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January 12, 2026 at 1:25 pm in reply to: Rams next game? Chicago! So…setting up the Bears game thread #161140
znModeratorNate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon broke his scapula again. He’s going on injured reserve and is done for this season.Gary Klein@LATimesklein
McVay said he was optimistic that G Kevin Dotson, TE Terrance Ferguson and DB Josh Wallace would play against Bears.Ian Rapoport@RapSheet
#Rams coach Sean McVay confirmed that QB Matthew Stafford has just a sprained finger and will be OK.January 12, 2026 at 12:38 pm in reply to: Rams next game? Chicago! So…setting up the Bears game thread #161136znModeratoralso hoping that there aren’t any st gaffes and that the defense can somehow slow down caleb williams.
stafford does not play well in below freezing weather. the weather could very well neutralize the offense.
Shredding the Bears defense? I dunno.
So we agree the Rams will beat the Bears so badly that Chicago ownership will consider disbanding the team?
January 12, 2026 at 11:32 am in reply to: Rams next game? Chicago! So…setting up the Bears game thread #161132znModeratorDo you remember last year.
Yes. But. That was one of the Rams pre-bye games from one of their “slow start” years (23 and 24). They had OL issues and went 1-4 before the bye. They had to start guys like Bruss, who is the only decently high picked OL Wendell gave up on (he was a 3rd rounder). After the bye they went 10-2. They averaged 18.4 points a game before the bye that year (in 2024 that would have ranked 26th) and after the bye averaged 23 points a game (that would have ranked 13th).
In their pre-bye struggle games from 2024, they also lost to Arizona (by a score of 10 to 41). ARZ went 8-9 that year. Tells you how bad it was before the bye that season.
So I see the 2024 Chicago game as less about playing in Chicago and more about starting slow in 2024.
znModeratorThe 49ers, Rams and Seahawks are all in the divisional round, so how good is the NFC West?
With 3/4 of the NFC West reaching the divisional round, it’s a good time to put into perspective the division’s dominance.
Led by the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers, the NFC West finished the regular season with a +6.7-point margin per game in non-division matchups. That ranks fifth among 192 division seasons since realignment in 2002, behind only the 2013 NFC West (+9.0), the 2024 NFC North (8.7), the 2007 AFC South (+7.4) and the 2004 AFC East (+7.0).
Not that the way the Rams beat an 8-9 Carolina team (34-31) or the 49ers outlasted the Eagles (23-19) signaled dominance. The Rams trailed in the final minute against the Panthers. San Francisco’s victory was impressive more for the state of the 49ers’ roster, which suffered another devastating loss when Kittle suffered a torn Achilles tendon, than for anything else. Coach Kyle Shanahan’s call for a trick-play pass from receiver Jauan Jennings to McCaffrey for a 29-yard touchdown to take the lead in the fourth quarter reflected this team’s incredible resourcefulness during a season marked by attrition.
“Philly looked horrible to me,” an exec from another team said. “They could not move the ball. The offense looked sluggish. They were getting into it on the sideline. Just not good. San Francisco could not run the ball at all. They hit a few passes, but that was really it.”
The NFC West is not exactly storming into the next round, in other words. But only the Bears stand between this division and the Super Bowl at this point
January 12, 2026 at 10:44 am in reply to: Rams next game? Chicago! So…setting up the Bears game thread #161127znModeratorNFL Researcher@NFL_Researcher
Caleb Williams by target this season, per @NextGenStats…Rookies Colston Loveland & Luther Burden III
🔸71.0 comp pct
🔸9.6 yards/att
🔸8 TD, 1 INT
🔸115.1 passer ratingAll Other Bears Receivers
🔸52.6 comp pct
🔸6.1 yards/att
🔸21 TD, 8 INT
🔸81.1 passer ratingJanuary 12, 2026 at 10:43 am in reply to: Rams next game? Chicago! So…setting up the Bears game thread #161126znModeratorRAMZILLA@elitster
Time for redemption from the 85’ 24-0 lossJohn Breech@johnbreech
With the Rams facing the Bears in the divisional round, Sean McVay will somehow be facing his 15th different team in 15 career playoff gamesznModeratorI dont think any of the losses this year could be pinned on the oline. (one wonders what Marc Bulger thinks as he watches this team on Sundays)
I would put the Atlanta game on the OL, but that was injuries. With, as you know, both Jackson and Dotson out, and Humphries at LOT playing like the rookie from hell.
January 12, 2026 at 9:46 am in reply to: Rams next game? Chicago! So…setting up the Bears game thread #161120znModeratorhe’ll be able to avoid the pass rush and just zip throws to receivers. just a bad bad matchup for this defense.
Ah but, the Rams offense is an even worse matchup for the Chicago defense. That defense cannot stop the run or pass and is 22nd in sacks.
The Rams can and do win shoot outs, even against resourceful qbs.
Seattle has a top defense and the Rams put up 581 yards on them, on the road. Chicago’s defense is no match for LA.
On paper anyway, the Rams offense is better than the Chicago offense, and ought to shred the Chicago defense at a higher rate than the Chicago offense will against the Rams defense.
…
znModeratorfrom PFF, Final 2025 NFL offensive line rankings: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-final-2025-nfl-offensive-line-rankings
4. Los Angeles Rams
At full strength, the Rams’ offensive line is arguably the best unit in the league. The biggest development of the second half of the season was almost certainly finding Rob Havenstein’s heir at right tackle. Warren McClendon Jr. has emerged as one of the best players at the position, highlighted by his 83.5 PFF overall grade, which ranked second among all right tackles.
The Rams’ offensive line gave up 154 pressures — including 15 sacks — on 624 snaps during the regular season. As a result, the unit logged an 86.5 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating, which ranked sixth in the NFL.
znModeratorEagles have great weapons and a powerful OLine
Part of the issue is that their OL slipped this year.
This is from PFF: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-final-2025-nfl-offensive-line-rankings
The Eagles’ offensive line had a rollercoaster regular season, suffering multiple injuries in 2025. However, even when they were fully healthy, the unit did not resemble the Philadelphia offensive line of past years.
That was especially true for left guard Landon Dickerson, who had a down year. The Alabama product was excellent in 2024 but finished the 2025 regular season with a 60.3 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked only 51st among 81 qualifying guards.
January 12, 2026 at 7:35 am in reply to: The Stafford thread…update 12/31: huge S.I. article #161110znModeratorJanuary 12, 2026 at 5:44 am in reply to: 1st playoff game–tweets, plays, highlights, commentary #161109znModeratorJanuary 11, 2026 at 11:01 pm in reply to: Rams next game? Chicago! So…setting up the Bears game thread #161106znModeratorBears defense:
yards: 29th
points: 23rd
yards per pass: 28th
yards per run: 29th
pressure percentage: 22nd
redzone TDs allowed: 19th (but 28th last 3 games)
turnovers: 1st (but 21st last 3 games)Rams24/7@Rams24_7
Initial thoughts on CHI:Rams Offense:
1. Protect the ball. Bears 1st with 1.8 turnovers per game (33 total)
2. Run, run, run. Bears 29th with 5.0 ypc. KDot return would be huge too
3. Stafford should have time to throw. CHI tied for 5th worst in sacks (35)
Rams Defense:
1. DL has to ball out. Must be disciplined in rush lanes and keep Caleb in the pocket. Also need to turn pressures into sacks. Bears LT done for year – Verse better show up
2. Lake + McCreary to step up after getting their feet wet
3. Front 7 limit great CHI run game
znModeratorHayden Winks@HaydenWinks
The 49ers + Rams + Seahawks are 40-7 versus everyone else this year.znModeratorSheil Kapadia@SheilKapadia
49ers produced the highest single-game offensive success rate against the Eagles since Vic Fangio became their DC.Great game by Kyle Shanahan — impossible to ignore the ability to do more with less compared to what the Eagles offense has looked like all year.
znModeratorI shall now root for Drake Maye to throw 3 pick-sixes, and to trip in the endzone for a safety.
The Patz have played 3 games against teams with records above .500, ie. the Steelers and the Bills twice. They went 1/2 in those games.
January 11, 2026 at 8:33 pm in reply to: Rams next game? Chicago! So…setting up the Bears game thread #161092znModeratorBears defense:
yards: 29th
points: 23rd
yards per pass: 28th
yards per run: 29th
pressure percentage: 22nd
redzone TDs allowed: 19th (but 28th last 3 games)
turnovers: 1st (but 21st last 3 games)January 11, 2026 at 8:22 pm in reply to: Rams next game? Chicago! So…setting up the Bears game thread #161090znModeratorInteresting. 3 NFC West teams in the final 4.
Jack Andrade@RealJackAndrade
The 2025 NFC West is the 4th division to get 3 teams into the Divisional Round in the same season all-time2022 NFC East – including Eagles (lost Super Bowl)
1997 NFC Central – including Packers (lost SB)
1992 NFC East – including Cowboys (won SB)Rams Bros.@RamsBrothers
If the Rams beat the Bears and the 49ers beat the Seahawks in the divisional round, the Rams would be hosting the NFC Championship game vs. SoFi.If the Rams beat the Bears and the Seahawks beat the 49ers, the NFCC is in Seattle.
Either way, CANNOT WAIT.
znModeratorSumming up the last couple of posts:
…
Demand for Rams' assistants 📈📈📈
Per sources …
• DC Chris Shula has requests from Cards, Raiders, Titans, Giants, Ravens and Dolphins.
• PGC Nathan Scheelhaase has requests from Raiders, Browns and Ravens.
• OC Mike LaFleur has requests from the Raiders and Cards.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 11, 2026
znModeratorHere’s a fun one: The Dolphins have requested an interview with Rams DC Chris Shula for their head coaching job, per source.
Shula — the grandson of legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula — is eligible to interview next week after the Rams’ wild card game. pic.twitter.com/5Iaq4tcQbz
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 10, 2026
znModeratorRams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase (I botched the pronunciation of his name on Thursday's NFL Live) will have a full dance card next week. 35-year-old former Illinois QB and Matt Campbell disciple at Iowa State has spent the last two years at McVay's hip. pic.twitter.com/hqM71JtHjC
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 10, 2026
January 11, 2026 at 7:46 pm in reply to: The Stafford thread…update 12/31: huge S.I. article #161076znModeratorGabriel won the most games at 74. Stafford has 52 including playoffs.
The stats in question, though, were about the postseason only.
January 11, 2026 at 6:09 pm in reply to: The Stafford thread…update 12/31: huge S.I. article #161069znModeratorLAFB Network@LAFBNetwork
Matthew Stafford owns the Rams postseason record book.1st in completions, yards, TDs, AND wins.
Greatest QB in Rams franchise history… or still a debate?
znModeratorEagles lead at halftime, 13-10.
The AFC has some playoff games too, I think, involving different teams and such.
znModeratorMissed three games and STILL led the league in receiving TDs 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/NCKQUFfPsb
— Luke Christensen (@LukeChrisFFL) January 10, 2026
znModeratortwitter AI
NFL data shows the Rams led the league with four touchdowns negated by penalties in 2025, per nflfastR stats, making such moments particularly frustrating in high-stakes playoffs where referee decisions can swing outcomes by an average of 3-5 points per game according to PFF analysis.
znModeratorAlbert Breer@AlbertBreer
Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is done with his head-coaching interviews, having taken six of them. He met with the Cardinals, Dolphins, Falcons, Giants, Raiders and Ravens over the last two days.Hot name on a market lacking in young offensive coaches.
znModeratorDoug Clawson@doug_clawson
Thru 3 games this postseason there’s already been 3 game-winning TDs in the final 2 minutes of the 4th quarterThat’s already the most in a single postseason in NFL history
znModeratorIf Lefleur is available, the Ravens should hire him. He’s a highly regarded offensive mind that could help Lamar Jackson get over the hump.
I want all teams except the Rams to make bad or inappropriate or poorly considered coaching hires.
As a decades long Rams fan, I know how to spot those when they happen.
Every team should have its Linehan. Every fan base should go through that. It’s their turn.
Linehan?
I mean, we all talk about wishing ill on other teams, especially division rivals…
But Linehan?!
That’s some pathological level of hate right there.
Look deep into the darkness, my friend. Let it fill you. Let it tell you things only a Rams fan could understand.
znModeratorAdam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Rams OC Mike LaFleur has been asked to interview, and will this week, for the HC positions in Las Vegas and Arizona, per ESPN’s @PSchrags. -
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