Zooey wrote:

The pick: Rams 30-27 over Eagles

Stop trying to get my hopes up. I am mentally trying to prepare for a tough loss so I do not spend the week in a total funk. This sort of wide-eyed optimism is cruel. Leave me to my dark pit of despair. Post only the negative articles. That’s what a real fan would do.

I’m not kidding when I say the Rams should be working on their silent count. All the noise here is how the Eagles fans are going to turn the coliseum into the West Linc(Lincoln Field). The local radio personalities are going there to broadcast and they’re making a big deal of this. In any case there will be a LOT of Eagles fans in the stadium.

It won’t feel so much like a home field advantage. At best it will be like a neutral field. I say that because the Eagles and coaches keep saying how the crowd noise affected them in Seattle. That won’t be a problem here.

I don’t care what happened last year with Washington and Philly. That was Wentz’s rookie season. He’s playing like an MVP now. And their running game is deep and good.

I see the Eagles controlling the game.

The secret to stopping the Rams offense is to blitz Goff–or find a way to get relentless pressure–and stop Gurley. Look for Gurley on the quick checkdowns. I expect Goff to get hit a lot in this one and I think that will throw off his rhythm and accuracy. So look for turnovers.

I see a game where GZ will have to hit a lot of field goals to win it because I don’t think the Rams will find the endzone very often.

On defense–the Eagles would be nuts if they didn’t try to run the ball down the Rams throat. because if they do that–and I think they will–it will slow the Rams pressure on Wentz…and even if they get to Wentz–he creates some huge plays on the move.

If the Rams can’t find a way to get a good lead and take the Eagles out of their running game the Rams will have very little chance of winning this game.

Maybe the special teams will save them. They may have to.

I do not think the Rams will win this game. I’m not sure it will be close.

Eagles: 27

Rams: 13

By the way–McVay has said they are probably practicing the silent count. They will need it.

First of all–yes–I’m thrilled to have a winning season. But at the same time–I’ll be severely disappointed if they have come this far and miss the playoffs.

On the game:

Ugly but a win is a win.

I am so happy this team has GZ. He is so important to this football team. I don’t know what their record would be with a mediocre kicker but they would not have 9 wins.

I don’t care what Ogeltree says–I think he hurt himself on the flip. He wasn’t the same after that and he probably should have left the game sooner. Having said that–Hager is nothing special. There is a HUGE drop-off between those two. I don’t know what the injury status is of Ertz next week but Hager can’t cover him.

Special teams are…special.

The Rams certainly are a very balanced team.

I’m happy–I really am.

But I’m also concerned about the next four games. I believe the Rams have to win 2 of them to make sure they get to the playoffs. THAT won’t be easy.

I think the Rams would be wise to work on their silent count this week. Eagle fans will probably outnumber Rams fans next week and they will be loud. That will be a very tough game to win–especially if Ogeltree is hurt or out.

But for now–nice win. They absolutely needed it and found a way to get it.

Tighten your seatbelts. The next four weeks are going to be rough.

Simms was a bust.

Any team can do this.

Any team.

One other quick point. The crowd in LA sounded loud yesterday. The crowd had their best performance so far this year.

The crowd will get a bye week next week as the team travels and hopefully come back strong against the Eagles.

Game ball to the crowd.

A great game, a great win. I have to say that I was REALLY hoping to get this 8th win. There was just something about getting past that 7 win mark that seemed important.

Okay–first a couple of negative things. Too many field goals. I’ll take them, of course. But this game is not as close if they made touchdowns instead of field goals. That’s my little offensive rant of the day. On defense–the last drive by the Saints was way too easy. They just seemed to let Brees hit those sideline passes at will. There never should have been an onside kick with any meaning.

That’s it.

The positives:

Goff continues to grow and looks like he really knows what he’s doing out there. The pass to Reynolds shows how much he has grown–directing him to the spot where he was throwing the ball. That’s calm, cool and in control.

Gurley had a quietly good game. He had 74 yards rushing on 17 carries and 54 yards receiving. I thought that Tavon struggled a bit today but they seemed determined to get him involved. I don’t know if defenses have figured him out but he just had no real impact. Oh–and tear that Cooper Kupp pass out of the playbook. He’s no Jared Goff.

Speaking of Kupp–great game. I was very happy for him.

Watkins also had a nice game but I think Woods is just better in how he fits with the team.

On defense a shout out to Kayvon Webster who had a fantastic game and made play after play.

They got great pressure on Brees and that really hurt the passing game for the Saints. I was honestly surprised the Saints didn’t run the ball more.

Overall just a great win.

Next week won’t be easy. The Cards have confidence after beating the Jags and they are at home and will want revenge for London. Hopefully the Rams do not look past them to the Eagles. They really need to secure this one.

5 games left–they are squarely in the hunt. But this won’t be locked up until the end. I think they need 11 wins to make sure they are in. That means they have to find 3 more wins in this tough schedule. That starts next week with a game they SHOULD win and can’t let get away.

I think this becomes a real test of adversity because this will be the first time they drop two games in a row. That can lead to a downward spiral so it will be a huge test for McVay to see if he can make sure the ship doesn’t sink.

I just don’t see how the Rams defense stops the Saints. The secondary is banged up, the run defense is not good and…Drew Brees. The Rams will have to win a shootout and with the improved Saints defense and a missing Robert Woods–that won’t be easy.

They’ll have home field at least–but that hasn’t been a great advantage–still–even if it makes for a neutral field it’s better than playing in New Orleans. And if they can get Gurley going and control the game maybe GZ can win this one. But it will be close.

Still–the Saints are rolling. Gonna be tough.

The Rams are certainly improved over last year. They may not yet be the elite team we hoped they were–but they are good. They can make the playoffs. On a good day they can beat anyone. This wasn’t a good day.

The problem now are the injuries.

They have been incredibly lucky so far. But today that changed.

How deep are they?

How can they adjust?

Now we find out. All teams have to find that out sooner or later.

The Vikings are VERY good against the run.

But I hope that McVay does not abandon that early. The Rams success relies so much on play action and Gurley will have to at least keep them honest and hit a couple of big runs.

Also–I’d be surprised if Goff has a mistake free game in this one. The Vikings defense is too good and I believe they will force him to speed up this game. He won’t have 5 seconds to sit back and wait for receivers.

On defense the Rams will probably find a slippery Case Keenum looking to freelance and work with two very good receivers. The secondary will have to hold up in this one to make his life miserable. Also the Rams will have to be tough against the run. There are times they seem very vulnerable there but if they can take away the running game and put it all on Case he can make some mistakes.

I see a tough, hard fought game between two pretty equal teams. The Vikes have the added benefit of home field. It will be very loud. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins this one.

I don’t see it being a 40-38 game, however.

I see a lower scoring defensive struggle. The defense may have to win this one.

zn wrote:

My own feeling is that the Rams are good, but not as good as you might think if you based it on the Giants game.

In the Giants game, they were coming off a bye and going against a crippled team whose defense was tanking emotionally.

They were not a challenge. Neither was Arizona.

My measure of the team is this–it;s the team that played Seattle. Subtract the turnovers and you do have a good team, one that can compete for the division. But also a young one that has the potential to hit speed bumps (like it did with the turnovers against Seattle).

Why do you hate the Rams?

Besides–it’s my job to be the pessimist around here.

zn wrote:

PA I don’t usually jump in this way about someone’s reading, but, Le Bon established a certain way of looking at crowds that is now considered controversial.

No–jump in. I have no problem with that. I welcome it.

I have no deep knowledge of the subject to be honest–and the book was 99 cents on Kindle. I did read somewhere that Goebbels may have been influenced by the book. And some of the things certainly ring true to me. I especially find a religious sort of mindset to crowds or crowd movements. That’s just how I see it.

Does an individual give up his own identity when he becomes part of a crowd? Does a “crowd” once formed, have a mind of its own?

Maybe not entirely. But I can’t help believe there is something to that idea.

Certainly you don’t suddenly become racist if you aren’t racist just because others in the crowd are racist. But at the same time–in the mix of interests in a crowd, that racisim could be overlooked in the interests of accomplishing something an individual considers “greater” in some way. So a Trump supporter who is very anti-trade for example or who lives in fear of terrorists may accept the wall against immigrants because they feel this will offer protection or that the benefits of wiping out bad trade deals is the greater concern than the effects of racism. And that in the end it may be in fact, helpful to minorities. In other words–they mold their beliefs in a way that fits into the crowd and satisfies themselves that they haven’t sacrificed any personal beliefs. A crowd is complex–yes.

But history clearly shows us that charismatic leaders can lead crowds even against their own self interests.

If there is no crowd mentality that sort of takes over–an inner pressure from being and identifying as part of this crowd, then how does this all work? How do these individuals form into these sort of movements?

Richard Dawkins I believe talked about viruses of the mind and how they can”infect” others. Ideas can take on the roll of a virus in a way. Is this different from crowd mentality? Is it some sort of infection?

I doubt Lebon is right about all of this. I’m sure he isn’t. But he does make some interesting points, for sure. And I think it’s possible he does get some things right–as applicable in his time as they are today. I think that’s interesting. But I’m far from a historian on psychology. In fact, I’ve probably read very little about psychology over the years. Which is odd because I do find the topic often fascinating.

But thanks for posting that. I did read it and he makes some good points too. Can there be such a thing as “crpwd” mentality? I’d assume that could be controversial and there would be psychologists on both sides of that issue.

She certainly seems much more positive than her dad. But he may have been more of a realist.

George spoke a lot of truth.

I like the point about crowd mentality. I find that very interesting. I have a book on my Kindle right now called, “The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind” by Gustav Le Bon. I’ve been back and forth with it but it’s fantastic. It really gets into crowd psychology and how that can be manipulated by powerful leaders. It was written in 1895 but it applies to today very well and modern “internet crowds”, IMO. While Le Bon sounds sexist and even probably racist to a degree—the main message concerning crowd mentality seems to have a lot of merit behind it.

I especially liked his view of a religious mentality and crowds. Here’s a snippet from Wikipedia:

On religion, ideology, and fanaticism:
A person is not religious solely when he worships a divinity, but when he puts all the resources of his mind, the complete submission of his will, and the whole-souled ardour of fanaticism at the service of a cause or an individual who becomes the goal and guide of his thoughts and actions. Intolerance and fanaticism are the necessary accompaniments of the religious sentiment. They are inevitably displayed by those who believe themselves in the possession of the secret of earthly or eternal happiness. These two characteristics are to be found in all men grouped together when they are inspired by a conviction of any kind. The Jacobins of the Reign of Terror were at bottom as religious as the Catholics of the Inquisition, and their cruel ardour proceeded from the same source.

Anyway–I find it interesting.

I find this quote to fit with the memes of today:

“Crowds being only capable of thinking in images are only to be impressed by images. It is only images that terrify or attract them and become motives of action.”

The nazis very much used this kind of psychology as well.

Anyway–I found a site that actually has a pdf of the book at the bottom of the page if you’re interested. Just scroll down.

http://greshams-law.com/2013/01/25/5-lessons-from-the-crowd-a-study-of-the-popular-mind-by-gustave-le-bon/

Here’s the Wiki link for it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crowd:_A_Study_of_the_Popular_Mind

The Rams were great in the Giants game. No complaints. They were great.

Just wanted to point out two quick things that jumped out to me.

#1) The offensive line. This unit can not get enough credit for how well it is performing this year.

#2) Goff has a quick release. He may not have Prescott or Wentz’s running ability but I would take his quick release over the other two. I think he edges them there.

Now the Clinton folks hate Donna Brazille.

They loved her when she was defending superdelegates and giving Clinton debate help.

Never go against the cult.

They will turn on you.

This Sanders/ Clinton civil war may never end. I’m not sure the Democrats can fix this. They are in more trouble than the Republicans in some ways. The DNC is trying to rid itself of progressives and cling to their same old losing model.

Northam may be in trouble in the Virginia race now.

The Democrats are failing as a national party. I don’t know what will replace them.

I do understand the importance of down-ticket races and winning state races.

But if all they got is: “We aren’t Trump,” they’ll lose.

I was rooting for Dallas and Houston yesterday because those wins help the Rams. At least one of those two teams won. Rams are set up very well for at least a wild card but they can’t collapse and they have four very tough games coming up: Seattle, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and New Orleans.