This seems like one of the more talked about battles.

Might be fun to talk about specific matchups like this, and others, as stand alone topics.

-----

https://lastwordonprofootball.com/2...sive-line-vs-los-angeles-rams-defensive-line/

Super Bowl LIII: New England Patriots Offensive Line vs Los Angeles Rams Defensive Line

The New England Patriots are back in their third Super Bowl in as many years, thanks in large part to their fantastic offensive line. The line was one of the best in the league throughout the season before turning their play up to another level in the postseason. Unfortunately for the New England Patriots offensive line, the Super Bowl brings a whole new challenge. Led by the fantastic Aaron Donald, the Los Angeles Rams defensive line is one of the best in the league. The offensive line has their work cut out for them, but this grouping ultimately has the ability to win the battle in the trenches.

Super Bowl LIII: New England Patriots Offensive Line Can Neutralize Los Angeles Rams Defensive Line

To say Aaron Donald is good at what he does is a drastic understatement. Donald is easily the league’s best defensive tackle, recording a league-leading 20.5 sacks, 59 tackles, and 41 quarterback hits. He’s always in the backfield, as evidenced by his league-leading 25 tackles for loss. Donald’s the best interior pass rusher and run defender in the league, and he does all this in spite of facing constant double teams.

2018 wasn’t a one-year fluke season from Donald. The five-year NFL veteran has earned First-Team All-Pro honors four times in his career, compiling 59.5 sacks, 149 quarterback hits, 263 tackles, and 97 tackles for loss since entering the league. Donald earned a massive six-year, $135 million extension and is already worth every penny. Containing Donald needs to be New England’s top priority on offense.

Of course, Donald isn’t the only big-name player on the Rams defensive line. Former second-overall pick Ndamukong Suh lines up alongside Donald, and the two form perhaps the most intimidating interior pass rush in all of football. While he’s not the player he once was, Suh still finished his season as the 21st-ranked defensive tackle in the league, per Pro Football Focus. He’s more than capable of winning his matchups, as evidenced by his 4.5 sacks, 59 tackles, and 19 quarterback hits.

The Rams best pass rushers come from the inside, and that’s bad news for New England. It’s no secret the best way to beat Tom Brady is to get quick pressure up the middle and not allow him to step up in the pocket. New England lost two Super Bowls because they couldn’t stop interior pressure, but do the Patriots have the pieces to ensure history won’t repeat itself?

New England Patriots Interior Offensive Line

Fortunately, the New England Patriots have arguably the best offensive line in the league. New England’s offensive line enters the Super Bowl with a clean bill of health and the personnel to match up with the Rams star-studded interior. Shaq Mason and David Andrews are among the league’s elite, ranking as the first and seventh-ranked players at their position, respectively. If any duo can take Donald out of a game, it’s these two.

These two are the stars, but the rest of the unit is nothing to scoff at. Joe Thuney took a massive leap in 2018, elevating his play and finishing the year as the eighth-best guard in football. Together, this grouping forms the best interior offensive line in all of football. Suh and Donald wreaked havoc upon the league throughout 2018, but they’ve never faced an interior line as good as this one.

The Tackles

New England’s tackles are the relative weak points on the line, but that says more about how good the interior offensive line is. Marcus Cannon, a former second-team All-Pro, had a solid season in the right tackle position. While he didn’t light the world on fire as he did back in 2016, he still gave Brady all the protection he could possibly need. The eight-year NFL veteran finished his season as Pro Football Focus’ 27th-ranked tackle, and he should be able to handle any edge rushing threat the Rams send his way.

Trent Brown is more hot-and-cold, but he’s riding a strong hot streak. At 6’8”, 380 pounds, Brown’s massive frame started to wear down during long stretches without bye weeks. His worst games in the regular season came against Tennessee after playing ten consecutive games and late in December. Given an extra week to rest before the playoffs, Brown was back looking like his early-season self against some elite competition. Now given another week off before the Super Bowl, Brown should be as rested and healthy as ever. When he’s at his best, he’s arguably the best pass blocker in the league.

Altogether, this line has come together to provide elite protection for the 41-year old quarterback. Tom Brady has thrown 90 passes thus far and has yet to take a sack. While some of that is due to Brady’s natural quick release, there’s no denying the offensive line has taken their play to another level. This hasn’t been a case of favorable matchups, either, as the line has had to face some elite pass rushers in Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Dee Ford, Justin Houston, and Chris Jones.

The Rams Defensive Line Weakness

The Los Angeles Rams have an otherworldly talent in Aaron Donald and an above-average starter in Ndamukong Suh. New England will need to do everything in their power to ensure that Donald does not take over this game. Donald typically lines up over an “A” gap (between center and guard), so the Patriots should double-team him every single time. Nobody can completely shut down Donald, but Andrews, Thuney, and Mason are good enough to slow him down and minimize his impact.

This leaves whichever guard isn’t doubling Thuney to take on Suh all by himself. This task, while ultimately a tough one, is one that Thuney and Mason are both capable of handling. Suh is still a good player, but he isn’t the world-wrecking force he once was. Contrarily, both Thuney and Mason are among the best in the league. They’ll need help on occasion, but overall they should be able to handle the one-on-one matchup. If they can’t, one of the tackles will need to help chip Suh. This, in turn, could force New England to rely on their tight ends for edge blocking. While this situation wouldn’t be ideal, it’s still a scenario New England could deal with.

The weakest part of the New England offensive line is on either edge. Fortunately, the Rams biggest defensive weakness is that their edge defenders and linebackers aren’t really that good. Michael Brockers is probably the best edge defender on the Rams, and he finished his 2018 season with just one sack and four quarterback hits. The only other edge defender of note is Dante Fowler, who finished the season with just four sacks. If left to block the outside, Cannon and Brown should win this matchup handily. Even if they’re needed to help with Suh and Donald, Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen are both capable of holding their own in pass protection.

The Rams defensive line is no joke, but it’s probably the worst unit the Patriots have seen in the playoffs. Nobody is as good as Aaron Donald, but the rest of the surrounding talent cannot match up to the surrounding talent of the Chiefs and Chargers. New England didn’t allow a sack in either of the prior matchups, and they should have similar success in Super Bowl LIII.

Just a suggestion if not deemed inappropriate, as most of us are aware we lost a true pillar at ROD last year, I believe it would be a fitting tribute to have the DaveFan 51 account start the SB Game Day Thread

Anyone know if we are at 1PM or 3PM Saturday?

Thanks in advance.

Go Rams

I'm trying to enjoy this period where our team who as overcome SO MUCH is in the Super Bowl for the first time in 17 years....and it's like other than watching the press conferences on Periscope and talking to all you fine people... I just can't.

Basically, all the football people are saying that it's a fait d'accompli...done deal. That none of the Rams even deserve to be on the same field, the game is over and they're all going to struggle to fill all this 90 hours of coverage because as Deion put it, "there's nothing to talk about."

Then I just took a deep breath, remembered that Wade Philips is 6-3 against B&B running this defense and that their D struggles to defend both inside runs, especially when we have an outside runner like Gurley.

I was more nervous about the Cowboys game and the Saints game, to be honest.

This isn't a gimme by any stretch, but as someone who sees patterns, this is what I see.

The critical part of the game will be McVay's offense against the Pats D.

I think the Pats can score between 17-24 against us depending on how ball control our O is and if we can get the run game clicking to better control the TOP.

Thing is, we struggled when Kupp went down and it took, really, the addition of CJ Anderson to really get McVay going on adjusting this offense.

This offense, which looks like a prime Mike Shanahan offense, but with better RBs, is very much set up to have success against this Pats D.

I really like this matchup.

Moreover, I really like our front four against that Pats OL. As others have mentioned, we destroy pulling linemen with AD and Fowler being as quick as they are and then putting Suh on the outside to put a ton extra power out there.

So, I'm over that the MSSM (mainstream sports media) isn't giving the Rams a chance.

I also think all those sour grapes billboards up around like


are only going to galvanize this team.

It's sad that they are all missing how much of a fairy tale season this is... young HC, vet DC, stars in Hollywood, early success, then mass shooting, wild fires, 2 game slump and then a march to victory...avenging the loss to the Pats 17 years ago to the day AT THE SAME VENUE.

Anyway, from a pattern perspective, especially with how mindful McVay is in studying opposing defenses, I just really like our chances and see us winning a close one.

And I guess I don't need to see GMFB or Undisputed slobbering all over our Rams like they're doing over Brady and Belichick.

Also, notice... prior to Super Bowl 36, NO ONE in the MSM gave the Pats a chance. Even Vegas had the Rams as prohibitive 14 point favorites. While the Rams this time around aren't underdogs to that degree, the mirrors of this game... young QB against a potentially dynastic juggernaut...although not 9/11 in size or scope, tragedies which galvanize the team and community, prohibitive favorite returning to the game, controversial call propels upstart team into the big game...

Yep, I like our Rams in a close one.

For a disclaimer, my immediate family has owned cats, not dogs, and it really starts with my mom's first cat, Mist: a pure Russian Blue.

Mist, you could say, was a very lucky cat. Survived getting hit by a car, survived cancer, and lived until he was twenty-one. We had just moved when I was in fifth grade (2001), and he didn't live long enough to move with us.

Flash-forward to a month after his death, and my mom hears meowing from the basement one night. She wakes up my dad and is naturally freaked out. They open the basement door, and this cat is there, and it looks exactly like Mist, only female. I woke up to my mom's screaming and I saw the cat. Naturally, I'm quite shocked, but she wants food, and we go get her food. Later on, we looked over the neighborhood and beyond for someone who lost a cat. Nobody replied, so we kept her and named her Misty.

Well, turns out, she had a surprise. As in two kittens: a Maine Coon male and the other a Russian Blue female with tabby markings. We named them Phoenix and Valkyrie respectively. Unfortunately, my parents didn't keep Valkyrie, but we kept Phoenix, so we'd have two cats.

Fast forward to two years ago. Phoenix had mouth cancer, and we had to put him to sleep. Meanwhile, Misty is growing more and more senile by the year. She's still alive today, but we're concerned about her health, given that she's so old.

Now, I bet you're wondering why I have this long exposition. Today, a friend and I found a Russian Blue kitten with tabby markings at a Red Lobster parking lot. We don't know the gender yet, but if my sister and dad aren't too allergic and if it doesn't have a microchip, we're apparently keeping it.

Isn't that the weirdest twist of fate?

Ran across this video yesterday, I thought it was well made.

Enjoy!

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3IeIETHHV0

I just want to say it’s been a pleasure to be able to be part of this forum and benefit from everyone that contributes to its greatness!

I have been to many other teams’ forums and I can say this forum is the best by far. I really enjoy and appreciate all of you here on ROD. The Mods on this site are second to none. You are all family to me forever. Thank you all!!

Go Rams! Beat the Patsies!!

She then said "How will you feel about that?"
I replied, how will you feel about being written out of the will?

It's miserable here in O-Town today. The high is only gonna be in the 50's and it's been nonstop raining since early this morning. The rain is gonna continue all day long says the weatherman.

Good thing our Bois didn't have to be subjected to this mess.

Post-Senior Bowl Rams 7-Round Mock Draft w/ Trade

January 27, 2019

| By:

Jake Ellenbogen




The Senior Bowl is officially over and it was a fun week here in Mobile, Alabama. Next up, is the combine but it's time for a mock draft. The Rams will have either the 31st or 32nd pick in the draft, here's a Rams only full-seven round mock draft following Senior Bowl week.


1ST ROUND


Notes: Traded away 32nd-overall to the Cincinnati Bengals for their 2nd, 4th and 6th round picks.


2ND ROUND


Notes: Traded away 64th-overall to the Kansas City Chiefs as part of the trade for CB Marcus Peters


42nd-overall (via Cincinnati): Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida | 6-foot-0, 207 pounds


Many Rams fans will be pounding the table for Delaware safety Nasir Adderley at 32nd overall, but the problem is Adderley's stock is flying high and will be way out of the Rams range. In this mock, we take the liberty of trading down, acquiring more picks and grabbing a stud safety to replace LaMarcus Joyner in the secondary. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson can step in day one and compete for a starting job between in-house options Marqui Christian, Blake Countess and Steven Parker. CGJ is a versatile player that, like Joyner, can play as a nickel corner or play free safety.


The former four-star high school recruit finished his time with the Florida Gators tallying up to nine interceptions in which three he took back for touchdowns. If you are looking for the next best rangy safety with ball skills and tackling ability look no further than Gardner-Johnson. His floor is an NFL starter with serious playmaker abilities and his ceiling in my mind is a Pro Bowler with the potential to turn into an All-Pro player. Once he establishes himself in an NFL defense, that operates under a Wade Phillips type of defensive coordinator and plays next to a player like John Johnson III, CGJ's potential will be tapped into. So, with the first pick of the Rams 2019 draft class the Rams grab a starting safety and replace Joyner without spending in the 11-million dollar range.


Alternative pick: Elgton Jenkins, C, Mississippi State


3RD ROUND


Notes:

Traded away unconfirmed compensatory pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars as part of the trade for OLB Dante Fowler Jr.

Received two compensatory picks from Sammy Watkins and Trumaine Johnson free agency losses


95th-overall: Khalen Saunders, DL, Western Illinois | 6-foot-0, 320 pounds


Khalen Saunders had himself a week at the Senior Bowl and he's firmly in the mix for one of the top small-school prospects in this draft. It's going to be hard to even get Saunders here in the draft as he's likely going to be a day two pick after the combine but Saunders can bring so much to the table as an interior pass rusher and a run stuffer. Saunders is very athletic, he displayed that this week during the Senior Bowl practices as he did a back flip.


Saunders could fit right into that Ndamukong Suh role but he's big enough to play the nose tackle position next to Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, John Franklin-Myers and Morgan Fox. It's uncertain if Suh comes back regardless of a win or a loss in the Super Bowl but we do know that Saunders can help the Rams day one as well. He might be "undersized" but make no mistake, Saunders is going to be a problem at the next level.


Alternative pick: Jaylon Ferguson, EDGE, Louisiana Tech


Unconfirmed compensatory pick: Terrill Hanks, ILB, New Mexico State | 6-foot-2, 234 pounds


Terrill Hanks jumps off the film right away and this week he really increased his stock. The New Mexico State linebacker does a nice job of disengaging blocks, finishing tackles, coverage skills and awareness. Hanks always knows where the first down marker is and will make sure he stops the ball-carrier short whenever he can. Hanks may not be the Devin White type of player Rams fans may want but once again, that's not realistic and as far as value, this is one of the best value linebackers in the draft. Hanks is a former defensive back in his own right and that's fairly evident when you watch how fluid he is moving in coverage. Plus, this guy knows how to rush the passer.


Hanks ended up with almost 400 tackles, 43 and a half of them being for a loss, 11 sacks and eight interceptions. The Rams have Mark Barron paired with their young former UDFA LB Cory Littleton. Barron is likely gone after this year and the way the new NFL has become, Micah Kiser likely isn't fast enough for today's game to be a 3-down linebacker. Insert Hanks, who absolutely can fit that role and will instantly help in the run game. The Rams issue at the linebacker position is how they often get swallowed up by bigger offensive lines, but with Hanks, he displays the ability to fight through blocks and make plays. He already met with the Rams so definitely keep this name on your mind.


Alternative pick: Khalil Hodge, ILB, Buffalo


FOURTH ROUND


103rd-overall pick (via Cincinnati): Tyree Jackson, QB, Buffalo | 6-foot-7, 249 pounds


Everything that has gone on this week leads me to believe there might not be a true franchise QB in this draft aside from Dwayne Haskins and maybe Kyler Murray. In these types of drafts, you have to sometimes go for the gold and in this case the arm talent, size and mobility combo that Tyree Jackson possesses might have to be enough. I had Tyree to the Rams in the way-too-early mock draft (which was my most recent one), I just think overall, the Rams are going to be moving on from Sean Mannion as his contract expires, Brandon Allen hasn't done anything to prove he's a legitimate backup behind Goff so to me, you absolutely have to draft a QB. Jackson is the developmental prospect that could end up being a game-changing player. His high's are very high and his low's are very low but the fact is there is too much raw talent to pass him up in a class like this.


The Rams have met with Jackson already so perhaps he's on their radar. According to Benjamin Allbright, he's hearing per his tweet that Jackson is receiving day three grades from around the league so that almost makes this a no-brainer for the Rams here picking with an extra pick in the fourth. Regardless, if it's Jackson or someone else, I believe you can take it to the bank that the Rams will ultimately draft a backup QB to develop behind Goff and Jackson is by far the most intriguing.


Alternative pick: Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple


127th-overall pick: Iman Marshall, CB, USC | 6-foot-1, 203 pounds


The former USC Trojan will have a lot of fans liking this pick. Iman Marshall is being a little underrated as we approach the combine. That's likely going to change a little bit, but at the moment, Marshall finds himself in the fourth round and as a great value pick for a team looking to start looking towards the future at the position. With the Rams, they have an aging Aqib Talib, a regressing Marcus Peters that may just not be in the future plans and two free agent cornerbacks Troy Hill and Sam Shields. So, yes, the Rams have to consider drafting at least one corner and maybe two.


Marshall will have to improve as an all-around player but as of right now he can help a team out as a cover guy with big-time size and upside. Marshall had first-round hype early on in his college career but that has since fallen off a cliff which makes him even more intriguing. His best years were his first two in which he logged three interceptions in each season. After that his production dipped in the interception category. There's still a lot to like about Marshall and that USC - Rams connection is always intriguing.


Alternative pick: Daniel Wise, DL, Kansas


FIFTH ROUND


159th-overall pick: Will Harris, S, Boston College | 6-foot-2, 207 pounds


Boston College, and I've said this many times this week...is building something special in their secondary. John Johnson III, Justin Simmons, Isaac Yiadom and Kamrin Moore all speak for themselves. Will Harris will soon join them in the NFL and he could be reuniting with Johnson. The Rams met with Harris and wow did Harris really look smooth this week in Mobile. Why draft two safeties? This could easily be called a best player available type of pick but it will bolster the Rams depth and allow the Rams if they so choose to play with three safeties. Harris brings a lot to the table and with Gardner-Johnson's versatility he could also play the nickel if the Rams wanted to mix it up.


Alternative pick: Gardner Minshew II, QB, Washington


SIXTH ROUND


169th-overall pick (via Cincinnati): John Cominsky, EDGE, Charleston | 6-foot-5, 286 pounds


The Rams met with the Charleston standout edge rusher at the Senior Bowl and here they would be able to add him late in the draft. Look, I don't see edge as the big-time need the way others do. When you look at the fact the Rams spent three draft picks last year on an edge defender and barely played any of them, you have to imagine the Rams will grab one or maybe even none. Now, in this scenario, the Rams bring back Dante Fowler Jr. and that's what I ultimately believe they will do. Cominsky might be more like John Franklin-Myers if anything but he's another pass rusher that you could really strike gold with. High motor player that might be one of those diamonds in the rough.


Alternative pick: Austin Bryant, EDGE, Clemson


190th-overall pick: Mark Fields, CB, Clemson | 5-foot-10, 186 pounds


He showed out all week long and flashed in the game as well, Mark Fields is one of my sleeper players in this class. A guy that wasn't utilized anywhere near he deserved to be utilized at Clemson. Fields excels as a man coverage cornerback and Jim Nagy of the Senior Bowl spoke on Fields and how the league scouts and coaches believed he was the best cover corner in the Senior Bowl. He flew up my board and looked like the best or at least one of the best corners in Mobile. He's going to fall in the draft because teams are going to question why he didn't get playing time.


The Rams already took Marshall but why not double-dip. Like previously mentioned, you are likely to lose Talib sooner than later, Peters has made the future cloudy, Sam Shields and Troy Hill might not be re-signed after the season. This would be a huge pickup in the sixth-round and could have an E.J. Gaines level of production if this happens. Fields did tell Downtown Rams that he met with the Rams "a lot of times" the interest must indeed be mutual.


Alternative pick: Corey Ballentine, CB, Washburn


SEVEN ROUND


Received one compensatory pick from Cody Davis free agency loss


222nd-overall pick: Mavin Saunders, TE, Kansas | 6-foot-5, 256 pounds


The former Florida State four-star recruit has some serious ability as a pass catching tight end. He needs to get better as a blocker but as a situational rotational tight end this pick makes sense. Earlier, drafting Stetson's TE Donald Parham to be essentially a red zone weapon would have made sense. However, Mavin Saunders is a good enough prospect to beat out Johnny Mundt on the roster. The Rams have two tight end's they like in Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett but they have shown interest in multiple tight ends earlier on. Watching Saunders at KU you instantly see a reliable red zone weapon with great size for the position. His biggest issue aside from blocking is long speed, that's simply not his game, but if you are looking for someone to come in and have sure hands and win a tough physical matchup, then Saunders might be your under-the-radar guy. It's the seventh round and Saunders has the upside to be a third-to-fourth round talent.


Alternative pick: Daniel Helm, TE, Duke


Unconfirmed compensatory pick: Kwadarrius Smith, WR/KR, Akron | 5-foot-9, 170 pounds


JoJo Natson could use a little competition in the return game. Insert the fastest man in college football, Kwadarrius "Kwad" Smith. Smith takes no time to go from 0 - to - 60. Smith's vision and elusiveness is what makes him a weapon and at the next level he could likely help in the receiving game as well. With an extra pick in the seventh round the Rams draft what could be a stud return man.


Alternative pick: Tony Brooks-James, RB, Oregon

We have a lot of people into a lot of different things here and I thought it would be cool to get people taking about the books they read. Similar to the "Rate the last film you saw" thread, but I didn't want to limit it to the last book.

I mostly listen to audio books now, and somebody asked about those recently, but I used to read dead tree books all the time. Children ruined that. Thanks kids. Anyway, it doesn't matter if it's learning books, self help, fiction, science, or whatever. Just recommend something good.

I''m not sure if this needs to be split into two threads one for fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc, and one for business, history, learning, self help, etc.

I'll give two to start off.

How Google Works
Highly recommend

I should probably include the author's but I don't remember and I'm too lazy to go look it up. This was a really interesting book about how they built their culture and maintain their level of performance. Obviously they aren't giving away business secrets, but they are giving away culture secrets which might be more important. The whole thing revolves around what they call "smart creatives". Basically really smart, really creative people who are internally driven to create and improve great things. I'm very interested in business, culture, leadership, etc so this was an interesting look into how a really successful company does that. Very enjoyable.


Night wise by RS Belcher
Urban fantasy, highly recommend (if you're into that)

This one is a cool story about a guy who is kind of a redneck wizard prodigy. A friend of his asks him to track down the guy who killed his wife. He gets a really eclectic group of acquaintances, gets involved in some really weird, crazy stuff, and it's all just really interesting. The ending leaves a little too be desired, but the beginning and end make up for it. He makes a big deal out of the music people are listening to, so if you're into music it might be even better. I'm not. It didn't make an impact on me. The sequel, The Night Dahlia, and the shared universe series Brotherhood of the Wheel and King of the Road are also excellent. The author makes an effort to be intentionally diverse, so if that's your thing it checks that box.



Anybody have any good books you recommend?

Go to "members only" section.

https://ramsondemand.com/forums/members-only.77/

Here in Cumberland, MD I use Atlantic Broadband. My bill this month went from $165.00 to $219.00 in one month. Yikes!!!!!

If you're going let's all wear the classic blue and yellow colors if you can.

Yo! I really like the AJ Pollock signing.

WTF with bringing Martin back, but they had to do something. But I'd really like them to get Realmuto, and . . .

Forget Harper. Dude's cancer. Let some other team have him, like Philly. Could you imagine Harper and Arietta in the same clubhouse? Then throw in Manny Hustle, and sit back and enjoy the new kardashians :headexplosion:

Courtesy Lindsey Thiry over at the network
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25853285/los-angeles-dodgers-wish-rams-good-luck-super-bowl-xliii

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Dodgers made a surprise visit to the Los Angeles Rams' practice facility Friday to wish the team good luck as it prepares to play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.

Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald were among Rams players who greeted several Dodgers in the locker room, including Justin Turner, Walker Buehler and Cody Bellinger.

"We appreciate those guys coming through. I just seen Freese and thought, 'Oh s---, that's David Freese,' and I remember him from when he was with the Cardinals," said Gurley, who has played for the Rams since 2015, their final season in St. Louis. "It was a surprise, but we appreciate those guys coming and their support."

Said Donald: "We shook hands ... they said good luck and congratulations. You like that type of support."

The Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints 26-23 at the Superdome last
Sunday to clinch the NFC championship and advance to the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This is the Rams' first Super Bowl appearance since the 2001 season.

The Dodgers have plenty of recent postseason experience of their own. Last season, they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series before they fell in five games to the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. In 2017, the Dodgers also advanced to the World Series, but were defeated in a seven-game series by the Houston Astros.

The Dodgers' visit Friday came as a spur-of-the-moment decision. The team was in the area visiting those affected by the mass shooting that claimed 12 lives at Borderline Bar and Grill in November.

Hey a Rams fan here in Missouri...needless to say i dont have access to any Rams merchandise here.

Where is a good place to buy afforable authentic rams t shirts/hoodies/jerseys etc online before the big the game

I am certainly getting a jump on this and this thread is usually posted by others like @Dagonet

However I am curious about how everyone is planning their food for the big game.

Throughout the season I've been mixing and matching food with the teams we've played.

I made my first pot of Gumbo ever before last week's game.

We had surf and turf for the Cowboy game - Filet Mignon and Crab Legs.

I suggested maybe trying Clam Chowder for the Super "Bowl" and my wife suggested maybe going after an Atlanta based meal.

Then I had the idea of trying to do an authentic LA based street taco.

What to do!? What are you planning?

I'm not looking forward to watching endless replays of the Cheatriots Super Bowl 36 celebration this week. With the Cheatriots success over the last 17 years I'm sure all here understand. It never fails to piss me off. I hope for a fairly called game by the officials, the Rams D repeatedly sacking Tuck Rule Boy, properly inflated footballs, and all of Belicheats spy tapes playback nothing but the cameraman's thumb.

Apparently the above got me banned from saints report.com

Tickets on the secondary market have been falling. If they keep doing so I might be able to go. The cheapest tickets right now are just over $2,200 - before fees. I had seen a few last night at $2,180. Those are gone now, so I’m wondering if the market has found the floor. What do you think the cheapest tix will end up being? I’m hoping for $1,800 or less. My brother thinks prices may crash to $1,000.

Now, about those fees. StubHub is charging $700 service fee on a $2,200 ticket. So is SeatGeek, but they have an ad saying you can enter a promo code and get $300 off. Ticketsforless says they don’t charge a fee, but can they be trusted. I went to BBB site and a couple of reviews are from folks who say they either never got their tickets or got fake tickets, and they never got their money back because the company makes impossible demands for getting a refund.

And then there’s eBay, which could be a way to avoid fees, but is probably the most risky.

I’ve only used StubHub for tickets, for sports and concerts, and I’ve never had a problem. But I don’t remember getting bent over this badly on the fees.

Anyone had good or bad experiences with ticketsforless or any other reseller who doesn’t kill you on the fees?

Anyone else checking StubHub every ten minutes?

Rams will be working out at Falcons practice facility in Flowery Branch, just outside the city. 35 mintuers from downtown.

Patriots working out at Georgia Tech. 5 minutes from downtown.



For media night....Anybody going?

I'm thinking about it



Courtesy of Atlanta Journal Constitution

https://www.ajc.com/sports/first-ev...ight-state-farm-arena/DhYcZvUmCb1vjXuiblRXlK/

When the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots arrive in Atlanta next week, the first major item on their itinerary will be “Super Bowl Opening Night,” a combination of press conference, media circus and fan experience.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the NFL will transform the Super Bowl event formerly known as Media Day into a prime-time show.

Billed as the teams’ public premiere in Atlanta, the event is scheduled for State Farm Arena beginning at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28, the Monday before the big game.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the NFL will transform the Super Bowl event formerly known as Media Day into a prime-time show.

Billed as the teams’ public premiere in Atlanta, the event is scheduled for State Farm Arena beginning at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28, the Monday before the big game.

The overlap in the middle of the event “will be the only time prior to the game these two teams will be in the same building at the same time,” Barker said.

Fans in attendance will be given radios on which they can listen to player interviews taking place at individual podiums. Former NFL players will be available for autographs in the concourses. Falcons cheerleaders and mascots will be there. And one fan will win two tickets to Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Feb. 3.

“We are taking steps to make this a fan experience rather than just a press conference,” Barker said. “Don’t get me wrong -- this is a press conference, and that’s what it should be. But what we have done is take steps to make sure fans are engaged and having a positive experience.

“It’s more than just coming and sitting in seats. There’s going to be a lot going on in that building.”

Super Bowl Media Day, long known for the offbeat questions and answers it generated, used to be held on the Tuesday morning or afternoon before the game. But it was renamed and rebranded as a prime-time Monday night event starting with Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif., in 2016.

Some modifications will be made in the newly renovated State Farm Arena to accommodate the event.

“We’ll build a temporary raised floor in the arena and will build ramps and what we’re calling viewing platforms out into that floor to get fans closer to what’s happening,” Barker said.

Because most out-of-town fans who attend the Super Bowl will arrive later next week, the “Opening Night” crowd is expected to consist largely of Atlanta area residents, Barker said. The arena doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

Barker, who was in Atlanta all of last week, also addressed the NFL’s preparations for Super Bowl events in general, including the game itself: “We’re in really good shape,” he said. “We’re pleased with where we are. We’re on track in (Mercedes-Benz Stadium). We’re on track externally. We’re really comfortable – as long as the weather holds out, I can’t foresee anything that is going to get in our way.”

Sam mother fucking Shields!

Name yours! \m/

He's just a cool cat (those videos of what he overcame)and @Ramsfan503 will attest to maybe @Prime Time[/USER] @davefan51 @-X- @CGI_Rams @Selassie I and son @Mojo Ram etc

As I look back Sam Shields was one of the first fitting or not to Bro Hug McVay, I think. Non topic thread related

At Hollywood Park, 10 am, but you need a ticket, which are limited, but free.

https://www.therams.com/superbowl/sendoff

Anyone heard anything about this in the media? Here's hoping they take extra precaution.