenders are missing assignments far too regularly and the vets have needed to compensate. This unit is also far from a polished unit in control of its identity.

The most puzzling aspect of this team is the suddenly inconsistent performance of the special teams. Both Zuerline and Hekker have missed on more kicks in half a season than any of us can recall for entire previous seasons. It’s not that they’ve been bad...it’s just not been the usual, well, “them.” And while Jo Jo has had a couple nice returns, even that aspect hasn’t been a net improvement. While there haven’t been as many trick special teams plays yet, I suspect Bones is holding his better looks for later in the year when they may become more necessary.

While a 5-3 record isn’t a disastrous beginning, the optics of the games themselves lend to the belief that the drawing board has been wiped and a new identity is being created. The offense is getting back to basics until the new run game “finds its legs.” The defense will gamble more than the past as man pressure will become normative. With a team depending on so much youth to grow, it’s going to take no less than a collective passion to overcome deficiencies for this team to finish on top. And if that’s the new identity, while it may not be sustainable for a dynastic run, it might be enough for 11 more games.

Rams have a bye, freeing up a Sunday. What your plans? I'm heading for Lake Dixon in San Deigo Co. to take some grandkids fishing and hiking. Calif. state record for big mouth bass (25.5lbs).

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to the Dolphins?

Do to my issue with "Waking up football" notifications at 3am, I changed my preferences hoping to stop it. Once again this morning I got another notification. I have now disabled all notifications and push notifications.

Rams go into bye hoping the worst is behind them
Lindsey ThiryESPN


"We got eight more to show everybody what we're about," left tackle Andrew Whitworth told his Los Angeles Rams teammates, before breaking down a postgame locker room celebration in London. "Put it in your damn mind. Eight straight."

The Rams have not missed the playoffs since Sean McVay took over as coach in 2017, but are 5-3 through the first half of the season and find themselves in an unfamiliar spot, as they sit in third place in the NFC West behind the San Francisco 49ers (7-0) and Seattle Seahawks (6-2).
Eight straight wins could be necessary for the Rams to clinch a third consecutive division title or to even earn a playoff berth and avoid the proverbial Super Bowl hangover season."We're 5-3," McVay said, after finishing a 10-day road trip with a 24-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. "We are what our record says we are."

The Rams opened the season with three consecutive wins before suffering their first three-game losing streak under McVay, which included division losses to the Seahawks and 49ers. They bounced back with back-to-back victories over the Bengals and Atlanta Falcons, who are a combined 1-15."It's good to finish off with two wins," running back Todd Gurley said. "Just build the momentum slowly."Said quarterback Jared Goff: "Starting to catch our rhythm."Coming off a disappointing Super Bowl appearance, the Rams have played well, at times, but haven't performed consistently on offense, defense and even the once unflappable special teams.

McVay has said that the offense remains in search of an identity, which has been somewhat puzzling given the unit's remarkable success the last two seasons. However, through eight games, it's apparent the game plan has changed in 2019.The Rams have 526 total plays from scrimmage, the second most in the NFL behind the New England Patriots. The Rams have attempted the third-highest number of passes at 315, just behind the Bengals and Falcons, while only handing the ball off 199 times, which ranks 14th for most carries in the NFL.Goff, who signed a four-year, $110 million extension before the season, has become the focal point, throwing for 2,367 yards and 11 touchdowns with seven interceptions, as McVay has leaned heavily on the passing game.

Gurley, who last season rushed for 1,251 yards and scored a league-high 21 touchdowns, has faded into the background along with the run game. Gurley, who was sidelined in Week 7 because of a thigh contusion, has rushed for 355 yards and has scored seven touchdowns.Before Sunday's win over the Bengals, McVay said the Rams needed to "be more efficient in the run game, snap in and snap out," but then Gurley rushed for only 44 yards and a touchdown against the worst rushing defense in the league. He sat on the sideline during the fourth quarter as rookie Darrell Henderson remained on the field.McVay offered the same explanation that he has through the first half of the season.

"It just kind of worked out that way," he said. "... I always say it's the flow of the game and that was really what it ended up being."On defense, a recent shift in personnel could have coordinator Wade Phillips' unit trending upward in the second half of the season.The defense endured losses when outside linebacker Clay Matthews suffered a broken jaw, which has sidelined him the last three games, and cornerback Aqib Talib and safety John Johnson were placed on injured reserve.

The last one I can find was Oct 16. Has there been another?

NFL Week 8 insider notes: Bears should bench Mitchell Trubisky, Bucs also have a big QB problem, and more

When the Bears moved up to take Mitchell Trubisky in the 2017 draft, leaping absolutely no one to secure his services in the first place ahead of quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, I railed against it. When people tried to tell me how great Trubisky was developing a year ago, I scratched my head.

When some labeled him an MVP candidate before the season, I started to wonder if I was stuck in some warped parallel universe. When people called me crazy for suggesting that Chase Daniel was the preferable option at quarterback to some inside and outside the Bears organization a year ago, and this year, I had a lot of people me calling me crazy. Only, well, I think we all know what is reality and what is fantasy now, two-and-a-half seasons into the Trubisky era in Chicago. And good luck finding even the most ardent, passionate, glass-is-half-full Bears fan who doesn't believe now they have a massive QB problem on their hands.

Had general manager Ryan Pace selected any of the superb options at quarterback, and coupled it with this defense, he'd have a monster on his hands. Instead, it appears as if he has a mistake so substantial that even a suffocating defense that allows 20 yards in the first quarter and hands the ball to Trubisky at the Chargers' 4-yard line – only to see not a yard gained amid tragic and repeated red-zone futility – is not nearly enough to offset the offensive issues.

Don't get it twisted – even a year ago, Trubisky was incredibly limited once the Bears got off their script and on the rare occasions he wasn't gifted the lead and when they occasionally faced a tough defense while playing a much easier schedule. They were always going to regress, substantially, this season. Only even I, a fairly ardent Trubisky skeptic, didn't think it would be this catastrophic this quickly.

The Chargers defense, which has struggled so much this season, had no problems suffocating head coach Matt Nagy's offense on Sunday. The game, frankly, had no business being close; for the Bears to have actually find a way to lose it despite holding the ball for 38 minutes and limiting L.A. to 11 first downs and 231 total yards, while out-rushing the Chargers 162-36, is an indictment of just how bad their starting QB is.

Chicago, somehow, ran 12 plays in the first half inside the Chargers' 10 without scoring a touchdown. They ran nine plays alone inside the 5 and came away with nothing but 20-yard field goals. They were snuffed out on bubble screens and Trubisky threw errant scuds and threw left when the formation seemed to dictate going to his right.

He got away with a shot to the back of the end zone that should have been picked. When he did take the rare deep shot, he got picked off easily and then, late in the game, overthrew his target by five yards. With a chance to put the game away, he fumbled. Never once did he seem at ease or in control. He looks like an elite athlete trying to play quarterback still and read the full field; he doesn't spray the ball around coolly or accurately. There is nothing in his game to connote progress.

If this team had a Jacoby Brissett or Kyle Allen or Gardner Minshew or Teddy Bridgewater – all guys to come in under duress this season as backups and win games – it would be a juggernaut. Instead, it is at a massive crossroads. Trubisky entered the weekend 26th in the NFL in passer rating, with an astoundingly low rate of yards per attempt (5.24) and just five completions over 20 yards, and managed to look as bad as he ever has, at home, with virtually every factor in the game going in his favor.

The Bears moving forward like this, at 3-4, in need of consistency and a heartbeat in the passing game, seems foolish. Daniel won't be spectacular, but he may provide the best chance to saving the season at this point, while big questions about whether the quarterback of the 2020 Bears threatens to loom over the second half.

Winston should be on the sidelines, too

Speaking of teams in need of new QBs next season, the unraveling of the end of Jameis Winston's time in Tampa is a tough watch. This game began with a snap clanking off his facemask for a lost fumble and ended with him throwing yet another pick, and there was plenty of tragi-comedy in between. Bruce Arians must be pulling out his hair after this loss at the Titans, a defeat that was due largely to the discrepancies in turnovers.

That's where Winston comes in. He coughed the ball up four more times, which runs his season total to 16, a staggering figure on its own. Since the start of 2018, Winston has accounted for 32 giveaways in 18 games. Let that sink in for a minute. No team is going to overcome that, especially one still trying to retool the defense and figure out the running game. The problem is the Bucs don't have a Ryan Tannehill (or even, ahem, Ryan Fitzpatrick type) to turn the offense over to in an attempt to sustain. Tannehill again had Titans fans forgetting about Marcus Mariota with three TD passes. Winston, who completed less than half of his passes Sunday, should be on the sidelines, too.

Elway in another perilous position

The latest Broncos debacle should make certain that Chris Harris and Derek Wolfe are on the move, if not others. At 2-6, with an offense in need of a transplant and the defense not what it once was, and a 60-something rookie head coach and another QB change ahead, John Elway finds himself in another perilous position. That team is not going to be good again any time soon and if I was in charge, I would be on the phone all day Monday finding out what is the biggest possible return I could get for Von Miller with two team options left on his contract.

More insider notes from Week 8

• The Falcons, again out of the game at halftime, didn't start playing until garbage time. That's the M.O., down 24-0 at the half and outscored an NFL-worst -94 in the first half this season as they head to their bye. Owner Arthur Blank should go ahead and make his coaching change now to get a jump on what should be heavy competition for a limited pool of top candidates in 2020. …
• Philip Rivers had yet another slow start and he certainly seems to be slowing down. The Chargers offense should be better than this with all of the personnel there and Rivers had another early pick Sunday to make things more difficult. The Chargers are the biggest disappointment in the NFL to me -- even with this win in Chicago -- at the halfway point, and that franchise may have some serious macro-level issues to weigh come January. They have thought long and hard about drafting a quarterback in a high round for years. …
• The Bengals have a super long flight back from London, still winless, which they should use to devise a strategy to maximize Tuesday's trade deadline. There is no other action that makes any sense at all. Start the rebuild now, Mike Brown, when you can dominate a seller's market at the deadline. …
• It was yet another week where Minshew showed he can play in this league and deserves to keep his job whenever Nick Foles is healthy. …
• Matthew Stafford was an absolute stud again (25-for-32 for 342 yards and three TDs). Threw one early pick he'd want back, but playing some great football this season. His 16 TD passes trails only Russell Wilson (17). …
• The Saints are the best team in football and get Alvin Kamara and Jared Cook back coming out of a Week 9 bye, and also could pull off a significant trade this week, too. They are as all-in as it gets.

One ‘Hekk’ of a cook: Off field hobbies with Johnny Hekker

Cooking is defined as the practice or skill of preparing food by combining, mixing and heating ingredients, while punting can be simply described as booting the ball to the other team on fourth down. Punting and cooking usually don’t have much in common, but both are forms of art. The flash of the pan and the sizzling of the heat can both be described as beauty. Similarly, the punter’s footwork, body motion and booming sound made when they punt off the ball can be considered art in motion.

Johnny Hekker is an artist both on and off the field. An undrafted free agent from Oregon, Hekker has turned into a four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection. He has proven himself more than a few times on the football field, such as when he delivered the longest punt in Super Bowl history – a 65-yarder during Super Bowl LIII right down the field, and out of his own team’s endzone.

Hekker has other hobbies outside of football, though. He is also an avid fan of The Cooking Channel and cooks whenever he can. Recently he sat down with Rams Insider Magazine and answered a few questions about his love for cooking:

Q: What’s your favorite food to cook and your favorite person to cook for?

A: “Anything that my son will eat, but I love cooking for my wife. My wife is super smart, super nutritious, so she’s always buying great items to cook with. She’s always down to eat whatever I make. Usually, it will be something healthy, like vegetables, for my wife.”

Q: Why do you like to cook?

A: “I like to cook because it’s an art form because you can never make the same thing, exactly the same way. Cooking for people is fun and I get to put a little love into it. It’s a fun hobby and it’s kind of therapeutic to put stuff together and know what you are putting into your body at the same time, making informed decisions about what you’re making on a nutrient level.”

Q: How’d you get into cooking?

A: “I got into cooking because my older brother likes to cook. He was in college and cooking for himself a lot and I thought it was cool. He told me in college that you have to cook for yourself a lot. He cooked different cuisines from different things. I’ve always been a huge fan of The Cooking Channel and The Food Network.”

Q: Favorite Show?

A: “If Chopped is on, I’m watching Chopped.”

Q: Favorite chef?

A: “Bucket list hangout is probably Bobby Flay.”

Q: Do you cook regularly?

A: “So, we have an arrangement at home, whoever cooks doesn’t clean up. That’s another big proponent of why I like to cook. I cook, then my wife has to clean the dishes. It makes it fun and shows my son all the food we eat isn’t coming from a restaurant. We can make fresh, fun stuff to eat right at home.”

Q: If you had to cook one meal for the whole team, what would it be?

A: “I would have to make a lot of it, so it has to be simple. I make a pretty mean chicken noodle soup, so I’m going to go with that.”

By
Trebor Tracy
-
October 28, 2019

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 20: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams looks to the sidelines in the first half of an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)


While it may not feel like it, the Los Angeles Rams are still very much playoff contenders. No, this isn’t the same team strutting to a first-place division finish like they did last season. However, the Los Angeles Rams are still contenders for a playoff spot at the halfway point of the season.

Los Angeles Rams Still Playoff Contenders Halfway Through The Season
As good as Los Angeles looked last season, history was never on their side in terms of a return trip to the Super Bowl. Before the New England Patriots did it last season, no team had made it back to the Super Bowl after losing since the 1994 Buffalo Bills. In addition, judging from how the 2018 season ended, it was obvious that running back Todd Gurleywould come into the season on a carry-count.
Still, the Rams entered the new season with high hopes and even higher expectations. While the season has gone just about the opposite of what many had hoped, over the last couple of weeks, the Rams have quieted the talk of their season being over. Granted, they have played two of the worst teams in the league back-to-back weeks, but the Rams hadn’t looked much a threat themselves. However, with the Bye Week ahead, the Rams have thrown their name to the mix of NFC teams vying for a postseason appearance, and they have a better chance than many may think.

Second-Half Surge
Gurley issues aside, the biggest problem for the Rams this season has been health. Having placed guard Joseph Noteboom, cornerback Aqib Talib, and safety John Johnson on injured reserve already, they’ve also dealt with a slew of injuries along an already unstable offensive line. Luckily, with the aforementioned bye week coming up, those who aren’t out for the year can have a week to get healthy. In addition, it gives a chance for the young talent that coaches are high on, notably safety Taylor Rapp, to have an extra week of learning the system and their responsibilities in it.
The remaining schedule for the Rams is a mixed bag, somewhere between finding 20 dollars on the ground, and sticking your hand in a bag of splinters. They return from the Bye, on the road against the struggling Pittsburgh Steelers and still have two divisional games against the Arizona Cardinals. However, they also host the Chicago Bears, travel to face the Dallas Cowboys, and have divisional games against the Seahawks and currently undefeated 49ers remaining.
Having already played Seattle close earlier in the season, LA know they have a legitimate shot against any of the remaining teams on their schedule. Continuing to build momentum and confidence is key for the Rams, and getting a win against the Steelers, is all but a must-win, should they want to keep pace in a tough NFC.

Wild-Cards
The dream of winning the division ended with San Francisco extending their undefeated streak to seven games. Breathing down their neck, the 6-2 Seahawks. It would take something incredibly catastrophic for both of those teams to slip up enough for the Rams to overtake them. However, despite how tough the top teams in the conference have looked, the Rams are still very much in position to keep a Wild Card spot secured.
Currently sixth in the NFC, they are in the thick of fighting for one of the two Wild Card spots for the conference. Luckily for Los Angeles, six of their last eight games are against opponents in their conference. Putting their destiny squarely on their shoulders. The most important thing for this team to do is realize that it’s okay not to be the same team from last year. Much like Rex Ryan burying the ball, it’s time for head coach Sean McVay, and everyone else, to bury the 2018 Rams.

Championship Mentality
The most impressive thing about the Rams this season has been their togetherness. Throughout all the questions and the doubt, they have remained steadfast in their support of one another. Yes, there have been tense podium moments and looks of disinterest, but make no mistake, that has zero to do with what happens on the field. You would be annoyed too if you had to answer 100 variations of the same question, for six months straight.
In terms of football, this team is together, and they still believe. Veteran Eric Weddle has been vocal over the past few weeks in making sure everyone was clear that the Rams are not done yet. After the Rams’ third straight loss, Weddle made it clear there was still time, saying ” it takes just one game, getting back to the basics.” Since then, the Rams have won two in a row, and by a wide margin. Again, not the best competition, but in a season that saw them give up 55 points to the Buccaneers, nothing is given.

Next week, the Rams can relax at home, rest up, and get healthy for the second-half of the season. They will come together even more, now having a couple of wins to feel good about. They will have to keep that momentum when they return, as games against the Steelers and Bears will prove to be difficult mid-season tests. It may not seem like it, but the Los Angeles Rams are still contenders and remain in the driver’s seat for their postseason aspirations. Whether they cruise into January, or crash by Thanksgiving, is the question they will have to answer when they return.

Big Whitt says EIGHT STRAIGHT!!! Who’s with him????

This is not intended as a game review, but rather some comments about generalities from a 30,000 foot perspective.

Goff and Kupp were shredding the Bengals pass D early. I suspect that McVay kinda called off the dogs out of a desire not to embarrass Taylor unnecessarily.

Our OL pass pro is improving incrementally, but our run game is still woeful. Don’t know if Kromer is trying to convert from zone to gap blocking and I don’t really care. What I do care about is finding an effective run blocking OL and finding it PDQ, because our playoff future literally hinges upon it. We live or die against strong teams based upon our ability to run the ball.

I think that McVay missed an opportunity to develop some OL run blocking continuity and confidence against the hapless Bengals. But he strangely didn’t seem to want to take full advantage of the opportunity. Big mistake, IMO. One that he might regret later.

Gurley is not the same as he used to be. Why deny the obvious? Can still be a good to very good RB, of course.

Henderson has earned more snaps. I mean, Ray Charles could see that. So, give him more snaps, Sean. You can thank me later. Lol.

I believe that Goff will return to his former elite level of play if and when the OL starts run blocking well such that our trio of RB’s once again pose a threat that must be honored by opposing D’s. We just don’t have that now and it’s critical to McVay’s O concepts. Don’t know if Kromer can make that happen in time to save this season from a playoff pov.

Rams have had more than their fair share of injuries to key players, but they can survive them so far. Unless very many more come our way. Clay should be back for the Steelers. Talib’s loss might not be as serious as I had previously thought. Meaning that his skills have apparently slipped to the point that Hill, Williams, or Long might not be that big of a falloff (heck, the Rams are reportedly trying to trade Talib). JJ is a biggie, though, but Christian has not exactly embarrassed himself, has he?

We may be stronger and deeper at edge than I had previously thought. Obo, Patrick, and Ebu might be able to fill in for Fowler next year if he’s not extended. Guess I’m saying that I’m more cautiously optimistic about edge than I was a month ago.

Where was that press man coverage vs the Bengals? Another thing that it would have been nice to polish before we face tougher teams.

And where was the Ram run D against the ‘vaunted’ Bengals running attack? WTF was THAT that we saw?

I’ll repeat what I’ve said before. We are a RG and maybe a C away from being a playoff team, probably as a wildcard thanks to the Bucs and Seahawk fubars. Whether Kromer can ‘fix’ those 2 things or not is the $64 question.

But, IF our OL can be fixed this year, Kromer is the guy that can do it. And IF he does then I see a wildcard playoff game in our future. And if we are in the playoffs we will be a team that NOBODY wants to play.

Here’s to a “fixed” OL. Y’all...

I for one am hoping coach Wade & Henderson can get this kid up to speed asap. We need him badly. SJD isn't worth any snaps moving forward imho. And Smart is another wasted option.

By: Cameron DaSilva | 2 hours ago


The Los Angeles Rams are heading into their bye week on a high note, having won each of their last two games. They knocked off the Bengals on Sunday afternoon in London, winning 24-10 at Wembley Stadium.
There was some historical significance to come out of the game as Andrew Whitworth and Cooper Kupp both joined the record books in different ways.

Rams are now 21-1 when Aaron Donald has a sack
Since Sean McVay took over as head coach in 2017, Donald has won two Defensive Player of the Year awards and led the NFL in sacks once. Donald has been a huge part of the Rams’ success the last two years, as evidenced by this incredible stat.
With Donald’s sack and Los Angeles’ win on Sunday, the Rams are now 21-1 in games when he has a sack since 2017. Their only loss came when Donald had two sacks against the 49ers in the Rams’ Week 6 loss.

Andrew Whitworth has beaten every team in the NFL
Whitworth accomplished something on Sunday that only 11 other players in NFL history have done. He finally beat the Bengals for the first time in his career, giving him victories against all 32 teams. He’s the 12th starter ever to do it, and just the second offensive lineman.

It took Whitworth a while to accomplish the feat because he spent the first 10 years of his career with the Bengals and this was his first time facing them.

Sean McVay is 10-0 against the AFC
McVay has had no trouble beating the AFC in the regular season, even if the Patriots did get the better of him in the Super Bowl. By beating the Bengals, McVay is now 10-0 against the AFC, becoming the first coach since the 1970 merger to start his career 10-0 against the other conference.

The remaining AFC teams on Los Angeles’ schedule this season are the Steelers and Ravens.

Cooper Kupp sets international record
Kupp erupted for 220 yards on Sunday afternoon, not only setting a career-high, but also breaking an international record for receiving yards in a game. His 220 yards are the most ever in a game outside the U.S., surpassing Brandon Lloyd’s 169 with the Broncos in 2010. Kupp could’ve had a lot more than 220 yards, too, but he was targeted just once in the fourth quarter as the Rams tried to milk the clock.

Additionally, Kupp 165 yards receiving in the first half are the most by a Rams player in one half since Marshall Faulk had 168 in 1999.

Todd Gurley ties pair of Hall of Famers
Gurley scored one touchdown on Sunday, finding the end zone in the third quarter on a 3-yard carry. It was the 63rd touchdown of his young career, which tied him with a pair of Hall of Fame running backs. His 63 touchdowns are tied for the second-most by a player 25 years or younger, matching Jim Brown and Walter Payton, as well as Maurice Jones-Drew. Emmitt Smith is No. 1 on the list with a whopping 75 touchdowns before turning 25.

Gurley just turned 25 in August, so he has the rest of this season to chase Smith.

I was watching and wondering if an injury was going to happen.

IMO it was foolish to fight for a meaningless TD that wouldn't have had any effect on the outcome. I get it you never want to quit but why risk a [potentially serious injury.

The team is 0-7, deal with it and don't put players in harms way for nothing.

I think it was egotistical of him. What;s the point in trying top make the score closer? Did he think it would help save his job when the year ends and they are 1-15 and he gets fired?

Pointless.

Trade deadline is tomorrow so we'll see who does things at the end. This one makes a lot of sense with the injury to Johnson yet again.

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Obo Okoronkwo shows his ‘relentless’ side in Rams’ win over Bengals


Rams linebacker Obo Okoronkwo played a big role in the team’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in London on Sunday.
(Getty Images)

By Gary KleinStaff Writer

Oct. 28, 2019


Injuries sidelined linebacker Obo Okoronkwo for nearly all of his rookie season in 2018, and the addition of high-profile edge rushers kept him down on the Rams depth chart.

Okoronkwo finally broke through Sunday in the Rams’ 24-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium.
The former Oklahoma standout had 1 ½ of the Rams’ five sacks.

“He’s just relentless,” defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. “He’s a fast guy and gets off the edge with speed. He’s relentless on stunts and he’s going 100 miles per hour.

“That’s how he goes at practice and that’s how you do it in a game. It paid big for him.”

The Rams selected Okoronkwo in the fifth-round of the 2018 draft. He suffered a foot injury during offseason workouts and spent much of the season on the physically unable to perform list while rehabilitating from surgery. He was added to the roster in November but was not active for any games.

Oct. 27, 2019
During this offseason and training camp, Okoronkwo was slowed by hamstring problems. He flashed his skills in a few preseason games, but veteran edge rusher Clay Matthews, Dante Fowler and Samson Ebukam rotated snaps when the regular season began. There was little opportunity for playing time.Matthews, however, suffered a broken jaw against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 3. Ebukam moved into a starting role, creating opportunity for Okoronkwo.

Sunday’s output, he said, came about with inspiration from talented teammates.
“I got to rush with some of the best pass rushers I’ve watched,” he said. “Being down there with them definitely slows the game down and makes it a lot more fun.”Okoronkwo is “an ascending player,” coach Sean McVay said.
“We’re looking forward to see him continue to grow.”

The rams came out in the second half and didn’t even try to score after midway thru the 3rd. McVay didn’t want to make Taylor look bad. Kupp could have broken the single game record the way he was balling out. He only had two catches in the second half.

I respect McVay not making him look bad, but I don’t believe in just not trying. Idk

I know Trent Green played for the Rams at one time but he must hate them the way he continued to talk about the Bengals. I had to hit the mute button after the first 12 minutes of the game. Do we really need these ex-players doing color commentary during the games? Just tell us what happened on the play and leave out all the drama, this is the NFL not daytime soap opera.

Way-too-early 2019 NFL playoff picture: AFC, NFC standings through Week 8

If the NFL season ended today, well ... let's just say it would have been an awfully short and unfulfilling year.

Not a single team has clinched a 2019 playoff spot, and not one has been eliminated. The postseason is so far away that the Miami Dolphins (0-6) could still theoretically overtake the New England Patriots (8-0) and win the AFC East. At the rough midpoint of the regular season, however, we can see the playoff race beginning to form.

Turn away if you wish, but the rest of us can feel the gravity. With one game left in Week 8, let's take our first look at the NFL's playoff standings and how it is shaping up.

AFC

1. New England Patriots (8-0)
After winning their first eight games by a combined differential of 189 points -- the most in the NFL -- the Patriots are the heavy favorites to win the AFC East and obviously have the best chance at securing home-field advantage for the playoffs. They can thank in part the NFL's easiest first-half schedule; their opponents have an NFL-low .250 winning percentage. But it's worth noting that their schedule is about to get more difficult. Three of their next five games are away from Gillette Stadium, and all five opponents currently have records of .500 or better. There is no reason to think the Patriots are on the brink of collapse, but their own urgency in upgrading personnel -- most recently by acquiring receiver Mohamed Sanu -- serves as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed.

2. Indianapolis Colts (5-2)
Kudos to the Colts for surging into this position despite the surprise retirement of quarterback Andrew Luck this summer. Not only are they in the playoff mix, but they've given themselves a leg up in the AFC South -- with victories over the Texans and Titans -- and also in a conference tiebreaker after beating the Chiefs earlier this month. Their upcoming schedule sets up well, with games against the Steelers (2-4) and Dolphins (0-8), followed by three consecutive division games. If they stay hot, the Colts could lock up the AFC South by the beginning of December.

3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2)
The Ravens' strong start has been augmented by playing in arguably the worst division in football. The rest of the AFC North is a combined 4-17, and every team is at least two games under .500. At this rate, the Ravens could probably finish the season 4-5 and still reach the playoffs via the division title. They don't want it to come to that, of course, and their Week 7 performance in Seattle suggests they'll be a major player in the AFC during the second half of the season. But they have almost as much cushion as the Patriots entering November.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (5-3)
The Chiefs have been surprisingly competitive since Patrick Mahomes' knee injury. Backup Matt Moore finished off a victory over the Broncos and kept the Chiefs competitive in a Week 8 loss to the Packers. Mahomes could return as early as Week 9, and fortunately for the Chiefs, there really hasn't been another AFC West team showing signs of competing for a playoff spot. The closest might be the 3-4 Raiders, whom the Chiefs defeated in Week 2.

5. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
The Bills have played the way many thought they would this season, powered by a strong defense. They have mostly survived with a below-average offense, though. So when their defense encountered a bad matchup, as it did Sunday in a 31-13 loss to the Eagles, they couldn't count on their offense to make up the difference. The Bills are averaging 18.1 offensive points per game, No. 24 in the NFL. Tellingly, they're the only team with a winning record ranked in the bottom half of offensive scoring. Can that formula hold up in a wild-card race?

6. Houston Texans (5-3)
As long as quarterback Deshaun Watson remains on the field, the Texans always will have a chance. He is one of a handful of NFL players who can genuinely carry a team to victory, as he did Sunday with a seemingly impossible escape from the Raiders' pass rush on the Texans' winning touchdown. Houston is a playoff team as long as Watson is healthy. But the Texans are in for an unexpected fight with the Colts for the division title, and they have once again lost defensive lineman J.J. Watt to a season-ending injury.

Next four
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4)
8. Tennessee Titans (4-4)
9. Oakland Raiders (3-4)
10. Los Angeles Chargers (3-5)


NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers (7-0)
When the season began, ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) projected the 49ers to win 8.9 games -- for the entire season. They are already 78% of the way there through eight weeks. And they've taken some steps toward showing that they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. In their past three games, the 49ers have defeated the Rams, Redskins and Panthers by a combined score of 80-20. But the big remaining question is how they'll fare against the Seahawks, whom they face in Weeks 10 and 17. Those two games could decide the NFC West title.

2. New Orleans Saints (7-1)
The Saints are again in the race for home-field advantage in the playoffs even though backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has started more games (five) than starter Drew Brees (three). But with Brees back in the lineup, and tailback Alvin Kamara expected to return after the upcoming bye, the Saints appear primed for another deep run into the playoffs. Their first eight games have comprised the second-most difficult schedule in the NFL, according to FPI, but their remaining schedule ranks No. 16.

3. Green Bay Packers (7-1)
The Packers have hit their stride with a midseason run through the AFC West. They crushed the Raiders in Week 7, outlasted the Chiefs in Week 8 and will play at the Chargers in Week 9. They have a two-game division lead over the Vikings (6-2), courtesy a Week 2 victory at Lambeau Field, but a Week 16 date at U.S. Bank Stadium stands as the game that possibly decides the NFC North championship.

4. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)
The NFC East race has quickly become a two-way battle between the Cowboys and Eagles, and the Cowboys gained an early leg up with a Week 7 victory over the Eagles. The Cowboys also have an early advantage in the division record tiebreaker with a 3-0 record; the Eagles are 1-1. If we're lucky, the teams will play a de facto NFC East championship game in Week 16 at the Eagles' Lincoln Financial Field. But the Cowboys have a more difficult remaining schedule, according to FPI. The strength of their upcoming opponents ranks No. 13 in the NFL, and the Eagles' remaining slate ranks No. 30.

5. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)
The Seahawks are holding their own in a division that includes the undefeated 49ers and the defending NFC champion Rams. We'll find out just how good they are starting in Week 10, when they begin a run that includes the 49ers, Eagles, Vikings, Rams and Panthers in succession. If they make it through that stretch in good shape, a Week 17 game against the 49ers at CenturyLink Field looms large.

6. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
The Vikings put themselves in an early NFC North hole by losing in Green Bay and Chicago in the first four weeks of the season. But after that point, quarterback Kirk Cousins has led the NFL with a 137.1 passer rating. The good news for the Vikings is that all three of their remaining divisional games are at home. The bad news: They have trips to Kansas City, Dallas and Seattle for three of their next four games.

Next four
7. Los Angeles Rams (5-3)
8. Carolina Panthers (4-3)
9. Detroit Lions (3-3-1)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)