However, McVay was channeling his inner Martz using those time outs when the Panthers had the ball with time running out in the first half which led to them getting points. Just be happy going into the half with a 13 point lead. On a positive note he made some very good in game adjustment which led to the win.

By: Cameron DaSilva | 3 hours ago


If you look at the scoreboard of Sunday’s game, you’d probably think the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers went back and forth in a close game for 60 minutes. That wasn’t exactly the case, but it certainly wasn’t an easy win for Sean McVay’s squad.
They beat the Panthers 30-27 on the road in Week 1, nearly blowing a 23-10 lead in the second half. The Panthers made it interesting with a late touchdown and onside kick attempt, but the Rams were able to close it out on the ground.

If you missed the game, which featured a handful of pivotal turnovers and two touchdowns by Malcolm Brown, watch the full highlight reel below.

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBJc1Hv4TX0&frags=pl%2Cwn

It was a gutsy win in Charlotte, but the LA Rams got the win and now the grades are in!


By Joey The Jerk@LaRamsRamsRams Sep 8, 2019, 8:32pm CDT



Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Without a preseason game for nearly every starter on the Los Angeles Rams, most fans were prepared for a sloppy week 1 matchup in Carolina and that’s exactly what was delivered. Getting their first win of the season in a 30-27 slugfest over the Carolina Panthers, the Rams can feel good going back home to face the New Orleans Saints in week 2. Right?


Here are the grades for your LA Rams:
Quarterback



Bob Donnan-USA TODAY SportsC+

Our highly paid superstar QB, Jared Goff, was a bit rusty on Sunday. He’s never been great on the road and without a preseason, it was understandable that the timing of his throws would be a little off. That’s exactly what happened. With a QB rating of 69 (nice), Goff was 23/39 for 186 yards. He was late on a throw to WR Robert Woods that led to an interception and he missed on some easy passing attempts. However, Goff was able to move the offense with his security blanket, WR Cooper Kupp, and even threw a touchdown pass to his BFF, TE Tyler Higbee.

Running Back



Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesA-

The game started in a way that made me assume that I’d be giving the running backs a failing grade, but then something strange happened... RB Malcolm Brown reminded us why he’s on the team. He’s a great blocker, yes, but he can also thrive in red zone situations. With 2 touchdowns off of 11 carries for 53 yards, Brown was a very valuable hand-cuff for RB Todd Gurley II, who actually turned in a solid performance once the game got rolling. Did he seem like his knee issues were behind him? Not at all. But his 25 yard run was a sight for sore eyes. I’ll take it.

Wide Receivers



Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty ImagesB-

The passing attack was quiet, but the pass catchers still proved that they are deep, fast, and sneaky good. WR Cooper Kupp started off the game as if he never injured his knee last season, and Woods was, well, he was Robert Woods. WR Brandin Cooks had a nice grab for 24 yards. These guys are just getting started.
Tight Ends



Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesA

Higbee, aka “Hygz,” is quickly becoming one of my favorite Rams. His blocking was solid and he was able to get into the end zone for a touchdown. Yeah, he didn’t dominate, but what can I say? I'm in the tank for the guy.

Offensive Line

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsC
The big beefy boys up front had a rough game, but ended up on a stronger note. C Brian Allen, in his first starting job, looked inconsistent and was man-handled at times. However, he was facing a very strong Panthers defensive line.
Defensive Line


Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesB

They did allow RB Christian McCaffrey to do this thing, running wild for 128 yards. However, DE Aaron Donald was a beast aaaas usual, setting up the EDGE rushers like Dante Fowler Jr. to get a sack. He was disruptive all game and was a big reason why the Panthers struggled to move the ball in the first half. DT Michael Brockers was also his reliable self as well, securing two solo tackles.

Linebackers



Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty ImagesB

This was difficult to grade because ILB Cory Littleton played out of his mind, but the EDGE rushers were pretty ineffective. Did they get sacks? Sure. But were they gifts wrapped by the Panthers’ offensive line? You bet! Props to Littleton though; he balled out for sure.

Defensive Backs



Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty ImagesB

S John Johnson III had another solid game to add to his resume, but veteran and new LA Ram S Eric Weddle had a rough one, getting a nasty laceration on his head that sent him into the concussion protocol. S Taylor Rapp looked fast and smart on the field, which was to be expected.

Special Teams



Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty ImagesD

Woof. There are days and then there are days. P Johnny Hekker had a blocked punt, K Greg Zuerlein missed an easy field goal and had a kickoff go out of bounds. Coach John Fassel’s special team’s unit just looked... off.

Coaching



Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty ImagesA

Coach Sean McVay made some adjustments in the second half that really improved the run game and provide some much needed points when the game got tight. His use of Gurley seemed measured and smart.

Was this game ugly? Not really. It was just a bit rough around the edges. Nothing that can’t be cleaned up.
And they better do it quick because the Saints are coming to town.

Headline: "What's Up with Todd Gurley?"

Seriously...WTF?! He just had over 100 yards on 15 touches and 6.9 YPC and this is how the media treats him afterward. I guarantee they had this narrative written before the game even started.

Anyone who watched the game saw what he did to the Panthers defense once he and the O-line found their rhythm. He literally put the game away but all they're going to talk about is how he wasn't in there for 90% of the snaps, which is NOT normal for NFL running backs to begin with.

He also outperformed Zeke in every way against a much better defense but I can promise you they won't write an article asking what's wrong with Zeke. This shit has just gotten ridiculous at this point.

I am wondering if any of you out there have tried watching the game after the live game ended. On my equipment, starting near the end of the second quarter, the game becomes almost unwatchable. 8 seconds of fluid action followed by 8-20 seconds frozen picture. Anyone else with this problem, or is it my equipment?

Saints are playing Monday Night Football, and my initial thought is that I want them to lose, and to lose badly, cuz eff them! However, there’s no denying that they have a really good team. Do I really want them super pumped and desperate for a win in LA if they lose tomorrow night? It will be a short week for them and they have to play in the Coliseum, where Brees hasn’t been as good as he is in the Dome. POLL

By: Steve Rebeiro | 1 hour ago


The Los Angeles Rams opened the season with a 30-27 victory on the road against the Carolina Panthers.
It was a nail-biter, but the Rams ultimately pulled it out in the end. All things considered, this was a solid victory for a team that didn’t play the majority of their key players during the preseason. Here are five key takeaways from the afternoon in Charlotte.

Defense bends (a lot) but doesn’t break
The Rams have always had a “bend but don’t break” mentality on defense since Wade Phillips took over as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Against the Panthers, they bent about as much as Mr. Fantastic in a fight with Dr. Doom. But they didn’t break, and forced a few major turnovers when they needed to.
It felt like a miracle when the Panthers finished the first half with just three points. They were making plenty of plays against the Rams, but L.A. showed up when it really counted. It wasn’t nearly as pretty in the second half, but the defense still was able to come alive in a few big moments and did just enough to help the Rams win the game.

Dante Fowler and Cory Littleton led the charge on the defensive side of the ball today. Fowler had two monster sacks on Cam Newton. Littleton wasn’t perfect in pass coverage, but he was everywhere on the field and made things happen. He led the team with 14 total tackles, forced a fumble (which he recovered), and had a clutch interception late in the game that helped seal the deal. On a quiet afternoon for Aaron Donald, these two made up for it.
It was far from a perfect outing for the Rams defense, but they did enough to make us think there will not be a big drop off from last year. When you lose three starters from last season, it’s a good start.

Gurley struggles early, finishes strong
It was a wild ride this afternoon for anyone who is invested in Todd Gurley.

Entering the game, nobody knew for certain what would happen with Gurley in Week 1 following a summer of well-documented concerns about his knee. Gurley played the entirety of the Rams first two drives, but only touched the ball three times.

On drive No. 3, where the Rams started in the red zone, backup Malcolm Brown trotted onto the field. He scored the first touchdown of the game.

Brown continued to be the better back when on the field for most of the game. The Rams would give each of them the entirety of a drive when they switched off. Brown was the lead back on a 75-yard drive capped off by his touchdown in the third quarter. When Gurley returned to the game on the following drive, he fumbled a pitch. It seemed that not only would we see a full-blown split backfield in the coming weeks, but that Brown might actually be the better of the two backs for now.

Luckily, Gurley got it together in the fourth quarter. Gurley plodded for 41 straight yards on four plays to lead the Rams to another touchdown. Oddly enough, Gurley was pulled in the red zone in favor of Darrel Henderson, who ran the ball into the back of an offensive lineman before Goff threw a touchdown the next play.

If Gurley can look like he did in the fourth quarter against New Orleans next week, he should remain the lead back and receive the bulk of the snaps. Brown was only the lead back on three of the team’s 13 drives against Carolina. He just happened to be the one who was in on a few touchdown drives. Gurley ended the game with more touches, more yards, and a higher YPC average than Brown. He should remain the clear lead back leading forward.

Special teams plays uncharacteristically poorly
It may have been the worst outing for John Fassel’s special teams unit since Pharoh Cooper fumbled two punts and cost the Rams a victory against Atlanta in the 2017 playoffs.

There was no shortage of missed opportunities by this unit today. Hekker booted off a 7-yard punt on a near-block. Later on, he was actually blocked deep in Rams territory. Zuerlein was having a nice day until he missed a crucial 41-yard field goal near the end of the game. He also had a kickoff go out of bounds.

You can’t chalk this one up to rust as Zuerlein, Hekker, and quite a few special teamers saw plenty of action in the preseason. But it’s still hard to call this a concern until we see it again. The Rams have consistently had one of the best special teams units in the NFL under the leadership of Fassel and his two boots. They’ve earned the benefit of the doubt here.

Shaky afternoon for Jared Goff
Two major thoughts pop up when thinking about Goff’s first game in 2019: he missed Cooper Kupp, and he didn’t look great.

Boy, did he really miss having Kupp in the lineup. Goff completed four passes to Kupp on the Rams’ first seven snaps. Kupp finished with seven catches for 46 yards on 10 targets.

Overall, this was not the best day for Goff. He failed to find a few open targets and overthrew a few more. His lone interception was an ugly pass behind Robert Woods on a crossing route. Goff took a few chances like he always does, but he didn’t really hit on any today.

Goff had some rust to shake off, but this does trigger some minor concerns here. He was not great on the road last season. You can blame the cold for a few of them, but one of his worst games of the year was indoors against the Lions. It’s also worth noting that Goff struggled against the Raiders last season, although he did seem to find himself in the second half of that game.

Don’t be concerned about Goff moving forward. It’s one game. But we’ll be watching closely when the Rams travel to Cleveland in Week 3.

No excuses next week
Outside of special teams, you can use the same excuse for every single Ram who didn’t play great in this game: “They haven’t played since February, give them a chance to get back into the swing of things.”

Sure. The Rams struggled in the first half against Oakland last year. Carolina is a much better team than Oakland was last year. Anybody who expected the team to come in and blow the Panthers out was delusional. This was a little too close for comfort, but it was a nice win for the Rams, all things considered.

The excuses won’t be available in an NFC championship rematch next week. The rust has been shaken off. It’s go-time. The Rams will need to look much better than they did today to take down the Saints in Los Angeles next week.

This offense looks a LOT better.

These are based on just this first game against the Panthers, of course, so please take them fwiw.

Mixed bag on Goff. Need more evidence of his reported “step up” in training camp. Looked rusty/jittery to me.

Gurley was another mixed bag today, but it wasn’t because of his knee. His knee looked just fine.

Boom and Allen looked fine today. This was the biggest concern of most pundits and fans but it’s looking like a non-issue. And they appeared to improve with every series today as evidenced by the improved Ram running game in the 2nd half. Kromer is a genius. Lol.

Matthews looked good to me. Heck, he looked like he had been in this system for years.

Fowler was a beast. Another concern by pundits, but if he can keep up anything close to today’s effort then he is a cinch for extension with the Rams.

Not enough data to make a call on Weddle because of his early departure, although I have zero doubts about him in this D.

A few observations about other than preseason concern matters:

There was a whole lot of rustiness today. Unfortunately, on both O and D. Tackling, coverage, fumbling, WR’s not getting open, uncharacteristic drops, Goff inaccuracy all too often, blocking by the punting team, etc. For the 2nd year in a row the Rams were able to come away with an opening day win, anyway. BTW, I understand and support the McVay policy of sitting starters in preseason. Just pointing out that there is a risk involved, especially when opening against a decent team away.

JoJo should have NEVER made the 53.

Peters needs to get a handle on his maturity level. I’m trying to keep an open mind on his possible Ram extension, but that stupid PF penalty doesn’t make it any easier.

Panthers found a way to pretty much take AD out of the game. A very rare thing, indeed.

I would love to see Gaines get a few snaps in a rotation vs the Saints.

Rams had no answer for McCaffery. Was it our LB’s? Gotta fix that inside run D. Or else...

Hopefully, McVay has a few tricks up his sleeve for the Saints, because a sloppy effort like this certainly won’t get the job done, that’s for sure.

Rams coaches have a lengthy “to do” list to get ready for the Saints. Then again, they’ve got all week and play at home, so we’ll see.

All are off the top of my head for now. Feel free to add things that I missed.

I think its fine to monitor Gurley’s touches and make sure he’s not getting overworked. However, McVay needs to find a good balance in the way he does it. Todd is the type of back that gets better the more carries he gets. He needs to get a lather going. He was sitting on 6 carries in the 3rd Q today, and I think that’s a little on the low side. And almost all of those carries occurred on separate drives. He needs series where he’s getting multiple touches.

I think McVay will get it right. TG was running thru tackles left and right in that fourth.

Good : Taylor Rapp looks like a player not so worried about boom and Allen
Bad : Marcus Peters and GZ coulda cost us at the end with a stupid penalty and the kids
The ugly : slow disjointed start by the O but should get better by next week

1-0

/end

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You guys still showing the ordering page?

I know sometimes the games don't start showing up until an hour before, especially opening weekend

I still get the 721 error code and it mentions about ordering the the package.

Just curious what you guys are seeing. I know my account/plan is good because it shows on my phone that its current and ready to go.

Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots




The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are in a class of their own among NFL teams. They’re the only teams with six Super Bowl titles apiece; eight of those have been won in the last 18 years. Current quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady are first-ballot Hall of Famers; the latter might be the best signal-caller of all time.

Pitting these two AFC franchises together, with their great histories, is the perfect way to start off the NFL’s 100th season on "Sunday Night Football" as the Patriots launch their Super Bowl title defense. The only issue: A rivalry that should be one of the sport’s epic battles has become completely one-sided in recent years. The Steelers’ win last December was just their fourth against the Patriots in their past 15 games; they’re 0-3 all-time versus the Pats and Bill Belichick in the AFC Championship Game.

A flurry of offseason departures didn’t help the Steelers’ case for this weekend. Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown signed with the Raiders; star running back Le’Veon Bell found his way to the Jets after a yearlong holdout. The offense has gotten younger and has a whole new look based around receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, tight end Vance McDonald and running back James Conner.

But the Patriots have their own set of changes to deal with. Tom Brady, now 42 years old, will try to defy Father Time without tight end Rob Gronkowski, who retired this offseason. Longtime target Julian Edelman remains as perhaps the lone reliable target as the Patriots reinvent themselves yet again after one of their more surprising Super Bowl runs.

Can the Steelers somehow find a way? We’ll soon find out.

Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 8 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Patriots -5.5


Three Things To Watch

1. Who else can these star quarterbacks throw the ball to?

Roethlisberger and Brady helm rebuilding offenses with ever-changing pieces. But no one may need a bigger transformation than the Steelers after losing Brown. Their star wide receiver had six straight 1,000-yard seasons, scoring 67 touchdowns during that stretch while making the Pro Bowl every one of those years. Most importantly, he missed just four games, showcasing durability in a league where injuries continue to pile up.

But make no mistake; within the Steelers locker room, there also appears to be a sigh of relief. The dramatic fallout of Brown’s departure, well documented here, has freed Roethlisberger and head coach Mike Tomlin to take better control of the offense. Brown's antics haven’t stopped, either; as he had a heated encounter at practice earlier this week with Raiders GM Mike Mayock that led to reports of the team considering suspending him, which would have jeopardized the guaranteed money in Brown's contract. Brown issued a "heartfelt" apology to his teammates on Friday but will that be enough?

As for Roethlisberger, his options to throw to now start with Smith-Schuster, facing high expectations after the first Pro Bowl appearance of his career (111 receptions, 1,426 yards). The third-year player actually outpaced Brown in both categories last season, and people feel he’s capable of growing into his newly minted superstar label — although it comes with its own set of challenges. “It’s going to be hard to sleep at night trying to find ways to get open,” Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen said in a recent interview when asked about the pressure of being the undisputed No. 1 receiver. “Different routes, different coverages you’ve got to look at. Double teams, double pressures... the whole game changes.”

Roethlisberger, then, will need to rely on offseason pickup Donte Moncrief to pick up the slack. But Moncrief has never caught more than 64 passes in a season during his five-year career; he slumped to just 48 catches in 16 games with the lackluster Jaguars offense last season. Tight end Vance McDonald will likely be the better choice; he caught three TD passes and posted consistent production in the team’s final eight games. Wide receiver Ryan Switzer (36 catches last year) should also factor into the mix.

Brady and the Patriots have less of a transition; they’re used to losing Gronkowski to injuries for long periods of time. But Edelman has a history of getting bruised up himself, and he's already nursing a broken thumb heading into Week 1. (He says he’s just fine.) Either way, like Smith-Schuster, the amount of double coverage and increased focus on Edelman by the defense could limit his production early while other options take time to develop.

Those options will likely include the backfield. It’s not just Sony Michel; change-of-pace back James White caught a team-high 87 passes last season and had seven TD catches. Second-round draft pick Damien Harris is expected to rotate in the mix along with reliable veteran Rex Burkhead. Wide receiver-wise, veteran pickup Demaryius Thomas (80-plus catches six straight seasons before a weird 2018 that involved him getting traded) could be Brady’s latest reclamation project.

Then, there’s the wild card for the AFC East juggernaut: Josh Gordon. Gordon was recently reinstated by the NFL once again after another brush with substance abuse (Belichick is noncommittal to his status in the season opener but, after playing in the preseason finale, Gordon seems likely to suit up). The Pro Bowl receiver’s downfall last season came just as he was hitting his stride with Brady; he had three games with 95 yards receiving or more over his final eight appearances. The speed is still there for a former Pro Bowl player who, at age 28, could be the spark to lead this team on another run deep in the playoffs

2. Which means... it’s all about the running backs

Offensive transitions mean Sunday night’s focus might come off the star quarterbacks for once. Conner had a Pro Bowl season for the Steelers in 2018, singlehandedly running Bell out of town with a 975-yard, 12-touchdown season on the ground. His 55 catches also showcased his versatility. But honestly? In 2019, the Steelers are going to need more. Can Conner establish himself as an Ezekiel Elliott-like, franchise-changing player? His longest run, notably, was just 30 yards, and his per-carry average (4.5) was tied for 14th in the AFC.

Conner was tied in that category with Sony Michel, the Patriots’ rookie sensation who is seeking continuity in his second season. Michel stamped himself as irreplaceable during a memorable postseason run; he ran for 336 yards in three games and scored six touchdowns, including the only one of Super Bowl LIII’s 10-3 squeaker over the Rams. The surge followed an inconsistent end to the regular season that included only one 100-yard performance in the final five games (Michel had just 59 yards in last December’s loss to the Steelers). Which player will show up to start 2019?

Brady’s age (at some point, Father Time has to catch up... right?) and offensive options in flux mean that Michel needs to become a lynchpin of the Patriots offense. John Elway will be the first to tell you he succeeded late in his career because of the exceptional running of Terrell Davis that kept defenses guessing. Can Michel be that type of player in a team-based, spread-the-ball system?

3. Defense, defense, defense

The last time these teams met, just 27 points were scored as the defenses took center stage. Expect a similar statement Sunday night; as Thursday night’s NFL opener showed (a 10-3 sloppy Green Bay Packers win against the Chicago Bears), a lack of preseason playing time tends to affect NFL offenses early in the year.

For the Steelers, the key is forcing late-game turnovers and finding a way to fluster Brady. A top-10 defense in rush yards allowed and several other categories, the Steelers defense had just 15 takeaways in 2018; only the lowly Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers had fewer. But a crucial interception of Brady in the fourth quarter last December helped preserve their 17-10 victory. A similar momentum-changing play will make the difference against a Patriots team that struggled on the road last season (3-5) before their postseason renaissance.

The Patriots, meanwhile, will need to find a way to stop Conner; he missed December’s contest with a sprained ankle. However, replacement Jaylen Samuels ran for 142 yards (7.5 per carry), torching a defense that allowed 100+ yards rushing three times in their final four regular-season games.

At least they got it together in the end (just 122 rushing yards total allowed during three postseason contests). That’s crucial momentum the Patriots must carry over into Heinz Field Sunday night.


Final Analysis

Critics are already doubting the Patriots' ability to win another one. Tom Brady at 42? Edelman injured again? Safety Patrick Chung caught with cocaine? It’s the type of environment Belichick always capitalizes on for his team to make an early-season statement.

I think the Steelers are being overlooked and will be a scary team in the AFC North as the season progresses. It just won’t be Week 1, while they work out the kinks in real time against a rival who always has their number.

Prediction: Patriots 24, Steelers 10

Here is the line up for the 4pm EST games:

Here is the line up for the 1pm EST Games:

Make your wagers!

I'm presently getting my cuisine ready for today (12:35 AM CDT). Looking forward to a well deserved day off and some Ram football. Just hoping I can find a stream and get up in time for it.

On my menu:

Hungarian Hot Wax Poppers. Cream cheese, taco shredded cheese, garlic powder, package of ranch dressing powder, and sour cream in them, and of course wrapped in bacon.

Chicken Wing Drummets. I bake them in the oven in a basket first to get a golden brown sear. I take them out before fully done and place in crock pots. I'll cook them on low (or even keep warm depending on the crock) overnight and this includes in the wing sauce I do.

Wing Sauce: I do a variety but use a base of Franks Hot Buffalo, Crystal, and also Sweet Baby Ray's Buffalo sauce. From there I add my own spices.

Stuffed Green Bell Peppers. Make up some taco meat, mix that with cheese and spices, and bake until peppers are semi tender to eat. I also coat them in olive oil.

Chopped tomatoes in a ranch sauce. Garden has been good to me this year since moving. Tomatoes, Hungarians, and Bell peppers doing great.

On the beverages, many Bud Light Platinum's and Mich Ultra's for beer. Also shots of Cuervo for when we score.

Looking forward to being in the new chat room. Miss my friends there. Just hope I can get up in time. Been working 5PM to 5:30AM many nights on a new Lexus launch we currently have under way at work. Sleep schedule is a bit fooked up. lol

That said, hope all my Ram friends here have a great day, eat and drink well, and be celebrating a Rams victory later. Most of all, if drinking outside the home, be safe my friends. Peace.

By: Jonathan Mathis | 2 hours ago


If the name Cam Newton sounds familiar to Wade Phillips, that’s because it should. The reality is that while Newton presents a tall order for the Rams’ defense, Phillips has faced him once before as a defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos.
In short, the Rams are ready for the challenge during Sunday’s season opener. If there’s one person who has a keen understanding of defenses, it’s Phillips. He’s a great leader the players follow, and wants to be an advocate for a defensive-oriented team. Best believe, Phillips is undoubtedly preparing his troops to go up against the Carolina Panthers on the road at Bank of America Stadium for Week 1 in Charlotte.

“It will be a big challenge for us, but we’re looking forward to it,” Phillips said.
One of the biggest topics of discussion of late has been whether Newton bounces back strong for the Panthers this season. Continuing from where he left off a year ago, running back Christian McCaffrey can beat you with his feet. They’re tremendous playmakers, and have been the catalysts for a strong Panthers offensive game.
From the perspective of the Rams winning the NFC West in two consecutive seasons and reaching the Super Bowl a year ago before falling short, we can assume that they can beat anyone. At least that’s the perception you get when you look at how the team is currently stacked up from top to bottom.
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald is mindful of the task at hand, feels confident and he’s poised for an even bigger and better year. Being the defensive force that he is, Donald will dictate what the Panthers conjure up on offense by getting pressure on Newton.

For Phillips, a defensive guru, many of his schemes are designed to stifle and pound a duel-threat quarterback as explosive as Newton. Just a few years ago, the Broncos beat the Panthers 24-10 to capture Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
And, believe it or not, as a coordinator for the Broncos, Phillips took away the Panthers run game. He created an effective game plan, and it worked exceptionally well. The secret to stopping Newton and McCaffrey, who both will get the attention of the Rams defense, is to stack the box with seven defenders. And yes, the Rams have elite players in the front seven and in the secondary.
The Rams’ defense is stout, and we’ll surely find out if they are exactly that beginning on Sunday.

Game Day Thread

The GDT is a live thread tradition here at ROD.

While we all get fired up watching the game, please remember our core principles; we always show respect for our team and each other.

Despite the emotional highs and lows watching a game, we will moderate this thread with that in mind, however please refrain from name calling. This applies to players, the Rams organization, and others.

This is the core rule of the GDT. Moderators are tasked to issue thread bans, at a minimum, to maintain this standard.

This is our team. Win or lose. Good days and bad.

A more loosely moderated atmosphere can be found in the chat room.

Go Rams!

SPORTSBOOK HERE:
GAME DAY CHAT ROOM HERE:

"The Louisiana Supreme Court has thrown out the lawsuit filed over the controversial outcome of the 2019 NFC Championship Game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints."
View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2852703-saints-fans-lawsuit-over-2019-nfc-championship-game-thrown-out-by-court

My guess is they throw first.

1 year, 4.25million.

Sorry, can''t post the link.

Wade Phillips expects offenses to double-team Aaron Donald even more in 2019

At one point last season, Aaron Donald was facing double-teams on more than 70 percent of his pass-rush reps. Opponents refused to let him beat them, focusing most of their resources on No. 99 up front.

It didn’t work, of course, as he still led the NFL with 20.5 sacks and won his second straight Defensive Player of the Year award.So what’s next? Even more double- and triple-teams, according to Wade Phillips.

Phillips says Donald is ahead of where he was at this time last year thanks to the benefit of training camp. Donald feels the same way, but Phillips knows teams will have an even larger target on Aaron’s back this season.

“Well, Aaron is further ahead than he was. Even though he had fantastic years the last two years, he actually started slow in the first few games,” Phillips said on Thursday. “This year, I think it’s helped him. Obviously, we’ll see, but the flip side of that is everybody’s gunning for him. We know everybody’s going to try to block two guys on him or three guys on him if they can. He’s had that, really, a lot last year, but I expect it more this year.”

It’s hard to imagine teams doubling Donald more than they did last year, but it’s definitely possible. That’s good news for Dante Fowler Jr., Clay Matthews and Michael Brockers, who will have plenty of one-on-one pass-rush opportunities. They have to capitalize on those chances to prevent teams from committing so many blockers to Donald. The more guys that contribute to the pass rush, the better shape Los Angeles will be in.