Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
znModeratorNFC Wild Card Preview 2018: Why the surprising Rams will advance
Sean McVay and company are the NFL’s most surprising playoff team, but that doesn’t mean they’re not legitJared Dubin
For the first time since 1994, we have playoff football in Los Angeles.
The Rams were a disaster in their first season back in L.A., but the regular-season portion of Year 2 could not have gone any better. Sean McVay and his coaching staff engineered one of the more unlikely playoff runs in recent memory as the Rams jumped from 4-12 to 11-5 and secured the No. 3 seed in the NFC.
Their opponent this weekend was the NFC’s Super Bowl representative a year ago. The Falcons seemed to struggle for large stretches of the 2017 season, mostly because everyone kept comparing them to their 2016 selves. The truth is Atlanta started the year 3-0, went on a three-game AFC East losing streak, then went 7-3 over the remainder of the season — with all three of those losses coming to playoff teams (Panthers, Vikings, Saints).
The road to the Super Bowl will be much tougher this time around. There won’t be any home games for the Falcons no matter how far they advance. Can they get things started off right in the wild-card game? We’ll find out Saturday.Rams’ offense made major strides
The Rams’ offense underwent one of the most impressive turnarounds in NFL history. Los Angeles ranked dead last in the NFL in scoring in 2016, then scored more points than any other team in the league in Year 1 of the Sean McVay Era. The last team to pull a similar “worst-to-first” run was the 1965 49ers, who did it when the league only had 14 teams. L.A.’s 15.9 points per game increase is the third-largest year-over-year jump in the history of professional football.
Not only did the Rams finish first in scoring, they also fared well in offensive efficiency, checking in sixth in Football Outsiders’ offensive DVOA rankings. (DVOA stands for Defense-adjusted Value Over Average, a per-play efficiency metric that adjusts performance for down, distance and opponent.) The Rams were also one of five teams to rank in the top five in both rush and pass offense DVOA.
McVay’s offense reinvigorated running back Todd Gurley, who fell off the face of the earth during his final season under Jeff Fisher. A year after stumbling to 3.2 yards per carry and six touchdowns, Gurley led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,093) and total touchdowns (19) — and he did it while playing only 15 games. He’s going to be an inner-circle MVP candidate due to his dual-threat capabilities, and it’s his skill set that formed the backbone of the Rams’ newly powerful offense.
Of course, we would be remiss if we did not mention the massive step forward taken by Jared Goff and the Rams’ passing game.
goff1.png
Source: Pro-Football-Reference
Goff looked absolutely lost in his seven starts during his rookie season, but he was one of the NFC’s best passers this season. McVay schemed Goff into simple throws through wide windows, allowing him to flourish while minimizing the risk of turnovers. A year after leading the NFL in the percentage of his throws to receivers with less than a yard of separation from the closest defender, per NFL.com’s NextGen Stats, Goff ranked 37th out of 41 quarterbacks in the same stat. With an upgraded pass-catching corps featuring former Bills receivers Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins, plus rookie Cooper Kupp, Goff made major strides and helped the Rams find the balance they sorely lacked a year ago.
While not many people expected such a leap from the Los Angeles offense, the Falcons defense was a unit we had pegged for a big step forward. Alas, that only sort of came to pass. The Falcons ranked ninth in yards allowed and eighth in points allowed, but checked in 22nd in defensive DVOA. They were also one of eight teams to rank in the bottom half of the league in both rush and pass defense DVOA.
That’s not to say they don’t stand a chance of dealing with the explosive Rams — it’s just going to take a dominating performance up front. Gurley’s running lanes need to be choked off. Goff needs to be under pressure from the jump. And the receivers need to be jammed at the line so they never get a chance to create separation.
Falcons are coming in banged up
On the list of things you do not want to have happen during the lead-up to your first playoff game, the following things rank pretty high:
Your star guard who was to be partially responsible for blocking Aaron Donald — arguably the best defensive player in football — goes on injured reserve.
Your Pro Bowl center who will have to pick up the slack for the absence of that star guard is dealing with a calf injury that limits him in practice.
Your No. 1 running back appears on the injury report with a new knee ailment and misses Tuesday’s practice.
Your No. 1 wide receiver is still dealing with lingering injuries and also misses Tuesday’s practice.
Alex Mack, Devonta Freeman and Julio Jones will probably all play Saturday; Andy Levitre will not, and his absence will likely be noticeable against the Los Angeles defensive front. Ben Garland, who made three starts in Levitre’s stead this season, will slide back into the lineup, and it’s difficult to think of a more challenging matchup for him than Donald.
Donald is a game-plan wrecker with the ability to completely short-circuit a team’s offense because of his quickness and strength in the middle of the defense. If the Falcons’ offensive line can’t keep him under control, it could be a long day for Freeman, Tevin Coleman and Matt Ryan. Atlanta has at times been just as explosive this season as a year ago, but there have also been stretches where they struggled to recapture what made them so unstoppable in 2016.
Ryan still has a ton of weapons to spread the ball around to when given enough time, and the Freeman-Coleman combination is still electric at its best. If the Falcons are to come up with a dominating offensive performance Saturday, they’ll have to make use of their speed on the perimeter. Get Coleman out in open space with the ball in his hands. Get Jones moving across the formation and let him run away from press coverage. Get Taylor Gabriel involved. Turn the game into a track meet.
Who ya got?
It’s typically a safe move picking the home team in the opening round of the playoffs, and that’s what we’re doing here. The Rams don’t have much in the way of experience, but they have several other advantages working in their favor here: They’re more rested, they’re healthier, they’re playing at home and they have plus matchups on both sides of the ball.
It would have been unthinkable before the start of the season, but the bet here is the Rams advance to the divisional round of the playoffs, pushing past the Falcons with a 10-point victory.
Final score: Rams 30, Falcons 20znModeratorRockRam wrote:
Atlanta has struggled all year long.
Ryan has misfired all year long.
Their Oline has struggled and Ryan has been heavily pressured.
Receivers have not got as open.
Defense has been sporadic and porous both run and pass off and on.
But there’s this too.
Rams have averaged scoring 7 more points per game than the Falcons.
Rams have a 149 point differential between points scored and points allowed. Falcons……38.
Rams are generally healthy and rested. Falcons banged up.
Rams are 5-6 point favorites across the board.
My biggest concern is if it comes down to kicking FGs. Losing GZ is big. Atlanta beat the Panthers on FG kicking.
If the Rams play their A game and the Falcons play their A game, Rams win.
Rams would have to stub their toes and turn over the ball 3 times or more to lose, assuming Atlanta doesn’t turn it over at all.
Rams have played too well this year, and beaten good teams in big games, to be anything but confident.
Hard to see a Rams loss but this is the playoffs and anything can happen.
….
znModeratorSean McVay's current team saw the biggest jump in yards per drive this year on offense while his former team saw the biggest dip. pic.twitter.com/80DuTQfWZ1
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) January 2, 2018
znModeratorIt is just an excuse to get drunk, and sing karaoke.
Well. There are worse things.
.
znModeratorFalcons send OG Andy Levitre to injured reserve with torn tricep; Ben Garland is up
Atlanta’s left guard won’t get a chance to play in the playoffs, but impressive backup Ben Garland gets his shot.Matthew Chambers
We expected the worst, and the Atlanta Falcons quickly made a roster move to send Andy Levitre to injured reserve. Levitre had been trying to play through a tricep injury, but aggravated it early on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. This ends his season.
We would be a little worried, but backup Ben Garland has shined while replacing Levitre. Garland has been a monster in the run game, and has been Atlanta’s top rated offensive player by Pro Football Focus multiple times. Garland is definitely an upgrade over an injured Levitre, and may be an overall improvement if he can keep it together with his pass blocking. He starts out with the tough task of slowing down Aaron Donald.
znModeratorI got ahold of his twitter account addy, and a presumably current email addy. The twitter account is private (ag is very private) so I submitted a request to follow. I sent an email. That was a couple of days ago. This could mean anything, but so far, no responses.
Just updating a bit on this.
znModerator“Easy has never been our way,'' Falcons coach Dan Quinn said of playing with backs against the wall and in close games throughout the season.
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) January 1, 2018
znModeratorFalcons-Panthers post-game injury report: Atlanta Falcons banged up during playoff clinching victory
The Atlanta Falcons rode Matt Bryant’s right leg to a playoff birth today. They will face off against the high powered Los Angeles Rams offense next weekend. We will have plenty of time in the days ahead to break down the win (including three Cam Newton interceptions!) but for now, let’s break down the injuries, because they were numerous.
Julio Jones took a vicious (and clean) hit from Mike Adams on a passing play across the middle of the field during the first drive of the game. He was keeled over for about twenty seconds before being escorted off the field by the training staff. He came back on the field a couple plays later, so it’s likely he just had the wind knocked out of him.
Andy Levitre’s tricep injury flared up again after the first offensive drive. They fitted him with with a large ice pack and hit him with a “questionable” designation. Ben Garland replaced Levitre, who never returned.
Taylor Gabriel got knocked out the game during the first quarter. He left the field with a hamstring injury and limped his way to the locker room. He garnered a “questionable” designation and never returned. Depending on the severity of the injury, he could miss multiple games, necessitating a roster move.
Andre Roberts was shaken up returning a punt during the third quarter. He was back in the game for the next kickoff return, so that’s encouraging.
Adrian Clayborn injured some part of his leg (likely calf or ankle) during the second half. He was getting emotional on the sideline, shedding some tears, which isn’t a good sign. Fellow defensive playmaker Vic Beasley was also seen limping during the fourth quarter, but he kept playing, sacking Newton during the final minutes of the game.
Devonta Freeman also limped off the field in the final minutes of the game. He looked a little frustrated, so that’s disconcerting.
Lots of stuff to keep an eye on.
znModeratorRams complete a near-unprecedented journey from worst to first
Alden Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams scored only one touchdown in Sunday’s 34-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but it really didn’t matter. They finished the regular season as the NFL’s highest-scoring team, one year after finishing as the NFL’s lowest-scoring team.
“Man,” Rams left guard Rodger Saffold said, “that’s amazing.”
Really, though, it’s historic.
The Rams are now the only team in the Super Bowl era, which began in 1966, to go from last to first in scoring from one season to the next. The only other team throughout history to accomplish that feat was the 1965 49ers, according to research from the Elias Sports Bureau. The Rams went from averaging 14.0 points per game in 2016 under Jeff Fisher to 29.9 points per game in 2017 under Sean McVay, the youngest head coach in modern NFL history.
“It’s amazing,” Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson said. “It’s a blessing.”
The Rams finished with an 11-5 record and remained the No. 3 seed in the NFC despite resting their starters and dropping the finale. They’ll now host the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday (kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC) and can advance to face the Minnesota Vikings on the road in the second round with a win.
The Rams ended a 12-year playoff drought largely because their offense finally caught up to their defense.
It started with McVay, the 31-year-old who is already considered one of the game’s sharpest offensive minds. He brought with him a slew of talented coaches, including offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, who previously worked with Matt Ryan; quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, a longtime offensive coordinator; and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, who helped the Buffalo Bills become the NFL’s best rushing team over the past two years.
Then sixth-year general manager Les Snead added all the right pieces, including left tackle Andrew Whitworth, center John Sullivan and three standout receivers — Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Through all that, Jared Goff made significant strides as a second-year quarterback, enough to be named a first alternate for the Pro Bowl. And Todd Gurley re-established himself as a premier running back, enough to be considered for the MVP award.
“The mentality that we have now has been pretty much a complete 180 from the year before,” said Saffold, in his eighth year with the organization. “I expected success, but going from worst to first, that’s amazing to me.”
“Sean, like any player would say, came in, and he set the expectations and the bar for how this team should be producing,” Rams left guard Jamon Brown added. “It’s not a shocker that we stand first in the NFL in scoring.”
Many would disagree. The Rams weren’t just bad on offense last year, they were deplorable. And their offensive struggles date back much further than that. They finished each of their previous 10 seasons outside of the top 20 in Defense-adjusted Value Over Average and through that went eight years without producing a 1,000-yard receiver.
Then McVay came along.
True to form, McVay — the likely coach of the year — deflected credit. He noted that a lot of the Rams’ points have come from a Wade Phillips-led defense that forced 28 turnovers and a John Fassel-led special teams unit that featured the game’s most productive kicker, Greg Zuerlein.
“I thought our players did a nice job of being able to consistently play pretty well throughout the course of the year; coaches put guys in good positions,” McVay said. “We talk about points as being one of the most important factors, but for us it’s about winning football games and doing those things the right way. Next week is a great challenge, and I know we’re excited about that.”
znModerator2️⃣ interceptions for @Pistol_Peterson today! 👏#SFvsLA pic.twitter.com/1IsTtOuRtu
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 31, 2017
znModeratorFirst touchdown as a Ram! @Dunbar_CDB5 for 6️⃣! #SFvsLA pic.twitter.com/GgtaNRsaZq
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 1, 2018
znModeratorIt’s playoff week for the Rams, and it still feels a bit surreal
VINCENT BONSIGNORE
The four words no one thought they’d hear in connection with the Rams anytime soon arrived special delivery at the stroke of midnight to usher in New Year’s.
Playoff week is here.
It’s been a fait accompli for a couple of weeks now, the only question was who the Rams would play and where. They told the Seattle Seahawks who’s boss of the NFC West two weeks ago then sealed the division title last week with a win against the Titans. All that remained was figuring out whether they went into the playoffs as the third or fourth seed, the determination of which rested on where all the chips finally settled at the close of Sunday.
Nevertheless, crossing all those T’s and dotting all those I’s Sunday and then waking up New Year’s Day knowing the Rams will commence preparations for the Atlanta Falcons (5:15 p.m. Saturday, Ch. 4) is, well, still a bit surreal.
I has been 13 years since the Rams last played in the postseason. They haven’t played a playoff game in Southern California since 1986 and they haven’t hosted a postseason game at the Coliseum since the 1978 season.
There isn’t a Rams fan anywhere who sincerely believed any of that would change to start this season, no matter how good they felt about new coach Sean McVay or the effect he would have on Jared Goff and Todd Gurley and what can only be described as the morbid offense the Rams fielded in 2016.
And yet, here they are.
Heck, here we are.
The Rams are about to host a playoff game at the Coliseum in six days.
And if you want to put all that in perspective just know the last time that actually happened, Pat Haden was their quarterback, Ray Malavasi was the coach – after replacing George Allen, who the Rams fired two preseason games into the 1978 season after hiring him just a few months earlier – and the opponent was none other than Roger Staubach, Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys.
A year later the Rams left Los Angeles for Orange County seeking a better stadium situation by trading the Coliseum – showing its age even then – for Anaheim Stadium. In doing so they gave up a piece of Los Angeles they’re still trying to reclaim. The move to St. Louis only deepened the wound, but the bleeding really began when the Rams abandoned Los Angeles in 1978.
And while they triumphantly returned last year after spending the previous 21 seasons in St. Louis and L.A. celebrated by packing the Coliseum 92,000 strong early in the season, the combination of a terrible 4-12 finish, a severely outdated venue and Los Angeles still figuring out how exactly to embrace their former heroes resulted in a bit of a clumsy reunion. Rather than taking Los Angeles by storm, they found themselves easing their way back in. Instead of throwing open our arms collectively and without question to embrace them – outside of their hardcore and passionate base – many in Los Angeles opted for wait and see.
It wasn’t anyone’s fault, And really not all that surprising.
The NFL left Los Angeles vacant for 22 years. It was literally open game for two decades, resulting in some fans deciding to watch the NFL as fantasy football devotees and others falling in love with the Cowboys or Packers or Giants or Saints or Seahawks or any other of the 32 teams.
And no matter how much Raiders fans or Rams fans want to claim Los Angeles as their territory and theirs alone, it’s all just a bunch of big talk.
No one NFL team owns Los Angeles. Fandom runs the spectrum here, including many who are simply fence sitters not yet aligned with a particular team.
Maybe it’ll always be that way, or for the foreseeable future, with the Rams incrementally expanding off the impressive base that remained during their 22 years away from Los Angeles and the Chargers cultivating their niche in the crowded L.A. sports landscape. It’ll take time before either team truly gets into the bloodstream of Los Angeles in the way the Dodgers and Lakers find themselves.
Not to say the process can’t be expedited.
Which brings us to Saturday and the Rams first playoff game in Los Angeles since the 1978 season.
It can’t be overstated how important the Rams’ remarkable turnaround season is to their re-entry into the Los Angeles, especially after last year’s disastrous first step back.
To go from one of the worst offenses in modern NFL history to the highest-scoring team in the league while opening a window to a bright, exciting future with young stars such as Goff and Gurley and Aaron Donald leading the way is everything the Rams could have hoped for as a rebound.
And to now offer Los Angeles a home playoff game – at night even – in the iconic stadium they abandoned 40 years ago on their way to their state-of-the-art home awaiting in Inglewood in 2020 isn’t just a rare treat, it’s exactly what the Rams needed as they go about reclaiming the heart of Los Angeles.
Four decades after the Rams’ last playoff game in Los Angeles, Jack Youngblood remains a name revered and Lawrence McCutcheon and Wendell Tyler and Nolan Cromwell and Isiah Robertson and Jackie Slater still roll off our tongues with ease and admiration.
In the immediate scheme of things, the Rams are focused on beating the Falcons and securing a ticket to the second round against the Vikings. They believe they can beat anyone, anywhere at anytime. And are ready to prove it on a climb they think can reach the highest rung. Saturday begins that march.
In the grander scheme of things, Saturday provides the perfect stage for the Rams as they continue to find their way back home.
It’s playoff week in L.A.
And it still feels a bit surreal.
znModeratorRams are rested, but will face a more-experienced Falcons team in the first round
RICH HAMMOND
THOUSAND OAKS — The Rams don’t have the edge in experience, but they should have more energy.
While the Atlanta Falcons battled into the fourth quarter on Sunday to beat Carolina and clinch a wild-card spot, the Rams enjoyed a leisurely afternoon and sat most of their starters against San Francisco.
So now it’s rest vs. rings when the Rams host the Falcons on Saturday night at the Coliseum in the first round of the playoffs. Only four players on the Rams’ active roster have played in the postseason, while most of the Falcons are 11 months removed from an NFC championship and a trip to the Super Bowl.
“We are a youthful team, but I think we’ve demonstrated good maturity throughout the course of the year,” Rams coach Sean McVay said during his regular Monday news conference at Cal Lutheran.
McVay cited the Rams’ tough schedule, which included the most miles traveled in the NFL this season, and the fact that the Rams never lost consecutive games in 2017. They also were the youngest team in the league, in terms of average player age, and managed to go 11-5 and win the NFC West.
Few of the Rams have ever been through this, though. Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth appeared in six playoff games with Cincinnati over the last decade, while linebacker Connor Barwin played five and offensive lineman John Sullivan played four.
No other Rams starter has played a snap in the postseason. Reserve running back Lance Dunbar played three games and offensive lineman Cornelius Lucas played two, but Lucas likely won’t play this week. Rams cornerback Kayvon Webster won the Super Bowl with Denver two years ago, but Webster is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
The Falcons’ challenge is different, but no less light. Their bye week was in early October, and they had to play well down the stretch simply to make the playoffs as the NFC’s final wild-card team. Now, with the game on Saturday night, the Falcons will have to play on a short week and make a cross-country flight.
Still, they know the drill. Most of the Falcons’ core was a part of last season’s conference-championship team, and quarterback Matt Ryan is in the playoffs for a sixth time in his 10th NFL season. The Falcons’ defense also is strong and allowed an average of only 19.7 points per game this season.
“We’re playing a football game against an excellent team this week,” McVay said. “We know the stakes are a little higher, because if you win, you continue playing and if not, your season is over, but as far as how we get ready to go play a football game, we’ll remain the same.”
The Rams also appear to be as healthy as possible. Starting cornerback Troy Hill left Sunday’s game in the first half to be evaluated for a possible concussion, but McVay said Hill did not suffer a concussion and “should be in good shape” this week. Reserve defensive back Blake Countess remains in the league’s concussion protocol.
McVay indicated that linebacker Mark Barron, who has missed the last two games with an Achilles injury, will have a good chance to play against Atlanta.
“He feels good,” McVay said. “I think his mindset and mentality is, he’s getting ready to play in a playoff game on Saturday night. I think this week will serve him well, having given him that time off. Then he will get a couple extra days and see how he feels on Wednesday. He will ramp it up and that will give us a good gauge of whether he can expect him to play. But things are looking good for him.”
HELPING HANDS
McVay, a 31-year-old, first-year head coach, went to the playoffs as a member of Washington’s staff in 2012 (as tight ends coach) and 2015 (as offensive coordinator). Washington lost both games, and with McVay calling plays, lost to Green Bay 35-18 in a wild-card-round game at home.
McVay said he would lean on more-experienced assistants, such as defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who joined the NFL coaching ranks in 1976, for assistance this week if necessary.
“That’s where you feel good, when you go into a challenge like this,” McVay said. “We’ve got a bunch of great people in this building that I can rely on, and feel comfort in that.”
FAMILIAR FOE
The storylines run deep in this game. Matt LaFleur, the Rams’ offensive coordinator, spent the previous two seasons as the Falcons’ quarterbacks coach. Phillips was Atlanta’s defensive coordinator in 2002 and interim head coach in 2003. Rams general manager Les Snead worked for the Falcons from 1997-2011, as a scout and as a player-personnel director.
Then there’s McVay, who spent his formative years in Georgia and went to high school in Brookhaven, which is approximately 12 miles north of Atlanta. McVay said his childhood home was approximately 30 minutes from the Falcons’ then-stadium, the Georgia Dome, and McVay said that while he didn’t grow up as a Falcons fan, he attended many games with his father, Tim, who was a local television executive.
znModeratorWe don’t or at least I don’t have access to Rams contracts but there could be language in there enabling them to do it . There is in my contract . There could also be a protection in their union contract
It’s really only a problem if the league objects, and I doubt they would.
BTW, according to the official gamebook, Saffold did not take a snap yesterday: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/link-to-the-sf-rams-pdf-gamebook/
==
znModeratorThey can’t. He has to play. However that is defined. Contracts are contracts, and the can of worms that would be opened up when you have other owners, the league, the players’ association, etc. just…it isn’t happening.
I don’t know…McVay said that they were going to honor incedntives even if a player had to sit out the final game.
Gary Klein@LATimesklein
McVay said players close to reaching contract incentives who are sitting out Sunday because of coaches decision would be taken care of.There’s also an article on it:
==
from Rams resting a lot of starters, but are not going to cheat them out of incentives
Frank Schwab
https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-resting-lot-starters-not-going-cheat-incentives-232542290.html
The Los Angeles Rams made the decision early this week that they are going to rest starters in Week 17. Many teams are facing the dilemma on whether to play or rest starters in the regular-season finale (here’s a rundown of what each team has said about whether its starters will play). The Rams also understand the business aspect of the game, and the last thing they want to do is agitate any of their players at the end of a great turnaround season.
Coach Sean McVay said Wednesday if any Rams players are close to a contract incentive and will sit in Week 17, the Rams will take care of it ….
znModeratorPretty sure they could pay him the bonus anyway especially if they’re sitting him to rest him for the playoffs.
I think they said they ARE doing that. Saffold wasn’t mentioned by name but it was a general thing, that they said they would honor all bonuses of that kind.
znModeratorCool deal by the Rams today. The bulk of the offensive starters are not expected to play. One will. Rodger Saffold.
Not sure Saffold did play, though. The major reason was a minor injury. Maybe he went out there long enough to count as the starter.
znModeratorfrom Barnwell’s 2017 NFL awards
Coach of the Year
After Week 4: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
After Week 9: Doug Pederson, Philadelphia EaglesReid dropped out of the picture when his Chiefs pulled the rare Meadowlands sweep in losing to both the Giants and Jets in New Jersey. Pederson’s a top candidate, although some steam has come off his case after Carson Wentz tore his ACL. The Eagles have gone 2-1 over the three ensuing games, but that included narrow victories over the Giants and Raiders and a loss to the Cowboys with Nate Sudfeld at quarterback.
I would ride for Bill Belichick, although he never garners serious consideration for an award despite the fact that we all think he’s the best coach in football. The Patriots finished with the league’s best record despite losing Julian Edelman before the season. Their defense coalesced after a horrible start and continued to improve throughout the season. New England rolled on and even thoughtfully developed a franchise quarterback for the 49ers along the way.
It seems like Sean McVay is the consensus favorite to win this award, though, and I can’t make a strong argument against that. Maybe you give Wade Phillips some of the credit for helping take the Rams’ defense to the next level, but what McVay has done is unprecedented. Scott Van Pelt pointed out on SportsCenter that the 2017 Rams are the first team in modern league history to go from last in scoring offense to first, and they did it while essentially taking Week 17 off to rest.
McVay accomplished this without changing his quarterback or adding a running back. He did bring in a new left tackle in Andrew Whitworth and acquired a trio of new receivers, but the two most impactful wideouts were a third-round pick (Cooper Kupp) and a block-first wideout who was an anonymous starter for the Bills (Robert Woods). We’re probably too quick to praise turnarounds as opposed to steady success — look at how quickly Jack Del Rio went from franchise savior to unemployed in Oakland — but few turnarounds have ever been more significant than what McVay has pulled off in Los Angeles.
Winner: Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
znModeratorNote: this doesn’t look at first like it’s about the playoff game, but it really is
==
Rams sit starters, lose 34-13 to the 49ers
Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-49ers-20171231-story.html
The last time the Atlanta Falcons visited the Coliseum, they routed the Rams so badly the coach lost his job the next day.
Much has changed in the year since.
The Rams, under first-year coach Sean McVay, historically went from the NFL’s lowest-scoring team to its highest-scoring unit and won the NFC West.
Many of the star players and starters who helped make that happen were safely ensconced on the Coliseum sideline during Sunday’s 34-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the regular-season finale.
Despite the defeat before an estimated crowd of 55,000, the Rams held on to the No. 3 seed and will play host to the Falcons on Saturday at the Coliseum in the franchise’s first playoff game since 2004.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for us,” McVay said, shortly after learning his team’s opponent, “but one that our guys will be extremely excited for, and can’t wait to get to work on the preparation for that one.”
That preparation was expected to begin Sunday night.
After all, it will be a short week — and the Falcons are the defending NFC champions. They were routing the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl before an epic collapse.
“They’re a good football team that’s been there and has been through it,” said offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, who signed with the Rams as a free agent and is one of six players with playoff experience.
Now the Falcons return with quarterback Matt Ryan, the 2016 NFL most valuable player, receiver Julio Jones and many of the same players who demolished the Rams 42-14 in what proved to be former coach Jeff Fisher’s final game in a dismal 4-12 season.
“They’re a completely different team, and we’re a completely different team,” safety Lamarcus Joyner said when asked about last season’s game. “So I really wouldn’t want to get into remembering what happened last year.
“That’s so far out of the cycle.”
Had McVay not rested Whitworth, quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley, defensive lineman Aaron Donald and others against the 49ers, Sunday’s game might have provided a glimpse of what is expected to be a renewed rivalry between franchises battling for NFC West supremacy.
Instead, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, acquired from the New England Patriots in a late October trade, led his team to its fifth consecutive victory as the 49ers finished 6-10 under first-year coach Kyle Shanahan.
The loss dropped the Rams to 11-5 — the franchise’s best record since 2004 — but players were just happy that they finally were able to look ahead to the playoffs.
The Philadelphia Eagles are seeded No. 1, the Minnesota Vikings No. 2.
“Ultimately, we held the three seed,” Goff said, “and it’s a good spot to be.”
Goff was in uniform Sunday in case Sean Mannion had to come out of the game, but it was essentially the end of a week of rest for the second-year pro and other starters, who were outfitted in hooded white sweatsuits that all but screamed, “CAUTION.”
Receiver Sammy Watkins said he and other receivers who were held out got plenty of work Sunday morning when Goff delivered 40 to 50 passes to them.
“I feel like it’s pretty much even teams,” Watkins said of the matchup against the Falcons. “They got great receivers, we got great receivers.
“They got a great quarterback, we got a great quarterback. … I can’t wait to play those guys.”
Said receiver Robert Woods: “It kind of worked in our favor. We ended up getting a lot of guys healthy, a lot of guys able to rest.”
Gurley was among the players who figured to benefit — and lose — the most from resting Sunday.
An MVP candidate, Gurley was eclipsed by Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt for the NFL rushing title but finished as the league leader with 19 touchdowns.
Asked about the matchup against the Falcons, Gurley said, “It don’t really matter who you play right now.”
Defensive tackle Michael Brockers noted the Falcons’ offensive firepower and said he was “excited for the challenge.”
But after waiting six seasons to play in the postseason, Brockers said the opponent is irrelevant.
“I don’t really care who it is,” he said. “I’m excited, so I’m ready to go!”
So is offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, the longest-tenured Rams player.
Saffold has been with the Rams since 2010.
“The game of our life,” he said, “is next week.”
znModeratorPFF Refocused: San Francisco 49ers 34, Los Angeles Rams 13
The San Francisco 49ers started the season 1-10, but a quarterback switch to trade acquisition Jimmy Garoppolo led to a hot streak, with the team winning each of its last five games to finish 6-10 after a 34-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams Sunday.
Garoppolo threw for two touchdowns, and RB Carlos Hyde ran for two more, as the 49ers beat a Rams team that wasn’t playing for much Sunday, sitting most of the team’s key players to get ready for the first round of the playoffs.
LA RAMS TOP 5 GRADES:
CB Kevin Peterson, 93.1 overall grade
G Jamon Brown, 83.0 overall grade
LB Bryce Hager, 80.6 overall grade
S Blake Countess, 79.6 overall grade
T Cornelius Lucas, 79.1 overall grade
PERFORMANCES OF NOTE:
QB SEAN MANNION, 70.1 OVERALL GRADE
It was a shaky start for Mannion in his first start of the season but he showed some promise as the game progressed and settled down in terms of accuracy. He hit two excellent passes late in the second quarter, firstly hitting Pharoh Cooper down the seam for a 26-yard gain on third down, following it up with a pinpoint deep ball to Mike Thomas to setup a last gap field goal. There were more misses than good throws but some of the throws Mannion hit were exceptional.G JAMON BROWN, 83.0 OVERALL GRADE
Quality performances were thin on the ground for a backup-laden Rams’ offense but their one remaining starter on the offensive line showed his quality. Brown gave up very little in either run or pass games, while his linemates struggled to contain the 49ers’ penetration. Brown surrendered 0 pressures for the third time this season and the first time since Week 7.CB KEVIN PETERSON, 93.1 OVERALL GRADE
Peterson’s 61 snaps in this game more than doubled his career total to date and what a stunning game he came up with. Targeted five times, Peterson allowed only one catch for 14 yards while breaking up three passes and intercepting two. Peterson will be relegated back to the bench when Trumaine Johnson returns for the playoffs but a display like this shouldn’t be quickly forgotten when it comes to future playing time.LB BRYCE HAGER, 80.6 OVERALL GRADE
While fellow starter Cory Litteton struggled to coral George Kittle in coverage, Hager had a stronger display, especially in the tackling department where he had 0 missed tackles compared to Littleton’s three. Hager capped off his solid display by picking up a forced fumble and recovery in garbage time, ripping the ball away from Carlos Hyde for another Rams turnover.znModeratorSunday’s loss to 49ers shows Rams have bigger fish to fry
Alden Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams’ list of inactives was made up exclusively of big names — Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald, Andrew Whitworth, Mark Barron, Alec Ogletree, John Sullivan and Lamarcus Joyner. Cooper Kupp was listed as an active participant, but he wore sweats. Jared Goff, Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods were outfitted in those popular yellow-and-blue throwbacks, but they only watched from the sideline.
Someday, perhaps a lot sooner than many would have anticipated, the Rams and the San Francisco 49ers will rekindle a long-standing rivalry in the NFC West. But Sunday’s regular-season finale was a far cry from the beginning of it.
The Rams’ uninspiring 34-13 loss from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum only emphasized the fact that they have more important matters in front of them.
The Rams finished the 2017 calendar year with an 11-5 record under Sean McVay, the youngest head coach in modern NFL history. For further proof of the magic touch McVay displayed through his first season, consider that his decision to rest his starters did not hurt his team’s position. The Rams remained the No. 3 seed in their conference, by virtue of losses by the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers. They’ll host the Atlanta Falcons (10-6) in the first round on Saturday, with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC.
“I feel good,” Goff said. “I think we match up well.”
“It kind of worked in our favor,” said Woods, whose team could then advance to face the Minnesota Vikings on the road. “We ended up getting a lot of guys healthy, a lot of guys able to rest. Our biggest thing is just speed and how we play on Sundays, how we feel. I think today will help a lot of the guys to be able to prepare this week and just really get ready for this Sunday, just to be full speed, full go. It’s the start of our run.”
McVay played his backups mainly because he wanted his key players fresh, but also because he didn’t really believe it mattered which team the Rams play in January.
The Rams proved throughout the season that they can beat anybody at full strength. They won five games by more than 25 points, including a road victory over the Seattle Seahawks that all but wrapped up a division title. They finished leading the NFL in points, one year after finishing last in the NFL in points. They have the potential MVP (Gurley), the potential defensive player of the year (Donald) and the likely coach of the year (McVay).
“Name someone who did better,” Rams left guard Rodger Saffold said of McVay. “First-year head coach, youngest coach ever, youngest coach to get us to the playoffs. This guy’s out here breaking just as many records as we are.”
The Rams’ backups didn’t have much of a chance against a Jimmy Garoppolo-led 49ers team that finished its season with five consecutive wins. A Rams defense composed mainly of bit players got two interceptions from cornerback Kevin Peterson, but also allowed 7.3 yards per play. Sean Mannion, starting in place of Goff, went 20-of-34 for 169 yards and a lost fumble, his numbers affected by numerous drops.
The only Rams player worth watching was their new kicker, Sam Ficken, who missed his first two attempts in his first regular-season game last week but made two short field goals and an extra point on Sunday.
Asked if he will stick with Ficken for the playoffs, McVay said: “I think so. I think he did a nice job today, made the most of his opportunities; had some good kickoffs as well.”
McVay called the Falcons, reigning NFC champions, “a complete football team” that poses “a great challenge” in the wild-card round. Defensively, McVay said, they use similar three-deep, four-underneath principals as the 49ers, Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars. Offensively, they’re led by an MVP quarterback, Matt Ryan, two dynamic running backs, Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, and arguably the game’s best wide receiver in Julio Jones.
It’ll be up to Trumaine Johnson to cover him.
“You gotta love it, man,” Johnson said. “Julio, one of the best receivers out there right now. At the same time, I’m one of the best corners, too. It’s going to be fun.”
The Falcons haven’t really been the same since their former offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, left to coach the 49ers. In fact, research from ESPN Stats & Information reveals that the Rams and Falcons have basically traded places on that side of the ball. From 2016 to 2017, the Falcons accounted for the largest decrease in points per game (33.8 to 22.1), while the Rams accounted for the largest increase (14.0 to 29.9).
But falling to the No. 4 seed might not have been a bad thing for the Rams, either. It would’ve meant their second-round opponent could’ve been the No. 1-seeded Philadelphia Eagles, who don’t seem to have the same spark on offense since Nick Foles replaced Carson Wentz three weeks ago.
Rams players didn’t seem to care.
“I ain’t got no experience with the playoffs, so I don’t know how all this works,” Gurley said. “But it’s cool. We’re in the playoffs and all teams got a chance now. It doesn’t really matter what your record is. Everybody starts 0-0.”
znModeratorGame Recap: Resting starters, Rams Fall to 49ers 34-13
Kristen Lago
LOS ANGELES — With many of their starters resting, the Rams struggled to find their rhythm on offense falling to the 49ers 34-13 in Los Angeles’ regular-season finale.
Although it wasn’t an ideal outcome for the Rams — with a New Orleans’ loss — L.A. still held on to its No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs and will host the Falcons next Saturday.
“I think anytime you go into a football game, you’re certainly going to try to win the game,” head coach Sean McVay said. “[But] I do think when you look at the way we approached it, we feel good about being able to allow some of our players to get some rest. And that was a great job by the 49ers today.”
San Francisco got on the board first with a 33-yard field goal early in the first quarter. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the Niners made quick work down the field — going 60 yards in just four plays. But the Rams were able to apply strong pressure in the red zone, holding the Niners to three.
But the visitors would score a first-quarter touchdown to extend their lead. Starting on the San Francisco 18, the Niners took eight plays and 82 yards to make it to the endzone.
During the drive, Garoppolo held his composure under pressure — hitting tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Marquise Goodwin for 17- and 20-yard gains. A few plays later, Garoppolo hit Goodwin in the flat for an eight-yard touchdown.
The Rams’ offense — led by quarterback Sean Mannion — struggled to get in sync early on, but was able to put points on the board with a little help from the defense.
On 1st-and-10 from the SF 41, cornerback Kevin Peterson — who was starting in place of Trumaine Johnson — jumped in front of a pass intended for Goodwin to record the Rams’ 17th interception this season.
Peterson said he knew he “was going to get a lot of opportunity in this game,” and was hoping to capitalize on his first start of the season.
“I just did a lot of film study,” Peterson admitted. “They came out in a formation I recognized and we had a call that matched well with that formation. I just went out and got it. Put my hands up and prayed that I caught it.”
Peterson’s 38-yard return put Los Angeles well within field goal territory and kicker Sam Ficken finished the drive, nailing a 23-yard attempt. That score cut Los Angeles’ deficit to seven.
Johnny Hekker boomed a 48-yard punt midway through the second quarter to pin the Niners back at their own endzone. But the visiting team was able to run their way out of the hole thanks to running back Matt Breida.
San Francisco kicker Robbie Gould connected on a 48-yard field goal to cap the drive and put the Niners up by 10.
With two minutes left in the half, the 49ers executed an impressive drive to give San Francisco a 20-3 lead. A personal foul by safety Blake Countess put San Francisco on Los Angeles’ eight. And running back Carlos Hyde capitalized on the favorable field position — punching in an touchdown with a run up the middle.
And with just 26 seconds remaining, Mannion was sacked for the second time, fumbling the ball in the process. Though San Francisco recovered the loose ball, Peterson intercepted Garoppolo’s pass on the ensuing play giving L.A. possession for the final drive of the first half.
Peterson’s two interceptions on Sunday are the most in a single game since Trumaine Johnson picked off two passes against Oakland in 2014.
“You know our coaches always tell us to stay ready and prepare like you’re going to be a starter because you never know what’s going to happen,” he said. “I tried to put a bunch of good stuff on tape.”
An impressive 50-yard catch by wide receiver Michael Thomas, set up a 21-yard field goal for Ficken. The score cut San Francisco’s lead to 20-6 headed into halftime.
The Penn State product was perfect on the night nailing two field goals and one extra point attempt. McVay said he was proud of the way Ficken was able to bounce back after missing two early attempts in Week 16.
“I think he did a nice job today, made the most of his opportunities, and had some good kickoffs as well,” McVay said. “I would have liked to have given him a few more shots, but I think for him to come in here definitely an [improvement] from the previous week. Pleased with Sam today.”
But it was much of the same for the Rams in the third quarter, as the offense struggled to find its rhythm and was held to consecutive three-and-outs. Things didn’t look much better for the L.A. defense, as San Francisco’s seven play, 60-yard drive gave the Niners a three-score lead.
Breida kick-started the drive with an 11-yard run to the left and then Garoppolo found tight end Garrett Celek on a 28-yard pass to set up a rushing touchdown — Hyde’s second of the day.
With 3:33 remaining in the third, the Rams’ bad luck continued as tight end Gerald Everett committed the club’s second turnover of the day with a fumble. San Francisco’s K’Waun Williams recovered the ball at the Niners’ 47-yard line.
Garoppolo and company found the end zone once again just seven plays later.
On third-and-eight from the Los Angeles 12-yard line, the quarterback dropped back and delivered a dime to wide receiver Aldrick Robinson. The score put the Niners ahead 34-6.
It took Los Angeles 15 plays and more than eight minutes to drive downfield, but the Rams finally struck pay dirt late in the fourth quarter.
“Disappointed we didn’t come away with a win,” Mannion said. “But that being said, at least we got it going and had a long efficient drive late in the second half.”
On 1st-and-goal from the San Francisco eight-yard line, Mannion handed the ball off to running back Lance Dunbar. The North Texas product muscled his way into the endzone for his first touchdown of the season — cutting the Rams’ deficit to 21 points.
The Niners were able to wind down the clock in victory formation, coming away with a 34-13 win.
With the loss, the Rams will finish the regular season 11-5. It’s an impressive turnaround for the club, which went 4-12 just one year ago. Next Saturday, the Rams will host a Wild Card game against Atlanta at the Coliseum marking the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2004.
znModeratorfrom Wide-open field makes NFL playoffs ripe for insanity
Gregg Rosenthal
http://www.ramsondemand.com/threads/the-playoff-debrief.53028/
Team no one wants to face
The Rams have the most balanced team in the NFL, ranking in the top-six in Football Outsiders’ efficiency metrics on offense, defense and special teams. Los Angeles caught a break Sunday when the Saints lost in Tampa, preserving the Rams’ No. 3 seed and a greater chance to host the NFC Championship Game.
It could be argued that the Rams’ opponent Saturday night, the No. 6-seeded Atlanta Falcons, would also qualify as the most dangerous lower seed in the playoffs. The Falcons’ recipe in their victory Sunday over the Panthers showed Atlanta’s potential, with a lightning fast defense complementing a ball control offense piloted by Matt Ryan. But the Falcons have made so many critical errors in key games this season that it’s hard to believe this is their year.
The Rams are much more of the moment. A win in the Wild Card Round would send the Rams to Minnesota. While the Vikings throttled the Rams in the initial Case Keenum Revenge Game, it would be a great challenge for Vikings coach Mike Zimmer to hold down the Rams’ offense for a second time. No team playing on Wild Card Weekend is more likely to win the Super Bowl than the Rams.
…
znModeratorI’ll prolly watch it
You’ll PROBABLY watch a Rams playoff game? (?!)
I hereby officially rescind your pie rights.
znModeratorL.A. RAMS TO FACE ATLANTA FALCONS AT HOME ON SAT., JAN. 6
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Rams will host the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 5:15 p.m. (Pacific Time) as part of the NFC Wild Card Round, the NFL announced today. The game will be televised on NBC and will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, marking the Rams’ first playoff game at the stadium since Jan. 7, 1979 in an NFC Championship game vs. the Dallas Cowboys. In total, the Rams own an 11-7 home postseason record (19-24 overall record).
The Rams’ 2018 Wild Card game marks the 28th time that the team has made the postseason and the first time that the club has appeared in playoff action since 2005. That year, the Rams defeated the Seahawks, 27-20, on Jan. 8 in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Atlanta Falcons, 47-17, on Jan. 15 in the Divisional Round.
Saturday’s matchup will be the Rams’ second home Wild Card game in team history. The franchise last hosted a Wild Card game on Dec. 23, 1984 at Anaheim Stadium (vs. NYG, L 16-13). Additional Rams-Falcons playoff stats and notes are attached to this news release.
znModeratorAlden Gonzalez
ESPN Staff WriterDepending on your perspective, you can call the Rams’ 34-13 loss to the 49ers a win-win. They keep the 3 seed because the Panthers and Saints lost and will host the Falcons next weekend. If they win, they travel for a rematch against the Vikings.
znModeratorJeez. It’s a bloodbath.
znModeratorWho Will the Rams Play on Wild Card Weekend?
Myles Simmons
We know the Rams have locked up the NFC West title. We know that Los Angeles will host a playoff game on Jan. 6 or Jan. 7 for Wild Card weekend.
But we don’t know who the Rams will be playing in that contest — though the field is down to four.
Los Angeles will take on either Atlanta, Carolina, Seattle or New Orleans in the Wild Card round, all depending on how five games finish this weekend.
The Eagles have already secured the NFC’s No. 1 seed, ensuring they’ll have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. While they’ll face the Cowboys on Sunday, that NFC matchup won’t affect the rest of the playoff picture.
There are, however, five key matchups that will determine the rest of the NFC’s playoff seeding. No. 2 Minnesota takes on Chicago at 10 a.m. PT. Then No. 3 L.A. faces San Francisco, No. 4 New Orleans takes on Tampa Bay, No. 5 Carolina faces No. 6 Atlanta, and No. 7 Seattle plays Arizona — all at 1:25 p.m. PT.
With that, there are 24 total ways for all five games to finish. Which means there are 24 scenarios for the NFC.
As of now, the Rams’ most likely opponent is the Falcons, as 42 percent (10 of 24) of the scenarios end up with L.A. as the No. 3 seed taking on No. 6 Atlanta.
The second most likely scenario (25 percent) has the Rams taking on the Panthers. That would mean the Rams are the No. 4 seed and the Panthers are No. 5.
In four scenarios (17 percent) the Rams at No. 4 take on the No. 5 Saints. And in another four No. 3 L.A. faces No. 6 Seattle.
NFC playoff seeding scenarios based on the outcome of Week 17 games with playoff implications: pic.twitter.com/0vGtfBaJe7
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 26, 2017
Got all that?
If the Rams beat the 49ers, they’re locked in at No. 3. If the Falcons win or the Seahawks lose on Sunday, they’re the No. 6 seed. That’s why it’s the most likely.
If the Saints win on Sunday, they’re the division champions and will be either No. 3 or No. 4. That’s why it’s more likely the Rams will face the Panthers.
If Los Angeles loses on Sunday, it’s more likely that the Rams will be the No. 4 seed. But L.A. could still end up as the No. 3 seed if New Orleans and Carolina both lose.
In other words, it’s complicated. But no matter what happens, Los Angeles will have a quality opponent to prepare for next week.
December 31, 2017 at 11:13 am in reply to: press sets up the SF game + endless Garoppolo praise #79795znModeratorWhat They’re Saying: The San Francisco 49ers
Kristen Lago
Each week TheRams.com will be taking a look at what Los Angeles’ opponents have to say about facing the Rams. Heading into Week 17 of the regular season, check out what the San Francisco 49ers’ coaches and players had to say about their upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at the Coliseum:
On the Rams resting their starters on Sunday & how that changes the 49ers approach:
“This is the National Football league — their starters, their backups, whoever are all good. They all get paid to play. I don’t care who you are and so we’re approaching this week as we would any other week. We’re going to get ready for their starters and whoever else they play. I mean they have some ball players, they have some good depth and it’s a great defense. So we’re going to prepare for a great defense.”
– 49ers’ Center Daniel Kilgore
“Yeah, we approach it the same way. You can’t be so game plan specific on certain players because you don’t know who is going to play, but you can’t change anything else in the mindset that you do. I wish that they were all playing, but I totally get why they wouldn’t. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I know what (Head Coach) Sean (McVay) said, so I’m sure that that will be true to at least some guys. But, we’ll find out Sunday who they are and we’ll see how our game plan goes with that. But, it really doesn’t change in anything that we do.”
– 49ers’ Head coach Kyle Shanahan
“Not really [upset about Rams resting their starters]. You try to every week say that you’re facing a faceless opponent and no matter who it is you want to have the same mindset no matter what type of game it is — first game of the season or last game of the season. I think that we’ve done that pretty well the last couple of weeks. And I think if we do that, we’ll be good on Sunday.”
– 49ers’ Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
On if he has a sense that he and Sean McVay are going to be going at it for a while down the road in the NFC West:
“I wish we were this year. We’re in the same division. We plan on competing for this division each year and I know the Rams are there this year and that’s a credit to them. But I hope that we’re there too and there’s only four of us. I know they’ve got a good coaching staff and a lot of young talent, so I have a pretty strong feeling that they’re going to be good for some time. Hopefully, we can get there next year. I hope what you’re saying is the case.”
– 49ers’ Head coach Kyle Shanahan
On how he thinks this Rams team is compared to the team he faced in Week 3:
“They’re just better. They were doing good earlier in the year, but I’m pretty familiar with what they do and how they want things to look. They’ve been fortunate enough to stay very healthy. They’ve gone through a number of games playing with the same guys and whenever you do that you get better throughout the year. I’ve seen that on both sides of the ball and I know they’ve added two new schemes on the offense and defense. To see them in Week 3, which they’re playing well in Week 3, but now to see them now you can tell they’ve played a lot of football together this year and when you do that you get better at it. They’re looking good going into the playoffs.”
– 49ers’ Head coach Kyle Shanahan
znModeratorI’ve seen this argument out there and it’s worth considering, though in the end I argue for sitting the starters. One view against it says, the Rams are not guaranteed the 3rd seed so this win is huge. What happens if the #3 and #4 seeds advance to the Championship game? With a loss and so falling to the 4th seed Rams lose homefield.
I can’t read minds but this is a possible answer. I think it’s possible they have faith in their “road warrior” mentality. I also think it’s possible they realize they actually do not really have a home field advantage anyway. So weighing being on the road v. losing a starter, I THINK they think that they are better off with the starter. I think they think the real way to maximize their opportunity is to give key starters a “bye” week rather than risk losing one of them in a game that will (given the road warrior thing) gain them no actual advantage. Also, and this is just gravy, I think they want to know what they have on the OL and at qb, in terms of Mannion and the others.
-
AuthorPosts
