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Our NFL experts predict, pick and preview the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Houston Texans "Thursday Night Football" game with kickoff time, TV channel and spread.
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Philadelphia vs. Houston: Undefeated Eagles Invade the Lone Star State for TNF
Amazon must be scratching its head over another underwhelming "Thursday Night Football" matchup as the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles take on the Houston Texans. In five previous meetings, the Texans have never beaten the Eagles, and only the Detroit Lions (1-6) have a worse record in the NFL this season.
Can the Texans (1-5-1) find a way to turn things around? They rank among the NFL's worst three teams in both total offense and total defense. They're the only team left in the league without a win at home. And during what's supposed to be a rebuild, their roster ranks among the five oldest teams in the NFL (26.5 years old to start the season).
The Eagles (7-0) sure won't make things any easier. They're off to their best start since 2004 when they wound up making the Super Bowl before losing to the New England Patriots. The NFL's lone undefeated team boasts a plus-78 point differential and ranks among the top three NFL teams in both total offense and total defense.
Boy, what a mismatch on paper. But give the Texans credit: three of their five losses this season have been by seven points or less. Can quarterback Davis Mills, running back Dameon Pierce, and Co. keep this one close and give themselves a chance on a national stage? Or will quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Eagles stay on cruise control?
Thursday Night Football: Philadelphia (7-0) at Houston (1-5-1)
Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 4 at 8:15 p.m. ET
Broadcast Outlet: Prime Video
Live Stream: fuboTV (only available in Houston and Philadelphia markets)
Spread: Eagles -14
Tickets: As low as $50 on SITickets.com*
Three Things to Watch
1. Can the Eagles' offense keep rolling?
Hurts is playing inspired football. One key area of growth this year has been learning how to minimize mistakes: among starting quarterbacks, only Tom Brady has fewer interceptions than Hurts' two this season.
A variety of weapons on offense has given Hurts options, and he's made the most of them. Offseason wide receiver acquisition A.J. Brown had his best game with the team last Sunday, posting 156 yards and a career-best three touchdowns. All of them were impressive throws as Hurts continues to convert big plays: in that game, he became the first Eagles QB since Sonny Jurgensen in 1961 to throw four touchdown passes of 25 yards or more.
“I don't know what his ceiling is going to be,” said head coach Nick Sirianni of Hurts this week.
The deep passing attack has been balanced by a rushing game that ranks sixth in the NFL. A healthy Miles Sanders has played in all seven games and made a major impact, already one short of his career high with five rushing touchdowns. His 563 rushing yards are tied for seventh in the NFL and complemented well by Hurts' 303, fourth among quarterbacks behind Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones, and Josh Allen.
Add in the overall health of the offense — not a single player was limited in practice this week due to injury — and you've got a team clicking on all cylinders. With the Eagles scoring 28 points per game, third in the league, it's hard to see the Texans' 30th-ranked offense slowing them down.
2. Can the Eagles keep forcing turnovers?
We've already talked about how the Eagles take care of the football: two interceptions and not a single fumble lost. That's even more impressive when you consider they run the ball on average 35 times a game. Only Chicago has run it more this season.
That ball-control philosophy is paired perfectly with a defensive unit coordinator Jonathan Gannon focuses on big plays. The Eagles lead the league with 16 takeaways, including 10 interceptions, to produce an incredible turnover margin of plus-14.
No other team in the NFL is better than plus-six.
That's bad news for Mills, the young Texans quarterback still learning the ropes with six interceptions and 16 sacks. On the other side, preseason acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson and perennial Pro Bowler Darius Slay will be licking their chops; they have seven interceptions already between them. It's hard to see Mills fooling a group that allows just 183.4 yards per game in the air and less than 4.8 yards per play.
So could Pierce be a potential difference-maker against this defense? Possibly. He's arguably the Texans' best offensive player and has been a pleasant surprise on your fantasy roster. The rookie has 539 yards in seven games, nearly as much as Sanders, without a single fumble lost. But the fourth-round pick may be in for a rude awakening with an Eagles' defensive front that's forced six of those fumbles.
3. Which team can play a complete game?
For a team that's won just once in seven tries, Houston sure has held a whole lot of leads entering the fourth quarter. In fact, the Texans have been tied or ahead in five of their seven games this season, only to go 1-3-1 in those contests.
The Texans have been outscored 61-24 in the final frame, allowing for some spectacular comebacks (like Indianapolis, who scored 17 unanswered points to earn a tie in Week 1). They've committed four of their seven turnovers, including a pick-six, while turning the ball over on downs three times. It makes them impossible to trust even when playing quality football through long stretches.
Here's the surprise: The Eagles have also been outmuscled in the final quarter. Their point differential is minus-18 and they've only outscored two of their seven opponents, one of which was the Steelers in a dominant 35-13 victory last Sunday.
That would be the only knock on the Eagles, if anything, within an impressive first seven weeks: letting their foot off the gas has kept a couple of bad teams sticking around, like the Lions in a 38-35 victory in Week 1. But the only way that may matter on Thursday night is in terms of the spread (a relatively high 14 points considering the Eagles are on the road).
Final Analysis
The Texans have played scrappy so far under head coach Lovie Smith, energized despite a wide gap in talent compared to the rest of the league.
That will occasionally allow them to eke out a win versus a team in the middle of the pack. Against the Eagles? They'll learn an A for effort doesn't actually translate into points. The Philly offense just has too much steam and the defense is playing too cohesively to give the Texans a chance.
Add in the Phillies in the World Series, improbably, and something strange is going on in the City of Brotherly Love. You don't want to bet against Philadelphia right now.
Welp, I've decided to make an offseason, now that there's no trade in the deadlines. Here's hoping this is good:
Coaching Changes:
Raheem Morris hired by the Carolina Panthers as their head coach.
(It just makes all the sense in the world. The Panthers obviously want to keep Burns, Brown, and Horn as options, but the rest of the defense has been pathetic and has not lived up to enormous expectations. And they probably want a veteran coach with head coaching experience who can guide a young team that will get even younger as the offseason progresses. Morris just fills every box.)
Eric Henderson promoted to defensive coordinator.
(Also makes sense. Henderson has done a fantastic job on the defensive line and has coaxed a ton out of Gaines, A-Rob, and many others over a long period of time. He more than deserves a promotion.)
Player Position Change:
Ben Skowronek - WR/TE
(Skow has always fit more at H-back than anything else. He's being used in the running game as a blocker. Tell him to bulk up, become a tight end, make it official.)
Practice Squad Players Brought Back:
Jacob Harris
Earnest Brown IV
Roger Carter
Ronnie Rivers
Kier Thomas
Brayden Thomas
Max Pircher
A.J. Arcuri
Chandler Brewer
(Harris has to be brought back. I do not want to give up on him, and I bet that he could still get an opportunity here. Brown IV is for the same reason; I want to see what he can do. Carter is a true H-back. The Thomases are key outside linebackers, Rivers has run well, and Pircher, Arcuri, and Brewer are solid offensive linemen. There's others out there, but honestly, if we bring back Harris, Pircher, and Kier Thomas, that'll make me a very happy gal.)
Re-sign:
Greg Gaines - five years, 35 million total.
Matt Gay - four years, 14 million total.
Riley Dixon - one year, 2.5 million.
Matt Orzech - one year, 2 million.
Marquise Copeland - ERFA
John Wolford - RFA
Christian Rozeboom - ERFA
Travin Howard - ERFA
Kendall Blanton - RFA
Michael Hoecht - ERFA
Bryce Perkins - ERFA
Shaun Jolly - ERFA
(Greg Gaines absolutely has to be re-signed. He's a twenty-five-year-old stud who needs to be on this defensive line long after AD has retired. Gay has been as close to automatic as it gets, and I'd rather keep the special teams battery in Dixon and Orzech - albeit with competition. The rest of them are restricted free agent or exclusive rights free agents who deserve another shot to see how they do (although two will be dealt as a warning.)
Release:
A'Shawn Robinson
David Edwards
Nick Scott
Taylor Rapp
Troy Hill
Darrell Henderson
David Long
Grant Haley
Justin Hollins
Brandon Powell
Ty Nsekhe
Matt Skura
Malcolm Brown
Jake Gervase
Bobby "He Absolutely Needs to Fucking Go, I'm Fucking Done With Him" Evans
(Robinson will get an enormous contract that we will have no way of matching, so he's gone. We don't pay safeties big money (as proven by JJ3), so Scott and Rapp are gone. Edwards could be re-signed, but I wouldn't go further than two years for him, and I have to imagine that he'll get a longer term somewhere than that. Hill is over the hill, while Long has been phased out by Ramsey, Kendrick, Durant and - hopefully, maybe - Rochell. Henderson is probably going to go for a big contract. Haley hit IR, and we have a guy in Jolly who is very much similar to him. Powell is going to command more money as a returner/gadget player than we will pay. Nsekhe and Skura are stopgap offensive linemen, while Brown is a stopgap running back; none of those three are worth bringing back. Hollins has been awful this year, but he'll still probably get paid more than we will offer (i.e., Okoronkwo money). Bobby Evans can - to quote the illustrious Ari Gold - get - the fuck - OUT. I've seen enough.)
Free Agency:
Michael Jordan (OG) - three years, twelve million total (six million first year).
Devin Singletary (RB) - two years, ten million.
(Jordan is a very young offensive guard (twenty-five next January) who started nineteen games in Cincinnati before being cut in 2021 and picked up by Carolina. He's 6'6", 315 lbs. and probably will be one of the bigger bargains of the 2023 free agency period; he reminds me a lot of David Edwards, except healthy. This will be a loaded running back free agent period with Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, Kareem Hunt, Josh Jacobs, Miles Sanders, Devin Singletary, and David Montgomery, amongst others. Singletary is someone I loved in the draft process as a small, yet stocky back who can catch out of the backfield. I think he could be a solid addition to our running back group, have Kyren Williams and two draft picks (yes, Akers WILL be dealt in this mock, and I don't have much faith in Rivers) learn from him.)
Trades (yes, there will be a lot of them):
Bobby Wagner to the Dallas Cowboys for 2023 second round pick and 2023 fourth round pick.
(First off, a controversial trade. Yes, I know we just signed him, but Wagner's clearly lost a step or two. He's not the player Fisher and Snead wanted in 2012, and the Seahags were right to get rid of him. But he's still more talented than the oft-injured Leighton Vander Esch, and the Cowboys need linebacker help. In addition, Wagner would likely waive whatever trade clause he may have to be on a contender - which we really aren't.)
Cam Akers, 2024 fifth, and 2025 conditional sixth to the New York Giants for 2023 fourth round pick.
(The Giants might decide to bite on Akers if they lose Saquon Barkley, but even if they don't, they lack depth behind him in case of injury, and may want to have a change-of-scenery option for Akers. I say? Good riddance.)
Van Jefferson to the Houston Texans for 2023 third round pick.
(Yeah, Cooks is gonna get traded (not to us), so the Texans have Nico Collins and nothing else of note at receiver. Van still has the rest of the year to prove himself, but I don't have much faith that he'll ever be the player we expected him to be.)
Chatarius Atwell to the Baltimore Ravens for 2023 fifth round pick.
(Yeah, I'm done with Atwell. Time to cut bait. I think Baltimore would bite, given their lack of a deep threat (they have Tylan Wallace in that role right now, but they need more to compete with the loaded AFC.)
Tyler Higbee to the Indianapolis Colts for 2023 second round pick.
(Jim Irsay runs this team, and the Colts lack weapons necessary for their quarterback, whomever he may be. I see Higbee being traded for a high pick.)
Leonard Floyd to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 2023 third round pick and 2024 sixth round pick.)
(Tampa Bay is in full win-now mode, and with Shaquil Barrett injured with an Achilles (a notoriously hard injury to come back from), Floyd will be attractive to Tampa Bay as an option.)
Coleman Shelton to the las Vegas Raiders for 2023 fifth round pick.
(Shelton is probably going to be replaced by Bruss and draft picks, so he'll be dealt to Las Vegas, who has issues with their offensive line (an undrafted rookie, Andre James, while he's been good, is a free agent after this year, and he'll be a popular target by many teams.)
Terrell Burgess to the Buffalo Bills for 2024 conditional seventh round pick.
(Burgess hasn't proven much, but Buffalo has two aging safeties, and one is currently injured. I think Burgess for a seventh - which could be more if Burgess has a good year - would be an interesting trade.)
Terrell Lewis to the Atlanta Falcons for 2024 conditional seventh round pick.
(Lewis hasn't proven much more than Burgess, but the Falcons are in desperate need of outside linebacker help, and a seventh - that could turn into more if Lewis has a good year - wouldn't be much to part with.)
Travin Howard to the Washington Comm - anders for 2024 conditional seventh round pick.
(With Ernest Jones and a rookie inside linebacker starting, and Rozeboom and Jake Hummel as backups, Howard simply doesn't have a spot on this team. Yes, you sign him as an ERFA, but also make sure he has a team to go to in order to start. Washington seems as good a place as any; while they have a solid young middle linebacker in Cole Holcomb, Howard could easily start outside as a weakside linebacker - something that Washington lacks. In return, we get a potentially good late round pick that could become a fifth if Howard re-signs.)
Brycen Hopkins and 2024 seventh round pick to the Detroit Lions for 2023 sixth round pick.
(With Skowronek and a couple new tight ends, Hopkins and his coked up, baby-sea-otter-soft ass can get the hell off my team. Getting a sixth round pick is a bonus. Holmes may want to see if he can squeeze anything out of Hopkins, seeing as he scouted him, but honestly, I'm not expecting much.)
Bryce Perkins to the New Orleans Saints for 2024 conditional seventh round pick.
(Yeah, I think it's time we traded Perkins. I do have an idea of what I'm going to do. The Saints only have Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton (no, I don't count Taysom Hill), and no first round pick. Perkins, I feel, could easily earn a spot there.)
Rams 3rd round pick (ours, Morris comp) to the Kansas City Chiefs for 2023 fourth round pick (theirs) and 2023 fourth round pick (Dolphins).
(The Chiefs move up to snag a falling defensive end, while we get a couple of fourths.)
2023 sixth round pick (Packers), 2023 sixth round pick (ours), 2023 sixth round pick (Titans), and 2023 seventh round pick (ours) to the Miami Dolphins for 2023 fifth round pick.
(The Dolphins lack a lot of picks thanks to their Brady scandal. We'll give them a lot more picks in exchange for a fifth.)
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(Anudike-Uzomah has the tools you dream about in an edge rusher. He's fast, bendy, strong, all of which are excellent qualities. Winner of the Co-DPOTY in the Big 12, he wins so many battles against offensive linemen with his pure athletic traits. But he needs work on the technical side of things; he often struggles if his initial attempts are beaten, as he lacks a proper counter move. I feel this is something he'll learn in time and in practice. What concerns me with Anudike-Uzomah is gap integrity; he'll often forget it, and that's something that'll have to be coached out. But I love this kid's potential; he could be a lot like what Robert Quinn was for us.)
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(Mims will likely fall to the second round; there's too many elite receivers ahead of him that boast better measurables. But Mims just wins on the deep and intermediate routes constantly. He's what Van Jefferson and Chatarius Atwell could've been, and while his routes need improvement overall, he has the ability to not only learn them, but be amazing at it. He's got solid hands; you're not going to see him drop passes, and he's a very tough blocker who will fit on this team. He is quite small-framed, and there are concerns if he'll constantly win battles against press-man. He might fit better in the slot as well, but he has the potential to fit out wide. All in all, Mims is the solution for our problems. He's tough enough to do run blocking, he rarely drops passes, he has all the potential in the world to be a fantastic route runner, and he constantly wins in the intermediate and deep routes run.
2nd (Cowboys) - Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse. (5'10", 205 lbs.)
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(Tucker has quickly become my favorite running back (especially since Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs look like they're going in the first round.). He's shifty, has extremely good vision, and when he takes off and runs, nobody's catching him. You guys will probably like his ball security; he's rarely ever fumbled at Syracuse, despite his heavy workload. Tucker has incredible contact balance, goes straight to the hole without hesitation and his legs constantly keep churning. He needs improvement in the passing game, but I have no doubt that he'll be able to learn; he has all the traits necessary. I wouldn't put him anywhere near pass-protection; he's simply not big or physical enough for that. But I seriously love this kid, and I consider him the third best running back in this class.)
3rd (Texans) - Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida. (6'4", 234 lbs.)
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(Call me crazy for drafting a quarterback when I've already signed Wolford for another year (even though I did deal Perkins). Call me crazy for drafting a quarterback so high. Call me crazy all you want, but this kid, if taught correctly, could become for us what Patrick Mahomes is for the Chiefs. Richardson is super-raw, sushi-raw, but his athletic traits (he's been known to outrun DBs for touchdowns) and his arm (has been tracked at 75 yards through the air), in addition to being able to fit balls through tight windows make him a moldable ball of clay. He'll need to learn touch on his passes, he'll need to learn to arc the deep ball instead of on a frozen rope, but seriously, I've fallen in love with this kid after his tape, and I think he could be the successor to Stafford after a few years. Yeah, call me crazy. Stafford, in my opinion, isn't going to last with all of the hits he's taking from our offensive O-line. Wolford is an injury magnet. While if Stafford goes down, we're probably screwed, Richardson could probably win you a few games as it is.)
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(Van Pran-Granger is only a redshirt-sophomore, but he's quickly rising after his performance as a redshirt freshman in Georgia's season. He was dominant as a center with his athleticism, but his IQ is what sold me on him. He was so intelligent as a freshman, able to make the line calls for Georgia. His motor is constant; he's constantly looking for help, constantly battling to the whistle. But he's struggled with defenders with longer arms, though; he's got short arms, and will likely be stuck at center. He needs a redshirt year to bulk up and get stronger, but he could be our Creed Humphrey, and SVPG is one of my favorite offensive lineman in this draft class.)
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(The closest prospect to Kam Chancellor since Kam Chancellor, Skinner is one of the heaviest hitters as a big safety that I've ever seen. He knows when to time his tackle as well, jarring the ball loose from the receiver. He's remarkably intelligent as well; he could be a leader in the defensive backfield. However, he's not the right player for a big nickel; quicker slot receivers would eat him alive. He's not really a press-man safety either; I'd rather see him in zone in a two-high coverage, but ultimately? I just don't want the Hags to get him.)
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(Another Pitt DT who is undersized, yet explosive. Sound familiar? Kancey is basically a poor man's AD, at the moment, as he isn't as strong or explosive as the man himself, but manages to get insane penetration on the defensive line, whether it's against the run or pass. The other thing that separates him is that he's very, very raw. He doesn't have many pass-rushing moves or counters, which is something that he could learn in the NFL. Ultimately, he could go a lot higher than this.)
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(Foster is a solid left tackle prospect who could probably also play guard at the next level. He's powerful, has heavy hands, and outstanding length - all of which could help him in at tackle and guard alike. However, his foot quickness isn't even adequate; it could be a real issue if defensive lineman go inside with a move. He's also not great with speed on the edge, and his technique, while adequate, needs a lot more work. Ultimately, though, he could be a fantastic lineman for us, and I'm not saying that because he's from Mizzou (although I love that he is); I think Foster could be solid for us.)
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(Siaki Ika is a big man. He's a lot like Danny Shelton in that he's a bigger nose tackle who fits more as a penetrator than a traditional nose tackle. He's surprisingly quick out of his stance, and if he's up against someone who can't anchor against him, he's going to feast. He really struggles to hold double teams against the run, nor does he really split them in the passing game, which is weird for a man his size to struggle with it so much. I don't know if he's a good enough pass-rusher or if he's conditioned enough for the NFL, though. He's never really been put in third down situations at Baylor, which is why I think he'll fall to the fourth round; two down nose tackles are a dime a dozen. Still, I think it's worth a shot with Ika; maybe you'll get a young Vince Wilfork.)
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(Baldonado is an interesting prospect who only played one season of high school football, as he was born in Rome, Italy. He's very raw as a result; while he has active hands and wins more often than not against the run, he's a total work in progress in terms of how his upper and lower halves measure up, and he needs to become a lot more fluid and understand exactly what sort of plan he's coming up with against offensive linemen. Overall, I think this second Pitt rusher will need time, probably a redshirt year or two, but he could be a very good run-defender who can get a lot of sacks and pressures.)
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(Flowe was once the best high-school linebacker, the number six prospect in the nation and a consensus five star recruit. After a meniscus tear in his freshman year, and a foot injury after the Fresno State game in his sophomore year - a game where he had fourteen tackles - one for a loss - and a forced fumble to seal the victory - Flowe fell off the radar for a bit. But his talent, instincts, and intangibles make him well worth an early fifth round pick. Flowe is big, fast, smart, everything you want in an inside linebacker.)
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(Williams is a bowling ball with serious speed. Tacklers seem to bounce off of him. There were other, more highly-regarded running backs at Ohio State (Williams was a three star recruit), but Williams won the starting job over all of them, capping it off with a five-touchdown day against Rutgers. He's struggled a bit on third down; I don't think he'll ever be a great pass-catcher, but a pass-protector with occasional screens seems doable. I'd love to see him on the Rams in a C.J. Anderson like role.)
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(Beebe starts as K-State's left tackle, but he'll be a guard at the next level, and a damned good one, at that. He's got a hell of a mean streak, very temperamental in the run game. He'll struggle at the second level, but he's honestly a lot quicker than his size would indicate, so I think that it's fixable. Overall, he seems like the type of player who would definitely fit this team.)
5th (Darious Williams comp) - Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State. (6'5", 255 lbs.)
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(Kraft operates under a run-first offense, and he's a fantastic blocker for a tight end prospect; he's willing, he's able, and he's just solid in terms of fundamentals. But I feel - much like @jrry32 felt with George Kittle - that Kraft could offer a hell of a lot more. He needs to clean up his routes, needs to make more of the difficult catches, but he has the wide frame, the sneaky-good athleticism, and the instincts to really be a solid pass catcher. And even if he doesn't turn into that, he's still arguably a number one tight end in our system with his ability to block.)
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(Harrell is a fucking speed demon. There's rumors that he's run a 4.19 forty and a 1.41 ten yard split - the former of which would easily break the Combine record. He's got the ability to be a hell of a route runner himself; he's really only been used on nine routes and the like, but he's got the talent. He could easily be our Tyreek Hill with his sheer athleticism, and the ability to actually high-point balls that are normally 50-50. The problem with Harrell is that he's barely played. He didn't have many snaps at Louisville, despite his talent, and after he transferred to the Crimson Tide, a foot injury knocked him out for most of the season, although I think he's healthy now. Ultimately, I think he goes a little higher if he can remain healthy and active, but I think we could get a steal in Harrell.)
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(Hickman is another Ohio State safety in a school that seems to churn them out. He's a lot like a mix between Taylor Rapp and Jordan Fuller - strengths and weaknesses alike. Like Rapp, Hickman is a sure tackler, a solid box defender who can sift through traffic and make the tackle at his best. Like Fuller, he's solid in coverage and has underrated athleticism. However, Hickman hasn't had much experience as a single-high safety; I'd love to see how OSU deploys him in that regard. He's also had two notable injuries - one in high school, one in college. But I think that he'd be a solid player, even on special teams.)
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(Franklin is so silky-smooth running routes. He really reminds me of Robert Woods in terms of route running and sheer reliability. Unfortunately, he doesn't often get a chance to shine; the Roadrunners have two other outstanding junior wideouts who are likely better than he is: Joshua Cephus and De"Corian Clark. He's not really much of a high-point receiver either on go-routes or fades; while he's very fast and quick, Franklin isn't really a burner or tall like the other two. But as a sheer route runner, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone better in this draft.)
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(Yeah, the measurements are right: Kuntz is 6'8" with the frame to pack on at least fifteen pounds of muscle. He's a former Penn State transfer, a four-star prospect who dominated high school. He's got fantastic speed, a huge catch radius, the things you dream about for your tight end. But he's raw. Like, Fendi Onobun raw. He's a poor run blocker at best; he'd be best suited for the flex tight end position. Ultimately, he's a developmental tight end, but Kuntz could be something special in time.)
Roster (starters in bold, rookies in italics, free agents in underline).
QB - Matthew Stafford, Anthony Richardson.
(Wolford gets replaced (hopefully not cut, but dealt). I think we go for two quarterbacks this time around with a third on the practice squad if necessary.)
RB - Devin Singletary, Kyren Williams, Sean Tucker, Miyan Williams.
(Sorry, I don't really have much faith in Rivers, so he'll get squeezed out in the end. I could see him go on the practice squad, but I see him going for another opportunity. Singletary is your starter in name, although I could see all four backs get carries.)
WR - Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson, Jacob Harris, Lance McCutcheon, Marvin Mims (PR), Tyler Harrell (KR),Zakhari Franklin.
(Yes, I think this is the year Harris breaks out, although McCutcheon could easily win the job. Mims is a good punt returner, but I could see Franklin compete for that role. Harrell is the unanimous kick returner; he's had a few in college, and he could easily go the distance.)
TE - Ben Skowronek, Tucker Kraft, Zack Kuntz.
(Three tight ends. I think Blanton - as much as it kills me as a Mizzou fan - is not going to make it over the rookies. I could see us keep Roger Carter on the practice squad for fullback/H-back purposes, but ultimately, I want to see what Skowronek and the rookies can do.)
OL - Alaric Jackson, Michael Jordan, Brian Allen, Logan Bruss, Rob Havenstein, Max Pircher, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Javon Foster, Cooper Beebe, Joseph Noteboom (PUP).
(Noteboom is on the PUP list, but if Jordan doesn't pan out, I could see him kick A-Jax back inside at left guard and take Pircher's place on the roster. Bruss will start at right guard no matter what; it'll help with Havenstein teaching his fellow Badger. Shelton belongs where he's at: backing up the center and guard positions while Pircher is the swing tackle. The rookies all make the team. Arcuri takes another stint on the practice squad.
DL - Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines, Bobby Brown III, Earnest Brown IV, Calijah Kancey, Siaki Ika,.
(AD is AD, and Gaines has more than earned a starting job and a shiny new contract. I think BB3 takes the 5-tech spot and backup nose tackle spot; he's got the most potential out of any of our young D-linemen. I still have faith in EB4, as a backup to 5 tech. Kancey can mostly give Donald a breather while learning from the best in the business, while Ika has a redshirt year to condition himself for the NFL.)
LB - Daniel Hardy, Kier Thomas, Brayden Thomas, Felix Anudike-Uzomah.Habakkuk Baldonado, Ernest Jones, Justin Flowe, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel.
(Surprised that Hardy is starting? I wouldn't be; I want to see more of him this season, and I think he'll impress. Kier Thomas will get the other edge rusher spot; I think he'd do better than, say, Hollins or Lewis as a pass-rusher. Brayden Thomas is an underrated edge rusher whom I think will be in our plans. Then you have Anudike-Uzomah and Baldonado learning from them. Jones is obviously your starting inside linebacker, and Flowe, I believe, will win the job. Rozeboom and Hummel are your special teams aces.)
DB - Jalen Ramsey, Robert Rochell, Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, Shaun Jolly, Jordan Fuller, JL Skinner, Quentin Lake, Russ Yeast, Ronnie Hickman.
(Ramsey is Ramsey. I think Rochell, in a new system that caters to his strengths, will earn a starting job, while Durant and Kendrick are your nickel/big nickel backs. Jolly is small, but has a lot of potential as well; there's a reason he's on the team. Skinner earns a spot next to Fuller, while Lake, Yeast, and Hickman are for special teams and occasional breathers.)
ST - Matt Gay, Riley Dixon, Matthew Orzech.
(Gay is the most reliable kicker we've had since Wilkins; I will be very upset if we let him go. I'm not sure about Dixon or Orzech. I'd bring in competition for both of them. Still, I can't think of any young punter and/or long snapper prospect who would be available, so I'm leaving them on for now.)
Well, this is my crazy mock (which should be more towards seeing the prospects I like and what someone clueless like me would do rather than what the Rams will do), so please, leave a comment, get your different opinions and ouches ready to click, and just witness insanity.
The Rams are playing it safe with Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Brian Allen (knee) this week, holding both out on Wednesday due to injury
sports.yahoo.com
The Rams took the field for their first practice of Week 9 on Wednesday and they did so without a couple of starters – including Cooper Kupp. Kupp was held out of practice due to his ankle injury, which Sean McVay called “tissue swelling” earlier this week. McVay already said he expects Kupp to play against the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Brian Allen also has swelling in his knee so the Rams are being cautious, also listing him as a non-participant Wednesday. Van Jefferson, who returned from injury to make his season debut on Sunday, was limited to start the week.
Terrell Lewis also got a rest day, which is normal as the Rams continue to manage his workload.
I’m drawing attention to the recurring knee issues for Allen. I think at this point I hate not picking Humphrey more than not picking Bobby Wagner.
Rams roster and coaches have been exposed this season…
First, let me stipulate that the OL injuries are the root of at least 90% of Rams woes on O. I seriously doubt that ANY other team could have survived them any better. Just catastrophic.
I will further stipulate that Morris has managed his own player injuries rather well. I hate watching his soft zone D but it was both pretty darned effective and appropriate while dealing with so many inexperienced rookies he was forced to start. I do have issues with his scheming vs the 49ers, though. But that’s for a different thread.
Here’s why I said Rams roster and coaches have been exposed.
These are things that have been creeping up and yet have been ignored while I hadn’t noticed. I was too busy enjoying that SB winning season. But our opponents have noticed them and are attacking our weaknesses relentlessly.
Rams OL, even when healthy, hasn’t been good at run blocking. This is not just a ‘22 problem. It’s been going on for years. Is McVay’s preferred zone blocking types still the best way to go? I haven’t seen a strong consistent run game since Gurley’s heyday. That’s way back in mid-2018. I think McVay might want to reconsider his OL draft profile strategy because recent results have sucked. They simply ain’t working, Sean. To the point that you now lack confidence in our running game and it shows in your play calling. Opponents have noticed, btw. And scheme accordingly to the point that they practically ignore our run threat. It’s a vicious circle.
Perhaps Rams OL is suffering from being on the back burner too much while McVay focuses too much on skill positions? Recent examples include the Atwell pick over Humphrey, declarations about bringing back OBJ, apparent interest in trading for Cooks. It smacks of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic while Rams are struggling on OL and RB. OL should be officially Job One, Sean.
Which brings me to our pathetic RB situation. When was the last time you felt confident that Rams could run for a 1st on 3rd and short? Michel last year, maybe? Not to mention that our top 3 RB’s are notoriously unable to stay healthy. One RB, maybe. But all 3? There’s something else going on. McVay needs to self scout to determine whether he’s even seeking optimum effective RB’s with his current draft profiles. Rams have been hampered too long by too many RB’s to call themselves unlucky there. There’s something else going on that’s hurting our RB situation. Rams should leave no stone unturned in their RB examination.
Let’s talk TE. We currently have an inconsistent Higbee and a couple of nobodies. Is it coaching or is it drafting? Or both? I vote for both. And the maddening thing is that TE has been an orphan for years, too. SOMEONE should have noticed these trends at OL, RB, and TE and gotten into the ears of both Snead and McVay.
Now let’s talk Edge. It’s been a weakness opposite Floyd for years. Von Miller fixed that nicely last year but at a very high price for 6 months of work. Point being Rams have been deficient at edge for years. This is another core position and yet weakness there has been tolerated for far too long. Are Snead and his scouts incapable of finding just one quality Edge player? Or is the problem coaching? Including scheming those edge players. Maybe all 3 are at fault simultaneously?
Now I have a couple of coaching questions. Why is Evans starting on this crippled OL? Hell, why is he even on the roster? Insert either Skura or Brewer and bench Evans until Shelton returns. To do otherwise seems incompetent. Gawd!
Why is Rapp starting? Give Yeast a shot for crying out loud. Burgess. Or somebody off the street, dammit! Does Rapp have incriminating pictures of Morris? I’m only half joking. Starting Rapp is a self inflicted wound.
These are shortcomings of our current Rams that have been glaringly exposed already this season.
Yeah, I’m angry, frustrated, and upset. All the above are creeping problems that were never identified and addressed for several years. And now, even though we are defending SB champions, these things are killing us.
I’m sure I missed a few, but these are the ones off the top of my head this morning.
Thoughts?
MOD EDIT - THREAD TITLE CHANGE. These are Super Bowl winning coaches.
Ten years ago, the NFL moved the trade deadline from the Tuesday after Week Six to the Tuesday after Week Eight. Last year, the NFL expanded the season from 17 weeks to 18. Thus, it’s time to move the trade deadline again.At a minimum, it should move to Week Nine. At most, it should go [more]
profootballtalk.nbcsports.com
It’s time to push back the trade deadline, again
Ten years ago, the NFL moved the trade deadline from the Tuesday after Week Six to the Tuesday after Week Eight. Last year, the NFL expanded the season from 17 weeks to 18. Thus, it’s time to move the trade deadline again.
At a minimum, it should move to Week Nine. At most, it should go even deeper into the regular season.
Why prevent teams from doing arm’s-length transactions with an arbitrary deadline that comes before some potential sellers are ready to admit they need to sell? As more game are played and more teams lose, they possibly would be more willing to fold the tents and do a deal.
Why shouldn’t they be allowed to do it? What’s wrong with free enterprise? What’s the harm in allowing trades to happen deep into the regular season?
If a contender wants to sacrifice future assets in an eff-them-picks all-in play to capture a Super Bowl, so be it. If a bad team hopes to dangle a great player or two in exchange for draft selections that will help the bad team get better, why not let them? In a league premised on parity, nothing smoothes out competitive disparities more than letting the haves give up too much to get players they want from the have-nots.
Really, there’s no compelling argument against allowing trades to happen well after Week Eight other than “it’s always been this way.” It doesn’t have to be this way. There could be a better way, with more drama and intrigue flowing from a deadline that arrives when the line between contender and pretender is far brighter.
So move it back, NFL. Or give us a better reason than “it was like that when I got here.”
Personally, I think it is the OL. Just can’t believe Stafford and the RB’s are that bad this season! Love Snead but I do think he (They) passed on too many quality OL in recent drafts.
Not Complaining (They WON the Super Bowl last season!!!)! Just giving a very UNPROFESSIONAL Opinion!
I know we are more than 1 trade away I hear all of you say that and to a degree I agree, but I saw several Rams players being interviewed in the locker room after the SF and it felt like a morgue. Everyone was super down. They needed a pick me up and a couple trades would give them hope.
To me making a trade or two shows the team we are not done via Les/McVay - it becomes psychological. Clearly I am not suggesting making a trade to appease the egos of the players I am sure there is a bunch of options that could have made sense. Tunsil/RB combo. Wynn/RB combo and a bunch of other draft options.
Last season vs this season:
Honestly we are only Whit and a huge rash of injuries away from the same team last year. Trading out Wagner for Von, trading Hill for DWill, trading Robinson for OBJ or Woods all are laterally moves. We have the same RBs as last year with more recouperating time for Akers so technically he should be stronger. Overall this team is essentially the same unfortunately Robinson is not killing it, there is no Whit replacement and Von gone is really highlighting a hole but remember last year we had a lot more sacks at this point including a better record by a mile.
The only NON replacement was Whit he wasn't replaced adequately even though Noteboom was supposed to be that guy. To early to tell on Jackson.
The injuries in the secondary and OL have been really troublesome, but we are almost back to full strength minus Fuller. We will hopefully get both Edwards/Shelton back by AZ (2 weeks from now) and we should be very healthy.
There is hope - the rest of the schedule outside of KC seems winnable. Time for the team to show us what they are made of.
Okay, I'll admit it... I wanted the Rams to make a trade.
I'm a sports fan. I like shiny new toys and the hope that they bring. I also like instant gratification, which a trade for an established player can provide.
But, in the end, you have to be smart about these things. I'm sure that, as much as the Rams tried, they didn't find a deal that made sense to them. Could they have offered more to get CMC or Brian Burns? I suppose. But there has to be a limit to what you spend - particularly in a season like this one, in which injuries have all but removed hopes of a championship run.
So, here's the bright side... draftniks still have second and third round picks to scout for! We can dream about OL, EDGE rushers and RBs on rookie contracts, making their mark in 2023.
I didn't really want a trade anyway. Really. I didn't. Trades suck.
All time, the Rams are 19-9 against the Bucs.
Since 2012, the Rams are 8-1 against the Bucs.
And, of course, the Rams are 3-0 against the Bucs in the playoffs, including two NFCCGs.
I have to admit... I kind of like the idea that they hate us and groan when they see us on the schedule.
Snead has been a hot interview over the years with his "F them Picks" strategy, but one thing he is quick to point out is that it is not done in a vacuum. He does not trade for talent with draft picks because it makes him feel good. It's a special sauce of FA pickups, trades with draft and player assets with compensation formula implications, etc.
One of the key things he's mentioned is that the draft positions were overvalued in his opinion. He has clearly taken advantage of that. But now that other teams are doing the exact same thing in this copycat league, my take is Snead will go the other way.
I don't expect any major moves for prime picks, but we'll see. But regardless, I actually would be happy to payroll Snead's entry into this poker tournament, because I think he's the shark at the table and will adjust depending on other GM's tells.
It’s probably not a coincidence that Greg Gaines had his best game of the season in Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers. After a terrific 2021 season in which he emerged as a key starter up front, posting just one game with a PFF grade above 64 and recording only four total pressures.
But against the 49ers, he recorded his first sack and QB hit of the season. Gaines revealed on Monday that his shoulder had been injured for the first six weeks of the season but he’s feeling good now after the Week 7 bye.
The Rams need Gaines to be the stout run defender and consistent pass rusher that he was last year, using his power to bull rush centers and guards into the laps of quarterbacks. Aaron Donald has done a nice job on the interior, of course, but the Rams need another source of pressure, and until Sunday, they hadn’t gotten that from anyone.
Hopefully Gaines can build on that performance and get back to the way he was playing last season.
It’s probably not a coincidence that Greg Gaines had his best game of the season in Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers. After a terrific 2021 season in which he emerged as a key starter up front, posting just one game with a PFF grade above 64 and…
THE EARLY GAMES
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Miami at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Carolina at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Green Bay at Detroit, 1 p.m.
Las Vegas at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at New England, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Washington, 1 p.m.
THE LATE GAMES
Seattle at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay, 4:25 p.m.
SNF
Tennessee at Kansas City, 8:20 p.m.
Monday, November 7, 2022
MNF
Baltimore at New Orleans, 8:15 p.m.
Byes: Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, New York Giants, Pittsburgh, San Francisco
Fanning was traded to the Lions in 1983.
Taken in the same draft class as Hall of Famers Randy White, Walter Payton, and Robert Brazile, Fanning held his own as anything but a bust, even if he didn’t reach the same status as those other players. At Notre Dame, he was teammates with the immortal Daniel Ruettiger, aka Rudy.
Fanning was most recently working in the University of Tulsa’s athletic department. In 2018, Fanning recalled his time on the Rams and friendship with teammate Fred Dryer and the changing attitude of team dynamics.
“He was such a great character,” Fanning says of Dryer. “We had a lot of characters on the team. Back then, you had guys stay together on the same team for eight or nine years. Now, everybody is leaving all the time through free agency.”
