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ZooeyModeratorYeah. That “playoff opponents” list doesn’t tell us much, though.
True.
Not facing many opponents that made the playoffs doesn’t really mean much in regards to a team’s success.
For example, when the Dodgers saw they were playing the Pirates this week, they probably saw that as an opportunity to strengthen their grip on the NL West.
After all, the Pirates aren’t a playoff team. Hell, they haven’t sniffed the playoffs since the 90’s, which belies their storied history as one of baseball’s greatest franchises.
But what happened?
The Pirates channeled the spirits of legends past and beat the Dodgers not once, not twice, but three straight times. With San Diego in the midst of a 4 game losing streak, the Dodgers had a chance to essentially lock up their division.
Easy peasy, right?
You would think so, especially if you buy into the delusion that a schedule laden with non-playoff opponents was some sort of guarantee of success.
But you would be wrong, as the proud young men in black and gold demonstrated so vividly to the Dodgers over the past several days.
So good on you Zooey, for not buying into the playoff opponent hype.
Has Penn State been playing the Pirates?
It would explain a lot.
ZooeyModerator———-
The Ravens continued to get healthier Thursday, as two Pro Bowl players returned to practice.
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) practiced for the first time this week, while fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) returned for the first time since Aug. 14.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring), linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) remained sidelined on Thursday after not playing against the Texans. Offensive lineman Ben Cleveland was the only new absence.
Humphrey’s presence would be a major boost to Baltimore’s secondary, which will face the high-powered Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/marlon-humphrey-patrick-ricard-ravens-injury-report-return-practice-rams-week-6
===========I’m with ya, man.
Who the hell wants to watch Dallas Carolina anyway?
ZooeyModeratorSleeperNFL@SleeperNFL
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has been officially ruled out for Week 6.That would be good news if the Rams ever beat backup QBs.
ZooeyModeratorI just came out of my bunker, and it’s dark outside.
Has the sun come up since that f-ing game ended?
ZooeyModeratorThe game becomes known as the October Massacre.
Rams 52
9ers 3ZooeyModeratorLies and propaganda from the Dark World:
4 areas where the 49ers can take advantage of the Rams
Taking a look at how the Rams got here, and where the 49ers have the advantage on Thursday Night Footballby Kyle Posey
Oct 2, 2025, 10:11 AM PDTThe San Francisco 49ers will be on the road without three of their most important offensive players against a Los Angeles Rams team that is undefeated at home.
At SoFi Stadium, Matthew Stafford has completed over 70 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and zero turnovers. On the other side of the ball, the Rams’ defense is fourth in EPA per play and sixth in success rate allowed. Can Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh do enough to stay competitive, where the offense has the ball last, to have a chance to win?
Let’s discuss what it’ll take for that to happen. First, let’s see how the Rams got here.
Let’s pump the brakes on the home team
The Rams are 3-1, but we don’t have to pretend like they’ve been world beaters through four weeks. They have a +19 point differential compared to the 49ers’ +5 point differential.Injuries take the cake, but the second-biggest difference between these two teams is the difference in turnovers. The Rams are +3, while the 49ers are -5, which ranks them as the third-worst team in the NFL.
The Rams were down 6-0 for much of the first half to the Houston Texans in Week 1, before a two-minute touchdown. After a Texans field goal before the half, the Rams’ touchdown to begin the third quarter would be the final score in that game. A C.J. Stroud third-quarter interception would be the closest Houston would come to scoring.
Los Angeles’s Week 2 opponent might be the first team to fire its head coach. Their Week 3 opponent won the Super Bowl last year. It was a game Los Angeles controlled on the scoreboard, but it never felt like that while watching it.
Up 26-7, thanks to an Eagles fumble to start the third quarter, Philadelphia needed 2:28 to trim the lead to 26-14. After forcing a three-and-out, the Eagles went on an 87-yard drive, with no play longer than 16 yards, to make it a one-possession game at 26-21.
Kyren Williams was stopped in the backfield on 4th & 1. However, Jalen Hurts was sacked on third down, then threw an incomplete pass to A.J. Brown from midfield, gifting Los Angeles the ball with 12:18 left in the fourth quarter to take a commanding lead.
The Rams had a field goal blocked. The Eagles go down and score in a 17-play, back-breaking 91-yard drive to take a 27-26 lead. Los Angeles gets in position for another field goal, but sees their kick blocked for the second consecutive time for a heartbreaking loss. The reality was they were thoroughly outplayed in the second half.
Last week’s result is why 49ers’ fans should have at least some hope heading into Thursday night. The Colts lost 27-20, despite having an 81 percent win expectancy with four minutes to play. Wide receiver AD Mitchell fumbled the ball out of the end zone and nullified another touchdown late in the fourth quarter with a holding penalty. Those plays cost the Colts 14 points.
Indianapolis also threw an interception in the second half and settled for a field goal in the red zone. Prior to the Rams’ two scoring drives in the fourth quarter, they punted on five straight possessions and fumbled.
Can the Niners find similar success? They’ll need to win these matchups.
Bryce Huff versus Warren McClendon
Los Angeles’s right tackle, Rob Havenstein, is listed as doubtful for Thursday night. That means his backup, 6’4”, 306-pound Warren McClendon, is back in action. Last year, the 2023 fifth-rounder started six games. He was annihilated in pass protection, with 11 blown blocks and five sacks allowed in only 208 snaps.Matthew Stafford is the type of quarterback who hunts the big play. He has averaged 8.1 air yards per attempt with a deep pass rate of 8.6 percent, all the highest marks during Stafford’s time with the Rams. Unlike last week against Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Rams have no problems calling long-developing plays that ask Stafford to hold onto the ball.
This is a game where Bryce Huff comes alive. Huff is eighth in the NFL in win percentage among all defensive linemen. He had a couple of wins last week, but the ball came out so quickly that he was unable to register a quarterback hit or a sack. That’ll be different tonight against a backup right tackle.
Sam Okuayinonu is another edge rusher to keep an eye on. He’s played his role to perfection. He’s actually been better at generating pressure on early downs than any other pass rusher on the team, while Huff does most of his work on third downs. That duo must make life miserable for McClendon for four quarters, thus making Stafford uncomfortable and potentially prone to mistakes.
Christian McCaffrey and Jake Tonges vs. the Rams linebackers and safeties
The Rams have gone to great lengths to upgrade their defensive line. They are still relatively weak in the back seven, specifically right down the middle. Every team that Los Angeles has played has attacked them the most right down the spine.The Colts went after Kamren Curl six times and Nate Landman four times. The Eagles went after Quinten Lake seven times. The Titans targeted Curl six times in Week 2, while Landman and Lake were targeted four times each. Curl was targeted five times in Week 1, allowing all five targets to be completed.
Some of it is Kyle Shanahan’s scheme, but Tonges has been a pleasant surprise. He had 58 yards last week, and that could’ve easily been in the 80s. He’s been a reliable target for whichever quarterback has been under center. Tonges, 6’4”, against Curl, 6’1”, could be a matchup Mac Jones targets early and often, with the Rams being a tight end funnel defense.
Tonges has lined up on 37 snaps in the slot. I think we can see more of that than ever on Thursday night. I’m not expecting Tonges to have a Dallas Goedert or Tyler Warren type of performance, but he’s been open enough through four games to make you think he can have continued success against a team allowing around 50 yards a game to opposing tight ends.
Tonges has no issue creating separation, as evidenced by his average of three yards of separation per target, which is higher than Warren, Tucker Kraft, Jake Ferguson, and Brock Powers. Tonges is also 10th, despite a low number of targets, in receiving EPA added.
Tonges is no George Kittle, but the tight end production hasn’t fallen off a cliff, which is a testament to Tonges being more than a product of the system.
No player has been used as much through four weeks as Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey has the fourth-highest target rate of any pass catcher in the NFL. This should be a game where the 49ers’ ground game gets going, but McCaffrey out of the backfield has been the free square on the bingo card whenever he’s on the field.
The immovable running game versus a below-average run defense
If there was ever going to be a game where Shanahan attempts to get the running game going, it’ll be against a Rams defensive line that would prefer to pin its ears back and rush the passer instead of stopping the run. The Rams are 20th in the NFL in EPA per rush allowed. It’s their biggest weakness on the team.This will be Colton McKivitz’s biggest test to date, as he’ll see Jared Verse. Defensive tackle Poona Ford has helped the interior. The Rams are 0.9 yards per carry better with Ford on the field. However, this is not a team that stops you in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage.
The Rams are second-to-last in the NFL in defensive stuff rate at 9.9 percent. That tells me their line is getting in the way, and the linebackers aren’t making plays. That bodes well for McCaffrey and a 49ers running game that’s been putrid to date.
The offensive line has done its job. It’s the wide receivers and tight ends that are whiffing, and doing so consistently. When the scheme isn’t the issue and it comes down to player execution, it makes me think the 49ers are closer to breaking a long run, or at least having a decent outing on the ground, than the opposite outcome.
Bold prediction: McCaffrey rushes for a season high on Thursday night and the most yards against the Rams defense this season. Part of that prediction is personnel-driven, as Los Angeles tends to favor more defensive backs on the field.
Shrinking the field on defense
The 49ers have forced two turnovers, but are one of two teams not to have an interception this year. The other team is the Jets. You never, ever, want to be in the same sentence with the Jets. Will that change in Week 5? Stafford has turned it over twice, with both interceptions happening on the road.The 49ers’ beefy defensive line should be able to slow down a Rams running game that is middling. Where the 49ers have excelled the most on defense is limiting the big play. They have the fifth-best explosive play rate in the NFL. On most of the big plays the defense has surrendered, it’s been against rookie Marques Sigle.
Sigle and Upton Stout will likely be the most targeted players tonight. Sigle has been targeted on downfield passes seven times this season. He’s allowed all seven of those to be completed for 153 yards and a touchdown. Stafford has 623 passing yards on downfield throws, which leads the league by 79 yards.
In fairness to Sigle, he’s been in position on every one of those plays. It’s not as if he’s getting burned by the opponent. Still, he hasn’t made the play. Stout appeared to have made one last week, but the referees thought otherwise.
I don’t expect Robert Saleh to give the Rams an opportunity to get Puka Nacua or Davante Adams 1-on-1 chances. The 49ers have run zone coverage 78 percent of the time this year. Davante Adams sees his target rate drop nearly 13 percent against zone coverage. That will allow Saleh to put extra eyes on Puka, something Saleh did against Marvin Harrison a couple of weeks ago.
I’d expect Saleh to live and die with Renardo Green losing outside of the numbers 1-on-1 on a low percentage throw to Adams on occasion. That was the case against the Saints. The goal is to help everybody else and effectively shrink the field.
That’s how the 49ers come away victorious, by shrinking the field, forcing Stafford into 3rd & long situations, and making the Tutu Atwells of the world beat you. It’s easier said than done. Puka is rarely stationary. He’s often lined up in a way that makes it difficult to defend him with one defender, let alone two. But that’s the challenge Saleh faces.
Don’t be surprised if the 49ers are fiesty tonight, and this game is closer than many expect.
ZooeyModeratorThis is from the NY Post, and I am feeling old, tired, and sad because this kind of bullshit has moved from the quiet periphery into the blaring mainstream. Give me a f—— break, already.
Good Bunny, Bad Bunny; Danica Patrick wants no bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show.
While commenting on another account’s post about the Puerto Rican rapper, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Patrick criticized the idea of having him perform on stage in Santa Clara, Calif., for the pinnacle of television in America.
“Oh fun,” the former race car driver said on X. “No songs in English should not be allowed at one of America’s highest rated television events of the year … not just for sports.”
Bad Bunny had previously canceled tour dates in America out of fear they would be infiltrated by ICE agents.
“But there was the issue of — like, f‑‑‑ing ICE could be outside [my concerts],” he told i-D magazine. “And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
Patrick also re-posted a wild claim that Bad Bunny was a “demonic Marxist” who was being given the Super Bowl 2026 halftime platform.
The 43-year-old has not been shy about discussing her political beliefs and leanings.
ZooeyModeratorThe other guy whose name isn’t Puka or Matthew…
Byron Young named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September
Rams outside linebacker Byron Young was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for his performance in September.
Through four weeks, Young is tied for the league lead in sacks with 5.0, recording at least one in every game thus far. He also totaled seven tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, one forced fumble and 16 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Rams head coach Sean McVay said that Young has taken his game “to the next level” in his third NFL season. An offseason of targeted training and pilates work has boosted Young’s performance both physically and mentally.
“I put in so much work this offseason,” Young said. “I know I can do it. I know I belong here. I know I’m good enough to get a job done.”
ZooeyModeratorAnyway, back to your “cat fetish” analogies. Not all #1 receivers are cheetahs. There’s lions, and tigers, and honey badgers.
I didn’t SAY all #1 receivers are cheetahs. Hah! I’ve run circles around you logically.
And tigers aren’t cats. They are classified as Wingless Demons.
Austin Pettis was a tapir.
ZooeyModeratorPuka is not a cheetah. He doesn’t have that upper end speed.
He’s more like a lion. Plenty fast enough, and more powerful.
Puka Nacua is a lion. You’re welcome.
October 2, 2025 at 10:11 am in reply to: a late start…time for the thread on Trump atrocities, or “Trumpocities” #158437ZooeyModerator
ZooeyModeratorAdd Career Terminator to Puka’s byline:
ZooeyModeratorRams vs. 49ers: It’s in our DNA | Game Trailer
https://www.therams.com/video/rams-49ers-its-in-our-dna-2025-game-trailer-week-5-sofi-stadium
ZooeyModeratorI dont remember the last time the Rams were favored by that much against SF.
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AI OverviewIn 1950, after dominant wins over the Colts and Lions, the Los Angeles Rams were favored to beat the San Francisco 49ers by 20 points, but the 49ers ultimately only lost by a touchdown
I remember that game. I was in Las Vegas that weekend at the Motel Merde. I had won a free night there at a Spelling Bee contest when I successfully spelled “ratatouille.”
I was too young to enter a casino, but the motel was next to a Phillips 66 station. They had a 12″ black-and-white console set on a stack of tires, and I watched the whole thing. I think Pat Summerall was in his early 60s at the time he called the game.
ZooeyModeratorI sorta wish Purdy was going to play. Mac Jones is having a much better season.
I was thinking that, too. It could be that a Purdy on a bad toe is worse than a healthy Jones.
But it shouldn’t matter either way. The Rams are at home against a 49er team that is missing a lot of top line players. Frankly, if Purdy was completely healthy, the Rams should be able to handle them without all those other guys anyway. Hell, they should handle them if all those guys were playing. Fuck the 9ers, ya know?
ZooeyModeratorNick Wagoner@nwagoner
#49ers ruled out QB Brock Purdy (toe), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) and WR Jauan Jennings (ribs, ankle) for Thursday night against the Rams.To say nothing of Aiyuk, Bosa, and Kittle. And the OL is not playing well. They gave up 14 pressures to JAX on Sunday, with Trent Williams allowing 4 of those.
This game has moved from Very Important to Must Win, imo.
The Rams cannot lose this game, and I don’t think there is much chance that they will.
ZooeyModeratorKevin Gallagher@KevG163
September 30, 1984THE MOST UNUSUAL GAME IN #NFL HISTORY
#Giants at #Rams in Anaheim
OPENING KICKOFF: Rams returner A.J. Jones inexplicably chooses to not field the kick, which is a live ball. The #NYGiants’ Phil McConkey recovers in the end zone for a 6-0 lead, nine seconds into the game (the extra point is missed).GOALPOST MYSTERIOUSLY FALLS DOWN:
Late in the first half, following a Rams field goal, the goalpost in the north end zone of Anaheim Stadium falls over on its side. There is very little wind, it simply falls. Play resumes after an eight-minute delay.FIRST TEAM IN NFL HISTORY TO RECORD THREE SAFETIES IN A GAME:
During the third quarter, the Rams block two Giants punts in the end zone — each for a safety — and sack Phil Simms in the end zone for another. It is the only time this has happened in a game — the Rams do it in a single quarter.#RamsHouse.rookie Henry Ellard also has a sweet 83-yard punt return touchdown — the longest of his career.
Rams 33, Giants 12
Thanks for that. The memory of that game had sunk down below consciousness, and it pleases me to have that memory resurface. The goalpost falling over was one of the damnedest things I’ve seen happen.
ZooeyModeratorHopefully the 49ers can get Kittle back for week 6
— San Francisco 49ers (@sf49ers.bsky.social) 2025-09-30T20:45:28.970Z
ZooeyModeratorMac Jones full participation in practice today (Tues).
Borck Prudy DNP.
ZooeyModeratorOne QB to bind them all.
One qb to bind them all
One qb to align them
One qb to find them all
And never throw behind themI think that if Puka surpasses Julio Jones, this gets talked about nationally, and would probably create consensus among the blabbers that Stafford is 1st ballot.
ZooeyModeratorI was thinking about the Hall of Fame the other day. A lot of people seem to think Stafford is ‘borderline’ or that he needs to accomplish a little more, etc. …
I hope Puka wins a triple crown. Mainly because i think it would get people to think about the common denominator: Stafford.
Top 10 single-season receiving yards:
Number 1 and Number 2 have something in common.
Puka is on a record-setting pace.
One QB to bind them all.
ZooeyModeratorMy favorite 49er will always be Jaquiski Tartt.
Heard, Chef.
SF radio said last night that Purdy aggravated his toe, and may not play. Jennings and Pearsall banged up. No Kittle. No Bosa. No excuses.
Flay them.
ZooeyModeratorSami ON Tap@SamiOnTap
The Top TWO teams in overall PFF Grading through 4 weeks:1. Los Angeles Rams – 89.5
2. Seattle Seahawks – 86.3Hmm. Would not have guessed that.
Doesn’t seem to me that they have played a complete game yet.
I’m not surprised that they are in the top 10, but #1?
Hmm.
ZooeyModeratorKyren was also an effective blocker on Sunday. As always. It doesn’t make highlights or show up in his stats, but he does that well.
ZooeyModerator
ZooeyModeratorI dont think you can just allude to a famous and original Bernie Casey joke and then NOT tell the joke. What could possibly be funny about Bernie Casey?
Bear in mind I had just turned 8.
The pun setup had Bernie looking for his traveling case after a game. And Roman Gabriel pointed to it in the locker room, and said, “Bernie, there’s your case, see?”
Casey. Get it?
I got a balloon for it, and was enormously happy about that. Years later, I figured that they must just not have received many entries, because…you know. It’s pretty lame.
ZooeyModeratorL.A. will have one true practice this week — tomorrow.
Are they doing a false practice on Wednesday?
ZooeyModeratorThey’re going to trade for Joe Burrow. The Rams will become famous for saving great QBs from terrible franchises and turning them into HoFers.
ZooeyModeratorAs some of you might remember, i started watching the rams near the end of the 1968 season. I was eleven years old. The only players i knew were Deacon, Merlin and Roman.
But the first full season i followed them was 1969. We didnt have ESPN or cable networks or internet. (We traveled by Woolly Mammoth in WV back then)
The first game in 1969 was against John Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. (who were coming off a Super Bowl loss to Namath).I could only follow the Rams by watching a non-ram network game, and watching for the game reports and halftime and postgame shows.
But i remember following the score of that first game. Random snippets and reports on the game would pop up on the screen of the Steeler game I had to watch. Baltimore was favored by six.
I still remember the final score. I smile just thinking about it. Rams 27. Colts 20.
Unitas had 3 INTs. Billy Truax had a TD. Roman had 3 TDs no picks.Anyway, the Indy Colts belong in Baltimore. And the football gods know this. And that is why the gods flicked the ball out of that idiot reciever’s hands at the goal line. And that is why Johnathan Taylor ran a long way for nothing.
Bring on the 49ers. Who stayed in SF where they belong.
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vI don’t remember exactly when I started following the Rams. It was 67 or 68. I recall attending the 20-20 tie with the 9ers at Kezar Stadium in 1968, and I know I was a Rams fan before we went to that game. And so I already knew of Jack Snow, too. I must have known about Bernie Casey because KFI in LA had a “Groaner” contest in which participants submitted bad sports puns, and the daily winner got a prize. I made a truly embarrassing joke using Bernie Casey’s name…and won. They sent me a balloon shaped like a clown that came with clip-on cardboard clown feet. I was already famous at the age of 8.
Yesterday, I accidentally referred to the Colts as “Baltimore,” and my son was very confused. I had to explain why I made the error.
It is good to be lucky once in a while. My son made the comment that the fumble was the kind of play you find yourself desperately hoping for in those big games when the Rams are down late. Too good to be true.
It was a win, and I’ll take it. I don’t know why I’m slightly dissatisfied. Maybe I’m just expecting the Rams to average 7 sacks a game, or something. I want to see a statement game. Seems like they should have rolled over one or both of the Oilers teams more definitively. Yesterday was a good win, but I don’t know what the Colts are. How am I supposed to take them seriously. Even though their rankings were good, they hadn’t played anybody good. And I don’t know how good Daniel Jones is. Maybe he’s a Baker Mayfield/Sam Darnold guy who just needed to be on a decent team.
I think we got a glimpse of the Rams against Philly, and I think we’ll learn something when they play the 9ers. I just don’t have a good feel for the AFC teams, so I don’t know what to make of those games.
ZooeyModerator
Kittle returns Week 6.
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