Rams win

McVay: This guy has grown up. I think he learned from the loss to the Patriots, and just generally. He stuck with the run even though it wasn’t working (at all). This is the kind of game where he would have given up on the run. AND…I think the game plan was focused on OBJ. He thought the Bengals would do everything they could to take out Kupp (which they didn’t, even after OBJ’s injury, and I don’t understand not doubling Kupp every damn play). OBJ was wide open, even on the play he got hurt, and was on his way to having a monster game. I think the Rams would have won this game substantially with OBJ. The Rams were missing Woods, OBJ, Higbee, Blanton, Fuller and Weddle…they were playing backups to the backups, and McVay made it work. He adjusted.  And the culture he has created is 2nd to none. Kroenke had better open up his wallet for both McVay and Snead.

Donald: A case could be made that he should be the MVP because the Bengals knew they couldn’t block him, and the gameplanned for that. Instead of their signature 7-step drops and chuck the ball, Burrow was releasing the ball in 1.8 seconds. Donald and the DLine made the Bengals sacrifice their strength before the game even started. That’s incredible. And when they went away from the run, the DLine just ate the Bengals alive. After that 75-yard TD to start the 2nd half, the Bengals got just 50 yards the rest of the game. Burrow got sacked 7 times in 22 plays. (I heard Peter King say today that he thinks Donald will retire. He was at the Rams party until 4am).

Stafford: I didn’t notice that no-look pass until I saw the highlight this morning. That was ridiculous. And Matthew Stafford is clutch. That guy’s playoff run was amazing. 15 play drive when they needed it most, making 3 playoff games in a row where he led game-winning drives. Aaron Rodgers has 2 such drives in his playoff career. Stafford got 3 in one post-season. He is Nails.

Kupp: I think Cooper Kupp is in the conversation of best player in the NFL. Everybody KNEW the Rams were going to Kupp, and he just worked them anyway. The guy just catches and runs and he is unstoppable. In his last 3 games, he had 28 receptions, 6 TDs, and 4xx yards receiving against playoff teams. Stafford to Kupp is going to be a big problem for the NFL for a long time. I don’t know if they can get any better because they both work their butts off, but even as they stand right now, this is as dangerous a duo as exists in the NFL, and may be the most dangerous. Kupp is ridiculous. This guy might be Jerry Rice.

OBJ: I am sorry for that guy. I think he was headed towards a huge game, and now he’s out until who knows when. He is probably going to get a one-year deal as a consequence, too. I think he will stay with the Rams. He loves the team, and OBJ can make more money outside of football in Los Angeles anyway. He is made for those opportunities, and if he is a star on the Rams, he can bank really big money on the side. I was going to put $200 on OBJ yesterday. I heard a prop set on him at 63 yards. I was going to bet the over on that because he was going to get that easily, imo. But I hadn’t wagered since the 2018 season, and my account was deactivated, and I couldn’t get it re-activated in time, and did not get that bet placed. So OBJ’s blown knee did not blow a hole in my wallet.

Kroenke: I am going to say something nice about an owner. This guy had a vision, and he worked it, and worked it, and worked it. I remember reading that he just patiently hammers away at his goals back when he bought the team, and when it was clear he was going to LA. He built the crown jewel of the NFL right in LA, the city where no stadium deal could ever get done, that had 2 NFL teams leave, that people said did not care about football. Then he hired the right people, and let them make the football decisions. He let Snead reinvent team-building philosophy, and trusted McVay on Goff, and Demoff on money, and he just won the Super Bowl last night in what was a 6-hour long commercial for Los Angeles. I don’t think that attracting Millers and Beckhams is going to be a problem for this team as long as McVay is around. Stan knew what he was doing, and he did it. Right now, the Rams are THE model franchise. That is what Kroenke just did.

speaking of developing lower round draft picks…

very impressed with ernest jones so far.

and holding out hope that bobby brown iii can make an impact next year cuz that guy had all the physical talent in the world.

Billy_T wrote:

Right now, I think it’s clear: Kupp is the best wideout in football; AD the best defensive player; Ramsey the best corner; McVay top three coach. I still don’t know where to place Stafford, but his playoff run gets him into the conversation for at least top five.

I agree with that. And I am still trying to process the idea that the Rams have two players on their team who are arguably the best player in the game.

I think there’s a part of me that just didn’t believe my eyes with Cooper this year. He’s always been scrappy and productive, but not…sensational…or something. I don’t know what I expect from a great WR…maybe somebody huge and fast like Moss or Owens. But, man, you look back on his season, and right through the playoffs, and it just could be the greatest season a WR has ever had. That just isn’t a lie. Cooper Kupp is just a cheat code. He gets open, he catches the ball, and he can’t be tackled. He is surreal.

And just to add to what I said earlier about the Millers and Beckhams finding LA attractive, all of these guys – Beckham, Stafford, Ramsey, Floyd, even Miller to some extent – they all came in with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. Something to prove. I suspect that was more luck than design, but McVay/Snead have put together a team of hungry football players who put in the work. It was rumored that Goff didn’t work as hard as he could have, and it’s rumored that Stafford works. This is a team of workers. They just were not going to be denied, and even with a ton of weapons watching from the sidelines, the OL came through for Stafford, and Kupp was enough.

Agree with all of that, Zooey.

And, WV, good points. But I’m wondering if Kupp maybe did get injured and they’re just not talking about it. He took a lot of shots to the head this year, and another big one in the Super Bowl.

That scares the hell out of me too.

Watched an NFL Network interview of AD, Kupp, and Stafford, together. They seemed (understandably) wiped out. Happy, but just beyond tired. Or, maybe I misread their being way cool and relaxed with being wiped out. Not sure. Anyway, it was kind of a funny interview, contrasting their demeanor there with their actions on the field. The interviewers had a little trouble getting them to talk. Those three guys are kinda humble.

With a very few exceptions, this Rams team isn’t exactly “Hollywood.”

Jefferson not as focused in the Superbowl?

This explains a lot. https://twitter.com/VanJefferson12/status/1493424575274799107?t=K0tRB5mO18PTWz-bdFfazQ&s=19

I dont understand why the Rams run game was so atrocious in that game.

I mean, it seemed like Bengal defenders were always running free,

right into the RB.   Seemed like No-one was even trying to block them.

They ran better on the powerful 49er D.

w

v

Oh, and Johnny Hekker?  WTF, man?

First punt is a line drive, and the weird drop on the extra point?

Was the game just to big for ole Johnny?

w

v

Von Miller: “…run this thing back…”

==

Well, all those guys are lubed up to the gills, and giddy about their victory.

But even after the euphoria wears off, I think they are going to want to try to repeat.

I don’t know about you guys, but personally, I’m in favor of a repeat.

Cooper Kupp in a Kobe jersey, squeezing the Lombardi in a confetti storm is all I needed today.

they gotta bring von back.  he’s got tons of personality.  fun to watch.  fun to interview.  when he came out for the draft, i was hoping the rams could draft him.  now he’s actually a ram, and i don’t want to see him go.

and here’s his james corden interview from when he won a super bowl with the broncos.

wv wrote:

I saw a stat about how many snaps Aaron Donald took this year. It was, like, a million. With all the fierce effort he expends, against all the double-teams, play after play, game after game — and all the desire and pressure for that Ring, and all the pressure of being ‘the man’ and a leader — one would think the guy is totally exhausted. Maybe more than any player on the team. w v

yeah. he is the face of the franchise. in terms of greatness. in terms of longevity.

i guess that’s why they wanted to win it for him.

it’s rare these days for a defensive player to be the face of a franchise. i mean even before he won the super bowl there were whispers that he was the best player in the nfl. not just defense but all of football.

it’s funny. we’re seeing a whole new aaron that the public has never really seen before. when he finally got that ring it’s like years of tension building up inside him had finally been released.

We’re also isolating in our house as we deal with Covid. The snow in our yard is just below waist level so I am not doing any work in the garden.

Speaking of the Rams being Super Bowl Champions, the thing that brings me the greatest joy is knowing that the Rams beat the Niners in the Conference Championship on their way to becoming the best team in the NFL. I think about that daily.