http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2017/week-14-dvoa-ratings

Week 14 DVOA Ratings
by Aaron Schatz

This week, the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams played the best and closest of the recent DVOA Bowl games. The Eagles pulled out a 43-35 win (that was really a 37-35 win plus a meaningless touchdown returning the Rams' fumble on an end-game "zillions of laterals" attempt). So the team that wins the DVOA Bowl should be No. 1 in DVOA now, right?

Nope.

DVOA analyzes the play-by-play and cares not for the simple binary of win and loss. And when it analyzes the play-by-play for this game, it says that the way the Rams played is much more indicative of future success than the way the Eagles played. It was one of a number of close games this week where the team that lost came out with the higher DVOA rating.

Here's a look at the DVOA. Remember, both teams get big bumps from the opponent adjustments. But those bumps are similar for both teams, so I'm going to just run DVOA here and not also VOA:

DVOA/OFF/DEF/ST/TOT
PHI 18.4%/19.1%/-15.9%/-16.6%
LARM 62.5%/-9.6%/4.1%/76.3%

What's going on here? One issue is that there were three fumbles in the game and the Eagles recovered all three. But when I mentioned this on Twitter, people rightfully pointed out that one of those fumbles was the meaningless final play. Another was an aborted snap to Nick Foles, and that's a play that only gets a small penalty in DVOA because it's usually recovered by the offense. So the fumble recovery luck is not a big issue here.

No, the bigger issue here is the problem of measuring efficiency vs. total value. DVOA measures the former. The Eagles outgained the Rams, 455 yards to 307 yards. But the main reason behind that is that the Eagles ran 85 plays to just 45 plays for the Rams. That's a discrepancy similar to last year's Super Bowl.

The Rams were much more efficient, gaining 6.8 yards per play compared to just 5.4 yards per play for Philadelphia. The Rams were not as good on third down, but they rarely even got to third down. The Rams were 2-of-7 on third downs. The Eagles were 8-of-20. That's a better percentage, but also, wow, 20 third downs. There was also a red zone discrepancy, as the Rams scored on all four of their red zone trips while the Eagles scored on three of five.

And then there's the issue of special teams. The gap between the teams is not just about the blocked punt that the Rams returned for a touchdown. The Rams got 74 yards on four kickoff returns while the Eagles didn't return a single kickoff. However, the DVOA system does penalize the punting team more for a blocked punt than it credits the return team. That's something that needs to be fixed in the next iteration of the system.

To those questioning: at a certain point, yes, I do need to figure out what to do about these ridiculously lopsided games where one team is more efficient but runs far fewer plays. Is there some predictive value to running more plays that I should be including? It's certainly a project for the future. (And am I asking for trouble by being open and honest about the possible deficiencies of the DVOA system? Of course I am.)

But with the Rams climbing to No. 5 on offense this week, they've achived something remarkable. The Rams are currently ranked in the top five in all three phases of the game. This is remarkably rare.

Going back to 1989, there are only four other teams that ranked in the top five in all three phases any time after Week 14: the 1991 Redskins, 1992 Eagles, 1996 Packers, and 2012 Seahawks.

Expanding that to the top six in all three phases brings in more teams, but still only four teams since the year 2000. Most of them are the rival the Rams will have to face this week. The teams to rank in the top six in all three phases since 2000, any time after Week 14, are:

• 2012 Seahawks after Weeks 14-17
• 2013 Seahawks after Week 14
• 2015 Chiefs after Week 14
• 2015 Seahawks after Weeks 16-17
• 2017 Rams after Week 14

That's right. Nobody did this so late in the season between the Jaguars in 1999 (after Week 14) and the Seahawks in 2012.

This doesn't mean that the Rams are one of the greatest teams in DVOA history, or that they should be considered the Super Bowl favorites. At 35.5% DVOA, the Rams are tied with the 2012 Broncos and 2007 Cowboys as the No. 19 teams DVOA has ever measured through Week 14.

And much like the 2012 Seahawks, the Rams are probably going to have to go on the road at least once in order to advance to the Super Bowl. If they lose this week, they'll probably have to go on the road three times.

I was reading some articles from a few Seahawks sites to get an opponent's perspective on the game. One article brought up a stat for Gurley that I didn't believe at first but it's actually true:

Through his 41 starts as a pro, Gurley is averaging just over 101 yards per game.

When you think about how bad last year was for him and the fact he spent 2 years in Fisher's putrid offense, managing to still average over 100 YPG is pretty ridiculous. It's also a testament to how good this new offense has been for him and vice versa.

They need to win AND

Lions lose
Packers lose
Falcons Lose
Saints lose

Eagles 11-2 (Finish 13-3)
@ Giants win
Oakland win
Dallas loss

Minnesota 10-3 (Finish 12-4) (#2 seed based on head to head vs Saints)
Cincinnati - win
@ Green Bay - loss
Chicago - win

Saints 9-4 (finish 12-4)
Jets - win
Atlanta - win
@ Tampa Bay -win

Panthers 9-4 (Finish 11-5)
Green Bay - loss
Tampa Bay - win
@ Atlanta - win

Falcons 8-5 (Finish 9-7)
@ Tampa Bay - win
@ New Orleans - loss
Carolina - loss

Rams 9-4 (Finish 11-5)
@ Seattle - loss
@ Tennessee - win
San Francisco - win

Seattle 8-5 (Finish 10-6)
Rams - win
@ Dallas - loss
Arizona - win

Cowboys 7-6 (Finish 10-6) (#6 seed based on head to head vs Seattle)
@Oakland - win
Seattle - win
@Eagles - win

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Wildcard Weekend

#3 Saints vs #6 Cowboys

#4 Rams vs #5 Panthers

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Divisional weekend


#1 Eagles vs #4 Rams

#2 Minnesota vs #3 Saints

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Championship Weekend

#3 Saints vs #4 Rams

----------------------------------------------

Super Bowl

Rams vs AFC Winner

Plenty of Aaron Donald contract money here.
***************************************************
2018 salary cap projects somewhere between $174.2 million and $178.1 million
Posted by Charean Williams on December 12, 2017

NFL teams saw projections for the 2018 salary cap during the league meetings Tuesday.

The NFL projects the cap to fall somewhere between $174.2 million and $178.1 million for next year, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. The league will reveal the exact number before free agency begins in the spring.

It will mark the fourth consecutive year the salary cap has increased.

This year’s salary cap is $167 million.

Kirk Cousins, Drew Brees, Case Keenum, Jimmy Garoppolo, Trumaine Johnson, Le'Veon Bell, Jimmy Graham and Sam Bradford are among the players scheduled to become free agents.

• 2017 LOS ANGELES RAMS REGULAR SEASON

Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Pro Football Focus game notes highlight the positives in Week 14 loss
90
Here’s how PFF saw the Rams’ loss to the Eagles.
By 3k Dec 11, 2017, 3:52pm CST TWEET



Los Angeles Rams OLB Robert Quinn hits Philadelphia Eagles QB Nick Foles
Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Here are Pro Football Focus’ notes on the Los Angeles Rams’ 35-43 Week 14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Give their Rams-specific account a follow on Twitter at @PFF_LARams.

Week 14 Rams Offensive Stats

Running back Todd Gurley earned his highest graded game of the season and the highest grade among running backs through Sunday's games with his 93.2 overall grade. On his way to averaging 7.5 yards per run attempt Gurley was able to force five missed tackles and average 5.1 yards after contact, which was his highest single-game mark since Week 14 of his rookie season. He was also able to force two more missed tackles in the receiving game to combine for Week 14's fourth most missed tackles, the most yards after contact per attempt, and the second highest PFF elusive rating of 222.1.

Rookie wide receiver Cooper Kupp finished Sunday's game with a perfect rating when targeted after catching five of his six targets for 118 yards and a touchdown. His performance earned him his highest graded game of the season with an 85.3, the fourth highest among wide receivers through Sunday's games. Kupp was able to add two forced missed tackles after the catch to bring his season total up to 12, fifth most among all receivers and ahead of such players as Julio Jones (11), Antonio Brown (10), and Doug Baldwin (8) to name a few. With Sunday's performance, Kupp is now sixth in wide receiver rating (passer rating when targeted) among the league's wide receivers with at least 70 targets with a 110.0, and fourth among all rookie receivers, though, the three ahead of him have combined for 21 less targets than Kupp.

Left guard Rodger Saffold snapped his two-game streak of not allowing a single quarterback pressure, though he has now gone four straight games allowing one or less quarterback pressures, while only allowing more than one quarterback pressure once since Week 6. In that same time span Saffold has the eighth highest pass blocking efficiency among all guards at 97.7 and is tied for 10th fewest quarterback pressures allowed with eight. Saffold finished Sunday's game with an overall grade of 75.3 and was tied for the 23rd highest pass blocking efficiency at 97.4 on 29 pass blocking plays.

For the third straight game, wide receiver Sammy Watkins has caught a touchdown pass and generated a passer rating when targeted at or above 97.9 for the second straight week. In that same three-week span Watkins has averaged a first down or touchdown on 42.9 percent of his 21 targets, well above the league average in that time period which is 37.6 percent of targets. Watkins is now one of only four receivers to have at least 37 targets and not have dropped a single pass all season.

Quarterback Jared Goff was under pressure on 55.2 percent of his drop backs against the Eagles, the highest rate among all quarterbacks through Sunday's games, though he was able to throw for 120 yards, one touchdown, and have a passer rating of 97.3 (seventh highest) on six completions under pressure. Goff was near perfect when his offensive line was able to keep the pressure away from him, owning the highest adjusted completion percentage (accounts for dropped passes, throw aways, spiked balls, batted passes, and passes where the quarterback is hit while throwing) on 13 such drop backs with a 91.7 percentage and a passer rating of 123.3 (fourth highest). This is nothing new for Goff as he has been one of the best quarterbacks when his line is able to keep pressure away from him on the year, throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 108.8 on 285 attempts without pressure.

Week 14 Rams Defensive Stats

Yet again, interior defender Aaron Donald was the Rams' highest graded defender in Sunday's game against the Eagles. This time he was able to generate seven quarterback pressures and record two defensive stops earning the second highest grade among his position at 88.9. Donald is now only five quarterback pressures from breaking his astonishing 82 he recorded in 2016, despite having 53 less pass-rushing snaps than he did in 2016. Donald's 98.0 overall grade is far and away the best overall grade in the entire league, though it's not even his highest graded season, yet. Donald is one of only two interior defenders to have a pass-rush grade over 90.0, with his sitting at 98.4 on the season and the next closest at 90.7.

With cornerback Kayvon Webster leaving early due to injury, Nickell Robey-Coleman took on more than his usual Nickel cornerback duties. He was targeted 10 times against the Eagles, only the second time in his career he has been targeted 10 times, while allowing seven of them to be caught for 81 yards and three passes defended. The three passes defended were the most Robey-Coleman has ever recorded in a single game, and one more than he had on the year coming into Week 14. With three games to go, Robey-Coleman is tied with his previous season-high in interceptions and passes defended combined at seven, and is currently allowing his lowest passer rating in his coverage of 67.9, 15th lowest among all cornerbacks. With his four defensive stops on top of his coverage, Robey-Coleman finished Sunday's game with an 85.2 overall grade, seventh among Week 14 cornerbacks. His four defensive stops were not only a fourth of his season's total, it was also tied for fourth most among all cornerbacks in Week 14.

Edge defender Robert Quinn generated his most quarterback pressures in a single game since Week 15 of the 2013 season with seven, earning his highest graded game of the season with an 81.8. With that. Quinn has now generated his highest amount of quarterback pressures since his last healthy season in 2014. In the last three weeks Quinn is tied for the lead among edge defenders in sacks with five and is tied for 11th among 3-4 outside linebackers in total quarterback pressures with 10.

At the beginning of the week it was unclear whether inside linebacker Alec Ogletree was going to play or not. With his team leading five defensive stops and five quarterback pressures, it's a good thing he did. With his five quarterback pressures, Ogletree is now second in total quarterback pressures when lined up at inside linebacker with 20, one behind the lead despite having 32 less pass-rushing snaps than Demario Davis who has 21. Ogletree owns the fourth highest pass-rushing productivity among inside linebackers with his 21.5 while having 15 more pass-rushing snaps than the next closest person ahead of him. Four of the five stops that Ogletree was able to record came in the run game while playing 28 run snaps and recording a stop percentage of 14.3, fifth highest among all inside linebackers in Week 14.

Interior defender Michael Brockers recorded a season-high in quarterback pressures with his six against the Eagles in Week 14. He also recorded four defensive stops for the third time this season bringing his season total to 32 and tying a career-high for an entire season at 32. Brockers finishes Sunday's game with an overall grade of 70.2, being knocked for two missed tackles in the process. Over the last two weeks Brockers has generated nine quarterback pressures for a pass rush productivity of 9.5 and is tied for fifth among his position in the same time span with his nine defensive stops. The rest of the season will be setting new career-highs for Brockers as he has already recorded his most amount of quarterback pressures in a season (27), tied his previous season total of defensive stops (32), and has three batted passes (he had three combined over his previous three seasons and four total for his first five seasons).

I do not want to see Green Bay make the playoffs. They are probably the last team I would want to see.

Here is how they could make the playoffs:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/12/nfl...e-playoffs-schedule-standings-playoff-picture

I'm watching the replay of the Rams-Eagles game and still am P.O.'d about the leverage call on the field goal (not to mention Trumaine's BS call for trash talking). Did McVay say that any of the officials explained the leverage call to him? It was clear that the announcers, including Mike Pereira, didn't see anything. On another note, I watched the end zone shot of the play where Goff got stripped. Watkins was wide open on the play. Had Goff connected, it would have most likely been a TD. I still don't like the call when we're up by one with 8 and a half minutes left but understand what McVay was thinking. Hopefully, he learns from the mistake.

Most running (mobile) QB's get injured now and then. Sometimes it's even a season ending knee or ankle.

It's about 3 years PAST the time that R.W. should have sustained a notable injury.
Me personally, I'd MUCH rather see Wussel Rilson with an ACL injury then see Carson Wentz have one. But look what happens. That lucky sliding midget has still NEVER missed a game his entire career.

If you had to choose between the two, wouldn't you rather it happen to Wilson?

Fact: Carson Wentz runs the ball like a man. Head first if needed for the first down.
Fact: Wussel Rilson slides like a wee fairy or even worse, starts to head out of bounds like a wee fairy, then at the last moment stretches the ball for 2 more extra free yards (refs always generous with ball spots for him.)

But there's even worse to have to watch!

Have you seen how many times when Wussel runs the ball and he angles out of bounds so he'll get no contact (because he's a wee fairy) but at the last second gives the defender (who has let up on him out of class) ... gives the defender a viscous cowardly stiff arm to the face mask, as if he's actually running like a man? Seriously. I've seen this no less than 5 times this season alone. Have you?

I HATE the Seafuks! They are gonna be a big problem on Sunday. I hate them.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast...-joe-curley/id1233567831?i=1000397010837&mt=2

Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/rams-blow-opportunity-to-eagles-joe-curley

Any questions for the podcast or any comments about the team or anything leave a voicemail @ (657) 221-5027 and we will air it on the podcast!

New number one this week. Although I'm not sure of the reception.

But hey, lawyers ranked the Rams at #8. Not me!

http://www.ramsondemand.com/powerrankings/week-15-power-rankings.23/

http://www.footballzebras.com/2017/12/12/week-15-referee-assignments-2017/

Rams at Seahawks — Ed Hochuli

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/12/12/week-14-power-rankings-7/

Week 14 power rankings
Posted by Mike"Mailing in another post"Foolio on December 12, 2017

1. Steelers (11-2; last week No. 2): They keep playing down to the level of the competition, but they also keep beating the competition.

2. Patriots (10-3; last week No. 1): The Patriots have a clear winning-in-Miami problem, even if Bill Belichick won’t admit it.

3. Eagles (11-2; No. 4): It’s up to Nick Foles and/or Nate Sudfeld to keep them in the top three.

4. Vikings (10-3; No. 3): Glass half full, the Vikings never gave up on Sunday. Glass half empty, the injuries are piling up.

5. Jaguars (9-4; No. 9): A bye week isn’t a pipe dream.

6. Panthers (9-4; No. 10): A bye week isn’t a pipe dream.

7. Saints (9-4; No. 6): A bye week isn’t a pipe dream.

8. Rams (9-4; No. 5): Missing the playoffs isn’t out of the question. :fuelfire:

9. Seahawks (8-5; No. 7): If their game on Jacksonville had been played in prime-time, Michael Bennett and Quinton Jefferson wouldn’t be playing this weekend.

10. Chargers (7-6; No. 12): The playoffs don’t begin on Saturday night for the Chargers — they continue.

11. Falcons (8-5; No. 13): They still have a chance to blow a fourth-quarter lead in the playoffs.

12. Ravens (7-6; No. 11): Their fourth-quarter blown lead may keep them out of the playoffs.

13. Cowboys (7-6; No. 15): Zeke’s looming return will make for an intriguing finish.

14. Titans (8-5; No. 8): So much for “winning the games they’re supposed to win.”

15. Bills (7-6; No. 16): The Bills would like to build their next stadium at the North Pole.

16. Packers (7-6; No. 18): “Well . . . . We’re waiting.”

17. Lions (7-6; No. 17): The inevitable failure to make the playoffs has been delayed.

18. Chiefs (7-6; No. 19): The inevitable failure to make the playoffs has been delayed.

19. Dolphins (6-7; No. 22): The inevitable failure to make the playoffs has been delayed.

20. Raiders (6-7; No. 14): The inevitable failure to make the playoffs has arrived.

21. Jets (5-8; No. 20): They’d be crazy not to bring back Josh McCown.

22. Cardinals (6-7; No. 24): They’d be crazy to bring back Blaine Gabbert.

23. Washington (5-8; No. 21): They remain crazy.

24. Bengals (5-8; No. 23): They’re involuntarily tanking.

25. 49ers (3-10; No. 27): The team has found its best Italian quarterback since Giovanni Carmazzi. (Then again, Jimmy G. is the team’s only Italian quarterback since Gio.)

26. Bears (4-9; No. 28): Nothing like a few late-season wins to screw up the path to a great draft pick.

27. Broncos (4-9; No. 30): Nothing like a few late-season wins to screw up the path to a great draft pick.

28. Buccaneers (4-9; No. 25): Chucky is coming home on Monday. Will he stay?

29. Texans (4-9; No. 26): Bill O’Brien has a home. Will he stay?

30. Colts (3-10; No. 29): Chuck Pagano should go ahead and sell his home.

31. Giants (2-11; No. 31): Eli Manning can screw things up for the Eagles by winning at home.

32. Browns (0-13; No. 32): Hue Jackson will be the Browns coach in 2018. At least on the first day of 2018.
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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...ngs-week-15-pittsburgh-steelers-hit-no-1-spot

#5 Rams

Tough loss for the Rams, as a play here or there would have altered the outcome at the L.A. Coliseum. Call it a missed opportunity for Sean McVay's group, who -- with the Vikings and Saints both losing -- could have made a push for home-field, especially with Nick Foles in for Carson Wentz over the last handful of drives on Sunday.

Now Jared Goff and Co. must shake off the late missteps and refocus on the division. It's Seahawks week. A win in Seattle means the race is likely over, as the Rams would own a two-game lead, with the Seahawks going on the road to face the Cowboys (and a reinstated Ezekiel Elliott) the next week. Goff must have a hastier internal clock than he did against those pesky Eagles.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...and-into-the-top-spot/?utm_term=.02532765d92b

#9. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are 1-2 thus far during their four-game, late-season test against the Vikings, Saints, Eagles and Seahawks (with a victory over a lesser team, the Cardinals, thrown into the mix). That stretch concludes Sunday in Seattle. If the Rams lose to the Seahawks, there will be little choice but to conclude that they aren’t quite ready yet to be on even terms with the NFC’s other top contenders.
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http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/pag...steelers-unseat-new-england-patriots-no1-spot

#4 Rams

The Rams averaged 14.0 points per game in 2016. This year they are averaging more than twice that (30.5). Jared Goff's improvement has been notable, but Todd Gurley II has been the catalyst. He has accounted for 34 percent of the team's yards from scrimmage, highest in the NFL.
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http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...patriots-dethroned-top-spot-article-1.3692845

#5. Rams

The guys in La-La Land remain in the Top 5 after a shoot-out loss to Philly. A colossal showdown in Seattle awaits with first place in the NFC West at stake.
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https://www.sbnation.com/2017/12/12...wer-rankings-week-15-steelers-patriots-eagles

#9 Rams
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https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/powerrankings/

#8 Rams

They have to find a way to win the games against the best of the NFC. Now comes a big division game with Seattle.

Mods do a great job on this forum. ROD is awesome and has a great format, and, well, you knuckleheads.

But I have an honest question. Why is Russell Wilson paired with Sammy Watkins on this weeks banner, rather than our guy, Jared?

I realize Sammy was a high profile acquisition earlier in the year. I love Sammy and really want him to have a future with the Rams.

But Jared Goff is our leader. He is our quarterback. In the national media he is still disrespected. Still has the taint of 2016. Not even mentioned in MVP talk. But here? On ROD?

Any thoughts, guys?

Login to view embedded media View: https://imgur.com/gallery/EUubU

Stumbled upon this new uniform idea on instagram, what do you guys think of them? I absolutely love them! It’s not the classic blue and yellow but these look so clean

REALLY? THIS FROM THE FREAKING REFS??

"The NFL warned its teams Monday that it will begin levying "significant discipline" to anyone engaging in offensive conduct or contact against game officials, responding to a series of incidents that had grown increasingly worrisome to the NFL Referees Association."


My Response:

I hereby warn the NFL Referees Association that I will begin levying "significant discipline" to anyone engaging in offensive conduct against the LA Rams team, responding to a series of incidents that have grown increasingly worrisome. Namely, the fabrication of "leverage" violations on FGs, the selective enforcement (or non-enforcement) of holding penalties, the random (?) enforcement of taunting on drive-ending plays, and the particular disturbing practice of looking the other way when our QB gets smeared helmet-to-helmet.

A-holes.

Our QB wished his blind side protection well.

Login to view embedded media View: https://mobile.twitter.com/JaredGoff16/status/940649949322252288

Bear with me for just a minute...

We all know that Fassel is a helluva ST coordinator. Maybe the best in the league.

Players love him and play their hearts out for him.
He’s a model of consistency year after year.
His primary asset players are maybe the best in the league at their respective positions in Hekker, GZ, and McQuaide.
Does Fassel make them that good?
Or does he see their potential that much better than others do?
He’s a fanatic at attention to detail and demands excellence from his players.
He studies film with a microscopic attention to detail in the least little flaws of opposing units, then takes advantage of them on game day.
He is universally respected both inside and outside the Ram organization.
He’s got a little gamble in him, too. Willing to go for fake punts, etc. Love that killer instinct in a coach.

Let all that sink in for just a moment...

Now, let me ask you this outside-the-box question.

Is it possible that such a coach might be capable of even bigger and better things on the team’s coaching tree? I mean, Vermiel was once a Ram ST coach, you know.

I’m wondering if the ingredients for a spectacular position coach, maybe an eventual coordinator, hell, maybe an ultimate HC might be sitting right there under our noses. Don’t anybody say that he might supplant McVay, btw. I meant as a HC elsewhere.

Fassel has “it” as a leader commanding respect. He’s certainly organized and effective. His results speak for themselves, don’t they? Why wouldn’t his skills as a ST coordinator transfer over to the O or the D part of the game?

Or, am I missing something?

Food for thought.

This game is hugely important for the Rams. We can clinch a playoff berth "with a win and losses or ties by the Lions and Packers, and losses by both the Saints and Falcons." A loss to the Seahawks can send us into a skid and possibly rob us of a playoff berth. But if we do make it into the playoffs as a wild card we don't want to limp in with no momentum. Win the game Rams, damn it!
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-seahawks-linebacker-bobby-wagner-k-j-wright/

Status in doubt for Seahawks’ linebackers Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright
Posted by Curtis Crabtree on December 12, 2017


Getty Images

A Seahawks defense already missing three starters on defense for the rest of the season could be without both starting linebackers for next Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright each left Sunday’s 30-24 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third quarter. Wagner aggravated a hamstring string while being blocked by Jaguars center Brandon Linderearly in the quarter. Wright sustained a concussion while being blocked by fullback Tommy Bohanon.

Head coach Pete Carroll said Monday they wouldn’t know the status of either player until late in the week. He expects Wagner to be a game-time decision at best. Wright had a “good day” on Monday, which gives him hope Wright will clear protocol in time to play against Los Angeles.

Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril are already out for the season due to injuries. Going into what is close to a must-win game against the Rams down five defensive starters would be a serious blow.
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If Wagner can’t go against the Rams then chalk up an L to the Seahawks. He is the QB of that defense and going up against a heavy run team look for the RAMS to run it down the seahawks throat.
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Not good. Wilson will need to win a shootout like in the Texans game. Fortunately, the Rams wet the bed vs Philly, so maybe there are some confidence issues there. 30-27 Rams win in OT after Walsh misses from 35 yards on Seattle’s first possession.
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/12/12/rams-getting-some-guys-healthy-in-time-for-seahawks/

Rams getting some guys healthy in time for Seahawks
Posted by Darin Gantt on December 12, 2017


Getty Images

The Seahawks will be limping into this week’s game with the Rams.

And even though Los Angeles lost cornerback Kayvon Webster to a torn Achilles Sunday, they’re expecting to have a number of other players back on the field.

Via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, Rams coach Sean McVay said that wide receiver Robert Woods and outside linebacker Connor Barwin are expected back in the lineup after missing games, and tackles Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein should return after they had to leave Sunday’s game against the Eagles.

Also, cornerback Trumaine Johnson is not in the concussion protocol, after being evaluated for a head injury during the game. They kept him out with what they termed a stinger.

Whitworth and Havenstein left the game with knee injuries, though Whitworth returned later in the game. McVay called the media reports on the pair of them “very positive.”

Woods has missed three weeks with shoulder problems, and Barwin had surgery to repair a broken bone in his forearm and missed two games.

With the Seahawks possibly missing two more defensive stars for the game, that’s good news for the Rams as they try to bounce back from their loss to the Eagles.
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Rams really need Woods back. It’s been easier for defenses when he’s not out there.

Rookie Kupp has stepped up in a big way, but he and Gurley have accounted for 73% of the Rams passing yardage the last two weeks.
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And the Seahawks are getting injured and distracted just in time for this one. Enjoy the division and good luck in the playoffs LA. Time for the Seahawks to miss the playoffs, cut some undisciplined nutjobs, and reload for another run. Keep Sheldon Richardson, Brown, and Graham…release that fool Bennett…and let’s refocus with a better attitude going forward.
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They won’t have many healthy after the Seahawks game. Jefferson, Bennett and the rest of those nobs will see to that!
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Both teams are going to need as many healthy players as they can. This one will be a slug-fest with the winner being the team that can still field 11 players.
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The Rams have always sucked in Seattle…winning there once in the last 13 years. With that being said I think we are going to see a “changing of the guard” in the NFC West IMO. Rams win this game and all they have to do is either beat Tennessee or San Fran in their remaining 2 games to win the division. If the Hawks win the only way they can insure winning the division is by beating the Cowboys and the Cardinals. I like the Rams chances a little bit better.
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The Falcons put the first nail in the Sea Gull’s playoff chances. The Jaguars put another nail in it. It is time the LAmbs put a third nail in it and the Cowpies will put the last nail in the casket. RIP the Sea Gulls’ “dynasty.”
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https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_seahawks

Sizing up the Seahawks’ next opponent: Rams come to Seattle for key NFC West game
By Bob Condotta


Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS

2017 record: 9-4, first in NFC West.

Coach: Sean McVay (9-4 in first season as head coach).

Series record: Seahawks lead it 23-15, including a 16-10 win over the Rams on Oct. 8. That snapped a streak of three wins in four games for the Rams, each of the wins coming in three different cities.

Early line: Seahawks by one point.

Star players

QB Jared Goff: Some of Goff’s numbers aren’t quite as impressive as they were heading into the first meeting between the two teams and he ranks just 20th in ESPN’s QBR (Total Quarterback Rating). Still, his development in his first season under McVay and second season in the NFL is unmistakable.

His interception rate of just 1.4 (six in 418 attempts) is sixth in the NFL and his yards per attempt of 8.1 is tied for third. But he has little to show for two career games against the Seahawks, completing just 35 of 72 passes for 423 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions and a 55.5 passer rating. His 48.9 passer rating, when he threw two picks in Seattle’s win in October, is his lowest of the season.

RB Todd Gurley: The third-year running back passed the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in his career with 96 yards on 13 carries Sunday against the Eagles and has 1,035 to rank third in the NFL. His 10 touchdowns leads the NFL and he also remains one of the most dangerous receiving running backs in the league. His 51 receptions are fourth among all running backs and his average of 11.8 yards per reception is second. Seattle held him in check in the first game as Gurley had just 43 yards on 14 carries.

WR Cooper Kupp: The former Eastern Washington standout has 18 receptions in his last three games as he has become the team’s leading receiver with 56 catches for 783 yards. Kupp has had his two highest-yardage games in the last three weeks with eight catches for 116 yards against the Saints and five for 118 against the Eagles. But Kupp is undoubtedly still ruing the pass he couldn’t bring down in the end zone on the final series of the first game against Seattle that would likely have given the Rams the win.

DT Aaron Donald: A Pro Bowl pick in his three previous seasons and a first-team All-Pro selection the last two years, Donald is having a typically good season with eight sacks and three forced fumbles, the latter a career high.

Donald terrorized Seattle earlier in his career and Seahawks fans still wincingly recall how he and Michael Brockers teamed up to stuff Marshawn Lynch on a fourth-down play to clinch a win for the Rams in overtime in the season opener in 2015. But after making four sacks in his first three games against Seattle — including two in that 2015 game — he has been held without one in the last four games against the Seahawks.

About Los Angeles
Any hope that the Rams would eventually disappear after their fast start has long ago disappeared, despite Sunday’s home loss to the Eagles. The Rams have continued to stay a step ahead of the Seahawks in the standings. Seattle can win the tiebreaker with a victory Sunday since it beat L.A. earlier this year.

The Rams offensive resurgence under McVay — who got the head-coaching job based on an impressive run as offensive coordinator with Washington — has shown staying power as Los Angeles is second in the NFL in points scored per game at 30.4, scoring 32 or more eight times (Seattle has hit that mark just twice). The Rams have scored less than 20 just twice, held to 10 by the Seahawks and a lone touchdown by the Vikings.

The offense could get a boost this week as receiver Robert Woods — who had 47 receptions for 703 yards in the first 10 games but has missed the last three with a shoulder injury — is expected to return.

The defense is 12th in points allowed (20.3 per game) but has been oddly vulnerable to the run, ranked 30th in yards allowed per attempt at 4.7. The Rams have allowed 100 or more yards rushing to nine of 13 opponents. One of the four who didn’t hit that mark was Seattle, whose 62 rushing yards is the second-lowest given up this year by Los Angeles.

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How about addressing the fact you have a team of pu$sy kneeling punks!?
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Age, injuries, lack of discipline, failure to address the o-line, questionable personnel decisions & unfriendly cap math have all but rendered the Hawks a middle of the pack team, at best, for the foreseeable future.
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What a disappointment this season has been, truly. We really need to fix attitudes of players and do an overhaul in all areas. RW has his worst game but when he tried to come back he didn’t had the support he deserved. Still I believe in Russ...not Walsh or the O Line or Bevell
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You guys are still pathetic and embarrassing. It hurts that I'm a fan.
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And if our real defense weren't injured jags wouldn't have stood a chance. Y'all need to quit acting like you the shit when y'all just kicked them while they were down (injured)
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Get rid of Germain Ifedi/O-line and Darrell Bevell
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In general, our o-line is pretty shit minus Duane Brown. Russell Wilson should not have to scramble for his life every play of the game
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In Russell I will always trust, win or lose. This man has heart, even when he's not at his absolute best I know we will always have a chance to win with him. Now go get the Rams next week and win out.
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We continue to play from behind ... we sugar coat our performance too often
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penalties, drops & interceptions...... oh my!
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This loss makes next week's game incredible important. Injuried guys need to get healthy and backups need to find the fight and fire of the guys they are replacing. Hawks season depends on getting W next game. Take control of your future and make history...

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl-po...-eagles-title-hopes-nick-foles-055431890.html
5. Los Angeles Rams (9-4, LW: 5)
The Rams have been the story of the division for so long this season, this might have escaped you: If the Seahawks beat the Rams at home on Sunday, they’ll move into a tie with Los Angeles for first place and own the tiebreaker with two games to go. It would be disheartening for the Rams to lead the division for most of this season and lose it in the end to the Seahawks. They’ll need a great effort on Sunday to avoid that.

Sammy Watkins:

3 catches for 21 yds.

Really getting tired waiting for this guy to show me something.
Maybe it’s me but it’s like he doesn’t even compete out there. Game of the year and for a guy with his talent to never have his name called is pretty telling.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...ers-scan-alien-comet-Oumuamua-ET-signals.html

Has an alien probe entered our solar system? Cigar-shaped interstellar 'comet' Oumuamua is being investigated for signs of extraterrestrial technology
By HARRY PETTIT

Astronomers are set to scan an 'alien' comet for signs of extraterrestrial technology.

The cigar-shaped asteroid, named 'Oumuamua by its discoverers, sailed past Earth last month and is the first interstellar object seen in the solar system.

A team of alien-hunting scientists, led by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner, will scan the comet this week before it sails beyond the reach of Earth's telescopes.

They say they are looking for radio signals, claiming the mysterious visitor could be an alien spaceship.



The alien-hunting project will use the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia for its investigation, with the campaign set to begin at 3:00pm ET (8:00pm GMT) on Wednesday.

The telescopes sensitive equipment would would take less than a minute to pick up something as faint as the radio waves from a smartphone, according to the Atlantic.

Milner, the business mogul behind Breakthrough Listen, a $100 million (£75m) search for intelligent extraterrestrial life, received an email about the object last week from one of his chief scientists.

'The more I study this object, the more unusual it appears, making me wonder whether it might be an artificially made probe which was sent by an alien civilisation,' Professor Avi Loeb, the chair of Harvard's astronomy department and one of Milner's advisers on Breakthrough Listen, wrote in the email.

Professor Loeb said the space rock's peculiar elongated shape is odd for a common space rock but ideal for a ship flying between star systems.

'OUMUAMUA
A cigar-shaped comet named 'Oumuamua sailed past Earth last month and is the first interstellar object seen in the solar system.

It was first spotted by a telescope in Hawaii on 18 October, and was observed 34 separate times in the following week.

Travelling at 44 kilometres per second (27 miles per second), the comet is headed away from the Earth and Sun on its way out of the solar system.

The comet is up to one-quarter mile (400 meters) long and highly-elongated - perhaps 10 times as long as it is wide.

That aspect ratio is greater than that of any asteroid or comet observed in our solar system to date.

But the comet's slightly red hue — specifically pale pink — and varying brightness are remarkably similar to objects in our own solar system.

I like Sunday ticket NFL shortcuts. A whole game in 40 minutes. click the 15 second rewind if you didn't quite see who made the impacting play. I'm no salesman, just enjoy the convenience of cutting through the crap to see the actual plays real quickly.

I took some time to look a little more closely at the Rams Eagles game and came away with these notes.

Excuse the misspells and shorthand. Just trying to jot down the facts and some general observations.

General observations:

Wentz definitely not as accurate as Goff in the pocket. Very Erratic with throws at times. It's not even close who is the more accurate pocket passer, at least in this game.

Wentz has same vision as Goff feeling the rush and getting out of the pocket, but definitely has quicker moves once he flushes the pocket and more accurate out of the pocket than Goff.

Eagles interior line stonewalled Rams pass rush most of the day, the few times we got there we didn't finish. Kelce is one hell of a pass protector.

Wentz throws a strong 10-15 yard sideline out.

Fletcher Cox owned our interior line. Sullivan and Brown had rough days. Blown by Greg Robinson style a few times on critical third downs. Pro Bowlers gonna Pro Bowl I guess.

John Johnson slip gave Eagles an easy TD pass. Need to fix that, looked like was unsure on assignment and leaning too far inside.

Ogletree burned by TE's:
1 PI setting eagles up at Goal line.
2 Too slow to cover Burton on 3rd and 11 for a TD.

Goff needs to learn to buy more time by slowing his PA rollout towards his right at the end of it and backing up a few step in the mode of Montana while looking downfield.

Ogletree missed Wentz on a free Blitz. Must force him back inside and take the outside shoulder. But great job by Wentz juking Olgletree and Samson.

Kelce stonewalled Westbrook consistently in pass protection. Wentz has all day to throw.

Eagles converting 4th downs against us, by throwing the ball. File it away Mcvay.

Burton is a hell of a TE. Beating CB's (Hill) and safety's (Johnson) in coverage easily, all game. Imagine if Goff had a TE like him. Strong and fast in routes and catches the ball in traffic. I wonder if they re-sign him. Bring his ass in here. He's one athletic baller.

Troy Hill had some solid coverage, at least 4 times in this game that I counted. Good sign considering we are going to need him down the stretch unfortunately.

Trumaine for all his bonehead stuff had alot of great pass breakups in this game. Just unlearn the Fisher.

Wentz took more than a few hits on his legs after flushing and running up the middle. He absolutely needs to change this style. I counted at least 4 runs that he took hits to his legs. Slide feet first bro.

That stupid leverage call on the FG took 2 minutes off the clock that we needed.

It was Brown who got owned by Brandon Graham on the last Goff pass that was huried forcing our last punt. Goff all game showed amazing escape ability. He was under Duress all game especially on huge 3rd downs.


Eagles drives extended:

1 Trumaine PI on 3rd and 1 for 30 yards.

2 Going for it on 4th down in the first half

3. Trumaine Taunting. Instead of 53 yard FG attempt they get back into red zone, free first down.

4 Going for it on 4th down from the 3 yard line and Jeffrey scooping a throw that Joyner just missed.

So yea two 4th down conversions and two Trumaine penalites. ARGGG!!!!! 28 point swing.



Rams drives stalled in the first half:

1 BS Holding Penalty on huge Gurley 30 yard run put us in 3rd and forever killing a drive.

2 Fletcher Cox blows up a 3rd and 4 knocking Jared down as he throws before Sammy gets in his route. Sullivan got owned.

3 Fletcher Cox blows up another 3rd and 3 short pass, just blowing by Sullivan and then knocks Jared as he throws. Illegal Helmet to chin not called.

4 Throw to Reynolds that went 1 yard short of line to gain



This was a game that could have been a Rams Blowout...but alas coulda, woulda, shoulda.

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This man deserves to be in the Probowl. He’s been mauling guys all season.