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December 22, 2015 at 1:41 pm #35954
znModeratorRambling Ahead: Rams at Seahawks
Joe Lyons
COMING THIS WEEK
The Rams (6-8) were officially eliminated from the playoffs when Seattle (9-5) beat visiting Cleveland 30-13 on Sunday to reach the postseason for the fourth consecutive season. The Rams, who beat Seattle 34-31 in overtime at the Edward Jones Dome to open this season, will meet the Seahawks in a 3:25 p.m. game Sunday at CenturyLink Field.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Wide receiver Doug Baldwin. One of the chief beneficiaries of QB Russell Wilson’s torrid recent play — he’s thrown 19 touchdowns passes with no interceptions and a 74 percent completion rate over his last five games — Baldwin has posted similarly impressive numbers over the last month or so. His two touchdown catches Sunday give him 10 over the last four games, a number rivaled only by the legendary Jerry Rice.
With 13 touchdowns this season, Baldwin has tied the franchise record set by Daryl Turner in 1985. And he joined Cris Carter (1995) and Calvin Johnson (2011) as the only players in the Super Bowl era with multiple touchdown receptions in four consecutive games.
Baldwin, an undrafted free agent from Stanford in his fifth NFL season, has 65 catches for 905 yards this season.
HE SAID IT
“You underestimate the heart of a champion, you are going to lose a lot of the time,” Seattle All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman said following Sunday’s 30-13 win over visiting Cleveland. “No matter what the record was, we understood who we were and what we needed to do.
“We were never deterred.”
The two-time defending NFC champions started the season 2-4 but have come on to win five in a row and seven of their last eight to wrap up their fifth playoff trip in six seasons under head coach Pete Carroll.
The Rams came out of Thursday’s 31-23 win over Tampa Bay relatively healthy and should benefit from a few extra weekend days off.
The Seahawks played Sunday without strong safety Kam Chancellor (pelvis), tight end Anthony McCoy (knee/ankle), defensive tackle Jordan Hill (toe) and running back Marshawn Lynch (abdomen). During the win over Cleveland, left tackle Russell Okung went down with a calf strain and cornerback DeShawn Shead left after aggravating an ankle injury.
SERIES HISTORY
Seattle leads the series 21-14 and has won 20 of 30 since the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995.
The Rams, who won the teams’ lone playoff meeting 27-20 in 2004, beat the visiting Seahawks 34-31 in overtime to open this season. After surrendering 18 fourth-quarter points, the Rams tied the game on a last-minute TD pass from Nick Foles to Lance Kendricks, took the lead on a Greg Zuerlein field goal and sealed the win when Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers combined to stop Lynch on a fourth-and-one play near midfield.
December 22, 2015 at 1:49 pm #35955
wvParticipantThe spread is fourteen.
I didn’t expect ‘that’ big a spread.w
v————————–
http://www.footballlocks.com/nfl_lines.shtml
NFL Lines For Week 16 – NFL Football Line Week Sixteen
NFL Line 12/24 – 12/28, 2015Date & Time Favorite Line Underdog Total
12/24 8:25 ET At Oakland -5.5 San Diego 46.5
12/26 8:25 ET At Philadelphia -3 Washington 48
12/27 8:30 ET At Minnesota -6.5 NY Giants 45.5
12/27 1:00 ET At Tampa Bay -3 Chicago 46
12/27 1:00 ET Carolina -7 At Atlanta 47.5
12/27 1:00 ET At Buffalo -6 Dallas 43.5
12/27 4:05 ET At New Orleans -3.5 Jacksonville 51.5
12/27 1:00 ET At Detroit -9 San Francisco 43
12/27 1:00 ET At Kansas City -12.5 Cleveland 42.5
12/27 1:00 ET At Miami Off Indianapolis Off
12/27 1:00 ET New England -3 At NY Jets 46
12/27 1:00 ET At Tennessee -4.5 Houston
12/27 4:25 ET At Arizona -4.5 Green Bay 49.5
12/27 4:25 ET At Seattle -13.5 St. Louis 41
12/27 1:00 ET Pittsburgh -10.5 At Baltimore 47Monday Night Football Line
12/28 8:30 ET At Denver -3.5 Cincinnati 41
December 22, 2015 at 1:58 pm #35958znModeratorSeahawks opponent outlook: St. Louis Rams
http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-opponent-outlook-st-louis-rams/
By Seattle Times staff
The series: Seahawks lead it 21-13 overall and have not lost to the Rams in Seattle since 2004. However, the Rams have won two of the past three meetings, both in St. Louis. That includes a 34-31 victory in the season opener Sept. 13.
Early line: Seahawks by 13½.
Key players:
QB Case Keenum: The 27-year-old from Houston has replaced the benched Nick Foles — who led the Rams to the season-opening win over the Seahawks — and is coming off maybe the best game of his career, hitting 14 of 17 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-23 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday. He is 28 of 39 for 358 yards and two touchdowns in his past two games, both wins. Keenum is 4-9 in his NFL career as a starter, which includes going 0-8 with Houston in 2013.
RB Todd Gurley: A rookie from Georgia, Gurley has been everything the team expected when it took him with the 10th overall pick in the 2015 draft. Gurley did not play in the opener against the Seahawks while still recovering from a knee injury. But since entering the lineup in Week 3, he has 1,023 yards, joining Jerome Bettis and Eric Dickerson as the only players in Rams history to top the 1,000-yard mark as rookies. Gurley also has nine touchdowns and is considered a leading contender for the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
DL Aaron Donald: This season the second-year defensive tackle has enhanced his status as one of the best young players in the NFL. In fact, Donald this week has the highest grade for the season from Pro Football Focus for any player at any position. Donald has 11 sacks, the most for an interior lineman in the NFL, and 16 tackles for a loss. Donald made the key play in the opener against the Seahawks, teaming with Michael Brockers to bring down Marshawn Lynch on a fourth-down play that ended the game in overtime.
P Johnny Hekker: The Bothell High School grad is having another standout year, one good enough to possibly get him to his second Pro Bowl (he made it in 2013). Hekker leads the NFL in punts (85), is second in net punting (44.32) and is among the top four in percentage of punts inside the opponent’s 20- and 5-yard lines.
St. Louis’ keys to success: The Rams, regarded by some as a dark-horse NFC West contender when the season began (and especially after the season-opening win over the Seahawks) are finishing another disappointing season played against the backdrop of the uncertainty over their future in St. Louis. The Rams were eliminated from the playoffs Sunday and are playing only for the hope of winning the last two games to get to 8-8, which would be the team’s first non-losing record since 2006. Gurley’s addition and a good defensive front seven led by Donald had many thinking the Rams might break through this season. But the Rams have been waylaid by a typically tepid passing attack — they are last in the NFL in passing at just 176.5 yards per game. The Rams are 31st overall in total offense at 299.4. Gurley has helped the running game to 122.9 yards per game, seventh in the NFL. But scoring remains an issue — the Rams are 31st in scoring at 17.2 points per game. The Rams have not been great against the run, allowing 118.1 yards per game (23rd in the NFL) and they beat Tampa Bay on Thursday despite allowing more than 500 yards overall for the second time in three weeks (509).
December 22, 2015 at 9:28 pm #35970znModeratorPractice Report 12/22: Keenum Preparing for Seattle Challenge
Myles Simmons
Quarterback Case Keenum has gone through plenty of ups and downs in his first few seasons in the NFL. But he may not have played better in a victory than he did last week against Tampa Bay.
The quarterback was efficient, completing 14 of his 17 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns. That’s 13.76 yards per attempt, and a quarterback rating of 158.0 — just three tenths away from perfect.
Rob Boras said Tuesday he thought Keenum played outstanding in the coach’s second game since assuming the duties of offensive coordinator.
“I’m not sure what his numbers were, but the ball was complete. When it wasn’t there, he was smart and didn’t force it,” Boras said. “The whole offensive across the board — guys stepped up and it’s been that way, really, for the last two weeks.”
The more he plays, the more comfortable Keenum’s looked on the field. It’s a correlation that makes sense given the difficult nature of playing QB in the NFL.
“Game experience, especially at the quarterback position, is priceless in this league. You have to learn from it,” Keenum said. “You have to get better, and you’re going to go through tough times. It’s not a perfect science. Obviously, some guys have it figured out better than others and have had a lot more success. You try to take stuff from them and how they do the game, how they play the game, how they prepare, and you try to fit it to your own game and what works for you.”
“I hope he’s feeling more comfortable,” Boras said. “I don’t think the gameplan should take credit. It was a short week. He just believed what he saw. That’s what he kept telling himself, ‘I’m not going to overthink it. I’m going to see what I see, and I’m going to believe it and let it go.’ He did that.”
It looks like everything is coming together as Keenum has won both starts since getting back into the starting lineup. In his last two games, the Houston product has completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 358 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. That’s good enough for a 106.6 rating and 9.18 yards per attempt.
“I’ve always concentrated on getting better,” Keenum said. “That’s what being a veteran is about, is accumulating experience and experience is priceless. It’s just a matter of keeping battling through the tough times and enjoying the good times.”
Plus, some of Keenum’s decisions don’t directly show up in the stat sheet. Head coach Jeff Fisher has complimented the signal-caller’s ability to make the proper checks in the run game, and Boras mentioned how Keenum taking a sack in certain scenarios is also the right call.
“Case, even those he had to take a sack twice, those were in situations where he didn’t force the ball and [had] something bad happen,” Boras said. “So, sometimes it’s the decision when the ball wasn’t thrown that are the ones you compliment him for the most.”
But this week will present a significant challenge as the Rams head up to Seattle for their second matchup with the Seahawks. Since starting out the year 2-4, the two-time defending NFC champions have won seven of their last eight to bring their record to 9-5. And looking at both squads, plenty has changed when it comes to their on-field makeup — Keenum being one of them.
“It’s been a really long time, a full season,” Keenum said. “A few different players, but it’s Seattle and they’re still a really good defense. They still line up and run what they run.”
Still, there’s plenty to take not only from the Rams’ 34-31 overtime victory, but also the games the two teams have played in the past few years.
“We know who they are. They know who we are,” Boras said. “It just comes down to us doing what we do better than they do what they do. They haven’t changed a whole lot.”
Seattle’s known for running plenty of Cover 3 with its secondary and excelling at it with leaders like cornerback Richard Sherman, safety Earl Thomas, and safety Kam Chancellor. But the Seahawks can be just as formidable up front with players like Michael Bennett, who has 9.5 sacks and can move all around the defensive line.
“They line up to it different ways and they mix it up,” Keenum said. “They tend to mix it up against us sometimes, too. Divisional opponents you play twice, so it helps sometimes to mix it up. You still have to line up and play. You still have to line up and beat them. They’ve got some great players over there.”
The other challenge will be the crowd noise. CenturyLink Field has been known for a while as one of the loudest stadiums in the league, and often presents communication issues.
“We’re not going to be able to hear very much of anything,” Keenum said. “This will be my first time playing at Seattle. I played at Kansas City though. My first start was at Kansas City when they were going back and forth who was the loudest outdoor stadium. So I have an idea of what it’s like, but I’m sure it’s going to be really loud. It’s something we’re definitely going to have to deal with.”
Though the plays go directly to Keenum’s helmet from quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke on the sideline, Boras said there are plans for if something goes wrong.
“That’s part of the preparation that we’re going through now,” Boras said, “is to try to make sure that we have the contingencies in place, so if he can’t hear, we can still get him a play and we can still hopefully be effective.”
And so as Keenum continues to progress in the offense, Sunday will provide another test for him to show what he can do as a quarterback in this league.
“I’ve said it before, anytime you step on the field I think it’s a statement,” Keenum said. “That’s how we accumulate resumes in this league — it’s what you put on film. Anytime you do that, especially against a team like Seattle, who’s for the last few years have been playing a lot of really good football, so we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
“This will be a big challenge for him,” Fisher said. “I mean, it’s not easy to go in there and play. But, he’s got the personality that I think it takes to go in there and be successful.”
INJURY REPORT
There was no official injury report released on Tuesday, but Fisher did provide an update on linebacker Alec Ogletree. Last week, the head coach said Ogletree’s practice window would likely begin this week with the idea of the linebacker possibly being active for Week 17 against the 49ers.
While Ogletree did not get on the field for the week’s first practice, Fisher said the linebacker did some work inside.
“He’ll be out over the next couple of days,” Fisher said. “We’ll see how he moves and then we’ll kind of push him as best we can, but not going to put him in a position where if he’s not ready, we’re not going to play him.
“But, I want him to have the opportunity to potentially get a few snaps against San Francisco,” Fisher continued. “We’ll know early in the week next week.”
VISITING BAILEY
A number of Rams went to visit wide receiver Stedman Bailey in Miami during the long weekend, including wide receiver Tavon Austin and safety Rodney McLeod.
“It felt good to see my man,” Austin said. “It’s hard to see him like that, but he is definitely positive about the situation.”
“Just to be there and encourage him and lift up his spirits, if they were even down — it didn’t look like they were,” McLeod said. “It looked like he was very positive. We just wanted to take some time out and show him our support, and that we’re rooting for him.”
For more on the visit to South Florida, we’ll have a full story on the site on Wednesday
December 23, 2015 at 3:08 pm #35994December 24, 2015 at 11:25 am #36026znModeratorUnbelievably, the Rams are not favored.
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FT’s Week 16 picksMike Florio
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/12/24/pfts-week-16-picks-5/
Rams at SeahawksMDS’s take: The Seahawks don’t have a lot to play for in the final two weeks of the season, as they’re locked into a wild-card berth. But they’re playing some of the best football in the league right now, and they should beat the Rams comfortably.
MDS’s pick: Seahawks 24, Rams 21.
Florio’s take: Both teams have changed a lot since Week One, when the Rams upset Seattle. It would be a major upset if the Rams complete the sweep.
Florio’s pick: Seahawks 34, Rams 20.
December 24, 2015 at 3:55 pm #36031znModeratorSix Points: Rams vs. Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have already locked up a postseason berth as they go for their sixth consecutive victory against the visiting St. Louis Rams on Sunday. It will be a revenge game for the Seahawks, who dropped a 34-31 overtime decision at St. Louis in the season opener.
Jasen Vinlove and Joe Nicholson / USA TODAY Sports
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/six-points-st-louis-rams-seattle-seahawks-122415
The Seattle Seahawks have already locked up a postseason berth as they go for their sixth consecutive victory against the visiting St. Louis Rams on Sunday. It will be a revenge game for the Seahawks, who dropped a 34-31 overtime decision at St. Louis in the season opener.
Seattle holds down the No. 5 seed in the NFC due to a tiebreaker with Minnesota, but coach Pete Carroll said at Monday’s media briefing that his team will not take its foot off the gas pedal. Russell Wilson has 19 touchdown passes versus zero interceptions and the Seahawks are averaging a shade over 34 points during the five-game tear.
The move from Nick Foles to backup quarterback Case Keenum has paid dividends for the Rams, who have won two in a row following a five-game losing streak. St. Louis has amassed 52 points in the two games under new offensive coordinator Rob Boras after managing a total of 54 during the five-game skid.
Here are three keys to the game for both the Rams and the Seahawks.
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RAMS
1. Continue to get the tight ends involved
The Seahawks have had ongoing issues covering tight ends, starting in Week 1 when St. Louis’ Jared Cook had a season-high 85 yards on five catches. Fellow tight end Lance Kendricks added a pair of receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown in that contest. The duo combined for seven catches and 91 yards in last week’s win over Tampa Bay. It’s worth noting that Boras was the team’s tight ends coach before his recent promotion.
2. Give Aaron Donald some help
Donald leads all defensive tackles in sacks with 11 and has been a constant disruptive force in the opposition’s backfield, but the Rams have received little pressure from their edge rushers since Robert Quinn and Chris Long were hurt earlier this season. Cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson need strong coverage games to allow St. Louis to send a linebacker and/or safety on the blitz to try and cool off Wilson.
3. Test the Legion of Boom
Foles did throw for 297 yards – his season high – in the Week 1 matchup against a secondary that was missing strong safety Kam Chancellor, who may sit out his second straight game with a tailbone injury. Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley also was unavailable in the opener, but quarterback Case Keenum will have to throw against a defense that has permitted only 26 points in the past three games.
SEAHAWKS
1. Bottle up Todd Gurley
As is the case with any St. Louis opponent, slowing Gurley is No. 1 on the checklist. One of three backs in the league to have surpassed 1,000 yards rushing, Gurley was limited to 48 yards on 21 carries against the Buccaneers – the fifth time in six games he has been held to 66 yards or fewer. Seattle is among the league’s surest-tackling teams and ranks third against the run (83.9 yards per game).
2. Define roles in the backfield
Running backs Christine Michael and Bryce Brown were each signed last week, but they still managed to produce a combined 127 yards on 25 rushes – although it came against a Cleveland defense ranked 31st in the league. Michael averaged 5.3 yards on his 16 carries but Carroll has not committed to him as the lead back while awaiting the return of starter Marshawn Lynch from last month’s abdominal surgery.
3. Ride the wave
Wilson is on the hottest streak in league history, becoming the first quarterback with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions in five consecutive games. His favorite target in that span has been Doug Baldwin, who joined Hall of Famer Jerry Rice as the only wide receivers with at least 10 touchdown catches in a four-game stretch. Rookie Tyler Lockett has quietly put up 25 catches and five TDs during the five-game run.
December 25, 2015 at 8:49 am #36044znModeratorImproving Keenum braces for Seahawks, “12s”
Jim Thomas
Midway through the 2013 season, Case Keenum made his first NFL start in the Sea of Red, otherwise known as Arrowhead Stadium. So he knows what it’s like to play in one of the league’s loudest venues.
“They were going back and forth (with Seattle) on who was the loudest outdoor stadium,” Keenum said. “So I have an idea of what it’s like, but I’m sure it’s going to be really loud. It’s something we’re definitely going to have to deal with.”
Keenum did fairly well that day in Kansas City, completing 15 of 25 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown for Houston in a 17-16 loss to the Chiefs.
On Sunday, Keenum gets his first look at CenturyLink Field, home of those zany, over-caffeinated Seattle Seahawks fans known as the “12s.”
“This will be a big challenge for him,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “I mean, it’s not easy to go in there and play. But he’s got the personality that I think it takes to go in there and be successful.”
This will be Keenum’s third consecutive start and fourth overall for St. Louis. So far he has improved each time out. First came a poor outing Nov. 22 at Baltimore, a game that ended in the Keenum concussion controversy and a game-winning field goal by the Ravens.
After missing the next two contests while under the NFL’s concussion protocol, Keenum played pretty well in a Dec. 13 victory over Detroit and then was excellent in last week’s Thursday night triumph over Tampa Bay.
Now, if Keenum puts together something substantial against the surging Seahawks, who rank second in the league in total defense, he’ll give the Rams something to think about in terms of the quarterback position heading into 2016.
“I’ve said it before, anytime you step on the field, I think it’s a statement,” Keenum said. “You’re adding to your résumé anytime you step on the field. … It’s what you put on film.”
Keenum, 27, had eight starts for Houston in 2013 and two more for the Texans last season. Sunday’s 3:25 p.m. (St. Louis time) kickoff in Seattle will mark Keenum’s 14th NFL start. By season’s end, he will have accumulated basically a full season’s worth of tape on his résumé. And he’ll have an expired contract.
“I’ve always concentrated on getting better,” Keenum said. “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse — somebody told me that. And so I take every experience I get, every game experience, every practice experience, and I put it in a database and I try to learn from it, try to grow from it.”
“That’s what being a veteran is about, is accumulating experience. And experience is priceless. It’s just a matter of keep battling through the tough times and enjoying the good times.”
The Rams’ 31-23 victory over Tampa Bay definitely falls into the “good times” category. Keenum threw just 17 passes, but he completed 14 for 234 yards and two touchdowns. His passer rating of 158.0 was just shy of the NFL “perfect” QB rating of 158.3.
“Case played outstanding,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said. “Really, the whole offense across the board, guys stepped up and it’s been that way really for the last two weeks.”
Against the Buccaneers, Keenum was quick, decisive and accurate with his throws. In jumping to a 28-6 lead, the Rams’ offense showed a focus and efficiency rarely seen this season.
“When it wasn’t there, he was smart and didn’t force it,” Boras said. “On a team coached by Lovie Smith, if you don’t turn the ball over, you have a chance to win. That defense has always been built on creating turnovers and scoring. That was a challenge to all of our guys that had the ball.”
Sometimes the best throws are the ones you don’t make. Taking a sack is better than throwing an interception. And so far, one of the distinguishing characteristics of Keenum at quarterback for the Rams is a minimum of turnovers.
The Rams didn’t have a turnover against Tampa Bay — only the fourth time that’s happened all season. Keenum threw his only interception of the season just 13 seconds before halftime against Detroit, so it had no impact on the game.
He did lose two fumbles against Baltimore. But the first came on a botched handoff that seemed as much Todd Gurley’s fault as Keenum’s. The second came on the second of two plays Keenum participated in after suffering his concussion, on a strip-sack by Courtney Upshaw.
Keenum looked comfortable against the Bucs, a sign that he could be settling into the starting quarterback role.
“He just believed what he saw,” Boras said. “That’s what he kept telling himself: ‘I’m not going to over-think it. I’m going to see what I see and I’m going to believe it and let it go.’ He did that.”
Even with Keenum’s overall quick decision-making, sometimes that involved hanging in the pocket and having the patience to work through his reads, something that didn’t always seem to be the case with Nick Foles at quarterback.
“A couple of those catches that Jared (Cook) made, he wasn’t first in the progression,” Boras said. “It was Case trusting it and working through it, and the ball got to him.”
Easier said than done against Seattle, especially when playing the Seahawks in the Pacific Northwest. “They’re real talented as we know,” Boras said. “D-line, linebackers, secondary — I mean, they’re the real deal.
“They know exactly what they’re supposed to do. It’s hard to get them out of position.”
December 25, 2015 at 9:51 am #36045znModeratorWith Rams up next, Seahawks’ Wilson lets stellar play speak for itself
Joe Lyons
Over the last five weeks, Seattle’s Russell Wilson has posted numbers that no quarterback in NFL history can match.
With 19 touchdowns, zero interceptions, a completion rate of better than 74 percent and a quarterback rating of 143.6, Wilson has been the key figure in helping the Seahawks rebound from a 2-4 start and move back into position for another Super Bowl run.
The two-time NFC champs have won five in a row and seven of their last eight and will carry a record of 9-5 into Sunday’s 3:25 p.m. game against the (6-8) Rams at CenturyLink Field.
On a teleconference call with St. Louis reporters this week, Wilson talked in depth about key players from the Rams and Seahawks, but the fourth-year pro never said a whole lot about himself or the unbelievable streak he’s on.
“We’re just trying to focus and play great football. That’s the key,’’ he said. “It’s everybody else, I think, collectively. We’re just playing lights-out football. We’ve really been in tune and been in sync offensively. The wide receivers are making great plays, the tight ends are making great plays, the running backs are making great plays, too. And the offensive line is doing a phenomenal job up front.’’
And the quarterback?
“The key is just the preparation,’’ the 27-year-old Wilson said. “I always say, the separation is in the preparation. That’s where, I think, we’ve continued to grow together.’’
But Wilson, who helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title to finish off the 2013 season, has clearly taken his game to a new level this fall. With two games left, he’s already reached career highs in passing yards (3,538) and touchdowns (29), and his completion percentage (68.8) and passer rating (111.4) are also career bests.
“Week in and week out, you want to continue to evolve and get better,’’ Wilson said. “You want to be playing your best football in December and January, hopefully. My goal as the quarterback is to facilitate the ball to the right guy at the right time and play winning football. Ultimately, that’s all that matters – that we find a way to win.’’
Seattle coach Pete Carroll hasn’t noticed any real his changes in Wilson’s games during the winning streak.
“The stats really tell you that he’s on a good run right here,’’ the coach said. “I think it’s a combination of a lot of things … and Russell’s right there in the middle of it. He’s been very consistent. His process of getting the game plan together and putting together a good week, and all that is really the same as it’s been. But it’s only natural that you’d get better in time.
“It’s not like we haven’t been successful. These guys have been really good. This is just a particularly sharp run for us right now (and) hopefully we can make it go another week.’’
Rams linebacker and defensive captain James Laurinaitis has been a fan of Wilson’s since the quarterback’s days at North Carolina State.
“He’s a guy who makes plays and over the last five or so weeks, he’s taking over games,’’ Laurinaitis said. “I don’t know him that well, but he comes across as a guy who doesn’t think that much about stats, a guy who’s willing to do whatever it takes to win.
“He’s smart and right now, he’s making a lot of good, quick decisions. He throws a beautiful deep ball and, against us anyway, it always seems to be right where it needs to be.’’
Rams coach Jeff Fisher added: “Russell’s playing really well. I mean, he’s just making plays. He’s extremely accurate (and) he’s extending plays with his legs. The guy’s got a ring … we’re going to have to obviously deal with him first and foremost.’’
The Seahawks’ passing game took a hit when All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham suffered a season-ending knee injury in late November. But fifth-year pro Doug Baldwin has more then picked up the slack with 65 catches for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. With two TD grabs last week, Baldwin joined Cris Carter (1995) and Calvin Johnson (2011) as the only players in the Super Bowl era with multiple touchdown catches in four consecutive games, and his 10 TDs over the last four games ties a mark set by Jerry Rice in 1987.
Seattle’s longtime recipe for success – combining hard-nosed defense and a strong run game – hasn’t changed, even though the Seahawks have played much of this season without injured All-Pro back Marshawn Lynch. The team also lost Lynch’s replacement, rookie standout Thomas Rawls, with a fractured ankle.
“Everybody’s got challenges of losing guys and guys are in and out of the lineup,’’ said Carroll, whose team’s run game is still ranked second in the league, averaging 147.4 yards a game. “We try to stay really true to who we are and really consistent in the formula that’s been successful for us, regardless of who’s playing.’’
In last week’s 30-13 win over visiting Cleveland, the Seahawks ran for 182 yards, with Christine Michael (16 carries, 84 yards) and Bryce Brown (nine carries, 43 yards) leading the way. Michael, a second-round pick by Seattle in 2013, re-signed with the club just four days before the Cleveland game after being released by Dallas and Washington this season. This is Brown’s third stint with Seattle in 2015.
The Seattle defense remains one of the best in the NFL, ranked second overall behind Denver.
“I think they’re playing really good football right now; seven out of eight is pretty impressive,’’ Fisher said. “Russell is playing well, their defense is playing well and they always seem to find a running back. It’s a hard place to play, so yeah, we’ve got our work cut out for us.’’
December 25, 2015 at 6:11 pm #36058znModeratorCarroll thinks WR Doug Baldwin (hamstring) will be able to play, though may be game-time decision; Okung questionable
Merry Christmas to everyone.
The Seahawks finished Christmas Eve practice. They will have a later one on Christmas Day so players with children can spend the morning around the tree with them. Yes, coach Pete Carroll confirmed his boomin’ sound system that usually bumps rap music throughout practices has been mixing in holiday music, too.
Carroll even wished those literally close to him Merry Christmas following Thursday’s practice.
As for the business at hand, Sunday’s home game against St. Louis, Carroll said the team expects white-hot wide receiver Doug Baldwin to be OK to play –though that may end up being a game-time decision. A hamstring issue has caused Baldwin to miss the last two days of practice.
The coach inferred the injury is a cumulative-effect one and not the result of a specific play or tweak.
“He’s had a lot of work lately,” Carroll said.
Baldwin is tied with Cris Carter and Calvin Johnson for an NFL record of four consecutive games of two touchdown receptions.
Carroll sounded less optimistic about left tackle Russell Okung and his strained calf, saying he will likely be questionable for the Rams game when the injury report comes out Friday. Alvin Bailey would start if Okung can’t.
The coach coyly said we will all find out Sunday if DeShawn Shead or Jeremy Lane starts at right cornerback.
“Both are ready,” Carroll said.
Lane, usually the nickel back inside, replaced Shead after Shead gave up a third-down catch on the opening drive last weekend against Cleveland. Shead was coming off a sprained ankle that Carroll said is healed.
Kam Chancellor also sounds iffy at best to play Sunday. Kelcie McCray would for the second straight week if Chancellor can’t.
December 26, 2015 at 2:59 pm #36072znModeratorDoug Baldwin, Michael Bennett, Kam Chancellor, Russell Okung all questionable for Sunday vs. St. Louis
Pete Carroll says he thinks Baldwin (hamstring) will be able to play
The Seahawks had a late-afternoon practice Friday to allow time for players to spend the holiday morning with their families.
Baldwin and Bennett practiced fully Friday, reinforcing the belief each will play Sunday.
Here’s what I sense based on what I’ve seen and been told this week:
▪ Baldwin is the most likely of the questionables to play. Carroll said Thursday he thinks the scorching-hot wide receiver will be able to go. The hamstring injury sounds like it’s been a longer-term, wear-and-tear issue rather than a tweak he had in last week’s win over Cleveland. He has 10 touchdowns in his last four games, something only he and Jerry Rice have ever done. In briefly talking to him this week in the locker room, Baldwin didn’t seem concerned.
▪ Chancellor and Okung are less likely to play. They haven’t practice this week, at least entering Friday’s light workout. Alvin Bailey seems likely to start at left tackle and Kelcie McCray again at strong safety instead.
▪ Bennett’s had this toe issue for a while, Carroll has said. This is the first time this season it’s left him questionable, which officially means a 50-50 chance of playing.
If the Seahawks would ever rest these four veterans on the conservative side of questionable, it’s Sunday. They already have a playoff berth locked up. While the Rams (6-8) have always given Seattle problems in St. Louis — including a win there in this season’s opener — they’ve lost 10 straight times in Seattle. The Seahawks are trying to get the No. 5 seed, yes. But resting banged-up veterans now then ramping them back up to play next week in the regular-season finale at NFC West-champion Arizona, to potentially clinch that fifth seed and prime them for the playoffs that begin the following week would be a prudent move.
If I had to make a (semi) educated guess, Baldwin and Bennett will play Sunday, Chancellor and Okung will not.
.
December 26, 2015 at 3:44 pm #36073
— X —ParticipantBetter have an answer for Baldwin.
Dude is nuclear hot lately.You have to be odd, to be number one.
-- Dr SeussDecember 26, 2015 at 3:51 pm #36074znModeratorMuch has changed since Rams beat Seahawks, but blueprint remains
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams (6-8) and Seattle Seahawks (9-5) kick off Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field. Here are three things to watch in this matchup:
1. Finish strong — The Rams haven’t won in Seattle since January 2005. That was also their last playoff victory. In the time since, the Rams have lost 10 in a row to the Seahawks on Seattle’s home field. Since coach Jeff Fisher arrived in 2012, the Rams have had a knack for playing the Seahawks close for a half or three quarters before giving in and losing in the fourth quarter.
In two of those three meetings, the Rams have held halftime leads, only to watch the game slip away in the final 30 minutes. The Rams have been outscored by a cumulative 36 points in the second half of that trio of meetings, including a 20-0 difference in a 20-6 loss at Seattle to close the 2014 season.
That’s a far cry from the way the Rams have been able to close out games against Seattle in St. Louis. In the first meeting back in Week 1 this season, the Rams kept pace with the Seahawks, matching them touchdown for touchdown before coming out with a 34-31 win. To have any sort of chance to reverse their Seattle road woes, the Rams have to finish strong in this one.
Tavon Austin returned a punt for a touchdown in the Week 1 victory over the Seahawks. AP Photo/Tom Gannam
2. Todd Gurley’s Seattle debut — From a roster perspective, there’s been plenty of change for both teams since that week 1 meeting. The Seahawks have welcomed back safety Kam Chancellor but lost running backs Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls. Lynch won’t play this week, but Chancellor is back to his usual dominant self.For the Rams, key players such as end Robert Quinn, linebacker Alec Ogletree and safety T.J. McDonald have been lost to injury. But rookie running back Todd Gurley didn’t emerge as the starter until Week 4 against Arizona. That means Gurley will be playing his first game against the Seahawks and making his first trip to play at Seattle. Perhaps that could allow Gurley to spring a surprise against an unfamiliar opponent.
But that might be Gurley’s only advantage in this matchup, if you want to call it that. Seattle has been stout against the run again, ranking third in the NFL in rushing yards allowed and fourth in yards allowed per carry. Rushing yards are hard to come by for any offense against the Seahawks, but the Rams also haven’t had much success moving the ball on the ground when playing in Seattle recently, either.
Gurley will need to produce for the Rams to keep pace.
3. Big plays and turnovers — Believe it or not, the Rams won the first meeting between these teams despite being minus-two in turnover margin. They did it because they were able to make so many big plays on offense and get a touchdown on special teams. Chances are they’ll need to make more of those big plays again to beat the red-hot Seahawks, but they’ll also need to have an edge in the turnover margin this time around, too.
In the season opener, the Rams offense had a whopping eight plays of 20-plus yards, which accounted for 223 of their 352 yards in the game. In addition, Tavon Austin had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown that helped tip the scales in the Rams’ favor.
Seattle’s defense is among the best in the league at limiting drives and the Rams’ offense is among the worst in the league at sustaining them. Without some big plays and a few takeaways, the Rams’ steak of losses at Seattle will likely move to 11.
—————-Rams seek to end 10-game losing streak in Seattle
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams have been something of a thorn in the side of the Seattle Seahawks in recent years. At least when the teams meet at the Edward Jones Dome, where the Rams have won three of the past four and four of the past six.
But it’s a much different story when the Rams travel to the Pacific Northwest to play the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The NFL’s loudest stadium has been a house of horrors for nearly every team going there in recent years, but it’s maybe been even scarier for the Rams than any other team.
The Rams haven’t won in Seattle since Jan. 8, 2005. That was not only the Rams’ most recent win in Seattle but also their most recent playoff victory.
Let’s allow fourth-year defensive tackle Michael Brockers to put in perspective just how long that’s been.
“I don’t even remember (what I was doing),” Brockers said. “I don’t even want to do the math. Probably in high school watching SpongeBob, that’s how lame I was.”
What wouldn’t be lame is if the Rams can somehow find a way to break that streak on Sunday. At 6-8, the Rams are officially eliminated from playoff contention, but they’ve won their past two and if they can spring the upset, they’d have a chance to get to 8-8 for the first time since 2006.
That record is still firmly in the land of the mediocre, but it would represent some sort of progress for a team that hasn’t won more than seven games since coach Jeff Fisher arrived in 2012. To do it, though, the Rams must start by knocking off a team that has had their number since that 27-20 victory in 2005, a game in which little-known tight end Cameron Cleeland caught the game-winning touchdown pass.
“Our motto is, we have never won in Seattle since I’ve been here so the motto this week is to get a win in Seattle,” Brockers said.
Believe it or not, the Rams actually swept the Seahawks in three meetings in that 2004-05 season, winning twice in Seattle along the way. But in the time since, the games haven’t even been all that close with two notable exceptions.
In 2006 and 2010, the Rams and Seahawks played huge games that ultimately helped decide the NFC West champions. The Rams lost 24-22 in 2006 in a game marred by some costly penalties from offensive lineman Richie Incognito. In 2010, the teams played on Sunday night to determine the division champion and the Rams fell 16-6, allowing Seattle to win the division at 7-9.
Overall, though, the trend hasn’t been too positive. The Rams have been outscored in those 10 losses by an average of 16.2 points per game, outgained by an average of 96 yards per game and are minus-six in turnover margin.
Since Fisher took over in 2012, the Rams have made a habit of playing the Seahawks close for a half before capitulating. In 2012 and 2014, the Rams actually had halftime leads of 7-3 ad 6-0 before losing 20-13 and 20-6.
The disappointment of those losses has the Rams treating this matchup like a playoff game.
“I love playing up there,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “To me, it’s my favorite place to play in the league. It’s an awesome fan base that’s loud and it’s always a two-day trip so you get to have some fresh fish and a nice cup of Starbucks.
“Our goal these last four was to go 4-0. We’re halfway there. And quite frankly, we know we are not going to the playoffs so why not treat this like a playoff game? Get our minds set to treat it that way, go out there and it’s going to be that kind of atmosphere. They’re always pumped up when we come to town. We always play each other really well, so I just hope it won’t be the same narrative it’s been every time we go up there. We fight them, it’s great for a half, it seems to be tied and then something happens in the game and it goes haywire. I’m excited for it.”
A win against 9-5 Seattle would also allow the Rams to sweep the Seahawks after beating them back in week 1, and clinch a winning record against division opponents before closing the season next week in San Francisco. It would also add a second impressive win on the road against a tough NFC West team.
“It’s a hard place to play,” Fisher said. “We’ve been close up there, but we haven’t been able to finish it. They’re certainly motivated even though they’re in, there’s motivation for them to win out and to move up as far as the seeds are concerned. But yeah, it’s a hard place to play and we’re going to go up there and we’re going to do everything we possibly can.”
So never mind that the Rams no longer harbor playoff dreams. There’s still a lot on the line with so many players set to become free agents and a tape that won’t lie when others review it after the season.
“Yeah, we’re still playing football,” Brockers said. “This team loves to play football. You see us practice, we go out there and grind every day, this team loves to play football so as long as there’s a football, a field, there’s cleats and pads, I think we’ll be ready.”
December 27, 2015 at 5:53 am #36100znModerator7 things to watch: Rams at Seahawks
Jim Thomas
RUNNING THE BALL — IT’S WHAT THEY DO
The Seahawks’ five-game winning streak has come without the services of star RB Marshawn Lynch, who’s sidelined after undergoing abdominal surgery. He’ll miss Sunday’s game as well. Unheralded Thomas Rawls filled in admirably until he suffered a season-ending fractured ankle two weeks ago. No worries, Christine Michael and Bryce Brown combined for 127 of Seattle’s 182 rushing yards last week against Cleveland. Seattle ranks second in the league in rushing offense and has gained 100 yards-plus on the ground in 25 consecutive games, tied with Carolina for the longest such streak in the league.
WILSON WINS
Russell Wilson won’t be the league’s MVP this season. And many observers still don’t regard him as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks. But nobody — nobody — has put together the kind of hot streak Wilson has been on over the past five games. We’re talking 19 touchdown passes, zero interceptions and a 143.6 passer rating in that span. He’s the first QB in NFL history to throw for three-plus TDs with no interceptions in five consecutive games. The Seahawks are 15-2 in December since Wilson came on board.
CHASING WILSON
Over the years, the Rams have done a good job of keeping Wilson in the pocket and getting him on the ground. They dropped him six times in their 34-31 overtime victory on opening day, and that gave them 32 sacks in seven games against Wilson. But without DE Robert Quinn, who’s out for the year and recently underwent back surgery, the Rams’ pass rush has lacked its usual bite. The Rams had 27 sacks in their first seven games. They’ve had only nine sacks in their last seven, coinciding with the first game Quinn missed.
SIZZLING BALDWIN
One of the beneficiaries of Wilson’s play is WR Doug Baldwin. Undrafted out of Stanford in 2011, Baldwin has come to epitomize “The Pedestrians,” the nickname Seattle’s overlooked and underappreciated wide receiver corps gave itself during the team’s Super Bowl 48 championship run two years ago. Baldwin is questionable because of a hamstring injury, but if he plays — look out. He has 10 TD catches over his last four games, the first player to do that since the incomparable Jerry Rice did so in 1987.
THE LINE-UP
After losing C Max Unger and G James Carpenter in the offseason, Seattle entered the season with only 110 career starts among its five offensive line starters, the third-lowest total in the league — trailing only the Giants (109) and Rams (76). The inexperience showed early, with the Seahawks allowing 31 sacks in their first seven games. But they’ve allowed only 10 sacks in their last seven contests. Mizzou product Justin Britt has helped stabilize the interior switching to LG this season from RT in 2014.
CASE STUDY
It’s one thing to excel against the Tampa Bay defense. But if Case Keenum can do so against Seattle’s second-ranked unit — amid the din of CenturyLink Field — well, that would turn heads. You know the principals: CB Richard Sherman, FS Earl Thomas and SS Kam Chancellor form the “Legion Of Boom.” Bobby Wagner is a rangy yet physical LB. DE Michael Bennett and DT Brandon Mebane head the line. Mebane is big enough to get part-time work as a national monument. But Chancellor (pelvis) might not play.
SPECIAL TEAMS MANIA
Each team had a punt return for a TD in the Sept. 13 meeting, with rookie Tyler Lockett returning Johnny Hekker’s first punt of 2014 for a 57-yard score. But Tavon Austin returned the favor late in the third quarter with a 75-yard punt-return TD. Jeff Fisher and John Fassel have pulled out some of their best special teams tricks against the Seahawks, whether it’s a fake field goal, a fake punt or the infamous “Mountaineer” decoy punt return. Seattle undoubtedly spent some time preparing for such hijinks during the practice week.
December 27, 2015 at 11:53 am #36123wvParticipant“I just hope it won’t be the same kind of narrative that it’s been every time we go up there,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “We fight ’em. Great for a half. It seems we’re tied, or we’re up, and then something happens. The game goes haywire.”
——————————Not surprisngly, its tough to have confidence
when things like that are in yer head.w
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