Instant analysis of Rams' commanding 28-12 win over Seahawks

[Riverumbbq]

Cameron DaSilva
1 hour ago


The Rams only had one win over a team above .500 entering Week 14, but they doubled that number on Sunday night. With the 10-2, NFC West-leading Seahawks coming to town, the Rams needed a win to stay a game behind the Vikings in the wild-card race.
They handled their division rivals in prime-time, beating Seattle 28-12. It was by far their best win of the season, and one that put the rest of the conference on notice. The Rams are getting hot at the right time, both offensively and defensively.

They scored 21 unanswered after falling behind 3-0 early, and the only touchdown Seattle scored came on a pick-six thrown by Jared Goff. The offense will be in the spotlight more for finding a rhythm finally, but the defense has been excellent outside of the games against Baltimore and Tampa Bay.
Here’s our analysis of the game, which was the Rams’ second straight win by double-digits.

Player of the game: Tyler Higbee
Higbee has been more heavily involved on offense lately, posting his second straight 100-yard game. He caught seven passes for 116 yards and did a good job blocking, too.

Stat of the game: 0
The Rams allowed zero sacks in this game and Goff was rarely even under pressure. He had plenty of time on play-action passes and although rollouts helped him and the offensive line, the unit did a great job as a whole.

Game notes

• Sean McVay got more creative with his play calling, and for the most part, it worked. There were a lot of rollouts for Jared Goff, a few end-arounds for Josh Reynolds – which picked up first downs twice – and even a trick play. The trick play with Cooper Kupp throwing a pass to Tyler Higbee came at the wrong time, though, with it being third-and-7. The pass fell incomplete and on the next play, Greg Zuerlein’s field goal was blocked.
• 
  
• The Rams clearly want to get Todd Gurley more involved as the season winds down. He had 23 carries against Seattle, picking up 79 yards and a touchdown with another 34 yards receiving. He’s done a nice job with a bigger workload in the last month, helping to balance the offense.
• 
  
• Jared Goff’s numbers don’t tell the whole story. He had two interceptions, but the first was on a miscommunication with Robert Woods and the second was on a deep shot on third down, which worked similarly to a punt. Yes, it was a turnover with the Rams at Seattle’s 37-yard line, but it was inconsequential, really. He played well in this game, making very few mistakes against a secondary that has created plenty of turnovers this season.
• 
  
• The defense was outstanding in this game. It only allowed six points to the Seahawks with the other six points coming on an interception return. Russell Wilson was contained, and while Seattle rushed for 106 yards on only 21 carries, that’s a very low total for the league’s third-best team on the ground.
• 
  
• Jalen Ramsey allowed a catch on third-and-22, but the secondary more or less limited Seattle’s passing attack. Tyler Lockett only had 43 yards on four catches, while DK Metcalf had 78 yards – 35 of which came on one play.
• 
  
• The pass rush was relentless, sacking Wilson five times. Those were divided up with Aaron Donald and Dante Fowler Jr. recording 1.5 each, and Samson Ebukam sacking Wilson twice. They were all over the quarterback throughout the game.
• 
  
• The Rams took advantage of Seattle’s reluctance to use its nickel packages. The Seahawks came into this game leaning heavily on their base 4-3 scheme, and even with the Rams countering by using 11 personnel with three receivers, Seattle kept three linebackers on the field most of the night.

Instant analysis of Rams' commanding 28-12 win over Seahawks

The Rams were in control of this one from the first quarter to the last.

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[Riverumbbq]

5 takeaways from the Rams' 16-point victory against Seattle

Steve Rebeiro
6 minutes ago

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports


The Los Angeles Rams took care of business against the Seattle Seahawks in dominant fashion on Sunday night. It was a must-win for the Rams, who remain a game out of a playoff spot in the NFC at 8-5. Here are five takeaways from the big 28-12 win.

Goff produces another stellar performance
Jared Goff was able to get back on track last week against Arizona after a fairly rocky season so far. Arizona’s pass defense is awful, so it was hard to decipher whether or not it was a return to form for Goff or simply a result of bad defense. After tonight’s performance, it feels like the former.

Goff once again shined against Seattle on a big stage, completing 22 of his 31 passing attempts for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Goff was particularly impressive out of the pocket, completing all seven of those passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. We were reminded why the Rams gave Goff a big payday this summer tonight.
Still, there was a brief stretch in the third quarter where Goff looked rough. He threw a pick-six thanks to a miscommunication on a pass to Robert Woods. The interception wasn’t entirely Goff’s fault, but he should know where Woods is heading on that play. A few plays later, with the ball on Seattle’s 37-yard line, Goff tossed a deep ball into double coverage that was intercepted. It wasn’t a shot Goff needed to take at the time.
One major takeaway from Goff’s two interceptions isn’t the interceptions themselves, but that he was able to come back from them. Goff threw a few nice passes following the turnovers, including a dime down the sideline that was dropped by Brandin Cooks and a great play-action rollout pass to Tyler Higbee deep in Rams’ territory. If Goff can continue to play like he did tonight for the remainder of the season, the Rams might actually find themselves playing in January.

5 takeaways from the Rams' 16-point victory against Seattle

The Los Angeles Rams took care of the Seattle Seahawks in a must-win game on Sunday Night Football. Here are a few takeaways from the big win.

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[Riverumbbq]

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks: High grades in emphatic win at home
10
The LA Rams showed up big time on the national stage against their hated rivals.
By Joey The Jerk@LaRamsRamsRams Dec 8, 2019, 11:05pm CST

Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images

The bad news: the Minnesota Vikings beat up on the Detroit Lions, keeping their lead for the wildcard spot at one game. The good news? The Los Angeles Rams hosted the Seattle Seahawks with that information in hand and still played like a playoff team, winning against the Seahawks 28-12 in a week 14 smackdown.
Were there some cringe-worthy moments for the LA Rams as well as some amazing plays?Sure. There almost always is with every NFL team. But they played like a team that was solid on in all three phases.

Here’s the report card for each position:

Quarterback
B+
The first half of the game was so great for QB Jared Goff that it felt like it was going to be the best game of the season. Then the second half happened. Those two interceptions were puzzling because they seemed like unnecessary chances that Goff was taking. HIs interception that was meant for WR Robert Woods was a miscommunication where Woods stopped his route, so hard to fault Goff too much on that one. The other one was a bomb to Cooks and was just a bad decision all around. However, Goff was electric for most of the game, going 22 for 31 with 293 yards, and two touchdowns.

Running Back
A
This was a performance that was advertised all week. RB Todd Gurley II was going to get the rock and he did — 23 carries for 79 yards and one touchdown. Overall, the LA Rams ran for 162 yards with RB Malcolm Brown pitching in for 21 yards off of five carries, which also netted him a touchdown. I was impressed with Gurley’s aggressive running style — he was running like a dude that had something to prove. Angry Gurley is my favorite Gurley.

Wide Receivers
B
WR Cooper Kupp and Woods were great as always, playing crucial roles in the offense (and each of them ended up in the end zone). What was troubling was the involvement of WR Brandin Cooks, which brings their grade down. Zero catches off of two targets for a major part of the wide receiving corps could easily turn into a narrative this week — what’s wrong with Cooks? That drop he had was not a good look.

Tight End
A+
Man, talk about stepping up when another man goes down. TE Tyler Higbee has played lights out ever since TE Gerald Everett went down with an injury. Higbee’s dominant play was a clear highlight and is deserving of all the game balls. His 33-yard catch and run was a thing of beauty and kept the offense moving. HYGZ!!!

Offensive Line
A
It’s no secret that the offensive line has had an up-and-down season that’s been riddled with injuries. Rookie OL Bobby Evans has stepped in at right tackle in place of OL Rob Havensteinand quite possibly stole his job. These guys kept Goff clean in the pocket and allowed him to go through his reads in a calm and orderly fashion.

Defensive Line
A
It’s hard to say that a unit is “sneaky good” when DE Aaron Donald is part of that group. However, these guys just don’t get enough credit. The attention that was placed on Donald throughout the game allowed the linebackers to thrive. Donald was constantly double and triple teamed and he still had a fantastic game. The line kept the running game in check, keeping RB Chris Carson to 76 yards.

Linebackers
A
ILB Cory Littleton keeps getting more and more expensive this offseason with games like this. Again, Littleton showed that he’s a true leader on the field by just always being where the ball is. OLB Dante Fowler Jr. showed that he’s legit threat to the quarterback, chasing down QB Russell Wilson for a fantastic sack. Overall, this unit has come together at the perfect time.

Defensive Backs
A
My favorite play from CB Troy Hill wasn’t interception, but he “almost interception” that he nearly had when QB Russell Wilson tested him with a deep ball. The Seahawks were going after Hilland he stepped up to the challenge. S Taylor Rapp balled out again, proving that he’s a first-round talent taken in the second-round.

Special Teams
C+
K Greg Zuerlein had a blocked kick and WR Nsimba Webster had -1 yards on his punt return. However, RB Darrell Henderson showed that he’s capable of lighting it up with 35 yards off of two returns.

Coaching
A
The balance of the offense was exactly what the team needed and is further proof that even though Coach Sean McVay won’t admit it, Gurley was under load management earlier this season. The trick play with Kupp throwing to Higbee in the end zone, even though it didn’t work out, is exactly the kind of creativity that makes this team fun to watch.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks: High grades in emphatic win at home

The LA Rams showed up big time on the national stage against their hated rivals.

www.turfshowtimes.com

 

[Riverumbbq]

NFC playoff picture: Rams still very much alive after Week 14 win

Cameron DaSilva
44 minutes ago

The Rams answered the bell on Sunday night in a pivotal matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. It wasn’t a game that necessarily favored the Rams, considering Seattle had won five in a row, but Los Angeles took care of its division rival and crushed the Seahawks 28-12.
With the victory, the Rams kept their postseason hopes alive. They’re still only one game back of the Vikings for the sixth wild-card spot with three weeks remaining, meaning they don’t necessarily need to win out in order to make the playoffs.

Depending on what Minnesota does, the Rams can go 2-1 and still sneak into the playoffs – which is the ultimate goal for the team right now. Here’s how the playoff picture looks after their win on Sunday night, with the only Week 14 game left being Giants-Eagles – which has no bearing on the Rams.

1. NFC West: 49ers (11-2)
2. NFC North: Packers (10-3)
3. NFC South: Saints (10-3)
4. NFC East: Cowboys (6-7)
5. Wild card: Seahawks (10-3)
6. Wild card: Vikings (9-4)

In the hunt
Rams (8-5)
Bears (7-6)
Eagles (5-7)
The Rams are one game behind the Vikings, but what’s important to note is the tiebreaker. According to ESPN’s playoff machine, Los Angeles owns the tiebreaker over the Vikings because of each team’s record in common games. That holds true if the Rams beat the Cowboys next Sunday and Minnesota loses to the Chargers.
Here’s each team’s remaining schedule

• Rams: at DAL (6-7), at 49ers (11-2), vs. Cardinals (3-9-1)
• Vikings: at LAC (5-8), vs. Packers (10-3), vs. Bears (7-6)

The Vikings technically have the tougher schedule the rest of the way with their opponents having a combined record of 22-17. The Rams’ opponents have a record of 20-18-1, so it’s not much of a difference.
The Rams are also on the road twice, whereas Minnesota will be at U.S. Bank Stadium twice in the final three weeks. It doesn’t make this deficit insurmountable by any means, but the Vikings are in the driver’s seat for now.

NFC playoff picture: Rams still very much alive after Week 14 win

The Rams are still one game back of the Vikings in the NFC wild-card race.

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[JackKirbyFan]

Cameron DaSilva
1 hour ago


The Rams only had one win over a team above .500 entering Week 14, but they doubled that number on Sunday night. With the 10-2, NFC West-leading Seahawks coming to town, the Rams needed a win to stay a game behind the Vikings in the wild-card race.
They handled their division rivals in prime-time, beating Seattle 28-12. It was by far their best win of the season, and one that put the rest of the conference on notice. The Rams are getting hot at the right time, both offensively and defensively.

They scored 21 unanswered after falling behind 3-0 early, and the only touchdown Seattle scored came on a pick-six thrown by Jared Goff. The offense will be in the spotlight more for finding a rhythm finally, but the defense has been excellent outside of the games against Baltimore and Tampa Bay.
Here’s our analysis of the game, which was the Rams’ second straight win by double-digits.

Player of the game: Tyler Higbee
Higbee has been more heavily involved on offense lately, posting his second straight 100-yard game. He caught seven passes for 116 yards and did a good job blocking, too.

Stat of the game: 0
The Rams allowed zero sacks in this game and Goff was rarely even under pressure. He had plenty of time on play-action passes and although rollouts helped him and the offensive line, the unit did a great job as a whole.

Game notes

• Sean McVay got more creative with his play calling, and for the most part, it worked. There were a lot of rollouts for Jared Goff, a few end-arounds for Josh Reynolds – which picked up first downs twice – and even a trick play. The trick play with Cooper Kupp throwing a pass to Tyler Higbee came at the wrong time, though, with it being third-and-7. The pass fell incomplete and on the next play, Greg Zuerlein’s field goal was blocked.
• 
  
• The Rams clearly want to get Todd Gurley more involved as the season winds down. He had 23 carries against Seattle, picking up 79 yards and a touchdown with another 34 yards receiving. He’s done a nice job with a bigger workload in the last month, helping to balance the offense.
• 
  
• Jared Goff’s numbers don’t tell the whole story. He had two interceptions, but the first was on a miscommunication with Robert Woods and the second was on a deep shot on third down, which worked similarly to a punt. Yes, it was a turnover with the Rams at Seattle’s 37-yard line, but it was inconsequential, really. He played well in this game, making very few mistakes against a secondary that has created plenty of turnovers this season.
• 
  
• The defense was outstanding in this game. It only allowed six points to the Seahawks with the other six points coming on an interception return. Russell Wilson was contained, and while Seattle rushed for 106 yards on only 21 carries, that’s a very low total for the league’s third-best team on the ground.
• 
  
• Jalen Ramsey allowed a catch on third-and-22, but the secondary more or less limited Seattle’s passing attack. Tyler Lockett only had 43 yards on four catches, while DK Metcalf had 78 yards – 35 of which came on one play.
• 
  
• The pass rush was relentless, sacking Wilson five times. Those were divided up with Aaron Donald and Dante Fowler Jr. recording 1.5 each, and Samson Ebukam sacking Wilson twice. They were all over the quarterback throughout the game.
• 
  
• The Rams took advantage of Seattle’s reluctance to use its nickel packages. The Seahawks came into this game leaning heavily on their base 4-3 scheme, and even with the Rams countering by using 11 personnel with three receivers, Seattle kept three linebackers on the field most of the night.

Instant analysis of Rams' commanding 28-12 win over Seahawks

The Rams were in control of this one from the first quarter to the last.

theramswire.usatoday.com

That is a brilliant analysis. I commend you for knowing the game as well as you do and for your ability to think critically and your facility with the English language. Well Done!!

 

[bubbaramfan]

Howard, Okowrokwo, Evans and Edwards all had their best game as rams.
OL is much improved and getting better. Higbee is taking advantage of Everett being out. Mcvay had one of his best play calling games of the season. Gurley 27 touches, Goff rolling out, Woods doing everything.

Ok, good game.

 

[TexasRam]

Howard, Okowrokwo, Evans and Edwards all had their best game as rams.
OL is much improved and getting better. Higbee is taking advantage of Everett being out. Mcvay had one of his best play calling games of the season. Gurley 27 touches, Goff rolling out, Woods doing everything.

Ok, good game.

Our bread and butter should be Goff Rollouts P/A and getting Woods and Higbee involved.

That is our Identity and what we rode to the Superbowl.

OL is much improved over the crap show we saw most of the season and now we look like the Rams again. The Juggernaut offensive machine.

 

[Riverumbbq]

That is a brilliant analysis. I commend you for knowing the game as well as you do and for your ability to think critically and your facility with the English language. Well Done!!

I'm sure Cameron thanks you very much for that.

 

[jap]

The Horns are officially a juggernaut!!!!

 

[kurtfaulk]

.



.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.



.

 

[coconut]

That game was a pleasure to watch.

 

[Varg6]

I enjoy all the shook analysts. Their faces are hysterical.

Let's say we go 11-5 and the Vikings go 12-4...what exactly happens there?

 

[André]

I enjoy all the shook analysts. Their faces are hysterical.

Let's say we go 11-5 and the Vikings go 12-4...what exactly happens there?

We miss the playoffs.

 

[Tano]

We miss the playoffs.

And what sucks is that the Cowboys or Eagles likely go 7-9 and are in the playoffs.

11-5 team out and 7-9 in.

 

[BonifayRam]

Studs and duds from Rams' dominant win over Seattle on Sunday

Studs and duds from Rams' dominant win over Seattle on Sunday

Jared Goff had one of his better performances of the season.

theramswire.usatoday.com

Studs
Robert Woods

Woods has emerged as Goff’s favorite target. He had nine passes come his way, catching seven of them for 98 yards. He also caught his first touchdown pass of the season, which is hard to believe. On the ground, Woods carried it twice (on back-to-back plays), picking up 29 yards and two first downs.
Tyler Higbee

Higbee has been the hottest tight end in the NFL the last two weeks, eclipsing 100 yards receiving for the second game in a row. He caught seven passes (11 targets) for 116 yards against Seattle and always seemed to be in the perfect spot for Goff. He was great when Goff rolled out of the pocket, working in the same direction as his quarterback. Higbee has helped this offense greatly.
Jared Goff

He may have thrown two interceptions, but one was a miscommunication and the other was a deep shot on third down. Outside of those two plays, Goff was almost flawless. He had two touchdowns, 293 yards and a completion rate of 71%, hitting receivers at all levels of the field. He was a big reason for the Rams’ win on Sunday night.
Bobby Evans

It’s going to be hard for Evans to give up the starting job at right tackle when Rob Havenstein is healthy. He once again played well against Seattle, locking up Jadeveon Clowney for the most part when left on an island with him. He got help, of course, but Evans played well considering the situation.
Cory Littleton

Littleton was at the center of this performance by the defense. He was all over the field, recording one tackle for loss and nearly splitting a sack with Aaron Donald. He also made a great stop on Russell Wilson after he tried to scramble for a first down.
Samson Ebukam

Ebukam isn’t a full-time player but his explosiveness off the edge is something the Rams can’t ignore. He provided a spark in this game, recording two sacks and five tackles. Ebukam has done a nice job in a limited role lately, especially in obvious passing situations.
Todd Gurley

He was a focal point of the offense again, carrying it 23 times for 79 yards and a touchdown. Gurley added another 34 yards receiving on four catches, breaking several tackles throughout the game – a good portion of which came behind the line of scrimmage.

Duds
Brandin Cooks
Cooks did not have a great game, continuing what’s been a disappointing season for the wideout. He was targeted on Jared Goff’s second interception, and later in the game, he dropped a great throw by Goff down the left sideline. He’s been mostly a non-factor this year, and on Sunday night, he was blanked with zero catches on three targets.

Brandin Cooks

Brandin Cooks contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

 

[Loyal]

Hilarious.

I listened to a few minutes of Seattle sports radio (ESPN), and this was what was said.
One guy: The Rams oline is trash, and Goff played out of his mind, especially last week (vs Cardinals).
Second Guy: The real question isn't how bad the Rams oline is, it's how little pressure our Dline can apply?

I wonder if either guy noticed those great Goff roll outs are effective because he is just that good at it?

 

[shovelpass]

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/12/09/nfl-rams-snap-counts-seahawks-week-14/


Rams snap counts: Cooks and Kupp barely play vs. Seahawks

Cameron DaSilva

3 hours ago
The Rams came out on Sunday night against the Seattle Seahawks and punched them square in the mouth. Seattle had no answer for Los Angeles’ offense and could do nothing against the Rams’ stout defense, which has allowed just one offensive touchdown in the last two games.
It was a statement victory for the Rams, who had only beaten one team above .500 prior to this week. It also kept them squarely in the playoff hunt, only one game behind the Vikings for the No. 6 seed in the NFC.

The Rams got it done in a different way Sunday night, though. Rather than featuring their three starting receivers heavily on offense, Sean McVay went with more of a heavy approach, utilizing his tight ends.
Here are the offensive snap counts, which gives a glimpse at how the Rams got it done.
Offense

What stands out most is the fact that Brandin Cooks only played 27 snaps and Cooper Kupp played just 20. Combined, their 47 snaps would’ve accounted for about two-thirds of the Rams’ plays. Cooks didn’t have a single catch and Kupp caught four for 45 yards and one touchdown.
Josh Reynolds played just one fewer snap than Kupp and Cooks combined, and while he didn’t have a reception, he carried it three times for 29 yards and was solid as a blocker. Robert Woods unsurprisingly played all but one snap on Sunday.

Tyler Higbee and Johnny Mundt were a big part of the game plan. Higbee caught seven passes for a career-high 116 yards, while Mundt was utilized more as a blocker and succeeded in that role.

Todd Gurley played 80% of the snaps with only Malcolm Brown spelling him, not Darrell Henderson. Brown subbed in for the 14 plays that Gurley missed, carrying it five times for 21 yards and a touchdown.

Defense

Dante Fowler Jr. and Clay Matthews remain the starting outside linebackers, playing the majority of the snaps. Fowler had 1.5 sacks and made a few nice stops against the run, while Matthews made two tackles and hit Russell Wilson once. Samson Ebukam was the third outside linebacker, recording two sacks on only 27 snaps played. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo played 12 snaps.

At linebacker, Cory Littleton obviously played every snap again, as he always does. But Travin Howard got more playing time than Troy Reeder, which is certainly notable. It was only 17 snaps, but the fact that he’s surpassed Reeder on the depth chart is worth mentioning. He’s much better in coverage and even broke up a pass in the end zone.

Morgan Fox got more playing time than usual, often lining up on the Rams’ four-man fronts. He played 29 snaps, which was only 12 fewer than Michael Brockers. Greg Gaines got 15 snaps at nose tackle, while Tanzel Smart played 12 snaps, primarily coming in for Aaron Donald at defensive tackle.

Marqui Christian only played 16 snaps, his fewest since Week 6. That’s because of the Rams’ desire to play their base defense more often with Howard and Reeder, aiming to stop Seattle’s ground game. They also utilized Nickell Robey-Coleman more than usual, opting for him over a third safety.

Robey-Coleman played 51 snaps, which was the eighth-most on the defense. Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill never came off the field, while Darious Williams played three snaps in his return from injury.

 

[OldSchool]

It's very evident that McVay is transitioning to more 2 WR 2 TE sets and I really like what that does with this offense. He's also doing a pretty even split with the 2nd TE and Kupp/Cooks Mundt has 50 snaps the WR's had 47. There's been speculation and it may come down to the Rams biting the little cap bullet and dumping Cooks in the off season. Woods Kupp Higbeast and Everett is some nice weapons to have on the field. There isn't a real field stretcher but every one of those is capable to very good after the catch and most importantly Goff seems to trust them all.

And for how few snaps he had I thought Ebukam made a lot of plays also Howard gets more snaps and he made some big plays too. I think they're grooming him to take over for Littleton next year.

The rotation from the front 3 in hindsight is insane considering how much they dominated the Squawks line.