http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-r...und-pick-no-problem-rams-drafted-well-in-2017

I have not seen this article here yet.

I think now is a good time to look back on the Goff trade. In hindsight it was definitely the right decision, and it has been supported by good picks in 2016 and 2017. It would also be fair to say that it was a win-win trade with the Titans since they got to the divisional round this year. You can't turn your team around if you stay in mediocrity and not take shots at getting the very best players when you really need them.

I am excited about the potential of that defense if we can make the right draft picks.

(PS : I am intrigued by what the Browns will do with that truckload of picks they have this year, will they manage to turn around like Titans and Rams have ?)

Vikings.

I can forgive my childhood heartbreaks from the Vikings because Case Keenum is a giant teflon coated scrotum as a motherfucking passer and I rooted for him as a Rams QB. How can you not want to see him win? I think I'm pretty clear there. As Rams fans we used to talk about his heart and moxy. Turns out he has a brain and arm too.

Eagles.

Fuck them. They have shitty ass fans and this franchise should never be allowed to win a SB. Ever. Plus I dislike the slimy owner.

Jagwuhz.

I don't like how they talk shit when they win. I think they are mouthy and I don't appreciate that. The only uni worse then theirs in the world is the Bengals who paid someone to make the ugliest uni ever. You don't talk shit when you talked shit all day and almost lost and gave up 42 points. You take the win and get the fuck out of town with your mouth shut.

Patriots.

I wish it were the Rams walking off the field after beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl, but the Vikings doing it is fine with me. It'll shut Boston up for a while, and anytime that happens it's good. So fuck the Patriots.

I wish it could have been the Rams, then the Bills.

But now I want to see Case Keenum shock the world.

HOLY COW!!!!!! How crazy is that? One of our ex QBs will be in the Super Bowl!!!!!

View: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Hill-Named-PFF-Top-Five-Cornerback-for-Wild-Card-Weekend/944f282a-d742-4288-b514-f4090cfa149b

Hill Named PFF Top-Five Cornerback for Wild Card Weekend
Kristen Lago



Saturday’s Wild Card contest against the Falcons did not end in a Rams victory, but cornerback Troy Hill has still been recognized for his performance in the contest.

The Oregon product has showcased steady improvement since Week 14 — when he began starting in place of the injured Kayvon Webster — and continued to perform at a high level on Saturday. Hill did not allow a single reception on five targets against the Falcons and recorded a team-leading three pass deflections.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/PFF/status/949865385398099968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.therams.com%2Fnews-and-events%2Farticle-1%2FHill-Named-PFF-Top-Five-Cornerback-for-Wild-Card-Weekend%2F944f282a-d742-4288-b514-f4090cfa149b

“For Troy to be able to step up, even going back to the Seattle game, I thought really represented where you see him getting his hands on the ball, making a lot of plays,” head coach Sean McVay said of Hill’s development. “You could see his confidence grow.”

Hill’s performance was enough to give him a 91.7 overall grade by Pro Football Focus and earn him a spot as one of the top five cornerbacks of the week in passing coverage.

Including his Wild Card performance, Hill has been a solid contributor for the Rams defense down the stretch. And McVay said that he has continued to see the cornerback’s confidence grow with the added experience.

“Troy's a great competitor,” McVay said. “He's got great short-space quickness, lateral agility, good body control and I thought it was good for him to be able to end the year the way that he did. That should give him a lot of confidence going into the off season."

1. Vikings (15.8)... Beating the Saints as I type this. Probably advancing to NFC Championship game.
2. Jaguars (15.9)... Beat Bills and Steelers. Advancing to AFC Championship game.
3. Eagles (17.9)... Beat Falcons. Advancing to NFC Championship game.
4. Patriots (18.2)... Beat Titans. Advancing to AFC Championship game.
5. Falcons (19.1)... Beat Rams. Lost to Eagles.
6. Steelers (19.2)... Lost to Jaguars.
7. Saints (20.7)... Beat Panthers. Losing to Vikings as I type this.
8. Rams (20.9)... Lost to Falcons.
9. Panthers (21.1)... Lost to Saints.
10. Chiefs (21.2)... Lost to Titans.
11. Bills (21.7)... Lost to Jaguars.
12. Titans (22.9)... Beat Chiefs. Lost to Patriots.

Now, granted, postseason isn't always this obvious in terms of favoring scoring defense. Falcons of last year are good example (they were over 24ppg), but eventually their real defense showed up and cost them.

Rams need to get better on defense. IMO. Gotta get well below that 19ppg range.

http://theramswire.usatoday.com/201...urley-leveon-bell-contract-extension-dispute/

One of the hottest debates in the NFL this season was the one comparing Todd Gurley to Le’Veon Bell, wondering who was the better all-around running back. They had very similar seasons – Gurley had 2,093 yards from scrimmage compared to Bell’s 1,946 – ranking first and second, respectively, in that category.

They probably watched each other fairly closely this season as they competed for the rushing title, but it should be Gurley keeping an eye on Bell this offseason for a different reason. Bell made headlines this week by saying he’d consider sitting out next season, or possibly even retiring, if the Steelers placed the franchise tag on him for a second straight year.

It’s highly unlikely it’d ever get to that point, but the fact that it’s even a conversation is fairly telling of Bell’s stance on the one-year tag. Gurley isn’t in the same situation, but he very well could be in a couple of years.He’s under contract through 2018, and if the Rams exercise his fifth-year option, he’ll remain in Los Angeles through 2019. That’s the likeliest scenario, and it’s the exact one Aaron Donald’s in right now.

However, Bell’s offseason could have big implications on Gurley’s financial future because it’s almost certain that Le’Veon will become the highest-paid running back in NFL history. Right now, Devonta Freeman is the top-paid back in the league, making an average of $8.25 million per year.

Bell is going to get at least $10 million per year whenever he signs a long-term extension, but his reign as the richest running back in the league probably won’t last very long. Whatever amount of money Bell gets, Gurley is likely to surpass in a few years.

That is, unless the Rams take a similar approach to his contract as the one the Steelers took. Here’s one possible timeline for Gurley:

• 2018: $2.3 million salary, $4.4 million cap hit
• 2019: about $7 million for fifth-year option
• 2020: $13+ million for franchise tag

Another possibility is that the Rams extend him next offseason before his fifth-year option kicks in, the way many expect them to with Donald this offseason. That would be a costlier move for the Rams, but it would help Gurley secure his future financially.That’s why Bell’s contract situation could have a ripple effect on the Rams and Gurley. If he’s franchise tagged again, the Rams wouldn’t have a baseline on which to pay Gurley. He could “set the market” in 2019, so to speak, which isn’t necessarily a good thing for him.

However, if Bell gets, say, $12 million per year for four years this offseason, it would put pressure on the Rams to give Gurley a contract north of that in 2019 or the following offseason.Put simply, Gurley wants Bell to get as much money as possible right now to set up an even more lucrative payday for himself down the line. That’s why he’s siding with Bell on Twitter, defending him in this contract dispute with the Steelers.

The players disrespecting our flag or this total inept officiating. Oh yea, I almost forgot one, Kraft having this dumb ass Goodell in his back pocket. No wonder people are tuning out the NFL in record numbers.

After watching this weekends games, and especially the Titans-Pats, am I the only one who thinks officials are instructed to influence games with calls, non-calls? It was obvious to me that the Patriots got lots of favorable calls, non-calls by refs. (been going on for many years) Steelers better have a good game plan because I don't think refs will be in their corner.

What say you?

View: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rookie-Recap-A-Look-at-How-the-Rams-2017-Draft-Class-Performed-this-Season/523b9a6e-f2b6-42d1-9ff0-9b8012f25b6d

Rookie Recap: A Look at How the Rams 2017 Draft Class Performed this Season

With the the start of the new year, it’s important to look back on the season that was. And in 2017, the Rams draft class played a significant role in the club’s overall success. The following list describes how each member of the 2017 draft class performed in his rookie season:

TE Gerald Everett — Round 2, No. 44

Everett joined Tyler Higbee to give the Rams two, young pass-catching tight ends. The South Alabama product recorded several impressive catches throughout the season, showcasing his movement and agility in the open field — even as a big-bodied tight end. He finished the year with 257 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.

WR Cooper Kupp — Round 3, No. 69

The former Eastern Washington standout was one of the Rams most impressive rookies, and all-around receivers this season. From Week 1, Kupp established himself as a crisp route-runner who can make moves in open space. And although he did have a few key drops throughout the regular season, he bounced back well from adversity and was overall extremely productive. The wideout recorded 62 catches for 869 yards and five touchdowns — setting the franchise record for most receptions by a rookie in a single season.

S John Johnson III — Round 3, No. 91

Johnson started out the season as a key rotational piece in the Rams secondary, but by Week 5, the Boston College product had taken over the starting role. In his first career start, Johnson picked off Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. And from the point forward, he has continued to be an important contributor on defense — recording 91 tackles and 11 pass breakups.

WR Josh Reynolds — Round 4, No. 117

Reynolds impressed early on during training camp, showcasing his good hands and ability to stretch the field. But with of the Rams’ stacked receiving corps, Reynolds did not see too many snaps in his rookie season. The wide receiver, however, did make the most of the opportunities he was given. When veteran Robert Woods went down with a shoulder injury midway through the season, Reynolds filled in nicely, recording his first career touchdown. In all, he finished the season with 11 receptions for 104 yards.

OLB Samson Ebukam — Round 4, No. 125

Ebukam showed strong growth during his rookie season, learning from veteran outside linebackers like Connor Barwin and Robert Quinn. Throughout the first six weeks, Ebukam’s impact came primarily on special teams where he was given extensive extensive playing time — but he became a solid rotational piece on defense as well. When Barwin broke his forearm in November, the Eastern Washington product filled in and flashed his speed and strength off the edge. In 16 games, Ebukam recorded 38 tackles, 2.0 sacks, three quarterback hits, and one forced fumble.

DT Tanzel Smart — Round 6, No. 189

The Tulane product — like most NFL rookies — had his share of ups and downs this season. Under coordinator Wade Phillips 3-4 defensive scheme, the Rams experimented with both Smart and defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks as a complement to Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers. Smart stepped in well at nose tackle through 16 games and four starts, recording 18 tackles, one quarterback hit, and one pass breakup.

FB Sam Rogers — Round 6, No. 206

It’s not often that an NFL team drafts a full back, but head coach Sean McVay saw something special in Rogers. Rogers spent training camp on the active roster, but was cut in roster reduction to 53 players at the start of the regular season. But he has since been signed to a futures contract and will begin the offseason program on the active roster.

DE Ejuan Price — Round 7, No. 234

The Pittsburgh product spent the first 12 weeks of the season on Los Angeles’ 53-man roster, but was active for just one game. Like Rogers, Price also signed a futures contract with the franchise and will be on the team for the start of the offseason program.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...an-schottenheimer-set-to-be-named-seahawks-oc

Brian Schottenheimer set to be named Seahawks OC

The Seattle Seahawks are close to hiring a new offensive coordinator.

Former Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer is expected to accept the Seahawks' offensive coordinator job, a source involved with the situation told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has offered Schottenheimer the job, and the two sides are working on the deal that is expected to be finalized soon, according to Rapoport. Schottenheimer was their top choice, and the Seahawks wanted to get him before other teams potentially offered him positions, Rapoport added.

ESPN first reported the development.

Schottenheimer's anticipated addition to the Seahawks' coaching staff comes less than a week after the team ended offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell's seven-year run in Seattle. Schottenheimer, 44, previously served as offensive coordinator for the New York Jets (2006-11) during their back-to-back trips to the AFC title game and was the Rams' OC from 2012-14.

Following his two-year stint with the Colts, Schottenheimer will be tasked with diversifying a Seattle offense that has been too dependent on quarterback Russell Wilson. The do-everything signal-caller became the first player in NFL history this past season to account for 100 percent of his team's passing yards while chalking up at least 30 percent of the squad's rushing yards.

Schottenheimer will try to accomplish that by injecting life into a ho-hum running game that was hampered by a committee of underwhelming performers in 2017. Seattle ranked 23rd in league rushing (101.8) and no one other than Wilson rushed for more than 250 yards on the ground. Injuries played a role, but Mike Davis, Chris Carson, J.D. McKissic and Eddie Lacy couldn't get the job done. Schottenheimer likely will have a few new players to work with in the backfield once general manager John Schneider tinkers the roster.

Although Schottenheimer's Colts offense fared better than the Seahawks on the ground -- thanks to the efforts of Frank Gore -- it remains to be seen if he'll be an upgrade over Bevell in helping Carroll's steer Seattle back into the playoffs.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...aints-vs-vikings-nfc-divisional-round-preview

Saints vs. Vikings: NFC Divisional Round preview

The Backstory

In a game that feels like it took place eons ago, the Vikings and Saints faced off to open the season in Minnesota. Mike Zimmer's squad pounced on New Orleans and never relented in a 29-19 victory.

The two teams face off at U.S. Bank Stadium as completely different teams after months of battle.

The Week 1 tilt featured Sam Bradford dicing up a Saints secondary that had yet to find its mojo. Vikings running back Dalvin Cook galloped all over the dome, setting a team rookie record. Neither of them has seen the field since Week 5.

The Saints had yet to unleash the full force of its ascendant rookie class, including running back Alvin Kamara, corner Marshon Lattimore and safety Marcus Williams.

After a sluggish start to the year -- and jettisoning Adrian Peterson -- the Saints gashed opponents with the best one-two backfield punch in the NFL. Mark Ingram and Kamara combined to lead the NFL in rushing yards (1,852), rushing TDs (20), scrimmage yards (3,094) and scrimmage TDs (25). The overpowering backfield attack aided an improved defense by milking the clock.

While future Hall of Famer Drew Brees took a backseat through the regular season, the quarterback's demise was incredibly exaggerated. Compiling record-setting completion percentage, Brees and No. 1 target Michael Thomas can pilfer opponents seemingly on the snap of a finger. As he did in last week's playoff victory, when the Saints need a Hall of Fame game from Brees, he delivers the goods.

The Vikings, meanwhile, stormed through the NFC North behind skillful play from replacement quarterback Case Keenum, whose heady pocket movement and intelligent marksmanship allowed him to finish behind only Brees in completion percentage this season. Minnesota built its own potent backfield behind Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon.

Zimmer's squad enters Sunday owning the most consistent and dominating defense in the NFL. A group that could rival the Purple People Eaters of old, Minnesota's D can stuff the run (second in rushing YPG allowed), smother the pass (second in passing YPG), stiff arm scoring drives (first in points per game) and quash big plays (fewest rushes of 10-plus yards and receptions of 20-plus yards allowed).

When the Vikings last hosted a playoff game, Minnesota came within a Blair Walsh chip-shot choke from pulling off an upset. Could kicker Kai Forbath succumb to his yips and provide the latest booting nightmare for Vikings fans? Or will the most balanced team in the NFC thwart a Hall of Famequarterback to continue its run toward a home Super Bowl bid?

Under Pressure

Case Keenum, Minnesota Vikings quarterback: For five seasons, Keenum journeyed from one outfit to another, mostly losing along the way. After grabbing the reins early in 2017 following Sam Bradford's knee injury, Keenum has performed spectacularly. Far from a dink-and-dunk artist, the 29-year-old is fearless maneuvering the pocket and dropping pinpoint bombs. He can find Adam Thielenand Stefon Diggs across the formation against zones and man coverage. Playoff inexperience will be Keenum's biggest task to overcome. Brees has 12 career playoff starts. Keenum has zero. The last quarterback without a playoff start to beat a team sporting a QB with 10-plus playoff starts was Tim Tebow over Ben Roethlisberger in the 2011 wild-card round.

Keenum deftly avoided turnovers this season, tossing just seven interceptions to 21 touchdowns. That trend must continue for the playoff neophyte. While Diggs likely will face Lattimore in one-on-one matchups on the outside, Keenum should find Pro Bowl wideout Thielen with regularity out of the slot. The Saints' banged-up defense has given up an average of 434 total yards per game the last two weeks -- to the Buccaneers and Panthers (not exactly two explosive units). Keenum's receivers won't suffer the same case of the drops Carolina wideouts experienced last year. In his first playoff start, Keenum owns the weapons to keep his dream season alive if he can keep the nerves under wraps.

Saints RBs: Was last week's struggle for Ingram and Kamara a blip on the radar or a symptom of a larger issue behind an injured O-line facing ramped-up defensive completion? After becoming the first duo in NFL history to each earn 1,500-plus scrimmage yards, Kamara and Ingram mustered 68 total yards on 21 touches (3.2 yards per touch) in the wild-card win. Against arguably the best defense in the NFL, the Saints running backs must be better Sunday. The Vikings allowed the fewest scrimmage yards to running backs in 2017 and just 4.1 yards per touch to RBs (second fewest in the NFL). It's not a coincidence the Saints' defense struggled the past two games as New Orleans' running game failed to gain traction in each contest. Without the ground game churning the clock and grinding down opponents, a banged-up defense was left exposed.

Kamara will be the key Sunday indoors in Minnesota. The slippery rookie saw just 11 touches for 38 yards in the opener versus the Vikings before he morphed into an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. The two dual-threat running backs Minnesota faced this season that most closely resemble what Kamara brings to the table were Le'Veon Bell and Todd Gurley. Zimmer's defense slowed both dynamic backs to the tune of 2.9 and 3.1 yards per touch, respectively. Behind a banged-up offensive line, Kamara must find holes to slither through and bust out a few of his jaw-dropping runs. When Kamara pops off, it will help chip away at a concrete defense.

Matchup to Watch

Drew Brees vs. Vikings stud D: Seven previous times since 1990 a team with a top-two total defense faced off against a team with a top-two total offense in the playoffs. Six of those seven instances the defensive team came out victorious. Facts aside, bet against Brees at your own peril. The savvy veteran has pillaged top defenses this year. In seven games versus top-10 total defenses, Brees has thrown 10 TDs to three INTs for a 110.1 passer rating and 8.8 yards per attempt. When the competition rises, Brees finds another gear.

The matchup within the matchup is between Saints No. 1 wideout Michael Thomas versus Vikingsshutdown corner Xavier Rhodes. Rhodes tailed opposing No. 1 receivers in 10 of 16 games this season, and allowed just one 100-yard receiver when shadowing (Marvin Jones), per Pro Football Focus. If Rhodes slows Thomas, look for Brees to take shots downfield to Ted Ginn Jr. and Kamara out of the backfield. Brees' ability to spread the ball around and get it out quickly will be key for the Saints' aerial attack versus Zimmer's plethora of pressure packages. One key to Brees' passing game will be run after the catch. Behind pinpoint passes that hit WRs in stride, Brees ranks second in the NFL in YAC per reception, per PFF. However, the Vikings give up the fewest YAC per reception allowed. If Thomas, Ginn, and Kamara can shed tacklers, it could bend the game in Brees' advantage

Prediction

The gut says to trust the Hall of Fame quarterback to make plays in crunch time. The mind argues the Vikings are too balanced on both sides of the ball to falter. The home crowd tips the scales by plucking the heartstrings. Behind a raucous crowd, lathered into a fever pitch with every Skol chant and Gjallarhorn blow, Keenum will make enough plays to pull the Vikings away against a Saintsdefense whose injuries will finally be too much to overcome.

Minnesota Vikings 23, New Orleans Saints 17

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...uars-vs-steelers-afc-divisional-round-preview

Jaguars vs. Steelers: AFC Divisional Round Preview

The Backstory

For months, football fans and analysts alike have confidently pointed to the AFC title game as a predetermined showdown between the Steelers and Patriots.

In this scenario, the Titans -- facing New England on Saturday -- and the Jaguars -- playing Pittsburgh on Sunday -- are nothing more than gridiron afterthoughts. Milquetoast names on a dance card and not worthy of the high-society invite.

Unfair?

Absolutely. At least when it comes to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who roll into Heinz Field with one of the century's beastliest defenses. Second in points allowed and better than anyone against the pass, this unit has the potential to make things challenging for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh counters with a juicy, third-ranked air attack that returns a healthy Antonio Brown to the lineup for the first time since before Christmas.

Too much has been made about Ben Roethlisberger's five-pick meltdown in Week 5, when Jacksonville rode into Pittsburgh and dropped a 30-9 death-hammer. That game is ancient history -- "We've evolved since then," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said -- and he's right. Still, this Jaguarsdefense has the personnel to give Pittsburgh's offense fits behind a star-studded cast headlined by havoc-wreaking MVP candidate Calais Campbell and a pair of star cornerbacks in Jalen Ramseyand A.J. Bouye.

We can't take another step without mentioning Blake Bortles, the Jaguars passer who looked downright hideous throwing the ball in a white-knuckle 10-3 playoff win over the Bills last weekend -- an ugly/beautiful game shipped to us from 1937.

In that grind-it-out tilt, Bortles became just the third starting signal-caller to win a playoff contest with more rushing (88) than passing yards (87), joining Michael Vick and Bob Griese along the way.

Bortles made plays with his feet against Buffalo, but killed the team through the air. He must clean up his act and hope for a monster performance from rookie running back Leonard Fournette, who thrashed the Steelers for 181 yards and two scores back in October.

Fournette, though, has been held to under 70 yards in five of his last six appearances, leading to losses in three of those outings. The ground game must buzz to life for any shot to upset a talented, driven Steelers team playing to honor their injured teammate, Ryan Shazier.

Pittsburgh was caught by surprise in Week 5. That won't happen again on Sunday.

Under Pressure

Le'Veon Bell, Steelers RB: Bell's 5.5 yards per carry in the postseason rank fourth-highest in NFL history. Pittsburgh's ultra-productive workhorse hasn't posted fewer than 80 yards from scrimmage since the regular-season opener, but Bell has been held under 100 yards rushing all but once since Week 7. At the same time, he beat out Alvin Kamara (81) and Christian McCaffrey (80) with a league-leading and franchise-record 85 catches this season. Bell is a special talent, but his yards per carry have tumbled from 4.6 over his first six games to 3.2 over his last eight. During that span his total scrimmage yards have fallen from 122.0 over his first six outings to 86.0 ever since. Against a Jaguars team that held Bell to 47 yards rushing in Week 5, it's time for a dose of revenge.

Blake Bortles, Jaguars QB: This is a predictable entry, as Bortles operates under a burning spotlight weekly for a team often forced to play around their quarterback. It's not hard to imagine Pittsburgh's opportunistic defense coaxing Bortles into a handful of mind-numbing errors. To prevent that, Jacksonville must avoid falling into an early hole. When the run game produces, Bortles has been a different player. That's especially true on snaps resulting in play-action passes, where he posted the eighth-highest quarterback rating (107.5) league-wide this season, per Pro Football Focus. Only nine teams allowed a higher passer rating against play action than Pittsburgh's 107.9, giving Bortles a minor ray of hope. Rattle him early, though, and this could be a wipeout.

Matchup to Watch

Prepare yourself for one of weekend's premier strength-on-strength matchups when the NFL's top receiving tandem of Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster square off against the league's finest cornerback duo in Ramsey and Bouye. To the surprise of nobody, Pro Football Focus ranked Brown as the league's best player at his position, with Smith-Schuster (No. 22) and Martavis Bryant (No. 64) rounding out the pecking order. Ramsey -- clocking in as the league's second-ranked cover man -- and Bouye (No. 6) are joined by Aaron Colvin (No. 57), who could see plenty of time against Smith-Schuster in the slot. Back in Week 5, Brown piled up 91 yards off four grabs against Ramsey, but also saw a pair of targets in his direction wind up as picks. Smith-Schuster, meanwhile, managed just one catch for 18 yards off seven targets against Bouye. Smith-Schuster has grown into a breakout star, though, giving Pittsburgh a pair of pass-catchers who can riddle a secondary. With Bryant also heating up, this amounts to biggest test yet for Jacksonville's fascinating young secondary.

Pittsburgh's offensive line vs. Jacksonville's pass rush: The Steelers house an underrated front five, but the Jaguars have successfully hassled quarterbacks all season. Ranking second in sacks (55) and interceptions (21), third in forced fumbles (17) and first in defensive scores (7), the Jaguarscome at you with a loaded roster that starts with their ferocious defensive line. Campbell finished second league-wide with 14.5 sacks, while the underrated Yannick Ngakoue wasn't far behind with 12.5 takedowns of his own. Dante Fowler and Malik Jackson added another 16 between them, enough to keep offensive linemen awake and shaking in their beds at night. This group dominated Buffalo last week and made life a living, breathing hell for signal-caller Tyrod Taylor. They have the ability to do it again.

Prediction

Outside of a suspicious meltdown in San Francisco, Jacksonville's defense has performed ferociously all year. They can hang with anyone. How long can they temper Pittsburgh, though, while waiting for Bortles and the offense to produce something -- anything -- to make this a game? A defensive touchdown and some general weirdness would help Jacksonville, but I don't see the Steelers falling twice at home to the same team.

Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Jacksonville Jaguars 17

RIP to a true legend.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/952222674809389056


Woah Nelly!

Jake and Joe Curley help wrap up the Rams 2017 season with a bow and help bring in the 2018 season the right way. The two discuss the Rams strengths and weaknesses heading into the 2018 offseason and University of Texas-San Antonio's CB Devron Davis joins the show.

iTUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast...y-featuring/id1233567831?i=1000399748851&mt=2

SPREAKER: https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/wrapping-up-the-rams-2017-season-w-joe-c

https://m.soundcloud.com/user-721510654/rampage-radio-eps-3-playoff-loss-vs-falcons-and-offseason

Review of Falcon loss, Touching on FAs, Easy money picks for this weekends games. Check us out.

Is Tom Brady Finally Getting Old?

On paper, 2017 seems like a very typical Tom Brady season. He is leading the NFL in passing yards and sporting a 102.8 passer rating that’s his second-best since 2011. The Patriots are once again the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and Brady is the leading candidate to be named the NFL’s most valuable player.

But over the past five weeks, there has been some trouble brewing in Foxboro — at least by New England’s own ridiculous standards. After the Patriots traded away Brady’s heir apparent, Jimmy Garoppolo, an ESPN report of an internal power struggle between Brady, coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft has clouded the future of the five-time champions. But perhaps more worrisome than this report is that Brady himself has been quietly marred in a slump.

More here...

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-tom-brady-finally-getting-old/?addata=espn:nfl:index

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ch-stream-saturdays-divisional-round-playoff/

If you're looking for the strangest underdog story of the 2017 NFL season, look no further than Philadelphia on Saturday.

That's where this weekend's slate of postseason games will kick off, but it's also where the Eagles (13-3) will open their playoff run as the first higher-seeded team since 1970 to be underdogs in their own home game. Ranked atop the NFC after a historic win streak on the back of MVP candidate Carson Wentz, the Birds have been both downplaying and talking up their status as a "disrespected" No. 1 seed since Wentz's season-ending knee injury raised questions about their ability to go deep in the playoffs.

Their first foe, the Atlanta Falcons, are in a very different place.

A surprise playoff team after their monumental Super Bowl LI collapse, the Falcons are also the conference's lowest-ranked postseason contender, and yet they enter Lincoln Financial Field as the favorites to return to the NFC Championship. Talent-wise, not a whole lot has changed since they last made a run through their January schedule, and they're fresh off an upset over the high-flying Los Angeles Rams. But they've also battled sloppiness throughout the entirety of 2017, making the Eagles, whose record would have them favored in any other year, a potential spoiler.

Come kickoff, everything will be on the line for both sides. Win, and it's on to the NFC title game with a shot at the Super Bowl. Lose, and the season is over.

How to watch, stream

• Kickoff: Jan. 13, 4:35 p.m. ET
  
• TV: NBC (Check local listings)
  
• Streaming: fuboTV (Try for free)

How can the Eagles win?

• This starts with the defense. Since Wentz went down, it's been Jim Schwartz's unit that's had the most pull on Eagles victories, save for backup quarterback Nick Foles' four-touchdown debut as the fill-in under center. Philadelphia has been opportunistic all year, and the team has been even better in stopping the run. So limiting the Devonta Freeman-Tevin Coleman combo, forcing Matt Ryan to throw at a stadium where he's 1-3 on his career and getting pressure in the pocket is the biggest key to Philly upsetting the defending NFC champions.
  
• Running the ball would also be a monumental help for the Eagles. Foles is at his best when he's got a ground game on his side, so feeding Jay Ajayi, the team's most explosive option out of the backfield, is a must. Philadelphia likes to do a lot of East-West running, especially with No. 3 man Corey Clement, but against Atlanta, the best bet might be to charge the ball right up the middle, so as to at least partially limit linebacker Deion Jones' impact as a sideline-to-sideline run stopper. Gaining more than 100 yards on the ground would be a recipe for success not only for Foles but for the team, which ran the ball to victory over the Falcons in 2016.

How can the Falcons win?

• Ryan has plenty of weapons at his disposal, so priority No. 1 should be utilizing them in balance. The Falcons have been just pedestrian for stretches of this season, but when they're firing on all cylinders, allowing Julio Jones to stretch the field, the running backs to set up short conversions and guys like Austin Hooper to float in the middle, they're dangerous. The Eagles have a potential weak link in the middle, where late-season pickup Dannell Ellerbe may or may not start at linebacker, so Atlanta would be smart to attack the heart of Philly's "D," then get creative in spreading the ball -- and, thus, holding it for most of the game.
• Special teams is almost always overlooked until it, you know, swings the outcome of a game. But the Falcons are coming off a Wild Card win that came largely thanks to some big plays on that unit. It's hard to force your special teams into a huge role during game day, perhaps, but Atlanta should be confident if Saturday's showdown comes down to this area. Matt Bryant is built for these types of matchups, and he's also got quite the history kicking against the Eagles. Saturday's clash figures to be close if Bryant has a chance at a clutch play, and common sense says that if things are close, the Falcons have the edge.

Who will win?
The Eagles might be the No. 1 seed, but almost no one likes them to come off what's essentially been two weeks of rest to "upset" the Falcons, as seven of our eight NFL analysts at CBSSports.com picked Atlanta to go back to the NFC Championship.

Other national media have also piled onto the Falcons bandwagon in advance of Saturday's showdown, making Atlanta the consensus favorite to turn the 2017 Eagles into a one-and-done playoff team.

Still, even without Wentz, Philadelphia boasts the NFL's top-ranked run defense and has a favorable history against the Falcons, particularly at home. So if you're looking for the weekend's biggest toss-up outside of maybe the Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints, this is it.

OK, this is meant to accompany the excellent 1'st car thread brought to us by @-X-.

I learned to ride a street bike on a Honda 450 in 1969, and it actually was a great ride :





In 1979 both my best friend and I purchased two '79 Harley 'Lowriders' from Glendale Harley in So.Cal. with the express intention of riding cross country during the summer of 1980. We were both fortunate to live within a few blocks of a VP for Jammer Magazine/catalog, a subsidiary of Jammer Motorcycle Accessories, the second largest aftermarket Harley parts dealer after PoughCo. The below picture is what my Bike looked like leaving the dealership, but our friend EZ tricked out both bikes and published the pictures in his magazine at absolutely no cost to us for the customization. I paid shortly before for a custom paint job, but the pictures were destroyed in a house fire and only remain now in some obscure 1980 Jammer Magazine Parts Catalog. I also provided a few models who were only too happy to pose for Jammer to try to jump start a career.
Anyway, we went on our tour and it was without doubt the very best trip/vacation of my life, even if cut short in the Canadian Rockies due to mechanical problems with my buddy's bike which cleaned us out financially. Some of the stories I could tell are so fantastic you wouldn't believe me, but we really did have the time of our lives packed into less than a month.





Eleven years earlier my dad and his best friend died on a BMW, and they had ridden for well over 20 years together on both Harley's and then later with 1959 R69 BMW's. They once rode with a group of near 50, only 4 or 5 of them lasted into their 50's and beyond. Dad sold his last bike about a year prior to the accident at 44, they were riding double on his buddy's bike for that final short excursion. Drinking did them in.






While young at the time, I still got bit with the bug, but rode for just a few more years time after they passed the helmet law in California.
If you don't count the 'baja' bug, I haven't owned a car since the late 70's, only trucks for me since. My diesel F350 tows my big utility trailer and boat, and that's all I need any longer, ... unless a great vintage Triumph should fall into my hands somehow, someway.

So guys, who else had a ride they loved, ... street or off-road ?

Got this email today.






Rams Fan,
On behalf of the Los Angeles Rams, I would like to thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our team. From our first offseason workout all the way to our first playoff berth since 2004, you were committed to this team and together, we made history.

The Rams won the NFC West championship for the first time in nearly 15 years and we returned playoff football to Los Angeles in front of a crowd of more than 70,000 incredible fans. The Coliseum was electric and we are very appreciative of everyone that was there cheering us on. Although we are disappointed our season ended sooner than we had hoped, we are encouraged by the talent we have in place, the resiliency of our players and coaches, and the passion of our fans. We recognize the role you played in our success and for that we thank you.

This week marks the beginning of an offseason dedicated to improving our football team as we continue our journey to bring home a Super Bowl championship to Los Angeles. As we embark on this next chapter, we hope you extend your support and join us at the Coliseum this fall to recreate Saturday’s Wild Card atmosphere all season long. Together, I am confident we will build a franchise that will make you and the entire Los Angeles community proud.

We are motivated to respond to this challenge and our work for the 2018 season begins now.

Sincerely,

Sean McVay







Connect With Us:

Los Angeles Rams

29899 Agoura Rd, Floor 2

Los Angeles, CA 91301

Contact Info:

Phone: 818 338-0011

Email: info@rams.nfl.com

Unsubscribe

I keep seeing that everyone wants us to move on from Barron at ILB. I realize he is undersized. But I also see that Bucannon is considered one of the top ILB in the league at roughly the same size. The thought seems to also go that we can't have two undersized ILB as Tree is also undersized. How is Tree undersized? He is right in there in height and weight with all the top ILBs in the league aside from Hightower - who plays OLB probably more than ILB.

I get the idea that many want a big hitting run stuffing ILB. But is that really how the position is being played these days? Are we seeing games being won by run stuffing LBs or big D-lines with ILBs that can tackle and offer coverage on TEs and RBs while being able to blitz on occasion?

I agree that we need some depth at both ILB and OLB and possibly either a new starter at OLB or for one of our young guys to step up into that role. But what I don't agree with is this desire to move on from Barron. The guy is a player. Though undersized, he is seemingly always around the ball, a good blitzer, strong in coverage, and doesn't shy from hitting or filling gaps.

I could see the Rams putting in a bit larger LB for obvious run downs but I like the way Barron plays and he is just someone who does what he's asked to do and does it better than given credit.

I'd rather we go interior, DB, OLB, than try to replace a player that is IMO someone who every winning team needs - a player like Barron.

Granted, Higbee's ceiling is lower but he went from barely making it onto the field in his first year to being a fairly reliable target (there were some drops) in the passing game and his run-blocking continued to get better and better as the season went on.

If we simply saw Everett improve to the point where his run blocking got better and he knew the playbook better, I think we'd really have a nice new weapon for next year.

We spent a considerable part of the year in 3-WR personnel and eschewed two TE for the most part. It could be really nice to have more two TE formations available to us in the future to allow more variety in the run game and diversify the play-action game too.

Lets all take a second to give thanks to the man who brought touchdowns back to the Rams.

Login to view embedded media

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/01/11/pfts-divisional-round-picks-6/

PFT’s divisional round picks
Posted by Mike Foolio on January 11, 2018

It’s the divisional round, and I’m closing in on a knockout blow to MDS. Which would be a good thing, given that he knocked me out, curbed stomped me, stuffed me in a sack, and threw me in the river during the regular-season contest.

Last week, my faith in the Falcons delivered a one-game edge, with MDS getting half the games right and yours truly nailing three of four.

This week, MDS once again doubts the Falcons. I don’t. Come Saturday night, I’ll have a two-game lead and I’ll be making plans for cramming him into the meat grinder at Satriale’s.

Figuratively speaking, of course.
------------------------
Falcons at Eagles

MDS’s take: The Eagles are the first No. 1 seed ever to be the underdog against a No. 6 seed in the NFL playoffs, and it’s easy to see why: Carson Wentz is out, and Philadelphia will live or die with Nick Foles at quarterback. Against Matt Ryan, who typically plays very well in the postseason, most people are picking Atlanta. I’m not. I think the Eagles are a better all-around team than people are giving them credit for, and they can win without Wentz.

MDS’s pick: Eagles 17, Falcons 14.

Florio’s take: The sixth-seeded Falcons are favored, and for good reason. They have their MVP-caliber franchise quarterback, and the Eagles don’t. Can the Eagles parlay the disrespect card into the kind of effort that will carry the No. 1 seed to what would be an upset? Maybe. To aid the effort, I’ll pick the Falcons to win.

Florio’s pick: Falcons 27, Eagles 17.
-----------------------
Titans at Patriots

MDS’s take: The Patriots are two-touchdown favorites, and that sounds about right to me. The Titans deserve credit for coming together in the second half in Kansas City, and I do think Derrick Henry could have a big game against New England’s defense, but the Titans just won’t have enough to keep this one close. Tom Brady will play in his 35th postseason game, and it will be a big one.

MDS’s pick: Patriots 35, Titans 20.

Florio’s take: A team with a mobile quarterback and a nothing-to-lose mindset invades Foxboro with a highly unlikely final-four berth on the line. Marcus Mariota and Derrick Henry could give the Patriots fit, and maybe it won’t be a blowout. But the Patriots have the skill, the coaching, the experience, and the motivation to finish the job, again.

Florio’s pick: Patriots 30, Titans 20.
--------------------------
Jaguars at Steelers

MDS’s take: The Jaguars blew out the Steelers when these teams met in the regular season, and I’m tempted to pick Jacksonville to win again in Pittsburgh on Sunday. But I just don’t trust Blake Bortles to throw the ball well enough to put many points on the board, and I think Pittsburgh will win a low-scoring game.

MDS’s pick: Steelers 12, Jaguars 9.

Florio’s take: Allow me to retract my prediction that the Steelers will lose in the divisional round, based on coach Mike Tomlin’s willingness to peek ahead to a rematch with the Patriots. A rematch with the Jaguars will get the home team to focus on avoiding a second embarrassment at Heinz Field. The only glitch is the possibility that the Steelers will sell out to stop the run and Blake Bortles will make like Tim Tebow in early 2012 and find a way to complete enough passes and score enough points to beat the Steelers.

Florio’s pick: Steelers 24, Jaguars 13.
----------------------
Saints at Vikings

MDS’s take: The Vikings have the best chance of playing a home Super Bowl that any team has ever had. I think they’ll get one step closer on Sunday when they beat the Saints and punch their ticket to the NFC Championship Game. Drew Brees and the Saints’ offense are firing on all cylinders, but the Vikings’ defense matches up well with New Orleans, and I’m expecting a big game from Case Keenum as Minnesota wins.

MDS’s pick: Vikings 24, Saints 21.

Florio’s take: Both teams are far different than they were in Week One, and both are better than they were on the first Monday night of the season. The Vikings are arguably the most balanced team in the NFL, and it will be louder than anything the Saints have experienced on the road in the postseason, probably even louder than the Beastquake game of early 2011. Minnesota advances, setting up the team’s latest chance to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1976.

Florio’s pick: Vikings 31, Saints 20.