Setting up the SF game … w/ broadcast map

Nacua is going to get the records. 4 catches and 29 yards is one drive. They are not going to rest him when he is that close to the records. After he puts his name on the top of those lists, maybe.

It will be interesting to see what McVay does.

If the Rams had managed to choke away the game to the Giants, they would have something to play for, and the 9ers would have some motivation to knock them out. But with little on the line, health is more important than whether the Rams play Detroit or Dallas, and San Francisco has nothing to gain or lose, except health.

wv wrote:

As much as i hate seeing either SF or LA rest their starters, it just makes too much sense to do it. The walking wounded would benefit from it. It would still be nice for the Rams’ second-string to beat the 49ers second-string. Weird situation. I dont remember this happening before. Dunno what to think of it. Will either team even pass the ball more than ten times? w v

Yeah, I don’t know, but that if the Rams beat their first-round opponent, they will go back to San Francisco.

And I will suddenly want the Rams to win that game more than I can possibly imagine right now. While I have no delusion about the Rams winning 4 straight playoff games on the road, beating the 9ers in the playoffs again would heal a whole lot of historical wounds. The 9ers are the odds-on favorites to win it all this year. They have the inside track, clearly. They’ve been the best team all season long, the recent loss to the Ravens notwithstanding. It is all laid out for them to win it all this year. To fall short this year would gut that team and their fans, especially if the Rams stick in that dagger.

I want you to know that I will have things to say about it if that happens.

Carson Wentz vs Sam Darnold won’t be bad to watch…

I don’t see the Rams starting Stafford or Kupp or AD… do you?

I don’t see the 49ers starting Purdy, Kittle or Deebo.

Ben Skowronek, Tutu, Austin Trammel, Royce Freeman, Ronnie Rivers….  this is your chance to shine. ….

that’s too bad, i wanted to see Kyren’s mom get to snatch another ball from an opposing fan in the stands…..   She rightfully snaked that ball away from Saquon Barkley fan last Sunday in East Rutherford…..

A 10-7 record would be nice to see.

I’m thinking of resting myself, Sunday;  I think i will be fresher for the Playoffs.

When’s the last time a 6th or 7th seed got to rest starters in the last game, btw?   When’s the last time TWO teams faced off and BOTH were resting starters?

w

v

Clue that Wentz will start for Rams against 9ers?

https://x.com/jourdanrodrigue/status/1742295098527019067?s=46&t=HWVy98OnVkQzKJrO607ZCw

Such a strange situation.  Does the game mean more to the Rams or SF?   Shanahan or McVay?   Does ‘vanilla’ favor the 49ers or Rams?

If you are a player how do play hard yet protect yourself for the playoffs?

w

v

———
by Kyle Posey
“…We wondered whether Brock Purdy would start for the 49ers Sunday and head coach Kyle Shanahan provided the answer on Wednesday afternoon. Purdy is out, and Sam Darnold is in.
This comes on the heels of the Rams announcing that starting quarterback Matthew Stafford will rest in Week 18 in favor of Carson Wentz.
Shanahan said, “Brock’s the only guy for sure I don’t plan on playing.” That’s not counting Christian McCaffrey, of course.
Shanahan said, “there’s a good chance we’re playing this team in two weeks, so I think both sides will be pretty vanilla” when talking about the game plan for Sunday….
===

I guess Jones is a load bearing wall now.

Bad luck for me. If Washington plays in the same time slot as the Rams, the Rams aren’t on. They usually don’t, so I sometimes get to see them for late games. Not this Sunday. Will have to wait until the playoffs.

I’m conflicted about Nacua. It’s great that he has a shot at the rookie record, but I think I’d rather they sit him for the entire game. He plays too hard, and with abandon, so it’s always risky for him to be on the field at all.

The Rams, IMO, have had too many misses on Draft Days through the years, but this last draft class is otherworldly. Don’t think they’ve ever done better, especially given the absence of a 1st . . . not to mention past years when the Rams have had multiple early picks. Throw in Dotson, Robinson, and Witherspoon, and one could argue it’s their best offseason, evah. Can they make it rain hidden gems in 2024?

Avila looks like a major hit for them, and they scored big, it appears, with Turner and Young (Sounds kinda like a Buddy flick, doesn’t it?). Plus, of course, the real stunner: Nacua. Davis Allen and Ethan Evans look good so far as well. I’m still hoping Zach Evans can find a way to get on the field, too.

Anyway, Bennett, to me, is the only real sour note from this draft so far, with a few of the 6th and 7th rounders still being in limbo, basically. As in, they could end up helping the team as well. But it’s hard to get angry if picks that late don’t pan out. You do want at least the first four rounds to hit, though, if possible.

Hope you’re right about this next offseason, and I’m guessing you are. The Rams very likely learned a lot about process, team-building, and gained a sense of . . . well, humility . . . from the down year/bounce-back. This season’s all gravy, IMO. But next year, they gotta get back to the Big Dance.