L.A Media is smelling blood.
710 am this morning labeled Sneads fill in for Fisher on the Jeff Fisher show
Unprepared. Unacceptable. Snead also repeated himself while not saying much of anything. Things are getting hot for Snisher. Last week Steve Mason in an interview with Fisher was said to have told Jeff he should be fired and then rambled off his stance on the matter.
To be clear I did not hear the Mason interview.
I am reporting what was said this morning on 710 ESPN here in L.A
I do not have links but will post them below if I find them.

Judging from the biblical proportions of wailing and teeth-gnashing by Rams fans this week, one might think Jeff Fisher is actually going to coach their team beyond this season.

Chill out, everyone. He’s probably not. Unless the Rams undergo a sudden transformation in their final four games, it would be stunning to see Fisher endure beyond the first week of January.

What about news that leaked this weekend about that signed contract extension? How about the confirmation from both the team and coach that he had signed a deal that would keep him in Los Angeles for as many as two more years?

Ignore it, everyone. It means nothing. If the Rams don’t finish impossibly strong, the deal is structured as basically a one-year parting gift in appreciation for the hassles Fisher has handled for the last two tumultuous seasons.


San Francisco 49ers, and folks in the front office immediately applied the brakes.

They were struck by how quickly their welcome had evaporated. They saw how the Los Angeles sports fan would not celebrate a Rams homecoming if it didn’t include winning. They understood that maybe an announcement about future employment of a coach who already had become a villain wouldn’t be such a good idea at the time.

So they waited to officially announce the deal, and waited, and waited ... and, then, finally, it appears somebody got tired of waiting.

That somebody was Fisher, who already openly was fighting against criticism by foolishly denying legend Eric Dickerson sideline privileges because Dickerson had been publicly ripping him. It is pretty clear Dickerson wants Fisher fired, and will do anything to get Fisher fired, a fact that was confirmed when Dickerson went public with their spat and claimed he would never attend a game as long as Fisher is the coach.

Backed into a corner by last week’s news, it is logical to conclude that Fisher came out swinging again Sunday morning by contributing to the breaking news of his job security. It’s interesting how that item surfaced before their most difficult challenge of the season, just in time to distract from another bad loss.

No, the Rams had no idea the extension would be made public. In fact, Demoff wasn’t even with the team in New England at the time, as he remained in Los Angeles on a personal matter.

Then once the news broke, given the chance to issue a press release and hold a celebratory news conference back in Los Angeles this week, the Rams politely declined.

Relax, everyone. It’s understandable for Rams fans to expect the worst, because that is exactly what the team has given them on the field, but the front office has done a good job connecting with folks in the community, and it appears they hear you. It seems like they realize that in this town, at this precarious time, they cannot possibly become the first team in NFL history to bring back a coach after five consecutive losing seasons.

The Rams can’t be that oblivious. WhileKroenke doesn’t live here full time, Demoff grew up here and resides here, and daily hears from all corners of the neighborhood.

The Rams can’t be that dumb. During this build-up toward the move into their expensive new Inglewood stadium in 2019, they need to build buzz, not alienate fans.

And, no, the Rams’ front office can’t be that conspiratorial. All this talk about Fisher being retained only because his agent is Demoff’s father Marvin? The optics might be bad, but agents represent competing interests all the time. To think that either Demoff would risk their strong reputations in this town to retain a guy who is two defeats from becoming the losingest coach in NFL history stretches the limits of credulity.

Sure, it would be much easier for everyone in the organization if Fisher could have survived a couple more years before a new and exciting presence could be hired to lead them into the new digs. And by giving Fisher the entire season to save his job, the Rams are giving him every chance.

But with games remaining against the playoff-bound Atlanta Falcons and the unbeaten-at-home Seattle Seahawks, plus home games against division foes San Francisco and Arizona, the Rams will be lucky to go 2-2. And that would make them 6-10.

And, extension or not, that should ultimately and properly get Jeff Fisher fired.
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In the future please include a link. It's a courtesy we do for authors. Thanks. - PT

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-fisher-plaschke-20161206-story.html

Before I start I really don't want this thread to turn into a Fisher-hate thread, I really want this to try and be a constructive and positive thread, so if your answer is - "Get rid of Fisher." I'd really like to have reasoning behind it AND a positive solution.

Ok now that I've got that out of the way here are some questions I've got that are bugging me:

1. What's happened to our stud RB and our running game? Should we be running it more and should we be mixing it up in the back field?
2. Should Goff have started week 1, wether he was 100% ready or not?
3. If he wasn't 100% ready, then why not? Could he not have been brought up to speed post-draft and through pre-season?
4. Our D-line doesn't look as fearsome as last year, any thoughts?
5. Was letting CB JJ an error?
6. Our gameplan, I'm finding it hard to pin-point one, is it purely field positioning with our punts?
7. Our O-line seems to have taken a step back from last year and I was hoping for a step forward with the cohesion, has it just been the juggling of players and positions due to injuries? Would you handle things differently?
8. How can things be turned around?
9. Kenny Britt, I think he's a FA after this season, I like what he brings and would like to keep him. What do you guys think?
10. What's going to be our policy in the draft? What positions are worth looking at to upgrade?

Keep the faith, we'll be good again one day soon!!

Don't know why any fan base of an opposing team, even on the road, would be worried about playing the Rams these days. But here you go...a cautious bunch of fans for the most part.
******************************************************************************
http://boards.atlantafalcons.com/topic/4047765-the-rams/

The Rams

We l know Goff is starting now. Just in case anyone didn't notice yesterday the Rams had 7 first downs and 162 yards total offense.

We need to go in next week and just demolish this opponent.

That being said, the Pats only won by 16 in spite of that offensive output
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If we somehow dropped this next game to the Rams, with all these injuries we could go belly up and end 7-9 or 8-8.
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Our offense wont be facing their offense....so not sure how we will destroy them.

They beat Seattle at home....I wouldnt take them lightly....the record is misleading.
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Their record is not misleading. They have a terrible offense and a talented defense. Only the Saints offense really had extreme success against them.

Its a game the Falcons should win with little resistance, so we'll probably struggle.
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They have one of the nastiest defenses in the NFL. And when I say "nasty"... I mean dirty. Jeff Fisher has always coached a dirty brand of football. I always liked watching it... but not this week.

That defensive line is legit tough. The secondary is scrappy, but I like Julio against anyone. Key is gonna be his health, and the health of Jake Matthews.

Their offense is straight garbage, but Atlanta is going to have to be ready for a lot of the same types of plays Kansas City ran: quick hitters, bubble screens, jet sweeps. They can't really go vertical on you so they do anything they can to get the ball to Austin on the perimeter and let him outrun you.

I like Atlanta, but I think we're past the "easy" talk, or the "demolish them" at this point. Let's go out and focus on playing Max Q football. We do us, we'll be fine.
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The Rams have had a way of beating teams in the NFC West, even in their worst years.

I think a few years back they only lost one division game against the hot Seahawks and superbowl bound () 49ers and I'm pretty sure they were starting a potato at QB.
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Yes and to be surgical....this is December, NFC opponent & Jeff Fisher - players wants to prove they are worth on Rams payroll.
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It comes to situational football decisions by coaches and execution in 4th quarter.

At this point, we have to play games thinking it is an elimination game ...results will be far better.
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I will be at the game. Taking my brother who is the world's biggest Rams fan. I love him to death but we better beat the heck out of those Rams or I am going to be beyond salty!!
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There really is no more room for error, unfortunately. We had a one game buffer on Tampa, that is gone. We are not in a good spot right now. Arrow is pointing up for TB, down for us. We also have some pretty big injuries now with Julio, Jake and Mo.
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Rams are such a weirdly put together team that always seems out of synche. Shocked to see Fisher and Snead given extensions, even if artificially done so. That team needs a new direction.

I hear what you are saying, but if team plays focused football, we should win comfortably.
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Jared Goff will look like a future HOFer and Gurley will get two TDs called it now
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Gurley and Goff looked horrible against the Pats. Hopefully they look that way against us.
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If we give up 20+ points to the Rams I'll lose my mind
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Get ready to lose it. This defense is complete crap.
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From ESPN First Take today from Max Kellerman:

"30th in opposing QBR. They turn ever opposing QB into like an elite QB."

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The Rams always seem to beat Seattle.. They beat them almost every year.. Hope Matthews makes it back.. Once Matthews came out against the Chiefs Compton got worked badly and Ryan had very little time to make reads..
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http://boards.atlantafalcons.com/topic/4047752-going-to-la-game-should-i-be-worried/

Going to LA game, should I be worried?

Not 24 hours yet but I don't give a ****. Would suck to go out there and they ******* lose, but Rams look beatable. We winning this or not??
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Should you be worried? Yeah. They'll probably win, but you never know.
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they shouldn't lose this game. LA hasn't even been competitive this season. If they do lose though, time to look forward to next year.
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i live about 45 mins from the la stadium. Was thinking of going but they are charging alot for tickets. I won't hear the end of it out here if we lose.
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Yes you should, we are floundering on defense and the offense is finding ways to lose. Every game we play could turn based on these factors. Those thinking we have cake walk wins the rest of the season are going to be in for a shock when we blow more leads or our defense folds like a lawn chair.
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If you know our track record against rookie QBs, yes....yes you should.
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Yes..You should always worry when the Falcons are involved..Take it from a 40 yr fan....Btw, DQ should be on the hot seat if we lose to LA or San Fran imo..But as long as Gel Boy is still here, I expect the same results..Sad but true..
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After losing the way we did, these dudes better come out piping hot and pimp slap the ish outta the Rams and come home and completely destroy the niners.
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Well, it is on the road where we've lost less than we have at home. So there's a glimmer of hope
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The mighty Quinn is a clown. The defense no matter how many people on here defend them are a joke kind of like old keystone cops clips. Campbell and Allen need to GOOOOO!!!!!...

I wouldn't be shocked if they lose to rams and the niners. Kraper nick could have a field day against this Quinn D.

All you ever hear is we will get Em next year and I'm about to run out of next years. Been watching this show for over 40yrs. Love the falcons but man its getting old.
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Facing the Rams in LA = exactly the type where the Falcons always find a way to bring their garbage game.

Be very concerned.
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Honestly, there's no reason we shouldnt beat the Rams. Comfortably.

I appreciate the worry but I think it's too much on the "panic" side of things. This is still a good football team.
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You should worry because traffic in LA SUX!

If you're not careful you may not make it to the game until after halftime.
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We may or may not win but I bet Jared Goff and Gurley have their best games of the season.
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LOL...........this sad assembly could lose to Ga, Southern......NCAA team.

They will ALWAYS find ways to BEAT THEMSELVES.............ALWAYS.
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There is nothing going on with this team right now that says we are going to get hot and make a big playoff push.

What reality are some people in thinking we are going to make a run?
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Falcons are 4-22-2 playing the Rams in Anaheim and Los Angeles, 3-7 against the Rams in St.Louis. Just saying.... and if I counted right 0-11-2 at the Colosseum against the Rams
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****, this thread just made me feel worse!
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We beat the Rams, things should mostly go back to normal.

We lose though, ****, might just wanna avoid the boards for a week at least afterward.
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Any given Sunday. Having said that if we lose this week we are not a playoff team and we should just shut up about it.
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Just make sure to wear diapers....

Look out for me in section 23 , Row 14 with falcons brotherhood sign!!
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We should win, but LA could give our O some troubles up front.

I think we will be okay, but I'm not writing it in as a win yet.
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I live in L.A. and was definitely going to this game but probably not now.

Have better things to spend my money on than disappointment & raising my blood pressure.

I 100% expect an infuriating, "playing down to the competition" type game with the final score being 23-20, either way.
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I'd be worried. We have no defense,and a coach with no situational awareness.
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The Rams have a solid D that kept even Tom Brady from having a bonkers day. They have 3 very solid wideouts, a tod gurly who has been long overdue for a big game and their 1st round QB who has not looked terrible and actually amazing on some of his throws who now has some games under his belt against some of the better teams in the nfl.

Theres a whole ******* lot to be concerned about actually. And im not a sky is falling kinda guy.

http://www.footballzebras.com/2016/12/06/week-14-referee-assignments-2016/

Falcons at Rams — Clete Blakeman

Blakeman's 2016 NFL officiating crew consists of umpire Ramon George, head linesman Hugo Cruz, line judge Tony Veteri, field judge Adrian Hill, side judge Joe Larrew, and back judge Steve Patrick.

Blakeman and his crew officiated Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016 in which the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/heisman-winner-salaam-found-dead-colorado-park-203822872--spt.html

Heisman winner Salaam found dead in Colorado park
Associated Press8 minutes ago

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say 1994 Heisman winner Rashaan Salaam has been found dead in a Colorado park.

The Boulder County coroner's office said Tuesday that it was still investigating the cause of the death of the 42-year-old Salaam.

The body of the one-time running back was found Monday at Eben G. Fine Park in Boulder.

Salaam led Colorado to one of its best seasons in 1994, when the Buffaloes went 11-1.

He had a terrific rookie season with the Chicago Bears in 1995, rushing for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns.

But he only scored three times in the next two years and he played his last game in 1999 with the Cleveland Browns.

I will try to keep up on these. It may not be daily and I will also probably be posting some trivia from the NFL as a whole. Good luck and have fun.

Note: These questions will change almost daily. I will unsticky them as soon as I post the answer.

OK so here is the deal. Years ago I found an LA Rams Trivia Game in a Goodwill. I pretty much bought it as a piece of memorabilia. Now with the Rams moving back, I thought it might make for a fun game for some of us old timers. Odd thing is that about 70% of the questions have nothing to do with the Rams.

So here is what I will do. I will post the questions that are Rams related and let you guys answer. I will then post the answers the next day. These are not easy questions as far as I can tell but maybe the memory function of my brain has been compromised.
.View attachment 11961
There is only basically one rule. No search engines or internet sites to look up answers that you will post later. I realize some will still look up the answers. I know I would if I didn't have the cards. But I want to see how many out there actually know the answers. So if you do feel like looking them up on the internet, just don't post the answers. Comment all you want.

Now - keep in mind. I said the internet is off limits. But if you have books, magazines, football cards, etc... feel free to use them. That may seem hypocritical but it's about time some of us got some use out of all that stuff we've bought over the years.

Cheers.

Not much to say positive here as this Fisher team goes into week 14 riding very low after 8 losses out of 9 games. So I was trying to look for small nuggets of positive stuff. But I need to set this story first.....

The Rams OLG post has seen many different performers playing this part in this Ram offense the last 2 seasons. 2015 Boudreau started Rookie Jamon Brown @ OLG, who did fair enough as a rookie. But matters a few feet to Jamon Brown's left was outside of his controlled were going very badly & Boudreau had to perform emergency repair work in the middle of the bye week & move two starting OG's to help bring the OLT post back into working condition.

Bou's repair work to LT resulted in some long term damage to the 2 involved OG's in this move. Saffold played a few series @ OLG before seriously damaging his shoulder results injury, IR'd, shoulder reconstructive surgery. Rookie Brown did not settle into his new role @ RG. His performance on this new side declined JB like Saffold suffered a similar disaster was injured a few weeks later IR'd & surgery. But it did give us the best we have seen from GRob yet...was it worth it?

Onto this 2016 ......very early injury to 2015's NFL best starting rookie Right Tackle looks to have been a sign of doom for this OL. This event directly effected OLG post. It resulted in the move (one again) of Saffold into the starting ORT post for the entire OTA's/TC & pre season. Both OG posts were put into open competition while the other 3 post were set. Wichmann/Kush/Folkerts/Rhaney & Reynolds were all involved @ OLG. Notice who's name was missing Brown's. When 2016 began Saffold was reinserted @ OLG.

Now to finally get to the small positive nugget ....In last Sunday's game I observed that the OLG post was the best preforming OL post by far. Jamon Brown who getting healthy after a broken hand/wrist surgery started back @ OLG & played what I believe was his best game yet this season. I would hope that JB remains the starter @ OLG for the last 4 games & see if he is Goff's future OLG in 2017.


I know its not much...:sadwalk:

Every week this year on Monday night the Jeff Fisher Show has aired on AM 710 ESPN. I'm assuming it has been cancelled since it was not on tonight-anyone know or care?

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And... despite suckatude... the Colts are 1 win away from first place at 6-6.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/m...drew-luck-returns-as-colts-squeeze-past-jets/

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/l...-shows-patriots-are-money-smart-eagles-arent/

Is your favorite NFL team being smart with its money?

Thanks to the NFL Players Association, we can now kind of answer that question. For the past four years, the NFLPA has been tracking how much each team has been using in cash.

Basically, when the new CBA was implemented in 2011, one of the new agreements called for each NFL team to spend at least 89 percent of its salary cap in cash during specific four-year periods.

With the first four-year period (2013 to 2016) set to end in March 2017, the NFLPA released new numbers on Monday that show how each team has done in regard to meeting the 89 percent minimum threshold.

For the four-year period, each team had a total of $554,550,000 in salary cap space. Of that total, the CBA required that each had to spend roughly $493.5 million in cash on player salaries.
With just three months to go, the Raiders are the only team in the NFL that hasn't met the minimum spending threshold. At $491.4 million, the Raiders have roughly 90 days to spend $2.1 million and meet the minimum requirement. The Raiders could do that simply by extending someone's contract.

As CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora noted in November, if the Raiders don't meet the spending threshold, they'd have to cut a check to the NFLPA for the amount that they fall short.

The NFLPA's numbers show that the 32 teams combined to spend a total of $17.44 billion in cash on player salary between 2013 and 2016. If you want to know if you're team has been spending smartly, just check out the rankings below.

For instance, the Eagles spent more than $600 million between 2013 and 2016, but they only have one playoff berth to show for that. That's pretty rough, especially when you consider that they're the only team that's spent over $600 million. The three teams right below the Eagles have all been to the playoffs in each of the past three years.

On the other hand, the Panthers only spent $495.1 million during that span and have three playoff appearances and a Super Bowl berth to show for it. Besides the Raiders, the Panthers are the only team that spent under $500 million.

The Patriots have also been thrifty, ranking 30th in money spent.

Here's how much each team spent in cash on player salaries between 2013 and 2016.

1. Eagles: $613.9 million
2. Broncos: $587.7 million
3. Seahawks: $584.3 million
4. Packers: $583.1 million
5. Dolphins: $578 million
6. Chiefs: $575.5 million
7. Bills: $573.6 million
8. Bears: $586.3 million
9. Bengals: $567.3 million
10. Ravens: $562.4 million
11. Chargers: $562.2 million
12. Colts: $556.3 million
13. Falcons: $550.6 million
14. Giants: $543.8 million
15. Cardinals: $543.3 million
16. Rams: $542 million
17. Saints: $539.8 million
18. Buccaneers: $539.7 million
19. Vikings: $539.2 million
20. Jets: $533.2 million
21. Redskins: $532.5 million
22. Pittsburgh Steelers : $530.7 million
23. Detroit Lions : $530.2 million
24. Tennessee Titans : $524.5 million
25. Dallas Cowboys : $523 million
26. Houston Texans : $517.2 million
27. Jacksonville Jaguars : $516.9 million
28. Cleveland Browns : $516.2 million
29. 49ers: $514.5 million
30. Patriots: $500.1 million
31. Panthers: $495.1 million
32. MINIMUM THRESHOLD: $493.5 million
33. Raiders: $491.4 million

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...t-have-the-offensive-pieces-around-jared-goff

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots began the game with the ball, so Jared Goff made it a point to watch Tom Brady.

"Just to see him," Goff said, "and watch him play."

It all ended in a 26-10 Patriots win that was a lot more lopsided than the score would indicate. It gave Brady an NFL-record 201st career win and left Goff, the Los Angeles Rams' rookie quarterback and 2016 No. 1 overall pick, searching for his first.

It also reminded us of something: Having a franchise quarterback doesn't mean much if he does not have the proper pieces around him.

Kenny Britt, which came on fourth-and-11 with less than two minutes remaining.

But Goff didn't get much help.

Britt, who caught a 1-yard touchdown pass shortly after his 66-yard reception, dropped three catchable balls from Goff, two of them right after absorbing hits. Brian Quick dropped a couple of balls too, one on a throw a little high and another behind him. Rookie Pharoh Cooper dropped a ball to his chest after taking a hit from Malcolm Butler. And Lance Kendricks made the biggest gaffe of all as the first quarter was winding down.

The Rams tight end was wide open while coming across the field, but Goff's throw went through his hands, shot up in the air and was caught by Butler, giving the Patriots the ball at the Rams' 30-yard line and eventually leading to their second score.

"They are drops, and it's hard on a quarterback," said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who confirmed that he agreed on a contract extension "well before" the start of the season. "We will be realistic when we evaluate the plays, but just offhand, my perspective on the sideline was he was making the reads. You are going to miss some. Tom threw some throws away today, but when you hit someone in the chest with the football, you've got to hang on to it, even though there is contact involved."

Goff's second interception was the result of poor protection, as Fisher pointed out. Defensive end Jabaal Sheard successfully got off the edge and was able to tip the football as Goff was throwing it, creating a wobbly pass toward the middle of the field that was intercepted by linebacker Kyle Van Noy.

Goff was hit nine times on Sunday, with the Patriots recording four sacks against an offensive line that was without veteran Rodger Saffold and has struggled mightily throughout the season.

"Just the way they mix everything up," Goff said of how the Patriots were able to penetrate the line of scrimmage so frequently. "They don’t really do the same thing twice often."

Goff, 22, has shown surprising mobility to escape pressure, but the Rams are allowing way too much of it. In his three starts, all losses, Goff has the NFL's second-lowest Total QBR (32.9), fourth-lowest completion percentage (53.7) and the second-fewest passing yards per attempt (5.36). He has thrown four touchdowns to three interceptions and has taken eight sacks, tied for fourth-most in that span.

But those numbers aren't totally reflective of the way Goff has played.

"He's a tough kid," said Patriots defensive end Chris Long, the longtime member of the Rams who recorded a sack of Goff on Sunday. "We hit him a lot, and he's getting better every week. He's only been in there a couple of weeks, but you can see him continuing to progress. He kept getting back up today, and I credit him a lot with that."

The Rams made a litany of mistakes throughout the first half, even outside of the drops.

Safety Maurice Alexander had poor pursuit of LeGarrette Blount on the fourth-and-1 carry that resulted in a 43-yard touchdown run during the opening drive. Blake Countess collided with Cooper as he was preparing to fair catch a punt. And the Rams missed two premium opportunities to come up with turnovers, first on a muffed punt and then on a tipped ball that sailed in the air.

"We just have to find a way to get better," Rams defensive end William Hayes said. "It's just getting frustrating. Week in and week out, everybody’s taking their turns making mistakes."

Really, though, this loss -- the Rams' seventh in a stretch of eight games, dropping them to 4-8 -- stemmed from an inability to generate offense, as has been the case far too many times this season.

It happened with Case Keenum, and now it's happening with Goff under center. Todd Gurley was held to a mere 38 yards on the ground and is averaging 3.22 rushing yards per carry this season, ranked 38th among 40 qualified running backs. The receivers hauled in only 14 of their 32 targets. And the offense overall had picked up just five first downs and 96 yards from scrimmage -- 96! -- before Goff's late heave to Britt. While the Patriots consistently marched down the field, the Rams got into enemy territory only twice all game.

The Patriots' offense held the ball nearly 16 minutes longer than the Rams.

"Our defense is great," Gurley said. "As an offensive player, I know we’re not helping them out by giving them 16, 17 plays in the first half, or not even putting points up. It’s frustrating. I definitely feel for the defense, because I feel like we’re not doing a good enough job to help those guys out. It goes both ways, but at the end of the day, you've got to look at yourself and say, ‘We’re just not doing a good enough job.’"

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http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0597565696875961220-4

The Rams' highest-graded offensive player on Sunday, per Pro Football Focus: LT Greg Robinson. Score of 79.2. Not much else to choose from, but still a bit encouraging for the former No. 2 overall pick, who was benched last week.

I haven't been here since the rams left STL. I didn't even know they were having a bad season, because I honestly haven't even missed them, but I do think about the guys here once in a while.

sorry folks, I feel your pain, but my sundays are so much more enjoyable since I got some new hobbies, been mostly rabbit hunting with some beagles that my son and I got after the exodus.

Anyway, I wish ya'll the best and I hope things turn around for ya.

No, this is not a "what we have to do to get in" thread. We need a miracle to get in the playoffs.

So what do you guys think about this years post season? Right now in the AFC we have:
1. Patriots
2. Raiders
3. Ravens
4. Texans
5. Chiefs
6. Broncos

NFC:
1. Cowboys
2. Seahawks
3. Lions
4. Falcons
5. Giants
6. Bucs

Some really good potential matchups and teams we haven't seen in a while. What are you looking/hoping happens in the final weeks of the season?

I'd like the Lions to get a bye. Seattle is a virtual lock for the Super Bowl if they get home field advantage. So I think someone needs to take over that spot.

What say you?

The special teams have been exceptional this year. Hekker has been all world and the coverage on kicks and punts has been stellar. A couple of questions for all:
1.) If a team wanted to trade you a second or a package of mid-rounders, would you trade him? My thought is Hekker is like having the best closer in baseball, but your team loses 90 games a year. Why not trade him while you can get value in return?
2.) Has anyone done a study on the merit of just taking a touchback vs bringing the ball out of the endzone? It seems the return man rarely makes it to the 25 and with the risk of a penalty or fumble, its not worth the risk of better field position or even a TD.

Do you guys think they pay attention to what's being said in the papers and social media ? My son shows me the postings on Facebook and the people are pretty nasty lately . These guys are just like us and I'd be curious if I was them . I'm sure some of thier family members are aware of it and bad news travels fast so I'm sure it bothers a few of them . It would bother me but that's the world we live in . I just thought it would be a good topic since Rams football talk is few and far between lately .

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I feel Gurley's frustration. He's holding himself accountable, which I'm sure all the players are doing. Somewhere between the practices, film sessions, game planning and actual game day execution there is a huge disconnect. How you fix it is the $69K question. I don't see it happening in the next four games. I can't believe another season is done in a month for my Rams. What looked to be promising after a 3-1 start just makes me shake my head in bewilderment.

These are excerpts from this article. To read the whole thing click the link below. More than the usual ass-kissing of Brady and the Patriots by Peter King, most of which isn't included here for obvious reasons.

A few comments about the Rams in the Things I Think section near the bottom. I guess PK has yet to get the news that Jeff Fisher has signed an extension.
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http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/12/05/nfl-playoff-picture-week-13-raiders-chiefs-peter-king

The Playoffs Are Coming
With four weeks left, the race for the postseason is heating up—and it all starts with a mammoth matchup Thursday. Here’s a breakdown of what is at stake over the final month
By Peter King

Once the Monday night game is played tonight in New Jersey—Colts at Jets—the league will be at ground zero. Twelve games played for every team. Then 64 games left. A sprint to the finish, starting with what I’d argue is the most important game of the 64 as we sit here this morning: Oakland at Kansas City, Thursday night.

It stinks that the Raiders have to travel 1,500 miles on a short-week turnaround to play the biggest game of their year, and if Al Davis were around, he’d have let loose with a few choice quotes at the league office about how Park Avenue has it in for the Raiders. But it is what is, a wise man once said.

Absent the Thursday part of it: How great is this? This 57-year rivalry (last 18 meetings: K.C. 9, Oakland 9) drips with history. Al Davis-Lamar Hunt. John Madden-Hank Stram. The Ken Stabler Raiders won seven straight in the series in the ’70s. The Marty Schottenheimer Chiefs won seven straight in the ’90s. On Christmas Eve 1994 the Chiefs won the last game in the history of the Los Angeles Raiders—with Joe Montana at quarterback for Kansas City and Marcus Allen behind him in the backfield.

And now, two California coaches (Andy Reid, Jack Del Rio) and two California quarterbacks (Alex Smith, Derek Carr) face off Thursday night in western Missouri, with more on the line than just the fate of these two teams.

“We are fired up,” Raider Khalil Mack said Sunday night from Oakland. “Huge game. Forget the short week.”

“Can’t do nothing about the schedule,” Chief Eric Berry said from Atlanta. “We’ll be ready.”


Photo: D. Ross Cameron/AP

The game impacts:

• The AFC West. Oakland is 10-2, Kansas City 9-3, Denver 8-4 in the best division, unquestionably, in football. This game’s almost more important for Oakland than for Kansas City, because the Chiefs control so many of the tiebreaker edges and because the Chiefs have the most advantageous schedule of the West contenders down the stretch.

With a win, Kansas City sweeps the series from Oakland this year and takes a commanding lead in division tiebreakers at 4-0 in division games; Oakland would be 2-2 and Denver 1-3. It’s certainly not a must-win if Oakland wants to win the division, but the Raiders would need help if they lose Thursday night—and the Raiders have a Week 17 game at Denver in the balance.

• The Patriots. Oakland crept ahead of New England (10-2) in the race for the top seed with a win over Buffalo on Sunday. Because the Raiders and Patriots haven’t played each other, the first tiebreaker is conference record; they’re both 7-1 in AFC games. Then it goes to common games. Oakland 2-0, New England 2-1, with the Pats’ Week 4 loss to Buffalo the stumble.

The top seed is very much in play, because New England’s stretch run is tough: resurgent Baltimore at home, then Denver on the road, Jets at home, and Miami on the road in a game the Dolphins might need to make the playoffs. And Miami’s beaten the Pats three straight at home.

• The Broncos. A Kansas City win Thursday and a Denver win Sunday would make the West very tight: K.C. and Oakland 10-3, Denver 9-4. So the Broncos aren’t out of it. They just have to do something very difficult to have a chance to win the division: beat Tom Brady in Week 15, win in Kansas City on Christmas night, then beat Oakland on New Year’s Day at home. That’s a heck of a closing trifecta. If Trevor Siemian goes 3-0 in those games, the Tony Romo rumors go away for good.

I’m giving playoff spots to Oakland and Kansas City, leaving one wild-card spot open. That’s likely to go to one of three teams: Denver (8-4), Miami (7-5), or the Pittsburgh (7-5)-Baltimore (7-5) loser.

If the ratings are ever going to gain ground, this is the week it should happen, by the way. After Raiders-Chiefs, it’s Cowboys-Giants on Sunday night, and Ravens-Patriots on Monday night.

It’s too early to align playoff games yet, but let’s look at the lay of the land, division by division, with four weeks to go.

NFC EAST

It’s over. It’s premature to say the Giants are who we thought they were, but Sunday was a bad day for two streaking teams—New York and Miami. The Giants (8-4), three back of 11-1 Dallas with four to play, have to hope for the five seed now, with Dallas and Detroit at home, then ending at Philly and Washington. Tough sledding.

Washington, at 6-5-1, is very much alive, with an easier schedule: at Philly, Carolina, at Chicago, Giants. The Eagles (5-7) continued to go out meekly with a 32-14 loss Sunday in Cincinnati.

NFC NORTH

Stop the presses: Detroit, for the first time all year, didn’t trail in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Lions were never behind in beating New Orleans. Detroit is 8-4; Vikes and Packers 6-6. No team has a clear schedule edge down the stretch, but the Lions have the toughest single game—at Dallas in Week 16. Minnesota has lost six of seven, so logically Green Bay (last two games: Pack 48, Foes 26) looks like Detroit’s toughest challenger. Pack at Lions in Week 17, by the way.


Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta and Tampa Bay (both 7-5) will battle for the division, and the Falcons can’t afford to look back at one-, two- and three-point losses, one more agonizing than the other. The latest: Eric Berry stealing a Matt Ryan two-point conversion pass and running it back for a two-point defensive conversion; Chiefs 29, Falcons 28. But it’s a weird road for Tampa to finish: Saints, at Cowboys, at Saints, Panthers.

The Falcons have the Rams and Niners in the next two weeks. It’s still hard to fathom Atlanta losing this division, but man, the Falcons make too many mistakes and shaky calls to play deep into January. Speaking of teams that won’t play deep into January, I never thought a missing necktie would lead to the worst Carolina loss in more than two years. That team’s going out ugly.

NFC WEST

It’s over. Seattle (8-3-1) is going to be the second seed and will need the bye week to get some beat-up players back to health. Bruce Arians goes to bed at night and dreams of kickers and snappers who just do their jobs.

AFC EAST

Nothing to see here. Bills and Dolphins went on the road in games they had to have and lost by a combined 46. New England wins the division. Assuming that’s so, since 2003, here’s how often each AFC East team has won the division title: New England 13, Miami 1, Buffalo 0, New York 0.

AFC NORTH

Now here’s some drama. The Steelers and Ravens are 7-5, meet Christmas in Pittsburgh, and are on mini-streaks. Pittsburgh’s got the schedule edge: at Buffalo, at Cincinnati, Baltimore, Cleveland … Baltimore finishes with three of four on the road: at New England, vs. Philadelphia, at Pittsburgh, at Cincinnati. Want an sleeper special to run the table to Super Bowl 51? Pick the winner of this division—whichever team it is.

AFC SOUTH

A Colts win tonight ensures the Trifecta of Mediocrity down the stretch: Houston, Indy and Tennessee would all be 6-6. The Titans look like the best team, but a 1-3 division record and games with the Broncos and Chiefs could doom them.

* * *

With four weeks to play, here are my projected seeds:

NFC: 1. Dallas, 2. Seattle, 3. Detroit, 4. Atlanta, 5. Giants, 6. Washington

AFC: 1. New England, 2. Oakland, 3. Pittsburgh, 4. Houston, 5. Kansas City, 6. Denver.

Should be a fun month. I’ll tell you the game that would be off the charts: Derek Carr at Tom Brady. Carr was 10 years old when the Tuck Game happened, when Adam Vinatieri kicked the Snow Globe field goal and Charles Woodson and Al Davis got on the plane home from New England, bitterly, and when the legend of Tom Brady really took flight. Who knows if it happens, but the bombs-away Raiders in Foxboro in January would be awesome to see.

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Cleats for a Cause

I thought I’d explain one cause, of 500, to show how a typical player got involved. I chose New England defensive lineman Chris Long, who is active in raising money to build solar-power wells in the drought-ravaged areas of East Africa (Tanzania mostly). The wells cost $45,000 each, and his goal is to build 32 of them—one representing each NFL franchise. The initiative is called “Waterboys,” and Long has recruited several players from other teams as frontmen for the cause.

“I agree that it’s long overdue,” Long said Sunday of the league’s one-week amnesty, after the Patriots’ win over the Rams. “Anytime we can get in front of a new audience, it’s helpful, because you never know how many people will say—or maybe even one wealthy person—‘I really want to help. That’s a great idea.’ We install solar-powered, energy-efficient wells. We’ve gotten 14 wells put in now, at $35,000 to $45,000 apiece.

Each one can provide clean water for up to 5,000 to 7,000 people in an area. Oftentimes in these communities, you’ll find young girls—instead of going to school, they spend hours every day walking to get water. So if we can install wells, they can go to school and begin to the live the kind of lives we take for granted. I was over there, and that scale of poverty, we’ve just never seen it before. Our dollars go a super-long way.”

That’s just one cause. Head here for more information.

* * *

“Nick, if I hire this kid and it doesn’t work out, I’m going to kill you.”

—New England coach Bill Belichick, to former Patriots director of operations Nick Carparelli, when he was trying to determine whether to hire Matt Patricia as a coaching assistant in 2004, as told by Tim Rohan of The MMQB in a profile on Patricia last week. Carparelli was very high on Patricia, an aeronautical engineering grad with a paltry football résumé, and according to Rohan, said, “Coach, trust me.”

Belichick got good intel. Patricia, Belichick’s defensive coordinator, is one of the rising-star assistants in the league.

* * *

Things I Think I Think

1. I think these are my quick notes of analysis from Week 13:

a. Lather, Rinse, Repeat Dept.: The snow hasn’t fallen yet, there’s four weeks left in the season, the Patriots have a three-game AFC East lead, the rest of the division contains pretenders, and they won’t play a truly meaningful game until divisional weekend, six weeks from now.

b. Just think if you’re a Patriots fan and you’re 23 or younger: This never-ending success is all you’ve ever known. I don’t want to break the news to you, but when Belichick and Brady are gone, say 12 years from now, you’ve got a chance to be 7-9.

c. Eric Dickerson’s being a little thin-skinned, but so is Jeff Fisher, in the Dickerson versus Rams dispute. It reminds me a lot of another big star openly criticizing the team he made famous—Joe Namath versus the Jets.

d. If Dickerson wants to be in the media, he needs to get used to a team being ticked off when he’s critical. And if the Rams want to court their famous and popular alums, the head coach has to let criticism by one of them roll off his back.

e. Regarding the contract extension for Fisher that was widely reported Sunday: If the rest of this season is a debacle, don’t think owner Stan Kroenke is going to bring back his coach after a 4-12 re-debut in L.A. that ends with a seven-game losing streak.

f. Jay Glazer’s right: Chip Kelly’s not going anywhere, except back to work trying to create an offense the Niners can win with.

g. That job got harder Sunday, with the benching of Colin Kaepernick during a ridiculously feeble offensive performance in bad weather at Chicago—though the weather didn’t look so bad for career backup (and southern Californian) Matt Barkley.

h. The Chiefs are a really smart team.

i. I have never seen a player use a penalty flag as a prop—resulting in a penalty—before punter Marquette King did it in the Oakland-Buffalo game, and boy was it weird.

j. Man, I love that two-point defensive conversion play. How exciting it is.

2. I think there's no reason to go particularly wild over Cam Newton missing the opening of a football game, except ... well, it’s hard to imagine a player messing up a team rule that’s common and has been in place for years: Wear a tie on team trips. Yes, the Panthers were on the road on the West Coast all week after playing in Oakland, but that seems like a soft excuse.

There's something strange with this story, and it might be this: Ron Rivera has had Cam Newton’s back ever since they came to the Panthers together in 2011, Rivera as head coach and Newton as the franchise quarterback. For Rivera to not pull Newton aside is just strange. As I said, I don't want to make it a mega-event.

But the Panthers had zero room for error entering their final five games; they had to run the table. And the centerpiece to everything they do was on the bench for the first series—in which backup Derek Anderson’s pass was intercepted, leading to a Seattle field goal—of Sunday night's game. It’s unsettling. Something, even something small, is wrong in Carolina.

3. I think football can be a cruel business, and it was Sunday night on the play after Earl Thomas was lost to a leg injury in the second quarter against Carolina. On third-and-17, with Thomas on the sideline trying to put some weight on a wounded leg, Cam Newton went hard after Thomas’s backup Steven Terrell.

On Terrell’s first play in relief of Thomas, Newton threw a rainbow bomb over the head of Terrell to Ted Ginn Jr. for a touchdown. In a frustrating season for Newton, this was a highlight—a smart use of a bomb when you have no idea how long a star’s going to be out; but when he is, you want to take advantage. And Carolina did, for seven points.

4. I think it doesn’t take a legal crusader to know the killer of Joe McKnight should be in custody in Louisiana this morning. To think he isn’t feeds into the skepticism of equal justice for all.

5. I think nobody knows anything. I left Lincoln Financial Field in Week 3, after the Eagles’ 34-3 win over Pittsburgh, and was convinced I’d just seen an NFC Championship Game team, with the rookie quarterback who’d be the story of the year. Since that afternoon, Philly’s 2-7, and the 32-14 rout at Cincinnati left the Eagles 0-6 on the road since I saw them.

The loss at Cincinnati ended the Eagles’ faint playoff chances, but it shouldn’t make Eagles fans skeptical about the future. For Carson Wentz to go from FCS in the state of North Dakota to beating the best two levels up was totally unrealistic. He’s got the demeanor and the tools to win, and to win big. I would be very bullish on his long-term chances.

6. I think with the spate of PAT misses—Cincinnati’s Mike Nugent missed his fifth in the last five games (how long can he keep his job?)—I went to the man who is state of the art right now, Baltimore Justin Tucker. He hit a 55-yard field goal in the 38-6 rout of Miami Sunday, and was perfect on five PATs. For the year, he’s the only perfect kicker in the league: 20 of 20 on extra points, 28 of 28 on field goals. A mini-interview on being perfect:

MMQB: What’s been the key to perfection this year?

Tucker: Practice, lots of practice. And quality repetition. I also think having a really good long snapper and really good holder are really important. When you’re got a guy as diligent as [long-snapper] Morgan Cox consistently throwing the ball back at 12 o’clock [the optimal position where the snapper’s hands are], who knows exactly how many rotations the ball’s going to spin on every throw, so it’ll be perfect when it gets to the holder, and when you’ve got the kind of holder Sam Koch is … he knows exactly where to put the ball every time; I swear he can put the ball within a quarter-inch every time of where it’s supposed, those are huge factors in the success of a kicker.

MMQB: You haven’t had this problem, but why are so many kickers struggling at the PAT this year? It’s basically a 33-yard field goal, yet so many are being missed.

Tucker: I honestly couldn’t tell you. I try not to think about it. We just think about every kick like it’s a field goal, so when we think about the extra point, I’m thinking field goal—just worth fewer points.

MMQB: But it’s crazy. It’s like a short field goal, and every week, six or eight or 10 get botched. Makes no sense.

Tucker: I know, but I’m not out to dive too deeply into the psychology of what we do. It’s hard to say, but I don’t really want to think about it. That can’t help me.

7. I think if offensive players are not allowed to aid runners in the field of play to help them get more yardage, why do officials not call it when they clearly do it? Look at the first Denver touchdown of the day, when Devontae Booker wasdragged by a lineman the final three yards for the score.

8. I think, with the news that the NFL is going to add an eighth official, I want to stress I’m not against getting more plays right. But my first reaction is this: Just what we need—more flags.

9. I think the Cowboys have been happy all along that they failed to acquire Paxton Lynch on the first day of the NFL draft last April. I was reminded of that again on Thursday night, watching third-round rookie Maliek Collins have his most impactful game to date—one sack and two significant pressures of Sam Bradford.

If the Cowboys had made the trade to get Paxton Lynch, it would have taken their second- and third-round picks, meaning no Collins. (And no Jaylon Smith, which may or may not be a huge factor.) Then, of course, the Cowboys fell into Dak Prescott late in the fourth round. Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make.

Goff has talent to work with - he should have been sacked way more than 4 times. His scrambling ability is going to help him a lot as the Rams' offense grows. That said, he's a rookie, and he played like one against a complex defense designed to confuse him. But he would have performed much better if not for:

Kenny Britt. Holy hell. The season he's been having, I did NOT expect him to completely stink up the joint. Snagging a bomb against the Pats' second stringers doesn't really make up for the fact that he killed - singlehandedly - a lot of drives early in the game when the Rams needed to keep the offense on the field and the D on the sideline.

Honorable mention to Kendricks, who is solely responsible for Goff's first INT of the day.

Higbee looked pretty big, fast and catch-y when they tried to get him the ball. I don't know if the OC knows how to use him, but he does pass the eyeball test as a weapon at TE.

Gurley seems lost, and part of that is a lack of opportunities. Last year, even when he was averaging 3-ish YPC, he was being fed the ball, was breaking tackles (he did a bit of that yesterday), and was good to rip off a 40+ yarder at any point in time. Blocking was bad, and he's not as hard to tackle as he was, but he's also not getting enough carries to wear down a front seven and rip off a biggie. Also, the Patriots gave the Rams' passing game zero respect, threw delayed blitzes and run blitzes and dared Goff and the passing game to beat them.

The Rams' D looked really good, aside from the long Blount run. They held the Pats to 3 on many drives, and you could tell from the stands that they were getting worn down and pissed off as the game wore on.

McDonald might have been the best player on either defensive unit. He flew all over the place, made big hits (that involved actually tackling the ballcarrier) and seemed to be a factor against the pass. You need to re-sign him. Alexander is good; McD looked like a game-changer.

I kept hearing Michael Jordan's name called over the PA, for good things - defending a pass, making a tackle. He looked decent out there, and the Pats were unable to get any long passes completed as the game went along.

Johnny Hekker is the best punter I've ever seen play the game of football.

Quick showed up a couple times. His catch (that was initially called not a catch) was SICK, and when we were watching the replay, we all agreed - damn, it was a catch, and what a catch at that.

Cooper doesn't seem to bring much, but he didn't get used much, so the jury is out.

As we reel today from another loss and the news of Fisher's continued blackmailing of Kroenke, let's take a moment to enjoy the tears of some other teams/fans. I know, I'm a sick MFer. Here we go:

Redskins fall to 6-5
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Cam Newton finds out his coach has kryptonite
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Hmm Panthers tears
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OBJ crying about officials after a loss boohoo
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Jordan Mills before the game re: Mack, who destroyed him, the Rex Ryans fall to 6-6
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Aints find out they can't play the Rams every week aww
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