Nick Wright picks the rams to win the NFC, near the end of vid.

…so, is the front four now the ‘strength of the team’? Is it becoming the identity of the Rams?

Maybe it depends on how the front four does against the best OLines. Like Philadelphia. And Detroit.

If they get bludgeoned again, then what do we say about them?

Eagles are SIX point favorites.

w
v

Zooey wrote:

wv wrote:

Vikings now, 2.5 point favorites.

I think the Vikes just have an all-round better team. And Justin Jefferson is just frightening.

I’d feel better if Cooper Kupp was healthy, but i dunno what the deal is with Kupp.

Vikings 23
Rams 20

w
v

Stafford is better than Darnold. Jefferson is scary. So is Puka. Van Ginkel is scary. And they have Hockenson back.

But I am a believer in Sean Aristotle McVay.

Rams 27
Vikings 16

Final Answer.

i wonder if viking fans are still the second most obnoxious flamers in the league.
49er fans, being first, of course.

there was a time, back in the olden days, when flamers ran amok amonxt us, you know.

w
v

I’m a little surprised they didnt add Warren Sapp to that list. I think Sapp is in the conversation.

w
v

Vikings favored on the road. Rams 1.5 point underdogs.

w
v

zn wrote:

PFF LA Rams@PFF_Rams
13. Los Angeles Rams

Ranking all 32 offensive lines ahead of Week 18:

Tough to rank this OLine given the small number of games they’ve been healthy. In general though, I’d put em in the 10th to 15th tier.

w
v

OJ Simpson rushed over 2000 yards in a 14 game season.

I just wanted to point that out.

These ‘records’ i hear about make me roll my eyes, sometimes.

w
v

“rams look awful”

zn wrote:

I don’t really look forward to this that much. I don’t like watching the 2s in a meaningless game, and then that could be quickly followed by a Rams playoff defeat, depending on who they get in the first round (not their year). So if it goes that way–a 2s game followed by a playoff loss–the next good Rams game we get to see will be next September. Unless they win their 1st playoff game, which depends on who they play. That could be a win and a good watch, depending.

I just want one good game before the season ends.

They could do a lot between now and September and field a real contender in 2025. Need to draft and/or sign an OT, a CB or 2, an ILB, and probably a fast receiver. Which is all do-able.

Yeah, i agree with all that.

I dont like this way of clinching a division. Should have come down to actually beating Seattle.

Such a weird season. The narrative is that the Rams won X number of games after the bye, etc, etc, but are they really playing good football now? The next two games could be ugly. Which would mean they have been playing ugly football since the Saints game, other than the crazy game against the Bills.

w
v

Well, i personally guarantee a win by the Commies.

I have watched the Falcons and they are awful. So are the Houston Texans. Neither should be allowed in the playoffs.

w
v

zn wrote:

wv wrote:

So the Bills are crushing the Jets, i see.

…i still dont get how this works. Because there are still games next week. I would have thought the algrebra could all change again with next weeks games. ( assuming the Rams lose to the Seahawks and end up tied)

w
v

If the “3 teams win” scenario works, then the Rams clinch now. This weekend.

Otherwise, they have to beat Seattle next week.

Today:

Bengals won.
Bills winning, by a huge margin.

No, i get the ‘what’ of it. I dont get the ‘how’ of it. How can they determine the ‘strength of victory’ stuff when there is still a full slate of games NEXT week. Why wouldnt next weeks games change the final totals.

w
v

Zooey wrote:

Anyway. I didn’t think the defense was going to be the stronger unit on this team, especially now that the OL is back, and Higbee (where was he?) and just missing Hav does not account for this team’s lack of offensive juice.

True, its not just on Hav, but I will say this – he has been very valuable this year. The difference when he’s not in there, is pretty stark.

Draft a tackle with the first pick?

w
v

Gutty, ugly, defensive win over a division opponent. Cool.

40 plus points against the Bills. And now…this. Can McVay fix it? He hasnt in three games, now.

I assume Kupp is playing injured, as per usual.

The front four is just fun to watch, when they are not screwing up.

The thing I am most impressed with is the front four are FAST. None of them are plodders. They fly around. I dunno if the Rams have ever had a faster DLine.

10-6. After 1-4. Awesome. And yet, i still dont really know what this team is, exactly. I mean, six weeks ago, all anyone could talk about was the powerful offense, and flawed defense. Now, what are they?

w
v

So if the Seahawks were to lose to the Bears (unlikely, i know) would that clinch it for the Rams? Or is it more complicated. Does the Winter Solstice come into play? Penguin migration patterns? Is the last tiebreaker the number of roughing penalties against the long-snapper?

w
v