To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Seahawks give coach Pete Carroll an extension Frank Schwab
The NFL’s oldest coach is going to be on the job a while longer.
Pete Carroll, the 67-year-old with endless energy, has done a fine job with the Seattle Seahawks this season. He was rewarded with an extension that will run through the 2021 season. If Carroll coaches for the entire contract, he’ll be on the sideline at age 70.
The Seahawks came into the season with a lot of doubters, having lost multiple superstars over the offseason. While this isn’t Carroll’s best team, it might be his best coaching job.
Pete Carroll has had a fantastic season
The Seahawks clinched a playoff spot with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. Less than 24 hours later, Carroll’s extension was done.
The Seahawks had a lot of turnover in the offseason, but the constants were Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson. A great coach-quarterback duo can make a big difference in the NFL, and Seattle is going back to the playoffs after missing the postseason last year. Seattle is 9-6 with a game to go.
While Carroll probably won’t win NFL coach of the year, he deserves consideration. Despite losing players like Michael Bennett, Jimmy Graham, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Cliff Avril and Earl Thomas to free agency, difficult cuts or injuries, Seattle has just kept on winning.
Carroll is Seattle’s all-time leader in wins
Carroll will always be an icon in Seattle for bringing the Seahawks their first Super Bowl championship. That was part of a great stretch, when the Seahawks had an incredibly deep roster full of stars, with a few Hall-of-Fame-level talents.
88-54-1 record. He has led the Seahawks to the playoffs in seven of his nine seasons. He is firmly established as one of the best coaches in the NFL. This season was a new challenge for Carroll, but he mastered that too. Carroll is the all-time leader in wins among Seattle coaches, with a 88-54-1 record. He has led the Seahawks to the playoffs in seven of his nine seasons. He is firmly established as one of the best coaches in the NFL.
Yeah I know it's Christmas Eve, and I'm jumping the gun. But in my family and I'm sure many of yours tonight's a big part of the deal so just wanted to say Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Also thanks to all of you for the friendship and support you provide in the following of everything RAMS. I'll tell you, in times past this place has been like free counseling, and want you all to know that in spite of little arguments here and there I appreciate every one of you so cheers!
Vegas has no emotions involved in their criteria and they set their odds to win at all costs.
There will be a few more minor changes to their final odds when week 17 is completed.
The NFL playoffs are less than 2 weeks away :yess:
ODDS TO WIN 2018-19 SUPER BOWL LIII (2/3/19)
New Orleans Saints 11/4
Los Angeles Rams 9/2
Kansas City Chiefs 6/1
New England Patriots 7/1
Chicago Bears 10/1
Los Angeles Chargers 12/1
ODDS TO WIN 2018-19 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP (1/19/19)
Kansas City Chiefs 2/1
New England Patriots 11/4
Los Angeles Chargers 5/1
Baltimore Ravens 8/1
Houston Texans 10/1
Indianapolis Colts 12/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 20/1
Tennessee Titans 20/1
ODDS TO WIN 2018-19 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP (1/19/19)
New Orleans Saints 5/4
Los Angeles Rams 9/4
Chicago Bears 5/1
Dallas Cowboys 14/1
Seattle Seahawks 14/1
Minnesota Vikings 20/1
Philadelphia Eagles 20/1 http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/futures/
Monday Night Football: Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders
Monday night's game between the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders won't be unique just because it is on Christmas Eve. It will be special because it could be the Raiders' final game played at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum.
Raiders owner Mark Davis is moving the Raiders to Las Vegas in 2020. Since the city of Oakland recently sued the Raiders and the rest of the NFL over the move to Las Vegas, Davis is looking for another venue for the team in 2019.
Oakland and Denver do have one thing in common — both teams are putting the final touches on disappointing seasons. For the Raiders (3-11) and Broncos (6-8), most of the focus has shifted towards next season and the 2019 NFL Draft. But there's still pride on the line (and maybe a head coach's job), especially considering the first meeting between these two teams came down to a last-second field goal.
Back in Week 2, Denver overcame a 12-0 halftime deficit to beat Oakland 20-19. The Broncos scored the final 13 points of the game with Brandon McManus kicking a 36-yard field with six seconds left to complete the comeback. It also should be pointed out that several of the key participants in that game won't be a part of the return matchup whether it be due to injury (Marshawn Lynch, Emmanuel Sanders, Chris Harris Jr.) or trade (Amari Cooper, Demaryius Thomas).
Denver at Oakland Kickoff: Monday, Dec. 24 at 8:15 p.m. ET TV: ESPN Spread: Denver -3
Three Things to Watch
1. Derek Carr
Despite the Raiders' record, Carr has played some of the best football of his career the last two months. He has not thrown an interception in his last nine games, a span of 292 pass attempts. That's already a franchise record and the current longest active streak in the NFL since Aaron Rodgers' record run came to an end at 402 following an interception in the fourth quarter of last week's loss to Chicago.
For the season, Carr has 3,697 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Those numbers may not seem all that impressive, but Carr hasn't gotten a lot of help from either his pass catchers or his offensive line this season. He's been sacked 47 times through 14 games, that's the third-highest total in the league, yet he's seventh in the league with a completion rate of 68.4 percent, which is a career-best mark for him.
Denver can still get after the quarterback (42 sacks), but the Broncos have been susceptible through the air. They rank 25th in the league at 257.9 passing yards per game allowed and just put top cornerback Chris Harris Jr. on injured reserve. If Oakland's line can give Carr enough time to throw, he should be able to have some success on Monday night.
2. Phillip Lindsay
Lindsay has not only been among the best rookies in the NFL this season but one of the biggest surprises in the entire league. After going undrafted in April, Lindsay has rushed for 991 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming the first undrafted offensive rookie to be named to the Pro Bowl.
"To be able to have 100 yards in a game was great," Lindsay said earlier this week. "To get a touchdown, to be able to play [at Broncos Stadium at Mile High], that’s the stuff right there that I dreamt about. The Pro Bowl is something that you think like five years down the line, three years down the line. It’s an honor to get it."
Oakland's rushing defense is dead last in the league at 146.4 yards per game. The Raiders already know what to expect when facing Lindsay. He posted his first career 100-yard game against them back in Week 2, going for 107 on just 14 carries (7.6 ypc) with a long of 53 yards.
3. Emotions
Just like the fans watching and attending Monday night's game, it figures to be emotional for Oakland's players as well as the coaches given the uncertain status about where they will be playing in 2019.
Head coach Jon Gruden is in his second stint with the Raiders after first coming to the franchise back in 1998. So Gruden has been through the ups and downs with the Raiders.
"It’s going to be a great atmosphere Monday night, on Christmas Eve, the Denver Broncos coming to town," Gruden said. "I get excited thinking about it. Just raging in the Black Hole. Rocking and raging down there after the Steelers game, after a lot of wins over the years. Seeing a lot of the old highlights of the great Raiders teams. I get excited, and I get emotional about it. Hopefully, we get it all resolved where we can continue to play here."
Final Analysis
Although this game doesn't have any playoff implications, the Raiders would love nothing more than to go out with a victory in possibly their last game in Oakland. If the Raiders can contain Phillip Lindsay and the Broncos' running game, they will have a chance for the upset.
Denver quarterback Case Keenum, like the Broncos as a team, has been inconsistent this season. He's on pace to set a new career high for passing yards (3,396 entering Monday night), but he has just 15 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions.
While this game will likely be close as it reaches the fourth quarter, look for the Raiders, with a rejuvenated Carr leading the way, give the fans an early Christmas present with one last victory in the Black Hole.
• For the final two NFC seeds: Arizona at Seattle, Philadelphia at Washington, Chicago at Minnesota, 4:25 p.m. Seattle clinched a playoff spot Sunday night, and now has to beat the worst team in football, the Cardinals, at home, to clinch the fifth seed. The Vikings (8-6-1) and Eagles (8-7) will battle for one spot. If Minnesota beats the Bears, the Vikings make the playoffs; if they lose and Philadelphia beats Washington, the Eagles are in.
Will the Bears play all-out to win, with only a whisper of a chance to pass the Rams for the second seed? Good question. “We need some help,” Zach Ertz told me after the dramatic Philly win over Houston, “but we’ve had the kind of year where you just don’t know anything.”
The Eagles have had the strangest of seasons; they’ve gone 4-1 since being embarrassed 48-7 by the Saints last month.
• For AFC seeding: The Chiefs host Oakland (4:25 p.m. ET), and if the Chiefs beat the 3-11 Raiders, they win first seed and will play at home throughout the playoffs … The Patriots host the Jets (1:05 p.m.), and if the Pats beat New York, they win second seed in the playoffs … Houston has a nightmare scenario: losing to Jacksonville (1:05 p.m.) and falling to the number six seed, with the Colts-Titans winner advancing to first place in AFC South. The 11-4 Chargers are locked at five, unless Oakland beats KC and LA wins at Denver (4:25 p.m.)
• For NFC seeding: New Orleans (13-2) has clinched the top seed … The 12-3 Rams must beat the Niners (4:25 p.m.) to clinch the other first-round bye and will be heavily favored to do so … The 11-4 Bears are likely locked into the three seed; they can only move up with a win over Minnesota and loss by the Rams to San Francisco … Dallas (9-6) is locked in at the four seed, with a Seattle-at-Dallas rematch likely in wild-card weekend. Very attractive TV matchup there.
So … my very imprecise crystal ball shows:
The AFC
1. Kansas City
2. New England
3. Houston
4. Baltimore
5. Chargers
6. Indianapolis
The NFC
1. New Orleans 2. Rams
3. Chicago
4. Dallas
5. Seattle
6. Minnesota
Under that scenario, all four wild-card games would be rematches of 2018 regular-season games, with three played at the same site, and all four games played in Eastern or Central time.
--------------- • The officiating is a major concern. Some of the calls in Pittsburgh-New Orleans were just ghost calls. The early Joe Haden pass interference, a big call in a one-score game, was a phantom call, as so many are. So I was sitting here in a San Francisco hotel writing early this morning when a prominent NFL club official sent me a text. This source is unemotional, even-tempered and a total, absolute league guy. In part, he wrote:
“Something has to give on the officiating in our league. The random nature of things week to week, the volume of penalties that breaks up the game. I hear Joe Buck and Troy [Aikman] on FOX and Cris [Collinsworth] and Al [Michaels] on Sunday night confused. Everyone is at a loss. There is no consistency.
The game is choppy. It’s obvious that something is broke. Teams, coaches, GMs are at a loss for what will be emphasized week to week. At the same time, officials feel like they have been betrayed by the league and no one has their back. I’ve been around this league for over 25 years. This is as bad as I have seen it.”
There is no question, with four good referees being replaced this year (there are 17 refs in all), that the league doesn’t have the same quality of officiating overall. The NFL will have to decide after the season, with more refs on the verge of retirement, how to handle the turnover so it doesn’t affect the overall quality.
As it is, the league seems afraid to give the newbies and more inexperienced guys the big games. And there’s a total inequity in some calls from crew to crew. There’s an outcry about officiating every year. I don’t know if it’s worse than ever, but it seems like more and more games hinge on precarious calls.
---------------------- • Merry Fitzmas. In Arizona on Sunday, on the big screens in the stadium, the Cardinals played this during two straight play breaks against the Rams:
“I couldn’t even bear to look, honestly,” Fitzgerald said.
After the second break, with the crowd chanting for Fitzgerald, a play got called that Fitzgerald has been waiting for. He took a backward-lateral pass from quarterback Josh Rosen, then stopped and threw a 32-yard touchdown pass, the first TD pass of his 15-year Cardinals career. More chants. More “LAR-ree, LAR-ree …”
“It a little uncomfortable, to be honest with you,” Fitzgerald said. “I play a team sport. I’m not Michael Phelps or Tiger Woods, who do individual things. So it’s a little uncomfortable being singled out.”
In the midst of a dingy Arizona season, it’s nice that the last good memory fans are likely to have is a Larry Fitzgerald first, at a memorable time.
----------------- Coach of the Week
Bill Belichick, head coach, New England. It wasn’t the best week for Belichick(but gosh darn it I like to kiss some serious Patriot's butt each week whether they deserve it or not), who saw his gamble on Josh Gordon go up in smoke. But Belichick ended it with a win over Buffalo, and he’s now the first coach in history to win 10 division titles in a row.
Belichick doesn’t get a lot of credit, particularly in a year like this one, when the Patriots have sprung leaks all over the place. But they’re 10-5, in position to have a playoff bye again, and the man at the top deserves a hand for the long-term greatness that adds another record here.
---------------- “Ultimately, the state of play in 2018 boils down to a simple metaphor: A coach no longer has to dig deep within himself to create something new or cutting edge, like some reclusive ‘70s singer-songwriter. The best football schemers now are more like electronic house musicians, judged on their ability to creatively sample from what’s already out there.”
As Orr writes, it was impossible until the last couple of years for coaches to sift through tens of thousands of plays to find the kinds of plays that would work against specific defenses or specific players. Pro Football Focus, reports Orr, allows teams to filter plays by more than 200 different factors.
It’s a fascinating age we’re living through. This kind of play-mining is what led the Eagles’ staff to discover the factors and invent the play—the Nick Foles-to-Zach Ertz touchdown pass—that ensured their Super Bowl victory over New England.
------------------
We talk about what a great time it is to be a quarterback or wideout in the NFL, because of the explosion of the passing game. And it is. But the versatile backs that have entered the league in the last four drafts have been huge impact players too.
We’re seeing an explosion of versatile backs, and they’re all kids. Among active players, each of the NFL’s top active running backs in yards from scrimmage since the start of the 2017 season are 25 or younger, and four haven’t turned 24 yet.
Using the marvelous tools of Pro Football Reference,ranking the yards-per-scrimmage leaders among backs over the past two seasons in order, ranked by average yards per touch (age in parentheses):
Alvin Kamara, Saints (23): 6.61 yards per touch, 3,041 yards
Todd Gurley, Rams (24): 5.96 yards per touch, 3,924 yards
Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (22): 5.81 yards per touch, 3,011 yards
Melvin Gordon, Chargers (25): 5.22 yards per touch, 2,890 yards
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (23): 5.01 yards per touch, 3,253 yards
That’s not including the banished Kareem Hunt, 23, who would slot right beneath McCaffrey on this list.
-----------------
I think Aaron Donald clinched the Defensive Player of the Year award Sunday with a three-sack day in Arizona. He’s got 19.5, and should win the sack title with room to spare. On Sunday, he set the record for most sacks in a season by a defensive tackle. Now, against the Niners and inexperienced quarterback Nick Mullens in the regular-season finale, Donald will need 3.5 sacks to break Michael Strahan’s record of 22.5.
---------------
I fault the Patriots for not signing Brandin Cooks in the offseason, and I fault them for not getting a receiving weapon for Tom Brady when Cooks was traded to the Rams in the spring.
It's amazing how many times we have seen him get the pass from Goff and be a few yards short of the first down, or sometimes more, and he seems to find his way there. It's that deceptive speed and he gets into top gear in the blink of an eye, not to mention he isn't easy to tackle. He gets YAC unbelievably well.
He's kept drives alive all season long.
This was a great pickup by Snead. And what a value too.
To beat Strahans single season sack record.
Aaron bested Keith Millards single season sack record for an interior lineman on Sunday, which was 18.
Historical season for Donald and Ram fans.
Amazing to get watch a future HOF player take down records.
Now, imagine Donald with another real presence on the DL and a legit 10 sack guy coming off the corner.
Amazing player.
Glad the FO was patient and got him locked up.
Rams Beat Bears in Rematch (This time in Los Angeles!)
Rams Beat Cowboys (Just hoping either the Seahawks or Cowboys/My two least favorite teams in the NFL(!) can beat the Saints so the Rams can play the NFC Championship Game at Home!)
Rams Beat Patriots (Don’t like the Patriots BUT that Super Bowl loss still hurts and beating them would at least heal some of that pain!)! I have to admit that a Rams/Chargers Super Bowl would be interesting!
...back then, they said the Rams didn’t beat anyone. Lost to Saints and Bears away and at home v the Eagles who are a game away from the playoffs. Shame... Shame... Shame. Beat: Chiefs, Chargers, Hawks 2X, Vikings, Broncos, and Packers... forgotten.
And yet...when the playoffs begin, the season starts over. Will they see the Cowboys, Seahawks, Vikings, or Bears at home? No gimmees there but are any of them better teams without significant holes?
Conversely, why do most people assume the Rams will travel to NO as though those four teams have no chance against the Saints?
I started a thread HOPING Sean would reveal 12 personnel, defensive gambling aggression, and power v zone runs on offense in the postseason but he declined. Dammit!!!! Oh well, maybe two games of reps with it will be better than the element of surprise. We will see. I suppose it’s best he ensures the Rams get a bye...but only time will tell.
Finally, stopping the run by run blitzes instead of basic technique is a blueprint for bad things as we leaned from the Haslett experience. But Wade has little choice because our linebackers require the assistance.
Bottom line...there is NO dominant team this year. All are flawed. Any Given Sunday (and now Saturday). We still have McVay, Phillips, Kromer, Bones, Donald, Gurley, Goff, Woods, Cooks, Robey-Coleman, Hekker, Zuerlein, Whitworth, Saffold, Havenstein, Blythe, Johnson, Anderson, Talib, Littleton, Everett, Suh, Brockers, Peters, Joyner, Ekuban, Higbee, Fowler, and Reynolds...all of whom are better assets than the personnel they will face more often than not.
Called it last week after two depressing losses and reminding everyone now...Rams will beat the Texans in the Super Bowl. Hold me accountable
I been watching a LOT of Youtube with this migraine going on 3 weeks now and I've become super interested in a few things that I'd like to talk about.
NOTE: No politics or policy will be tolerated in this thread. Guns will be discussed, but ONLY with respect to features, capability towards purpose and function in the field. I don't know if this will become a predominantly gun thread or a general thread with some gun stuff in it, but I asked in advance if it was okay to start this thread and preliminarily, it should be okay. PLEASE, no one screw this up, chief culprit would be lamenting CA/NY/MA/Chicago gun laws. Just don't. That's going to quickly detour into politics/policy and I'm not trying to see this thread die because of some rant about gun laws in those jurisdictions.
Anyway... on to the show.
1) Hunting. I've wanted to hunt for a long time as I feel that responsible hunting is a big benefit especially in areas where apex predators don't exist or have been driven out due to habitat encroachment or livestock preservation. I know in the South that every farmer would love for people to responsibly hunt the wild boar that ruin crops at a fantastic rate. Doesn't hurt that for whatever reason, I HATE wild boar. I can't describe it, but you can bet that if I get into this proper, I'll be hunting them as often as possible and donating the meat which for a single male boar can be hundreds of pounds of meat. Plus, we've discussed moving to Minnesota again, although more of a long term plan, that seems to be something that might happen once we've done some more repairs, upgrades to our current home and paid off some debt.
2) Survival. It just FASCINATES me. I learned several ways to make a rocket stove as well as saw ways to survive all night even in -30 degree weather with NO COVER as long as it's not snowing heavily. I love the idea of camping/surviving in the wilderness for an extended period of time and both the wife and I are sick and tired of being sick and tired. We both camped with our kids when they were in scouts and the wife trained Wood Badge as well as was on an Eagle Scout application committee for years. We'll start slow, but you can bet that once we get into it, we'll really get into it. First step is getting some good boots and getting on the trails and then hikes, then backpack camping. Also will need to start learning much more about trauma first aid, gardening and botany so as to recognize wild plants that are either edible and/or can be used for medicine.
3) Shooting. I've always liked the "hitting a target" aspect of shooting, be it target or responsible hunting. I've grown fascinated with the physics, engineering and skill especially regarding long shots and if all this works out for me, I'll have a really nice .338 Lapua Magnum like the Steyr CL II Carbon with a Nightforce ATACR scope that I both hunt larger game with as well as drive the distance to longer shooting ranges (e.g. 1000 yard ranges). I'd settle for a Remington 700 XCR chambered in a .338 Lapua, but apparently Remington quality has fallen off as of late and there is concern about the reliability of the 700 with the .338 as opposed to the 30-06 or the .308 or even the .300 Win Mag. All the other .338 Lapua rifles are just expensive enough that might as well save up for the Steyr. Anyway, I'm a ways from that (gotta get the wife to the range legit beating me with a Ruger 10-22 before I have a shot at what looks like a $8k+ rifle /w the top of the line scope I want with not the cheapest ammo...
4) Prepping. Wife and I have wanted to put a pantry together for a LONG time, for something like 25 years now, but for various reasons, it wasn't feasible. Now it is. I don't exactly expect an EMP or anything like that, but it would be nice to be able to survive without too much stress if there's an extended gov't shutdown or a natural disaster. I like the idea of being prepared with bug out bags and not being so freaking reliant as I am now...on everything. Part of that is making really smart choices... like in putting together a wilderness survival kit, most of the family would carry "grocery" guns like the Ruger 10/22 Takedown, which breaks down so that it can be kept out of the elements pretty easily.
So... talks with the wife have gone good, she has warmed up to getting the Ruger 10/22 and starting with just target shooting as well as clearing out a room to start a pantry (some repairs to the room are needed) and maybe more importantly, getting outside and getting on the trails so that we can get fit enough to go camping and not feel like we've been through an industrial dryer...
I realize CJ has been getting the props and they are well deserved. But aside from a couple bad plays, that O-line went beast mode. I love watching the Rams being able to pound it like that. Let's go into frisco and do it again.
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.
Sunday Night Football: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Seattle Seahawks
"Sunday Night Football" will bring together two old AFC West Rivals as Seattle plays host to Kansas City. These two teams have plenty at stake as they are both looking to solidify playoff positioning. The Seahawks can punch their postseason ticket with a victory and a little bit of help in a couple of other games while Kansas City could win the AFC West with a victory and loss by the Chargers on Saturday at home against Baltimore. But a loss by the Chiefs combined with a win by Los Angeles would flip the division standings.
A lack of discipline was a big problem for Seattle (8-6) in the 26-23 overtime loss at San Francisco last Sunday. The Seahawks set a franchise record with 14 penalties for 148 yards, several of them being quite costly. Special teams was another problem as Sebastian Janikowski missed an extra point after the opening touchdown of the game. Janikowski also made an inexcusable business decision by not even bothering to try to tackle Richie James Jr. on the ensuing kickoff which resulted in a 97-yard touchdown for the 49ers. The offense was balanced as Chris Carson ran for 119 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. However, it was not good enough as the Seahawks were not able to pull away from San Francisco all afternoon long.
Kansas City (11-3) will be looking to get off the mat and recover from a losing a 29-28 heartbreaker to the Chargers last Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs had a 28-14 lead with about four minutes left but simply couldn’t put the game away. Patrick Mahomes completed 24 of 34 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns but Los Angeles did a good job of limiting the big plays. The running game was an issue as Kansas City managed just 60 rushing yards against a physical defense. Philip Rivers was able to shred the Chiefs' secondary on the game-winning drive, including a key fourth-down completion to Travis Benjamin. Kansas City surrendered 407 yards and 30 first downs, which is not a recipe for success in the playoffs.
Kansas City at Seattle Kickoff: Sunday, Dec 23 at 8:20 p.m. ET TV: NBC Spread: Chiefs -2.5
Three Things to Watch
1. Russell Wilson vs. Patrick Mahomes
Wilson has a knack for rising to the occasion when the spotlight is on him, especially at CenturyLink Field, but this is a little bit of a different beast on Sunday night. Mahomes has thrown for 4,543 yards and 45 touchdown passes on the season. It is going to be extremely important for Wilson to make big plays with his legs to keep Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (14 sacks) from having too much of an impact. In addition, Wilson is going to need to capitalize on opportunities in the passing game as the Seahawks will need to be able to score at least 30 points in order to win. Mahomes has done a nice job on producing at a high level on the road as he's looking for his fifth straight road game with at least three touchdown passes. The environment at CenturyLink Field is a different beast in prime time, so look for head coach Andy Reid to give Mahomes some easy throws early on to set up bigger plays in the second half. One thing that could change the game plan is if Seattle safety Bradley McDougald is unable to play because of a knee injury. His status is very much in doubt, which would be a big loss for the Seahawks as they try to slow down Kansas City's explosive passing attack.
2. Controlling the clock
Seattle is averaging a league-leading 168.6 rushing yards per game and the best way to neutralize a high-powered offense is to keep them off the field. Kansas City has struggled all year long when it comes to stopping the run, especially on the road. Teams are averaging 4.95 yards per carry and have 10 rushing touchdowns against the Chiefs when they are away from Arrowhead Stadium. Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer needs to find a way to get 40-plus carries to limit Kansas City’s overall possessions. Expect Chris Carson to get at least 20 touches and have a great opportunity to go over 100 yards. The Chiefs will need to get more out of the running game then they have lately to keep the crowd noise in check as well as Seattle's pass rush. Frank Clark and Jarran Reed have been a force to be reckoned with all year long, combining for 20.5 sacks along the way.
3. Tyler Lockett vs. Kansas City secondary
Lockett has been the most explosive offensive playmaker for the Seahawks, and he will need to be heavily involved in the game plan on Sunday night against a suspect Chiefs secondary. Kendall Fuller has a pretty good chance to play on Sunday despite having surgery on his hand after last week's game. Eric Berry should get more reps this week after being limited to just a half of action as Kansas City is keeping him in a snap count in his return from an Achilles injury. Look for Seattle to move Lockett around the formations in an effort to get him open for a big play against the league's worst pass defense (282.5 ypg).
Final Analysis
With the health issues facing the Seahawks on the defensive side of the ball with Bradley McDougald and K.J. Wright, this game sets up well for Kansas City to come in and get win number 12. It won’t be easy for the Chiefs as Seattle will be amped up and ready to atone for last week’s debacle in Santa Clara. However, look for Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City to make just enough plays on offense at the right time to narrowly cover the spread on Sunday night.
Kinda funny all this talk about the Chargers being the best team in football after a come from behind win over the Chiefs. Pro bowlers at every level, Rivers could be mvp, Bosa,Ingram, Mike Williams, the defensive rookie of the year, well a funny thing happened on way to the super bowl, they got punched in the mouth.
That was the difference between them and the Chiefs and Rams, the Chargers actually play defense supposedly. The Chargers aren’t Hollywood, they’re not style over substance, they built this team in the draft instead of using mismatched parts.
Well, it looks like KC should be able to get that #1 seed and the Chargers will have to do it the hard way. They can still win it of course, just like everyone else. Experts had the Rams in the SB, then the Chiefs, then the Saints, then the Chargers. It almost seems like nobody has any idea how it’s going to turn out.
