Random Thoughts:

Looks like the Rams are trending towards a first round matchup with the Lions. That will be a memorable matchup no matter what happens in the game, and I would expect a barn burner.

The Rams have flawed special teams, pass rush, and secondary, and they won’t survive a 4-game playoff gauntlet, but they will go toe-to-toe with anyone they face.

I heard somebody on the radio this morning say that the one team the 49ers do not want to see in the playoffs is the Rams, and I got to thinking about that, and I think he’s right. The 49ers have beaten Jacksonville, as well as Dallas and Philadelphia, and in my view they are clearly the team to beat in the NFL. Without looking, I know they are the SB favorites in the betting circles right now. That is an excellent football team.

And they really haven’t got much to fear from Philly or Dallas, imo, especially with home field advantage. Those are good football teams, and they won’t go down without a fight, but the 9ers are favorites there.

The Rams familiarity with them, though, combined with an offense that is rolling right now – that’s the team that would have the best chance of upsetting them.

I don’t think the Rams will get that far, but if they do… Jiminy Cricket.

I think that threat alone will make Shanahan take Week 18 seriously. I expect the 9ers to come out and play that game. They are not going to fold. I don’t think so. I think Shanahan is coaching to win it all this year, and he won’t take his foot off the gas. The 9ers get a first round bye, so they will have all the extra rest as well as home field for their game against whatever sad football team wins the South anyway. And you have to put your rival away. You have to do that. Even if the game means nothing in the standings.

can someone help me get my helmet on straight so I can continue to rip this NFL apart.

LOL.

I’m used to great analysis from Baldy. That’s the first time I recall a comic internal monologue.

canadaram wrote:

BTW zn, I think that I take your game day work on this board for granted. I really like scrolling though everything you post here before and after games. It’s nice to have everything in one place. Thank you.

Ditto.

zn makes this board what it is.

Thanks.

InvaderRam wrote:

Kyren Williams has been the most successful running back in Matthew Stafford’s career

This reads like a Mea Culpa for Stafford.

The guy played with Barry Sanders, Alex Karras, and Night Train Lane, so I really think it’s the uniform that has helped Stafford more than anything else.

The best thing for me is the timing of this game.

My wife is not fine with sports happening on holidays and birthdays. Last year, the Rams played on Christmas, and fortunately I avoided conflict because the game mattered about as little as any game could, outside of preseason.

Sunday is Christmas Eve, and Monday, obviously….

Would not have been good domestically for the Rams to play this game on one of those days.

zn wrote:

Rams Brothers@RamsBrothers

it feels like there are two VERY important moves that Les Snead made that are rather… unorthodox?

He released Van Jefferson & Cam Akers in the last year of their deals. The Rams took on more dead cap, but it made room for Kyren to excel in the new scheme, and allowed Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell own the “X”. It has made all the difference offensively.

…

Me@moi

Though to be fair, it’s not clear how much of that is Snead and how much of that is Snead and McV collaborating and thinking it through together.

I don’t see it quite that way. Akers has been in the process of Unwelcoming himself on the team for quite a while, and became worthless to them in a “remodel” year anyway. His departure opened up the backfield. Not sure that was wizard work.

Tutu outperformed VJ who just didn’t show up this season. VJ worked himself into expendability.

And Demarcus took advantage of Tutu’s concussion.

I reformatted this article in hopes this will post. It may be easier to read if you go to the site linked.

Rams playoff rooting guide for the final 3-game stretch
Here’s how the Rams can get to the playoffs based on how the next 3 weeks play out

By Jake Ellenbogen

The Los Angeles Rams are 7-7 following their win over the Commanders at home. The team is 4-1 since the bye and are now all of a sudden the seventh-seed in the playoffs and one of the league’s scariest teams in December.

The Rams have turned their season around from 3-6 to 7-7 but they only have three games left and have plenty of teams breathing down their neck.

According to the NY Times interaction playoff simulation, the Rams currently have a now 49-percent chance of making the playoffs following what transpired on Sunday. Keep in mind, this is a predictive model that simulates games based on the model itself. It’s worth mentioning a few weeks ago it was sitting at 17 percent.

Here are several scenarios in which the L.A. Rams can complete a 3-6 turnaround into a playoff berth (playoff odds in parentheses):

10-7 (Run the table)

Win vs. Saints (73%)

Win vs. Giants (95%)

Win vs. 49ers (100%)

9-8 (2-1 the rest of the way – Loss vs. 49ers)

Win vs. Saints (73%)

Win vs. Giants (95%)

Loss vs. 49ers (92%)

9-8 (2-1 the rest of the way – Loss vs. Saints)

Loss vs. Saints (11%)

Win vs. Giants (14%)

Win vs. 49ers (75%)

9-8 (2-1 the rest of the way – Loss vs. Giants)

Win vs. Saints (73%)

Loss vs. Giants (25%)

Win vs. 49ers (92%)

8-9 (1-2 the rest of the way – Loss vs. Saints & 49ers)

Loss vs. Saints (11%)

Win vs. Giants (17%)

Loss vs. 49ers (5%)

8-9 (1-2 the rest of the way – Loss vs. Giants & 49ers)

Win vs. Saints (73%)

Loss vs. Giants (25%)

Loss vs. 49ers (14%)

8-9 (1-2 the rest of the way – Loss vs. Giants & Saints)

Loss vs. Saints (11%)

Loss vs. Giants (1%)

Win vs. 49ers (6%)

ESPN Analytics Matchup Predictor:

Rams have a 60.1% chance of beating the Saints

Rams have a 81.9% chance of beating the Giants

49ers have a 74.4% chance of beating the Rams

Here’s your weekly rooting guide if you want the Rams to get into the playoffs. This is of course the perfect scenario for each game the rest of the way. The percentages only reflect the odds if the Rams win their game. The games are ranked based on importance and impact for the Rams odds.

Week 16: 49% chance going into the week

Rams victory over Saints (73%)

Titans victory over Seahawks (79%)

Panthers victory over Packers (79%)

Lions victory over Vikings (76%)

Cardinals victory over Bears (76%)

Colts victory over Falcons (74%)

Eagles victory over Giants (74%)

Week 17: 73% chance going into the week

Rams victory over Giants (93%)

Steelers victory over Seahawks (99%)

Vikings victory over Packers (94%)

Week 18: 93% chance going into the week

Rams victory over 49ers (100%)

IF the Rams lose (92%):

Cardinals victory over Seahawks (98%)

Bears victory over Packers (95%)

Lions victory over Vikings (94%)

The Rams are in a great position right now after a dream of a scenario unfolding in week 15. Sure, the Eagles winning would have made things way better for the Rams and set up a easier clinching scenario in week 17. However, the Rams still always knew the assignment and the mission ahead. They were to win the next two games for sure and if they win out they are in. So, the Rams cannot make the playoffs at 7-10 but that’s not news to anyone. They can make it at 8-9 but you would need a lot of help and 8-9 would entail the Rams to lose three of their last five games of the year which is hard to imagine.

In case you really don’t have any faith in the Rams winning week 18 like I do against the 49ers. Here are the scenarios left on the table for the Rams to clinch a playoff berth before week 18:

1st Scenario

2-0 vs. Saints and Giants

Lions win in week 16 over the Vikings

Seahawks lose either of the Titans or Steelers games

2nd Scenario

2-0 vs. Saints and Giants

Lions win in week 16 over the Vikings

Panthers win in week 16 over the Packers

Packers win in week 17 over the Vikings

nittany ram wrote:

McVay has already said that Havenstein, Tutu, and Witherspoon will play against the Saints.

He didn’t say anything to me about it.

wv wrote:

Biggest game since the super bowl, i guess. Lets hope the refs dont make any mistakes that cost the saints the game 🙂 w v

nittany ram wrote:

Zooey wrote:

How horrible will it be if it’s a Dallas/SF game for the championship?

If that happens, then for one 3.5 hour period, I will be the biggest Dallas fan that ever lived. How bout’ dem’ Cowboys…

Well, I’ll be watching it with the sound off, and my eyes closed, wondering what I did to piss off … who’s the Greek god of football again? Hermes?

nittany ram wrote:

Vikings, Packers, and Falcons all lost. The table’s set for the Rams. Why does that make me nervous?

Yeah, 2 weeks ago, looking at the remaining schedule, WA, the Saints, and Giants all looked easy.

Now it’s starting to look like a murderers’ row.

And what about those 9ers? They have looked like the best team in football for 4 months now. I hate that. How horrible will it be if it’s a Dallas/SF game for the championship?

Once the Rams get their Exit Ticket, I will be all in with the Ravens, I guess.

You know…IF the Rams get screwed out of their destiny, I mean.

zn wrote:

Yep. (My snark about Mullens and Browning was not aimed at your comment, it was just a snide reference to the unbelievable level of qb injuries this year. Sry, that wasn’t clear.

It was clear. I got it. It was funny.

Well done, Cincinnati.

Man, we are getting so close to the good stuff!