You know as much about it as I do. I think it was Eisen that alleged that. I have not heard the talkers locally say so, and I didn’t watch much more of the 9ers than year than I did any other team (not named “Rams”), so it was new to me. It seems borne out statistically, but whether that’s a “thing” or not,  I couldn’t say. I think it’s fair to say that Purdy has not established himself with the cool kids like Burrow, Stafford, Rodgers, Mahomes, as a guy who can bring the team back.

Since Sunday, the only chatter I have heard has been about basketball and the college thing during my 15-minute commute. The 9ers have not been “above-the-fold” news the past couple of days.

I think, generally speaking, that ALL teams are better out in front. Like…I hope the Rams get out in front of the Lions by double digits early because we know Goff isn’t as good when he is pressed.

Worst team in the playoffs with this @Eagles

Yep. The 9ers are hoping the Lions beat the Rams, and the Eagles beat TB. Getting the Eagles at home would be a feast for the 9ers.

zn wrote:

Here, at Le Huddle, there was a general consensus that (1) McV was the problem with Goff & Goff just had a confidence issue because of it, (2) yet there’s nothing wrong with the trade because if your qb and HC are not a good match one has to go and if the result is getting Stafford that’s good for the Rams and good for McV, and (3) it would be no surprise if Goff did well with the Lions, and (4) it would be no surprise when Stafford did well with the Rams.

I’m in accord with the accord on the board. The trade was a win-win in the end, and I wish Goff well.

Except for this coming Sunday.

Goff does not play for the Rams now, and I hope Matthew Stafford tears the Lions fans’ hearts right out of their chests as they gape in shock and horror as Stafford finally wins a playoff game in the city of Detroit.

Goff then has my permission to go ahead and win an MVP sometime down the road.

This is crazy https://t.co/AYPcoDN6me

— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) January 9, 2024

zn wrote:

JAKE ELLENBOGEN@JKBOGEN

The Sean McVay #Rams are 3-6 when Craig Wrolstad officiates the game. They’ve lost their last 3 games with him as the head referee. He’s the official for the Rams and Lions game this Sunday.

I’m gonna guess that has more to do with how many points the Rams scored compared to their opponents rather than who the head referee was.

wv wrote:

but they haven’t beat a team over .500 since that win over Kansas City…”

That’s interesting.

And, technically, since KC was Week One, they weren’t over .500, either.

They are now, but then, Detroit also beat TB, GB, and NO, all of whom ended up 9-8.

Those, by record, are the 4 best victories the Lions had all year.

Yes, Yeast broke up both of those passes. Guarantee the guy will get a game ball in the locker room. Great plays.

I feel good about it. Yes, it was the 2s, but as the 9ers just carved them up in the first half, my hatred for the 9ers flared up. I’m sick of losing to the 9ers. Sick of it. I don’t care how meaningless of a game it is, I’m sick of it.

And the game isn’t meaningless because Detroit is going to be an easier pathway to meeting SF again in 2 weeks than Dallas would be. And Detroit lost their stud TE and St. Brown has rib issues, and one other WR got knocked out.

Wentz threw some terrible passes, and I don’t know if it’s because he hasn’t played, or if that’s just a Wentz thing, but he also nailed some throws.

And Puca Nacua needs to win ROY. I don’t care about Stroud’s good year, and the fact that he’s a QB. Nacua just had the greatest season ever by a rookie at his position, and broke a 63-year old record, and that deserves the ROY or nothing does. C’mon.

zn wrote:

Ian Rapoport@RapSheet With the #Texans making the playoffs, they join the #Browns, #Lions, and #Rams as teams that qualified for the playoffs after failing to make it the year before. It’s the 34th consecutive season with at least four teams making this turnaround. Good news for those teams watching this year

So that’s 4/14, or a little fewer than 1/3 of the teams new to this year’s playoffs.

In MLB {just for comparison}, 12 teams make the playoffs. In 2023, half of them (6/12) were new to the playoffs.

In the NBA, 20 teams make the playoffs. In 2023, there were 2 teams that were new to the playoffs over 2022. 2/20

In the NHL, 5/16 were new.

So baseball has the greatest diversity of teams by far, and the NBA by far the least.

Beat the Lions or Cowboys, beat the 49ers, beat whomever, and beat whomever.

That’s it.

At this point, that’s what I’m hoping for.

Seems like he’s still getting high ratings from PFF, in spite of getting double-teamed and held all the time.

Here is the link to the source.

Reggie White didn’t make it his first season. He made it 13 straight times beginning his 2nd season.

From the Pro Football Hall of Fame site:

White, who spent two seasons in the ill-fated United States Football League, made a memorable debut in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4 of the 1985 season. He collected 2.5 sacks, and deflected a pass that was intercepted and returned for touchdown. Despite the fact he played in only 13 games that season, White tied for the team lead with 13 sacks and was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. The following season, White picked up 18 more sacks to earn his first of an astounding 13 straight Pro Bowl trips.

Bruce Smith was drafted in 1985. He went to the Pro Bowl every season from 1987-1998, with the exception of 1991 when he played only 5 games due to injuries.

So Aaron Donald is behind only Merlin Olsen, and owns Smith and White.

The Cowboys have lost 2 of their last 3. Lost to Buffalo and Miami, and squeaked by Detroit.

The Eagles have lost 4 of their last 5. They lost to SF, Dallas, Seattle, and Arifuckingzona. They beat the Giants.

The Lions, since they got embarrassed on Thanksgiving by GB, have beaten the Saints, Broncos, and Vikings, while losing to Chicago and Dallas.

The Rams have won 6 of their last 7, the only loss being in OT on the road in Baltimore.

And the 9ers have won 7 of their last 8.

Could it be that the 49ers and the Rams are the best teams in the NFC right now?

joemad wrote:

Carson Wentz vs Sam Darnold won’t be bad to watch… I don’t see the Rams starting Stafford or Kupp or AD… do you? I don’t see the 49ers starting Purdy, Kittle or Deebo. Ben Skowronek, Tutu, Austin Trammel, Royce Freeman, Ronnie Rivers…. this is your chance to shine. …. that’s too bad, i wanted to see Kyren’s mom get to snatch another ball from an opposing fan in the stands….. She rightfully snaked that ball away from Saquon Barkley fan last Sunday in East Rutherford….. A 10-7 record would be nice to see.

I think the Rams play Stafford the opening drive. I’ll bet he would like to be the QB who throws Nacua into the record books. 4 catches/29 yards, doable.

The 9ers will rest Trent Williams, and resting him means resting Purdy. Is my guess.

zn wrote:

Blaine Grisak @bgrisakTST

In 2017, the Rams were 4-1 down the stretch and rested starters against the 49ers in Week 17. In the playoff game against the Falcons, Rams fell down 13-0 and didn’t score their first points until 2:30 left in the 2nd quarter. First four drives ended in four plays or less.

Okay, but teams coming off a bye win more often than not.

Nacua is going to get the records. 4 catches and 29 yards is one drive. They are not going to rest him when he is that close to the records. After he puts his name on the top of those lists, maybe.

It will be interesting to see what McVay does.

If the Rams had managed to choke away the game to the Giants, they would have something to play for, and the 9ers would have some motivation to knock them out. But with little on the line, health is more important than whether the Rams play Detroit or Dallas, and San Francisco has nothing to gain or lose, except health.