1. What an amazing feeling this is!
2. I'm thinking of the number 99...
3. This team has ascended to the summit occupied by the '99 Rams, and nobody can take that away from us.
4. MVP Cooper Kupp had 99 yards from scrimmage, and we needed every last one.
5. And number 99... Aaron Donald... arguably the greatest Ram ever.
6. So much happened in the course of one game. For a portion of the first half, it was the Rams that Sean McVay envisioned... dynamic, moving the ball down the field, and scoring.
7. Then, OBJ goes down (hope its not a major injury) and the offense - which could not run with any success all night - stagnated.
8. The start of the second half was a nightmare. Jalen Ramsey gets mugged on the long TD (can't believe no call on that one) and a bad bounce gives the ball right back to the Bengals.
9. Then, the defense decided to take matters into its own hands. Six second half sacks, including 5 from the three headed monster of Donald, Von Miller and Leonard Floyd.
10. And, finally... when the game was on the line, Matther Stafford showed why he was worth his price and more, and Kupp proved (in case there was any remaining doubt) that he was the best offensive player in football this season.
11. With all the stars, its easy sometimes to overlook the role players. Four deserve a shout out. On offense, Darrell Henderson and Brycen Hopkins had 43 and 47 yards receiving to help fill the void left by OBJ's injury. On defense, A'Shawn Robinson stuffed the run all night and added a sack, and Earnest Jones had six tackles, two TFLs and a sack.
12. There are a lot sports cliches, and most of them are exaggerations, but tonight I truly believe: the Rams left it all on the field. From those who limped off, to those who fought to the last play, to those who may have played their last snap tonight... this team gave its all. I felt that way 42 years ago when the Rams fought the Steelers to the end. Tonight, they got the pay off.
13. There will be a ton of questions about who will be back next year and how this team can put a roster together that can compete to repeat. I'll address that in the next couple of weeks. Right now, I just want to savor this win.
14. Before the game, I prayed for an easy night. A runaway win. A laugher like we used to see in the 80s and 90s. That would have made for a less stressful night. But, in the end, this is how it had to be, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
15. Congratulations and a ton of respect to the Bengals. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC for years. They gave us all we could handle.
16. Remember back in November when people accused this team of having the talent, but not the toughness? To those people: how do you like us now?
17. I've been a fan of this team for over 40 years. I know that some of you have been fans even longer. We all know how special this is. Obviously, it doesn't come around very often. We'll remember and cherish this one forever.
18. Thanks for sharing this ride. I've now taken my bows, and my curtain calls. You've brought me likes, and high fives and everything that goes with them... I thank you all.
19. But most of all, thanks to a group of players who faced a challenge before the whole human race and said, with one voice, "I ain't gonna lose!!!!!!!"
20. We are the Champions, my friends!
2. I'm thinking of the number 99...
3. This team has ascended to the summit occupied by the '99 Rams, and nobody can take that away from us.
4. MVP Cooper Kupp had 99 yards from scrimmage, and we needed every last one.
5. And number 99... Aaron Donald... arguably the greatest Ram ever.
6. So much happened in the course of one game. For a portion of the first half, it was the Rams that Sean McVay envisioned... dynamic, moving the ball down the field, and scoring.
7. Then, OBJ goes down (hope its not a major injury) and the offense - which could not run with any success all night - stagnated.
8. The start of the second half was a nightmare. Jalen Ramsey gets mugged on the long TD (can't believe no call on that one) and a bad bounce gives the ball right back to the Bengals.
9. Then, the defense decided to take matters into its own hands. Six second half sacks, including 5 from the three headed monster of Donald, Von Miller and Leonard Floyd.
10. And, finally... when the game was on the line, Matther Stafford showed why he was worth his price and more, and Kupp proved (in case there was any remaining doubt) that he was the best offensive player in football this season.
11. With all the stars, its easy sometimes to overlook the role players. Four deserve a shout out. On offense, Darrell Henderson and Brycen Hopkins had 43 and 47 yards receiving to help fill the void left by OBJ's injury. On defense, A'Shawn Robinson stuffed the run all night and added a sack, and Earnest Jones had six tackles, two TFLs and a sack.
12. There are a lot sports cliches, and most of them are exaggerations, but tonight I truly believe: the Rams left it all on the field. From those who limped off, to those who fought to the last play, to those who may have played their last snap tonight... this team gave its all. I felt that way 42 years ago when the Rams fought the Steelers to the end. Tonight, they got the pay off.
13. There will be a ton of questions about who will be back next year and how this team can put a roster together that can compete to repeat. I'll address that in the next couple of weeks. Right now, I just want to savor this win.
14. Before the game, I prayed for an easy night. A runaway win. A laugher like we used to see in the 80s and 90s. That would have made for a less stressful night. But, in the end, this is how it had to be, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
15. Congratulations and a ton of respect to the Bengals. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC for years. They gave us all we could handle.
16. Remember back in November when people accused this team of having the talent, but not the toughness? To those people: how do you like us now?
17. I've been a fan of this team for over 40 years. I know that some of you have been fans even longer. We all know how special this is. Obviously, it doesn't come around very often. We'll remember and cherish this one forever.
18. Thanks for sharing this ride. I've now taken my bows, and my curtain calls. You've brought me likes, and high fives and everything that goes with them... I thank you all.
19. But most of all, thanks to a group of players who faced a challenge before the whole human race and said, with one voice, "I ain't gonna lose!!!!!!!"
20. We are the Champions, my friends!
