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So Here I am in the Hospital...

Had chest pains early yesterday morning that lasted more than 5 minutes, and so I went to the emergency room with my iPad, because I know how boring that place can be. Well, I was thinking it was a false alarm because they said the EKG was normal, but then they admitted me for “observation.” They Keep distressingly mentioning a heart catheterization possibility, pending the results of heart stress tests this morning...

But my location is just the backdrop for yesterday’s game. In Kansas, the Rams game isn’t even close to being on, but the hospital has wi-fi and I know about reddit,so I’m in!

I scream like a loon when the Rams score while watching in the privacy of my home, and cuss a bit when things go bad. I did both at the hospital, although a bit subdued...I’m sure that I was heard outside my room, because I hear the other “guests” when they scream their craziness like, “I’m going home!” Or “Give me my Meds!” at 3am, lol.

Looks like I’m doomed to being here for New Years, and the bastids won’t let me have any coffee, let alone champagne! That’s ok, my wife brought me some chocolote that Nurse Kratchet doesn’t know about...

Gurley and Anderson

Hey guys congrats on our reg season now the real grind begins!!!!!

My question to you all is how would you guys use Gurley and Anderson to our advantage in the same back field or not against each of our possible playoff foes. I'm curious cause right now I see us playing the Bears and cramming int down there throat with Anderson and using Gurley on pass routes for "what teams are giving us" would be a good formula. Like your thoughts though.

13 - 3 / 6 - 0 . . . and rising.

The rumors of the Rams demise were greatly exaggerated.

The team came in to this season with high expectations and there are 3 more games they have to take care of business to win and claim a slice of greatness for themselves and their teammates. This team has goals that are far from accomplished and I still feel like anything short of at least 1 playoff win will feel disappointing.. but really, honestly, this season has already been amazing and it has raised expectations as it went along.

Going into the playoffs healthy, with the leagues best 1-2 punch at RB and a surging D, these Rams are nothing like the team that 3 weeks ago the media and some fans began writing off as a gimmick figured out. "The book was out". Nah. It isn't out. You can't even pre-order it. It isn't published because it hasn't been written.

McVay is not perfect... but damnit he is good and getting better.
Goff is not perfect, but damnit he's good too and getting better.
Donald is not perfect, but he is the best player in the game.. and he is getting better.

13 - 3 regular season record is not perfect, but it is damn good. 6-0 in our division is not per- well, actually it is... and the Rams are still getting better.

Playoffs Round One Predictions

NFC

Eagles @ Bears... Eagles gonna get smacked down. That Bears defense is the best and most consistent unit in the playoffs so points gonna be hard to come by for Philly. On the other side the Eagles secondary is winning with smoke and mirrors, not enough talent in the secondary to make the Bears inconsistent QB pay.

Seahawks @ Cowboys... I like the Shehawks in this one. Dallas has the better defense, but I think in what should be a very close game Wilson will make the difference.

Colts @ Texans... Colts surprise me every week. Still don't believe in them. I think the Texans have a clear advantage in this one and don't think it will be close.

Chargers @ Ravens... Crazy to see a 12-4 Chargers team go on the road in the wildcard round. Just nuts. But IMO they're a better team in every way than the Ravens, only way they lose this game is if their head coach can't keep it together under the playoff heat.

Bears @ Rams is going to happen. Here's hoping the Rams' staff is baking that Bears defense HARD in the film room starting now.

SNF: Colts at Titans

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/sunday...lts-vs-tennessee-titans-prediction-picks-2018

Sunday Night Football: Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans


The Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans will have a lot to play for in Week 17. A come-from-behind victory (28-27 final score) over the New York Giants in Week 16 kept the Colts in contention for a playoff spot while the Titans handling of the Washington Redskins did the same.

Out of all the statistics that stand out heading into this game, Andrew Luck’s record against the Colts’ divisional foe stands above the rest. He’s a perfect 10-0 all-time against the Titans with the most recent victory being a 38-10 beatdown back in Week 11.

Can the Titans finally get the best of the Stanford man?

Indianapolis at Tennessee
Kickoff: Sunday, Dec. 30, at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Indianapolis -3

Three Things to Watch

1. Win and you’re in


It’s not often that two teams get to go head-to-head in Week 17 to see who moves on to the playoffs, but here we are. The “win and you’re in” mentality will be in full force come Sunday night, and that should add an exciting element to the game.

The Titans found their way into the playoffs last season — and even got a win over the Kansas City Chiefs in a wild-card matchup. The Colts, on the other hand, haven’t made it back to the playoffs since the New England Patriots handed them a 45-7 loss in the AFC Championship back in 2015.

2. Marcus Mariota’s availability

Tennessee’s star quarterback is doing everything he can to get on the field for Sunday’s game. Whether he will be successful in that question remains to be seen, however.

Mariota has been dealing with an issue that’s been described as a stinger. He was forced to leave last Saturday’s game against the Washington Redskins due to that issue, and it isn’t the first time it’s occurred. Earlier in the year, the Oregon product missed three games due to a similar injury.

Backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert was inserted into the starting lineup for the second half of last week’s game, and he performed admirably. The 29-year-old veteran completed 7-of-11 (63.5 percent) passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. With that said, his inconsistent play during his career brings on major concerns if Mariota isn’t ready to go.

3. The Colts’ run defense vs. Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry has been outstanding during the month of December. In four games, he’s averaged 20.3 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns. There was an impressive two-game stretch where the 6-foot-3, 247-pound workhorse ran the ball 50 times for 408 yards and six touchdowns.

We haven’t seen that sort of dominance in a long time.

The good news for Colts fans is Indianapolis has been good against the run so far this season. They’re only giving up 102.2 yards per game, which is good for No. 8 in the league. That number has been even better over the last three games — they’re only giving up 94.7 yards per game during that time.

Luck and Co. will try to put pressure on the Titans offense by scoring points early and often. If that happens, it could neutralize a dominant run game led by Henry. If not, get ready to see an exciting match up.

Final Analysis

The Colts have been one of the hottest teams in the AFC since late October. Andrew Luck, from a statistical standpoint, is having one of the best seasons of his career. His 67.2 completion percentage is the highest it’s ever been, while his 287.2 passing yards per game and 36 touchdowns are on pace to be the second-best.

In other words, the former No. 1 overall pick is playing some of his best football.

If Tennessee is going to have a chance in this game, Marcus Mariota is going to need to be on the field — and playing well. Two of the team’s top three receivers (Corey Davis and Tajae Sharpe) have been limited so far this week with nagging leg injuries. That’s not a good combination.

The Titans should keep things close, but Indianapolis will walk away with their tenth win in 2018 and a spot in the playoffs.

Prediction: Colts 23, Titans 21


49’ers at Rams

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.

Go Rams!

Please be advised moderators may issue “caution” post ratings to keep this thread on track. If you see this, don’t freak out; these are not warnings but meant to steer conversation away from warnings.

Our goal... watching a game is fun. So, let’s have fun in here.

Anyone use Discord?

Admittedly, I'm a little new to it, but it seems to be the platform now for gaming, streaming, chatting, etc. I play a MMORPG and have used it to talk to other players & stuff while playing. Thought it might be cool to use it during games to chat with other members if anyone else is up for it. It's a VOIP program, so there would be *actual* talking as opposed to typing in the GDT. You can also just type if you're not into using the voice chat. If anyone is curious or semi-interested, just reply and maybe we'll try it either tomorrow or during the first playoff game.

https://discordapp.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.discord&hl=en_US
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/discord/id985746746?mt=8

I Despise the Seahawks and Their Fans

I'm listening to John Clayton on Seattle's ESPN, and he and his female co-host are saying crap like: "Deon says the Rams can't beat the Saints, but the Seahawks might be able to and go deep into the playoffs..."

"and this team is different than earlier in the year" (you know, when the Rams beat them twice).

They are such cocky bastards, I want them to freaking die (metaphorically speaking)

The 2018 RedZone Awards

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2018/12/28/18158857/redzone-power-rankings-2018-chiefs-saints-browns

The 2018 RedZone Awards
Teams like the Chiefs, Rams, and Saints have nearly erased the concept of the red zone this year, so after tweaking the system slightly, here are the MVPs of the RedZone channel, and the best and worst teams to watch inside the 20
By Kevin Clark

RedZoneRankings_Getty_Ringer.0.jpg

Getty Images/Ringer illustration

In 2018, the NFL RedZone channel changed because the entire league became RedZone. The purpose of the channel is to boil every game down to only the exciting offensive parts—typically, when a team is within 20 yards of scoring or generally looking threatening in a big spot. The thing about that, of course, is that teams like the Chiefs, Saints, or Rams are constantly about to score this year, no matter where they are on the field. This has created problems.

“We’ve kind of had to adjust what we consider the red zone,” Andrew Siciliano, host of DirecTV’s Red Zone channel, told me. “We will now go to Chiefs games if they are inside the 40. It’s not a hard-and-fast rule—you’re not going to force it if there’s other stuff going on—but it’s the same with the Rams and Saints; there’s a fascination. You don’t want to miss it.”

Scott Hanson, host of the NFL Network’s RedZone, told me that because a team can score from anywhere now, the channel has mandated a turnaround time to show long touchdowns. “Since you can never predict a 60-yard TD, we have to make sure our reaction time is precise. We get most long [touchdowns] to our viewers within 60 seconds of them happening in real time,” he said. With that in mind, it’s time for the third annual RedZone rankings.

The definition of a good RedZone team remains the same from last year, when Hanson told me that “a ‘great’ RedZone team is traditionally one that makes frequent appearances—three, four trips per game is solid—has a bona fide QB, and highly active skill position players on fans’ fantasy rosters.”

Of course, a good RedZone team should also look good in short bursts—since they appear on TV for only a play or so at a time. They shouldn’t waste anyone’s time, calling a timeout or losing yardage or committing penalties. They should appear on camera and do something fun, quickly. This will always be the backbone of the good RedZone team.

Still, there had to be some tweaks to the ranking system: Last year, the Eagles were punished because they scored too many long touchdowns, but because of the way the Chiefs, Rams, and Saints have forced RedZone to change, this is less of a concern now. This year, instead of a straight ranking, we mixed it up slightly: We’re now giving a couple of individual awards, and for the “worst” teams, we included a few reader thoughts. Now, on to the categories.

RedZone MVP: Josh Allen
In September of this year I wrote a piece about Patrick Mahomes II, detailing not just his talent but what he stood for in the context of the modern game: He was going to save the league from the short-passing snoozefest that many quarterbacks had introduced over the past decade. One thing I did not anticipate is that Mahomes was about to be blown out as a volume shooter of deep passes by Josh Allen. Allen is not a good passer; he is an exciting passer. And there’s a very big difference between those two things, but both are equally fun to watch.

Mahomes was the best quarterback in football this year, his team has a good chance to win the Super Bowl, and he should get the actual MVP award, but Allen delivers something much more rare: When you watch him you have absolutely no idea what the hell is going to happen next. He could throw a deep touchdown, he could run the ball effectively, or he could throw the worst pass you have ever seen.

Allen throws 20.7 percent of his passes beyond 20 yards, by far the most in the league. An astounding 48.7 percent of Robert Foster’s targets are thrown this distance; the next highest is DeSean Jackson at 37.5 percent. Fellow Bill Zay Jones and former Bills receiver Kelvin Benjamin rank in the top eight in this category.

Check out these three completely different plays that have, well, three completely different outcomes:

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/seanjwagner/status/1076910929713946624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1076910929713946624&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theringer.com%2Fnfl%2F2018%2F12%2F28%2F18158857%2Fredzone-power-rankings-2018-chiefs-saints-browns

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Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/danfetes/status/1074385516383100928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1074385516383100928&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theringer.com%2Fnfl%2F2018%2F12%2F28%2F18158857%2Fredzone-power-rankings-2018-chiefs-saints-browns

M-V-P! M-V-P!

RedZone LVP: Matthew Stafford
By the strict definition of the red zone quarterback, Stafford is bad. It’s worth pointing out that he is bad in nearly every metric, but since this ranking is specific to a channel that shows only scoring opportunities, I will keep my case limited: He is completing 34 percent of his passes inside the 10-yard line, by far the worst among passers with at least 20 attempts, and 48 percent inside the 20, a number that is slightly better within the context of the league but still quite bad.

He also has three picks in the red zone. Nathan Peterman completed 100 percent of his red zone passes, a cool 4-of-4. Drew Brees has completed 72 percent of his red zone passes. Inside the 10, Andrew Luck and Cam Newton, among others, nearly doubled Stafford’s completion percentage. There is simply nothing worse than a player who wastes your time on this channel. He is bad and boring.

The Worst RedZone Team

Third runner-up: Tennessee Titans
Here are thoughts from two readers named Matt:

Matt D.: “Every time they’re shown it’s depressing, even if they’re scoring. Unbelievable turnovers and sacks, unimpressive play-calling, the least explosive scoring plays you’ll ever see—it’s all there. I can’t imagine being a Titans fan viewing the team through the RedZone lens. It’s atrocious.”

Matt A.: “Sure, you could say the Cardinals, 49ers, other trash heaps, etc.; however, the fact that technically the game matters so you kind of feel obligated to pay attention makes this team even worse. I hate the Titans, I hate watching the Titans, and I hate, hate, hate when the Titans are the 4:05 wild-card weekend game against some other uninspiring AFC team.” (Please note, Matt A. sent this three weeks ago when it was still sort of a joke!)

Second runner-up: New York Jets
Joe O. from Long Island on a Jets game earlier this year against the Titans: “The Jets game is being called by Jeff Fisher. Jeff Freaking Fisher. Fisher complimented [Todd] Bowles and [Jeremy] Bates on their play call when they elected to kick a shitty field goal. That should say enough. The Jets are Jeff Fisher approved. Aside from this, our best receiver is probably Quincy Enunwa, who the Jets insist on sending on WR screens on third-and-10, which we are in a lot.”

First runner-up: The Oakland Raiders
I’ll let reader Samuel O. sum up the hopelessness: “Why on earth would I be excited for the Raiders to come on [RedZone]? Even if they score a touchdown it’s not like that does anyone any good. Does it give fans hope that [Jon] Gruden is figuring it out? I doubt it. Does it mean maybe [Derek] Carr sticks around? I doubt it. Does it give fans a new face to cheer for in the future? Not the way Gruden is chewing through players.”

The Worst RedZone team of 2018: The Arizona Cardinals
Please note: Of the few dozen emails I got, zero mentioned the Cardinals as the worst team. This is sort of a Don Draper “I don’t think about you at all” situation, because they are undoubtedly the worst team you could possibly watch: They score on just 18 percent of their drives (the Bills are second worst at 25 percent).

Mike McCoy apparently didn’t know who David Johnson was when he built this offense, and it didn’t get much better after the offensive coordinator was fired halfway through the season. Get this team off my television.

The Best Teams on RedZone

Third runner-up: Pittsburgh Steelers
The point of the RedZone channel is to be exciting, and the Steelers are that—but not in the way you’d expect. Yes, Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster are two of the most visually arresting players in the league. It boggles the mind how fun the Steelers would be had Le’Veon Bell played this year. But this is not just about that.

Ben Roethlisberger has four red zone interceptions, most in the NFL. Their offense can be entertaining but it’s also an adventure. Like many teams who I’ve placed highly in these rankings over the years, the Steelers play an abnormal amount of games decided in the final few seconds, and it’s usually hilarious:

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Second runner-up: New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees has led the NFL in completion rate on five occasions. He will, at the end of this year, hold four of the top six completion rates over a season ever. And this will be his best one ever at 74.4 percent. Talking to Siciliano, he pointed out that we don’t even make a big deal about it when Brees has a four-touchdown game. He said that in the RedZone era, Brees and Tom Brady are definitely on the Mount Rushmore for consistently delivering on the channel—and this may be Brees’s best year ever.

Combine this with Michael Thomas, who is catching an astounding 86 percent of the passes thrown his way, and the Saints are an efficient scoring machine, helped along now by the best defense in football. They may actually be too good to be overly fun, hence their third-place ranking.

Runner-up: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs won the top spot in this ranking last year and have a good case to do so this year.

Said Hanson: “I think the Chiefs are the best team to call on NFL RedZone this year. In terms of fantasy football, every ‘level’ of their offense—QB, RB, WR, TE—has an impact on fantasy leagues across the country. And KC has been getting there with frequency! Plus, their defensive struggles have required them to make every possession count, which they usually do.”

Mahomes is capable of completing any pass at any time—a slight hindrance when it comes to the RedZone channel, since you never know exactly when the incredible play will come—but he’s probably the no. 1 player you cannot stop watching in this league (now that Nathan Peterman has been benched).

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Combine this with Andy Reid’s wonderful play-calling, Tyreek Hill’s speed, and a defense that lends itself to shoot-outs, and you’ve got a great team to watch for a minute at a time.

The Best RedZone Team of 2018: Cleveland Browns
Both Hanson and Siciliano mentioned the Chiefs as their pick. America would probably endorse the Chiefs. They’ve played some of the most fun football I have ever seen this season. The Chiefs are probably the best pick here, but screw it: The most fun team to watch on the RedZone channel is the Cleveland Browns. From a statistical standpoint, Baker Mayfield and new coordinator Freddie Kitchens have been near flawless in the red zone: Mayfield has 19 touchdowns and no interceptions and they’ve scored a touchdown on nearly every trip down. Beyond that, it’s the way they do it.

“They are doing it creatively,” Siciliano said. “Jarvis Landry will take a handoff.” Mayfield is the leader, of course, but this is a team where anything can happen once they are on camera. Mayfield stared down his former coach Hue Jackson, for instance; defensive end Myles Garrett is one of the most fun players to watch; interim coach Gregg Williams might accidentally get offered more jobs on the sideline. It’s all possible!

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The Browns are not perfect. On offense, they can’t play the kind of pristine, spectacular football the Chiefs can play. But the Browns can be beautiful too, and since they are still the Browns, there are still plays like this:

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The Browns will not make the playoffs. Mayfield is 6-6 as a starter and he’ll have to settle for being hyped up for the next nine months. But the Browns accomplished something as impressive in 2018: They are fun as hell to watch. That’s something Cleveland hasn’t been for the past two decades.

https://twitter.com/ASportsJones/status/1066767295421313024

Left knee initially bothered Rams' Todd Gurley after season opener


THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Ramscoach Sean McVay said Thursday that Todd Gurley's left knee hasn't just bothered the star running back recently.

Gurley's knee also was an issue after a season-opening victory over the Oakland Raiders, when Gurley rushed for 108 yards and caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

"It was a similar situation," McVay said.

Gurley said Thursday that he, "Felt like s---" after the Monday night game in Week 1.

"It was bad," Gurley said. "I was contemplating on giving the Rams back their money and everything. It was bad. It was real bad."

Before the season, the Rams awarded Gurley, the defending NFL Offensive Player of the Year, a four-year extension worth $60 million, with $45 million guaranteed, to make him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

Despite the pain, Gurley felt in the aftermath of the opener, he said that his knee felt better two days later.

That hasn't been the case with his latest knee issue, which includes inflammation and soreness that has lingered since a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Gurley was inactive last Sunday in a road win over the Arizona Cardinals, and his status is again in question for the regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at home. A victory over the 49ers would secure the Rams a first-round bye in the playoffs.

"Some days you wake up feeling pain," Gurley said. "Some days you wake up feeling much better."

Gurley was sidelined for a series in the third quarter before he returned to the field in a 30-23 loss to the Eagles. He said there was no single play that caused the discomfort in his knee.

"Came back on the sidelines and just you can tell when something doesn't feel right, you know your body," said Gurley, who has rushed for 1,251 yards this season. "Obviously, kind of went back in the game and played. Did what I could do and then just kind of dealt with the consequences the next day."

Gurley sat out of practice last week but participated in a pregame workout ahead of last Sunday's game in Arizona. After the workout, Gurley and the Rams' medical staff determined it was in his best interest to sit out.

"I could've played," said Gurley, who has scored a league-best 21 touchdowns. "But who knows how long I would've been able to play."

In his absence, the Rams started veteran C.J. Anderson, whom they had signed only five days earlier. Anderson rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Gurley has not practiced this week, and it's uncertain if he will test his knee before pregame warmups Sunday.

"It's just one of those day-by-day things," Gurley said. "I'm just going to have to see when Sunday gets here."

What team would you most like to avoid in the playoffs?

I will admit it.
I don't want to play the Bears again.
It's not only because we suffered our only legit beatdown of the season to them either.
McVay didn't call his best game, Goff was at his worst... I expect a much better showing from our guys...
... its the match ups. I dont feel like they are the best team in the NFC, I don't think they are a better team than the Rams... just the one most capable of beating us.

On the flipside, I really like the way we match up with Seattle and the Saints, espescially with Talib and an improving secondary. (@NO vs The Drew Brees Story is what scares me, but I do like the match up.)
The Eagles and Cowboys are somewhere in the middle.
We would crush the Vikings again.

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