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znModeratorfrom Rodrigue: https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/nfl-week-18-news-schedule-standings/nsPRUujINWwk/l9As1V0Rv7J0/
…injury updates from McVay: Starting nose tackle Bobby Brown III, who left Sunday’s game with a knee injury and did not return, suffered a hyperextension but “should be OK.” Tackle/guard Joe Noteboom injured his heel and isn’t likely to practice this week.
Tight end Tyler Higbee suffered a posterior subluxation of his left shoulder and his status will be monitored through the week.
Safety Jordan Fuller is day to day with an ankle sprain.
Defensive lineman Desjuan Johnson has turf toe and will also be day to day.
Starting left tackle Alaric Jackson missed Sunday’s game due to a personal reason, which McVay clarified Monday was a family situation but said he’d allow Jackson to share more detail if he chose to do so. Jackson will be back with the Rams this week.
znModeratorMore from Rams HC Sean McVay on the decision to waive kicker Lucas Havrisik and bring back Brett Maher:https://t.co/VPBUA4JuvZ
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) January 1, 2024
znModeratorNo update yet on NT Bobby Brown, who went out of the Giants game with a knee injury.Edit: see Rodrigue below
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This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by
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znModeratorfrom Rams PFF grades: https://theramswire.usatoday.com/lists/rams-pff-grades-week-17-giants-best-worst-players/?taid=659326c651a48f0001c37371&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter
Top 5 offense
- LG Steve Avila: 85.1
- RG Kevin Dotson: 83.7
- RT Rob Havenstein: 80.0
- TE Tyler Higbee: 74.1
- RB Kyren Williams: 72.5
Based on PFF’s grades, the entire offensive line played pretty well, particularly in pass protection. Avila and Dotson allowed zero pressures, and Havenstein gave up just one.
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Top 5 defense
- DT Kobie Turner: 92.2
- DT Aaron Donald: 91.0
- CB Derion Kendrick: 80.2
- LB Troy Reeder: 79.9
- DB Quentin Lake: 73.9
Turner and Donald are legitimately one of the best defensive tackle tandems in the NFL right now. Turner played the best game of his career, recording 10 pressures and 2.5 sacks in the win. He also had five stops, making a big impact as a run defender.
Donald had six pressures and two sacks, also making two stops.
Kendrick only played 21 snaps but he broke up the only pass that was thrown his way. It would’ve gone for a touchdown, too.
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Bottom 5 offense
- WR Puka Nacua: 63.2
- WR Cooper Kupp: 56.7
- WR Demarcus Robinson: 55.6
- QB Matthew Stafford: 49.1
- C Coleman Shelton: 46.1
Don’t make much of Nacua being in the bottom five. The Rams only had 11 players on offense who played at least 10 snaps, so Nacua was essentially right in the middle. PFF did put him down for two drops, which lowered his grade.
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Bottom 5 defense
- DT Larrell Murchison: 54.7
- OLB Michael Hoecht: 52.8
- S John Johnson III: 48.0
- S Russ Yeast: 36.7
- LB Christian Rozeboom: 31.9
Murchison was kept off the stat sheet in 14 snaps played, recording zero pressures or tackles.
Hoecht had three pressures and allowed two catches for 10 yards on four targets.
Johnson missed one tackle and was credited with only three tackles made, two of which were assists.
Yeast continues to struggle, missing a key tackle along the sideline and allowing three catches for 38 yards.
Rozeboom missed two tackles and took poor angles throughout the game.
znModerator28-yard TD run by Kyren Williams was fun to watch. Kyren postgame rightfully shouted out offensive line – watch Kevin Dotson's combo block working up to play side LB – but also credited Cooper Kupp's pickup of nickel DB & keeping that DB outside for allowing him to get into lane. pic.twitter.com/hBnfmcGmGS
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) January 1, 2024
znModeratorThe Sean McVay era has seen six of his seven seasons end with a winning record, the best stretch the Rams have had since 1974 – 1980. pic.twitter.com/yHuQmu8lPr
— SeattleRams (@seattlerams_nfl) January 1, 2024
znModeratorSean McVay told reporters Monday that Tyler Higbee dislocated his shoulder and Jordan Fuller sprained his ankle. The Rams have no reason to rush them back after clinching a playoff berth, but their statuses will be evaluated this week leading up to the season finale.
znModeratorThey discuss the Rams at 7:43 in.
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znModeratorYou guys don’t know the first thing about tanking. If you want to tank, you play the starters so they all get injured. That way you end up with higher draft picks in 2024. Which would then give them a chance to build a team capable of going to the playoffs.
LOL I tell y’all what. I’m fine with the Rams losing their first game in the playoffs. I will allow myself about 60 seconds to have a good cry about it, then I’m going to celebrate one of the most interesting and hopeful seasons I’ve experienced as a Rams fan. Seriously, there was a LOT of talk – an Expectation, really – that the Rams were headed for Caleb Williams. Now I never believed that. I said from the beginning I thought they were ~.500 team, but they are better than that when they have KW and MS healthy. And the defense, though weak in the secondary, is much, much better than I expected. ST is worse, but there ya go.
Yeah it’s all true.
znModeratorMy concern is we could be one and out in the playoffs. Our field goal kicker is trash, and our secondary is trash. Derion Kendrick starting, means to me, no one else is as good as him, on the roster. It is sad, you look in free agency for 2024, it is not that good either, based on what’s out there.
They don’t need free agency and are frankly better off just signing their own guys. In fact they really don’t have money to make a huge splash.
Remember what the naysayers predicted for this season. That it was an awful team, too young, and years away.
Will the 2nd youngest team in the league have some holes? Sure. But in the process of proving the naysayers wrong, the Rams either found or proved they had already found a long list of players:
Witherspoon (FA, vet minimum)
Lake (low pick, 2022, came through)
Young (2023 3rd rounder)
Jones (who we knew about but he stepped up to another level)
Turner (2023 3rd rounder)
Brown (another in a long list of Rams budget draft pick NTs)
Jackson (UDFA becomes a starting left tackle)
Avilla (expected of a 2nd round pick but still)
Dotson (budget trade)
Allen (very promising rookie)
Nacua (5th rounder competing for OROY)
Robinson (another vet minimum FA)
Williams (didn’t have much of a chance in 2022, stepped up in 2023)
They still have holes but not even the most optimistic observer predicted all of that. So why can’t they keep it up in 2024? Draft picks, UDFAs, “ronin” signings, budget trades.
They don’t need an expensive FA. This team is ahead of schedule and has already demonstrated that it knows how to find players. But you can’t expect the 2nd youngest team in the league to completely “there” yet so 2023 is just for starters.
They have 11 picks in 2024 plus enough cap space to keep a number of their own UFAs. Plus they have a number of top notch position coaches, including Ryan Wendell, who just might be the best OL coach they’ve had since Hudson Houck back in the 80s (and the Rams have had many good OL coaches, it’s just that Wendell very well may be the best of the lot outside of Houk).
And you fear they may be one and one in the playoffs? Well compare that to your predictions for this team before the season. Did you ever say at that point that they could have a winning season and reach the playoffs?
They exceeded your expectations in 2023 and can do it again in 2024.
But right now they’re the 2nd youngest team in the league and would absolutely have to catch fire to win more than 1 playoff game if that. I’m not disappointed though. I was optimistic before the season started and yet they exceeded my expectations too. I’ll take it. Great year.
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znModeratorThe Rams might find more value in resting some guys before the playoff game than in going all out for the 6 seed. Maybe get Nacua the rookie records, and then put in the JV team.
You guys don’t know the first thing about tanking.
If you want to tank, you play the starters so they all get injured.
That way you end up with higher draft picks in 2024.
Which would then give them a chance to build a team capable of going to the playoffs.
znModeratorznModeratorznModeratorznModeratorRams earn 6th seed if…
- Rams win/tie vs. 49ers
It’s pretty simple for the Rams to clinch the No. 6 seed: win or tie against the 49ers. As long as they don’t lose on Sunday, they’ll have the sixth seed. The 49ers could be resting their starters in the finale after clinching the top seed and a first-round bye, so that helps the Rams as they attempt to snap their nine-game regular-season losing streak to San Francisco.
Rams earn 7th seed if…
- Rams lose vs. 49ers AND Packers win vs. Bears
The Packers are the only team that can overtake the Rams for the No. 6 seed, so their game against the Bears is the only other matchup that can affect Los Angeles’ seeding. If the Rams lose and the Packers beat Chicago, Green Bay will be the No. 6 seed based on its head-to-head tiebreaker over Los Angeles.
The Packers and Bears also play at 4:25 p.m. ET, so the Rams won’t know that result before kickoff. As of now, Green Bay is a 3-point home favorite over the Bears.
znModeratorCameron DaSilva@camdasilvaPuka Nacua is 4 catches and 29 yards away from setting the single-season rookie records for receptions and receiving yards.Nacua is chasing historyznModeratorAndrew Siciliano@AndrewSicilianoRams are guaranteed to be the #6 or #7 seed in the NFC. They will play Super Wild Card Weekend on the road at the Lions, Cowboys, or Eagles. **Only way Rams would visit Philadelphia is if LA loses, falls to #7, and Eagles win NFC East.znModeratorNFL receiving leaders through Week 17:
– Tyreek Hill, 1717
– CeeDee Lamb, 1651
– A.J. Brown, 1447
– Puka Nacua, 1445
– Amon-Ra St. Brown, 1371
– Brandon Aiyuk, 1317
– D.J. Moore, 1300
– Amari Cooper, 1250
– Keenan Allen, 1243
– Mike Evans, 1233— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 1, 2024
znModeratorSeattleRams@seattlerams_nflHaving the worst kicking game in the league is only the tip of the iceberg. The Rams have allowed two punt return TD’s, and have had punts blocked this season. The ghost of John Fassel continues to haunt Sean McVay.The LA Rams now have the 6th-lowest special teams DVOA ever. The Rams are at -9.8%. No. 31 Patriots are -3.4%. Rams are almost 3x as bad as any other ST unit this year. #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/P7KjAl697K
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) January 1, 2024
znModeratorHighlights: Rams Top Plays vs. Giants | Aaron Donald’s Sacks, Kyren Williams’ TDs & More
znModeratorStu Jackson@StuJRamsOne of the things I find special about this Rams season/roster is that it has produced candidates for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year. All as part of a playoff-bound team.znModeratorGotta be a bartender somewhere who can kick the bloody ball. Right?
As of today the Dallas kicker is 100% on all attempts. He was a soccer player who then played in the USFL.
From the wiki
After being released from the Bethlehem Steel FC in 2018, Aubrey decided to use the degree that he got at Notre Dame to become a software engineer. While watching an NFL game on TV in 2019, a placekicker missed a field goal and his wife told him: “You could do that.”From 2019 to 2022, Aubrey worked with a former Mississippi State kicker and kicking coach Brian Egan three times a week. Aubrey was drafted as a placekicker by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2022 USFL draft and made his debut as a professional American football player on April 16, 2022. The Stallions terminated Aubrey’s contract on July 3, 2023, allowing him to sign with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League on July 6.
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In the next game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he set an NFL record for most consecutive field goals made to start a career with his 19th made attempt, beating the previous holder Travis Coons. During Week 14 against the Eagles, Aubrey became the first kicker in NFL history to make two field goals from 59+ yards in the same game (59, 60).
I pointed out the problem with Rams special teams personnel acquisition in another thread. Personnel scouting for Rams special teams is handled by coaches. Coaches can’t scout. For other positions they have dedicated “mini-GMs” who specialize in pro personnel scouting by position. They don’t do that for special teams.
znModeratorNFL345@NFL345
In today’s @RamsNFL win, @AsapPuka recorded 5 catches for 118 yards. It marks his 7th game this season with 100+ receiving yards, tied with Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) & Justin Jefferson (2020) for the most by a rookie in the Super Bowl era.His 101 catches this season are tied with Anquan Boldin (2003) for the 2nd-most by a rookie in
@NFL history.His 1,445 receiving yards are the 3rd-most ever by a rookie.
Sarah Barshop@sarahbarshopPuka Nacua has 101 catches and 1,445 receiving yards this season. He needs four catches in Week 18 to break the rookie receptions record and 29 receiving yards to break the rookie receiving yards record. (@ESPNStatsInfo)Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Kobie Turner tied Aaron Donald’s record for the most sacks in a season by a rookie, recording his 9th on Sunday He’ll have a chance to break it in Week 18znModeratorBlaine Grisak@bgrisakTST
Sean McVay not signing Mason Crosby knowing he’d miss an eventual game-winning field goal a month later…Chess not checkers!
The Rams:
– Lost the turnover battle
– Gave up a Punt Return TD
– Left 5+ points off the board
– Only converted two 3rd downs…and still found a way to win.
SeattleRams@seattlerams_nfl
Still hard to believe the Giants missed both a (wide open) 2 point conversion and this FG to gift the W to the good guysJ.B. Long@JB_Long
Only John Robinson (75) has more regular season wins than Sean McVay in Rams coaching history. His 69th equals Chuck Knox, with McVay doing it in 4 fewer games.
znModeratorJalen Carter?
Will Anderson?Nope, the Conductor leads all NFL rookies in sacks. pic.twitter.com/sHa5nOgnYB
— SeattleRams (@seattlerams_nfl) December 31, 2023
znModeratorroberto clemente@rclemente21213 turnovers
1 turnover on downs
5 punts (one returned for a td)
2 missed extra points
4 sacks given up
2 of 9 (22%) on 3rd/4th down triesfor the win!
znModeratorGame Recap: Rams hang on to defeat Giants 26-25https://t.co/eXMpljAg8X
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) December 31, 2023
znModerator“I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.”
Kyren Williams tells @LauraOkmin how it feels to finally be seen. 🙏💯 @RamsNFL pic.twitter.com/kC9cE9WDsh
— NFL on FOX Podcast (@NFLonFOXPod) December 31, 2023
znModeratorRich Eisen@richeisen
The following teams can still clinch a playoff spot today:The @BuffaloBills: if the @Steelers and @Bengals lose
The @RamsNFL : if the @Seahawks lose
The @Chiefs clinch the AFC West if they win or the @Broncos lose.
znModeratorBill Barnwell@billbarnwell
Rams might make it to the postseason because the Giants were on their fourth-string kicker.Fishkiller@FV_Mylia_Lynn
Crazy season. Rams didn’t win the game today – the Giants lost it – but it counts as a W just the same.Special Teams coach needs to be fired in the locker room! The secondary is garbage & has deteriorated as the season has progressed. Stafford threw two HORRIBLE picks (just flat out missed open receivers). LUCKY the Giants stink or this was a L
Rams Tapes@RamsTapes
rams need to wake up for next week we have the 49ers, BUT if the Seahawks lose today rams are IN, A WIN IS A WIN.
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Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Ernest Jones should get a bonus in his second contract titled after that run stop he made on second and 10 to push Crosby behind his field goal range.Pro Football Reference@pfref
Puka Nacua is up to 1,445 receiving yards this season, just 10 behind Ja’Marr Chase for the most by a rookie since the NFL-AFL merger.Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
A first down would probably have ended it. On third-and-9 Matthew Stafford is sacked. Second possession in a row that Stafford was sacked on third-and-long.Brad Spielberger,@PFF_Brad
Rams rookie class:Puka Nacua – 1,445 receiving yards, 29 yards shy of the rookie record
Kobie Turner – 9 sacks as an interior defender, leads all rookies
Byron Young – 7 sacks, t-2nd among rookies with Will Anderson Jr.
None taken with a top 75 pick
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