Nate Atkins@NateAtkins_
The Rams have designated CB Roger McCreary for return from injured reserve.

He was the team’s lone trade acquisition from the Titans this season but went out after his first defensive action against the Seahawks in Week 11.

from PFF, Ranking the 20 best NFL free-agent signings from the 2025 offseason: https://www.pff.com/news/ranking-the-20-best-nfl-free-agent-signings-from-the-2025-offseason

#2

WR Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams compiled a tremendous offseason on several fronts, headlined by extending Matthew Stafford. But, their signing of Adams in particular has paid immediate dividends in helping the team become a Super Bowl frontrunner.

Even at age 33, Adams has returned to peak form in his first year catching passes from Stafford and running routes alongside Puka Nacua. His 84.1 PFF receiving grade is not only the 11th-best among qualified receivers, but also his highest since 2022. The ex-Packer has been extremely friendly for his quarterback with a 112.6 passer rating when targeted, too.

The Rams pace the NFL in offensive EPA per play and success rate, and Adams’ contributions have certainly helped spur that production.

#8

Dl Poona Ford, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams already boasted top-notch defensive line talent going into 2025 in the form of Jared Verse, Byron Young and Kobie Turner. Still, that didn’t stop general manager Les Snead from making a splash in Ford — and the addition has been phenomenal.

Ford has proliferated his outstanding play from a year ago in SoFi Stadium. In 2025, his 89.5 overall PFF grade is the second-best among qualified interior defenders. While Ford has been good as a pass-rusher with a 73.2 PFF pass-rushing grade, he’s made his mark in run defense — procuring an 85.5 PFF run-defense grade with a 12.7% run stop rate.

Los Angeles’ defensive line holds top-five figures against both the pass and run this year, and Ford is an indispensable part of that.

#20

LB Nate Landman, Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles’ defense has been nearly as effective as its offense, placing sixth in EPA per play and eighth in success rate. While the team’s defensive line is particularly ferocious, positive plays from those like Landman have also been instrumental.

Landman was an unheralded signing from the Falcons but has performed like an above-average linebacker in Los Angeles. His 73.7 overall PFF grade is 18th among qualifiers, and his 79.4 PFF run-defense grade is 16th in that same group. Landman also places in the 81st percentile in PFF coverage grade (67.4) and in the 90th percentile in run stop rate (9.2%).

The Rams were so impressed with Landman that they bestowed a three-year, $22.5 million extension upon him in late November. He’s definitely helped shore up what had previously been a shakier portion of Chris Shula’s defense.

The league leaders in Big Time Throws this season 🚀 https://t.co/IER3AMZRi1 pic.twitter.com/axieFyahn5

— PFF (@PFF) December 24, 2025

Byron Young is a Pro Bowler for the first time with an 11-sack season.

Crazy rise for a guy who 6 years ago was an assistant manager at Dollar General looking for small school walk-on tryouts.

One of the coolest underdog stories:https://t.co/4rfLs3DSsk

— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) December 23, 2025

Los Angeles Rams PR@TheLARamsPR
Rams Team Offensive Grades through 15 games, per @PFF:
– 1st in Offensive Grade (93.5)
– 1st in Passing Grade (93.2)
– 1st in Receiving Grade (90.8)
– 1st in Run Blocking Grade (88.5)
– 5th in Rushing Grade (88.5)

🚨 Rams Injury Update Ahead of MNF 🚨

Sean McVay delivered a tough update on Kevin Dotson’s ankle — and his availability vs. the Falcons is now very much in doubt. What it means for the Rams’ O-line and playoff push 👀

📖 Full story: https://t.co/vgoBuZgKsZ

— ryan anderson (@RLAndersonLAFB) December 22, 2025

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
McVay says that person joining Kotwica will be Matt Harper, who has been an assistant special teams coach with the Eagles and the Niners

Stafford even got the camera man faked out with the no looks 😂 pic.twitter.com/V6Pfygscsx

— x – Rams Tapes 🇵🇷 (@RamsTapes) December 21, 2025

I moved some stuff from the old “Blackburn fired” thread to this thread.

Here:

***

zn wrote:

Ben Kotwica. He’s been coaching special teams in the league since 2007. Has coached for Washington, Atlanta, Minnesota, and Denver. Rams hired him in 2025.

HoldenCantor@HoldenCantor
Ben Kotwica will take over as the Rams special teams coordinator. Kotwica was let go from Denver last season but The Broncos special teams unit finished in the Top 10 in several categories:
10th in Net Punting Average (42.2)
1st in Punt Return Average (15.7)
10th in Punt Return Average Against (8.7)
6th in Field Goal Percentage (91.2%)

***

zn wrote:

Here’s what I think prompted this. No question the Rams had issues on STs. But why fire Blackburn now? IMO, it’s because they have a unique window to review and improve the situation. They are following a Thurs. night game with a Monday night game. That’s 11 days. It’s like a kind of bye week. The McV Rams have long since used the bye to fix or re-invent areas that are underperforming. So now’s the time to promote an experienced vetern ST coach–a new ST coordinator who also knows the team–get him to review the entire STs program, and make whatever changes in the scheme or execution that need it.

Odds are they will be looking over the defense too, just not with a new coordinator.

Don’t know what they will do about the offense though–that situation seems hopelessly unfixable.

***

Nate Atkins@NateAtkins_
The ending to that Lions-Steelers game would have been rejected by every TV network for being too fantastical to ever happen in a game.

You’d have broken a controller if it happened in Madden.

Just amazing how many of those moments the Lions are in over the years, win or lose.

speed_kills@speedk1lls
the end of the Rams v Hawks and Packers v Bears were right there with it. What a crazy set of games. Detroit has just fallen completely apart.

Nate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Good point. One of the craziest weeks of high-leverage games I can recall.