Sean McVay: Rams will be resilient after injuries, two-game losing streak https://t.co/JgsGOl4E8Q

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 30, 2020

from Could ‘Wakeyleaks’ scandal lead to lawsuit, criminal charges?
Wake Forest could pursue a lawsuit against former radio analyst Tommy Elrod as well as any schools that may have received game plan information from him. There’s also a remote possibility of criminal charges.

https://www.si.com/college/2016/12/14/wake-forest-football-leak-illegal-louisville

As reported Tuesday, the 41-year-old Elrod has been fired after serving as the Demon Deacons’ radio announcer on the IMG Radio Network since 2014. His firing stems from being accused of sharing, or attempting to share, various game preparation materials with other teams over the last two years. Wake Forest reached this conclusion after a comprehensive review of emails, texts and phone records.

First Look: Rams host Cardinals looking to clinch playoff berth

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 29, 2020

Earlier on NFL Now, I joined @AndrewSiciliano and Matt Cassel to talk about @JaredGoff16's thumb, my toughness relative to that of NFL players and John Wolford, the untested QB who'll try to guide the @RamsNFL to the playoffs. @nflnetwork 🤙🏼 pic.twitter.com/5HtYnxZYnz

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) December 29, 2020

max

YOU RARELY WIN GIVING UP 15 PRESSURES

according to PFF Rams OL gave up 15 pressures, Noteboom had 5, Blythe 3. I think the 2 boneheaded plays by Goff masked how poorly the OL has played. You rarely win with 15 pressures.

I also think McVay is covering for how poorly the OL has played the last 2 weeks and as a result he is taking the heat himself.

Seahawks defense has made substantial turnaround in second half of season https://t.co/vVSqOZJ2Hl

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 29, 2020

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Sean McVay: Jared Goff had surgery on his thumb today, decision was made late last night. We are optimistic we will get him back for the playoffs. John Wolford will start on Sunday.

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Rams’ QB Jared Goff underwent surgery today on his broken right thumb in LA and is unlikely to play Sunday vs. Arizona, sources tell ESPN. If he can’t play Sunday, Goff could return for the playoffs if Rams advance there.

John Wolford is Goff’s backup and now in line to start.

Wolford would be first QB to make his first start for a team in Week 17 with a playoff berth on the line since Kyle Orton for the 2013 Cowboys

The surgery that Rams QB Jared Goff had earlier today in Los Angeles gives him the best chance of an optimum result without a delay in return. The hope is he can be back for the postseason.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
I can confirm the multiple reports that Jared Goff will have surgery on his right thumb. It’s likely – though not totally certain – that he’s out on Sunday, source said. And the hope is, should John Wolford start and help get Rams to the playoffs, that he can return for a push.

Reminder, the Rams also are hoping to have LT Andrew Whitworth back in the case that they enter the postseason. That alignment, plus organization’s faith in Wolford’s prep, may have made decision for immediate surgery an easier one.

Andrew Siciliano@AndrewSiciliano
Trust me. You’re going to like John Wolford.

Jets suddenly on 2-game winning streak after 0-13 start https://t.co/mAsfOsu7zr

— AP NFL (@AP_NFL) December 28, 2020

Matt Bowen@MattBowen41
#Rams-#Seahawks

SEA played single-high coverages…

Cover 3 — 54.9%
Cover 1 — 25.5%

Limited explosive plays & boot concepts. Disciplined in zone coverage (depth, eyes).

Didn’t allow Goff to throw on rhythm consistently + he struggled with ball location/accuracy.

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Rams’ QB Jared Goff is meeting today with Dr. Steven Shin, who treated Drew Brees last year for his thumb injury, per source. Goff will need thumb surgery at some point; the question is when to get it. His status for Sunday remains uncertain.

Rams fighting for their playoff lives heading into Week 17
L.A. misses postseason with loss to Cardinals, Bears win over Packers

ERIC D. WILLIAMS

https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/news/la-rams-fighting-for-playoff-lives-heading-into-week-17

It didn’t have to come to this.

If the Los Angeles Rams had taken care of business two weeks ago against the previously winless New York Jets, they would already be in the postseason and looking at this Sunday’s contest as more of a seeding game.

However, after losing a second straight contest against the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams at 9-6 can finally punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.

The Cardinals fell to the San Francisco 49ers 20-12 over the weekend, so they remain a game back of the Rams in the standings. It’s a must-win game for the Cardinals to reach the playoffs.

The Seahawks clinched their first NFC West division title since 2016 with a win over the Rams last weekend.

If the playoffs ended today, the Rams would be the No. 6 seed, traveling again to Seattle to face the No. 3 seed in the Seahawks.

NFC West division standings
Seahawks 11-4
Rams 9-6
Cardinals 8-7
Niners 6-9

The No. 1 overall seed remains up for grabs in the NFC, which helps the Rams.

L.A. also could get into the playoffs if the Chicago Bears (8-7) lose or tie at home to the Green Bay Packers, who have yet to lock-up the No. 1 overall seed and a bye in the first week of the postseason.

The Packers take the No. 1 seed with a win over the Bears or a loss by Seattle on the road against San Francisco.

So, the Packers have something to play for and that game will take place at the same time as the Rams host the Cardinals.

New Orleans clinches the No. 1 seed with a win over Carolina, along with a Green Bay loss and a Seattle win.

Seattle needs to defeat the Niners, along with losses by the Packers and Saints to gain the No. 1 seed.

Overall, it’s a surprising turn of events for a team like the Rams, that looked like a Super Bowl contender after throttling the New England Patriots in a nationally televised Thursday night contest in Week 14.

If the Rams lose to the Cardinals and the Bears defeat the Packers, the Rams will miss the postseason after having a 96.2% chance to make the playoffs in Week 16, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.

NFC playoff seeding
1. Packers 12-3
2. Saints 11-4
3. Seahawks 11-4
4. Washington 6-9
5. Buccaneers 10-5
6. Rams 9-6
7. Bears 8-7

On the bubble
8. Cardinals 8-7
9. Cowboys 6-9

RamsMaineiac wrote:

How many times was Wilson pressured yesterday?

Comparatively:
Wilson 32 drop backs, sacked 5 times, hit 8 times = 2TDs and QBR of 93.9.
Goff 43 drop backs, sacked 3 times, hit 9 times = no TDs and a QBR of 61.6.

First, your pressure numbers are off. PFR puts up pressure numbers on Wednesdays–the sacks and hits numbers are incomplete till then. Second, ESPN measures Goff’s pressures at 24. I have a tweet to that effect in this thread from the Rams ESPN writer.

Also, Wilson doesn’t matter. He is one of the rare exceptions to the line “all qbs are affected by heavy pressure.” Throughout the years when I bring up the OL and pressure issue I list Wilson and Brady as the 2 exceptions to the “heavy pressure prevails” rule (and have challenged people to name others and I never get any names).

And even Wilson and Brady have succumbed to pressure at times–Rams have done it to Wilson a couple of games, we’ve seen it.

ESPN’s 24 pressures number is the most for any McVay Rams team going back to the start. That means the OL is out of whack and unless the OL is fixed the qb will be compromised. Whoever it is.

Rams could face Cardinals Sunday without QB Jared Goff and playoff spot on the line. Read story from @MasonKernMedia: https://t.co/xFTTcTBz8s

— Howard Balzer (@HBalzer721) December 28, 2020