The more I think about this SB matchup, the better I feel...

[Rams43]

This Ram O is almost impossible to shut down because of it’s diversity and balance throughout.

Want to take away the pass like the Bears did? Good luck with that now that McVay rediscovered his 12 personnel sets.

Want to sell out to stop the run? Good luck with that, too. With McVay calling the plays and Goff, Woods, Cooks, Reynolds, Higbee, and Everett executing them? Seems like a prescription for disaster.

Either way, having that Ram OL is priceless.

I predict that the Rams will get their usual 30+ points.

As for the Ram D? Well, they’ve been a pleasant surprise lately, to say the very least. Suh, Brockers, Fowler, Barron, and even Peters have all stepped up their game over that of most of the regular season. Add in Littleton, NRC, and JJ and you have a pretty danged potent D vs either the run or the pass.

The results vs the Cowboys (Elliott) and the Saints were very impressive. Honestly, is the Patriot O all that much better than that of the Saints? Or the running game of the Cowboys, for that matter? Of course not.

And do I have to mention our ST accomplishments? Best in the league, IMO. Wouldn’t swap with any other team.

Look, I’m not being overconfident and I certainly don’t advocate disrespecting the Patriots and Belichick/Brady. But I do think that they are all merely human and can be beaten on any given Sunday by a quality team that’s well coached. And the Rams are certainly both of those things.

I said before the Cowboy game and again before the Saints game that I was sensing something about this Ram team. Hard to put my finger on it, but there’s a kind of “look” from McVay and the players that seems undeniable. Call it a purpose, a focus, a “won’t be denied”, a confidence? Heck, even a sense of destiny?

All I know is that I’ve got that same feeling about these Rams as we approach the SB game.

I do not bet on football games. But if I did, I just couldn’t bet against these Rams. Not these Rams, not now...

 

[SteveBrown]

The matchups look good to me; the coaching doesn't---McVay will be an all timer, but like Bellyboy, it takes a little time...His time isn't yet....(or is it, lol)

 

[Jacobarch]

The matchups look good to me; the coaching doesn't---McVay will be an all timer, but like Bellyboy, it takes a little time...His time isn't yet....(or is it, lol)

I honestly have no idea what you just said. lol

 

[Ramhusker]

The matchups look good to me; the coaching doesn't---McVay will be an all timer, but like Bellyboy, it takes a little time...His time isn't yet....(or is it, lol)

He just has to SHOCK THE WORLD!!!!!

 

[FarNorth]

This Ram O is almost impossible to shut down because of it’s diversity and balance throughout.

Want to take away the pass like the Bears did? Good luck with that now that McVay rediscovered his 12 personnel sets.

Want to sell out to stop the run? Good luck with that, too. With McVay calling the plays and Goff, Woods, Cooks, Reynolds, Higbee, and Everett executing them? Seems like a prescription for disaster.

Either way, having that Ram OL is priceless.

I predict that the Rams will get their usual 30+ points.

As for the Ram D? Well, they’ve been a pleasant surprise lately, to say the very least. Suh, Brockers, Fowler, Barron, and even Peters have all stepped up their game over that of most of the regular season. Add in Littleton, NRC, and JJ and you have a pretty danged potent D vs either the run or the pass.

The results vs the Cowboys (Elliott) and the Saints were very impressive. Honestly, is the Patriot O all that much better than that of the Saints? Or the running game of the Cowboys, for that matter? Of course not.

And do I have to mention our ST accomplishments? Best in the league, IMO. Wouldn’t swap with any other team.

Look, I’m not being overconfident and I certainly don’t advocate disrespecting the Patriots and Belichick/Brady. But I do think that they are all merely human and can be beaten on any given Sunday by a quality team that’s well coached. And the Rams are certainly both of those things.

I said before the Cowboy game and again before the Saints game that I was sensing something about this Ram team. Hard to put my finger on it, but there’s a kind of “look” from McVay and the players that seems undeniable. Call it a purpose, a focus, a “won’t be denied”, a confidence? Heck, even a sense of destiny?

All I know is that I’ve got that same feeling about these Rams as we approach the SB game.

I do not bet on football games. But if I did, I just couldn’t bet against these Rams. Not these Rams, not now...

Excellent post!! IMO you have made a number of key points. Excuse me for preaching a little more from the choir...

The Rams O is not a one trick pony that can easily be shut down, and certainly not in good weather on a neutral field. The D now has much better cohesion and on field leadership with Talib, and several players who have peaked out for different reasons at the right time. Zuerlein and Hekker can and will win big games for us.

As for coaching-- there is a reason Belicheck texted McVay after games: it's called genuine respect and admiration. Also a reason why McVay assistants are now becoming head coaches: lots of other people in the league recognize McVay is the real deal. Phillips has already shown more than once that with the right players he can stuff the Patriots offense. Bones outwitted Asshole Face on special teams plays two games in a row.

I think you are right in sensing that the Rams also have something more. This team has really great leadership, chemistry and a lot of seriously motivated dudes. This may be the most important factor.

As for New England: life is too short to refute every wrong perception and prediction in the media fog. The Patriots are a really well coached, well executing team which will take advantage of any opportunity or mismatch. They will have excellent schemes and tactics. They will not beat themselves. But they are not some unstoppable juggernaut. They can be beaten.

It's still a football game, if we knew the result we wouldn't need to play the game (unless you are New Orleans fans wanting another opportunity to lose), but I expect the better team to win. That's the Rams.

 

[NoCoNite]

The best thing about are defense going into this game is that a few of our linebackers are converted safeties. I don’t think they could cover Gronk 3 years ago, but I think they can cover a 50-75% Gronk.

 

[Rmfnlt]

For some reason, I don't start getting a "feeling" until like the day before or day of the game.

On paper, Rams look superior... but paper don't play the game.

 

[Jacobarch]

The best thing about are defense going into this game is that a few of our linebackers are converted safeties. I don’t think they could cover Gronk 3 years ago, but I think they can cover a 50-75% Gronk.

Problem is Gronk is starting to get healthy and he's starting to look like his old self again. Do i think he's the Gronk of 3 years ago,? no. but I know he's been getting back into the groove of things and he's starting to heat up. I expect Barron or Johnson to be covering him and Talib to be covering him on 3rd and longs.

 

[SteveBrown]

I honestly have no idea what you just said. lol

McVay's time isn't here yet --to outcoach Bellyboy....meaning, if rams win, HE (McVay) is the best coach....and thus will become the greatest ever.....sorry, bady poetic english that fails on all fronts.

 

[BonifayRam]

The fact that the Rams have not beaten the Pats since 11/18/2001.....time for a change on that. Do you think that our longer tenured Ram players (Saffold 9 yrs, McQuaide 8 yrs, Brockers, Barron, Zuerlein & Hekker 7 yrs. Then there's, Donald, Joyner & Westbrooks 5 yrs. Finally Havenstein, Hager, Longacre, Mannion & Gurley 4 yrs) know this? None of them have even won against this team. I am sure they want to change this on Sunday.

 

[Karate61]

McVay's time isn't here yet --to outcoach Bellyboy....meaning, if rams win, HE (McVay) is the best coach....and thus will become the greatest ever.....sorry, bady poetic english that fails on all fronts.

That's ok! ROD gives a lot of leeway for people with English as their 2nd language!