January 16, 2025 • 45 mins
J.B. Long, D'Marco Farr, and Stu Jackson talk takeaways from the Los Angeles Rams' Wild Card win over the Minnesota Vikings, dominance from the pass rush, possible weather implications for Sunday's Divisional Round against the Philadelphia Eagles, and more!
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Great to see you, Ramiley. Every rams win means another
episode of Between the Horns, presented by your Southern California
Toyota Dealers. Off to Philadelphia for the divisional round with
Stu Jackson, DeMarco Farr I am JB.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Long.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
We're still thinking of those of you who have become
victims of these firestorms. What are you doing there tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Looking for your chocolate? We'll get sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
We'll get here, But we want to reflect on a
whole lot of things. The triumph on Monday, the opportunity
ahead in these twenty twenty four playoffs. But good to
see you guys. That was quite a memory that the
team made, and really the organization made in Arizona.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
I was thinking on the way over it might be
right at the top of just most pride swelling moments
of my life to be involved in something like that.
It was sobering to think the game got moved and
why we were in Arizona. But then the work that
went into getting everybody down there and the team backing
it up with a dominant victory. Just yeah, just one
(01:03):
of the special moments on this side of the fence.
As a broadcaster for a football team.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Yeah, it wasn't the first time.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Obviously this organization has dealt with the impact of wildfires.
But you know what really struck me was just how
quickly everybody mobilized and you know, put a plan in
place and sprung into action with basically a third less
time and not as many plans in place as far
as like you know, twenty eighteen, like Colorado springs, like
(01:32):
all that, Like you guys can probably test it better
than I can, but like that that was already planned
as far as practicing out there and things like that,
Like it was not planned that last week until the
game was obviously forced to be relocated, that it would
be at the at the Cardinals facility. But you know,
kind of the same as you, DeMarco, just like a
lot of pride, and I was almost like choking back
(01:53):
tiers at the end of the game because like just
not only for you know, everything to work out the
way it did, but also just the result and just
the way that the displayed that the team or the
performance of the team I should say, had, especially that
pass rush. I mean it was.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Inspiring, really inspiring, inspiring.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
And I know those sentiments, those emotions for me and
for you were not just about joy for Sean McVay
and Matthew Stafford and the players and the coaches who won,
but so many and will resist the urge to drop
names here because inevitably we'll forget someone who shouldn't be forgotten.
But I think we all agree we were cheering for
and happy for a lot of people with the RAMS
(02:33):
who don't wear pads or helmets. Oh yeah, that won
that game before it was even played, right, Well, that
was an organizational triumph before it was a win in
a wildcard game. And look, if you were able to
be there, thank you so much. Yes, and we're so
happy for you to have made that RAMS memory. If
you wanted to be there but could not, hope you
(02:56):
had a great game, watch or listen, however you ingested
that one, you were there with us in spirit, and
especially if you were planning to be at Sofi Stadium
but were robbed at that opportunity because of this natural disaster.
I'm sorry. Our hearts go out for you. Obviously we
all wanted that, and who knows, maybe the stars will
align that we'll have one more get together at Sofi
(03:17):
Stadium before this is all said and.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
That'd be fun.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I wanted to go back on one of those buses though.
That had to be one cool trip.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
That's a good point. I don't think i've heard enough
stories about what that round trip was like. They're probably
still sleeping it off.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
I thought there'd be video something.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
I'm sure the ride back was a lot more fun
than the ride up after that butt kicking down there
in Arizona.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Arizona, you know what else was awesome?
Speaker 1 (03:39):
And maybe I was too busy to understand that it
was all going to come together this way. But to
see like Aaron eric o'donald there, to see Tory there, Yes,
to see coach Henny there. Yeah, like it was part
playoff game, part super Bowl experience with the whole staff traveling,
and part four family reunion. Like that was family reunion
(04:02):
under adverse circumstances.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
That was the Rambley coming together special. And I'm just
I'm really glad that this football team, Sean McVeagh and
his group made it stand up and go out there
and play their best game. And it was a playoff game.
We have to remind ourselves that that was wild card weekend.
There was a lot at stake for this football team.
Outside of what was going on, and they got it done.
They brought everything home.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
So just a.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Special weekend and a nine sack day with ad up
in the box. I never thought i'd see that, no way.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, on this edition between the Horns will get our
reflections on defense, on offense, and how it all applies
to the next matchup, a rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles.
But anecdotally, I want to react to something and see
if you've observed this too. The roots of this organization
in Los Angeles are growing deeper through moments like these,
(04:54):
the branches are growing wider. I probably should admit that
I was on the golf, of course recently we're still
in season, but nonetheless I was, and I was struck
by the amount of RAMS paraphernalia that I saw. Our
local gas station has a RAMS house flag outside its doors. Now,
my kids at school, the excitement on Tuesday morning was palpable,
(05:17):
Like the way they were talking in their classmates were
talking about the Rams. This is still a generational project. Yeah,
but it's happening.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
I've been saying it for years since they've come back.
What is the first part of the RAMS on this
it's Los Angeles so I could care less who you
used to root for when there was no team here,
but your team is here. This is your football team.
So this is how it starts. When the team puts
LA on its back and just for a minute, for
(05:46):
a weekend, just take your mind off what's going on
for a second. This is how you build those deep
roots with the fan base LA. The La Rams is
coming in defense of Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (05:59):
This is your team, your city, your community, your everything,
and it's all right here. So I well said JB.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Well, and it's the wins that are those signature moments,
but it's also all the work that so many of us,
especially the community team, are doing behind the scenes and
off season, during season holidays that I think really really
bring that home. Sean McVay has turned to saying his
(06:26):
team and his Rams are built for this. I think
we saw that on Monday night that New Ethos. What
about the resiliency, But also Stu, what about what is
left in the emotional tank coming off that really high
high on Monday night.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, it's a great question, JB. I mean, how do
you manage that you come off such an emotionally charged
game and you know, a situation where in some cases
coaches and players were you know, personally affected by you
know those things. How do you how do you channel
that into something that you know fuels you and motivates
you even further without it getting you too high or
(07:03):
like you were talking about with kind of that you know,
emotional tank too low where you know you're running on
close to empty and what's going to be a pivot game.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Look, the fire is still going. There are people that
are still without power, without their houses.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
This ain't over.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
So it was one game, sure, but it doesn't go
away just because you won.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
You carry this forward.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
This is something that, like you said, galvanizes a community,
and galvanize is a football team. We have been looking
for something. We have been talking about this football team
for this entire season about seizing control of the game
and they need a spark. It seems like they found one.
They have found one and they are carrying the city
on their backs. And I think they are comfortable with that.
(07:45):
When you talk about being built for it, what haven't
they been through? Seriously, everything international travel, playing on the
East Coast in the early window, everything they've been through.
So yeah, they are built for any environment you could
throw them, and they always seem to come out not
on top, but at least they are attacking the challenge.
(08:05):
So going to Philadelphia will be right in line with
what they've already done.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
You're touching on something there that I think is worth
following up on. The twenty one championship team had to
shared purpose and urgency and identity that I've never seen
in any other sports team that I've covered. I don't
expect that to be replicated by the Rams or any
other entity for the rest of my life, but I
do think what you said is correct that for a
(08:30):
team this year in twenty twenty four that probably didn't
have that shared purpose or motivation at the midway point,
it's there now.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
It's not theirs, right, Yeah, they we talked about He
talks about it. Sean McVay talks about being connected. It's
so obvious when you go around the room postgame and
they're all saying the same thing in different ways without
being prompted. That is a connected football team. So not
there yet, not done. The job is not done. But
I'm glad he said built for anything because it's shown
(09:00):
right now.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
And to that point, JB. I think about in that
twenty one season when guys were like, I want to
win it for Eric Weddle, I want to win for
Big Win, I want to win it for Aaron Donalds.
Like you kind of get that same sense amongst this
team too, where I mean, as cliche as it sounds like,
you can tell just with the way these guys interact
and the camaraderie they have that they are truly such
(09:23):
a selfless team that they that they want to win
this thing for each other.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, they all in label was misapplied. It was an
FM pick sort of like they mortgage their future. That
was good, and we've had that conversation. But really where
they were all in is all in for each other
to lift that Lombardi Trophy in a way that I
think you're right. This group is coming together in that way. Now,
whether they can accomplish the same feat a lot to
(09:47):
be accomplished there, and to take everyone behind the curtain
a little bit, because we all work in the media space,
like we study these matchups week to week. Seven fifty
am Tuesday morning, the Philadelphia Eagles press release hit my
inbox and I'm like, you know, coming off of a
few hours of sleep getting the kids to school, and
(10:07):
it was almost like the opponent this week is rubbing
it in your face, like we're ready, Can you get
ready in time? Because it's a rush order, it's a
short week, it's a long turnaround Arizona La Philadelphia.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
They're all banged up. Everybody's banged up. Everybody's going through
the same stuff right now, and you know those games
can't get here quick enough. But this is your Ivan Drago,
this is the six hundred pound elephant in the room.
You got to go through Philadelphia to get to where
you want to go. As far as being connected, I
think the Rams might be the best team in the league.
Now are they the most talented? We're gonna find out
because I think Philadelphia definitely fits that mode. So this
(10:44):
game will It'll take all four quarters to decide. So
this connectivity, what we're talking about, will come to play
and be tested in Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
That being said, Monday Nights Win is a line that
I think we've all crossed together. And what I mean
by that is, I don't know how anyone could argue
that whatever happens from this point forward twenty twenty four
was anything other than a resounding success. Has the year
been a successful season for you? If the Rams don't
win another game, what do you think?
Speaker 2 (11:14):
I mean?
Speaker 3 (11:16):
I don't want to be that guy.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Go ahead, Okay, yeah, I would say you hope that
this team achieves more than it already has to this point.
But when you consider how few people outside of the
building gave them a shot when they were one and four,
dealing with a bunch of injuries and just not thinking
that they would be in the position they are now,
(11:40):
I would say even just rebounding from that and reaching
the postseason is like something to be proud of and
something to celebrate. But again, I go back to not
wanting that run to end by this weekend.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I feel that you're going. But you swept San Francisco, right,
that's a great season. You won the NFC West. That
is a triumph. You went from one to four, like
you said, to hosting and winning a playoff game. I
think for where this franchise, in this group is, that's
a great season. And now you've got house money. Now
just go cut it loose in Philly and get greedy
(12:16):
and go for more.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
I'm all for it to shut up a bunch of haters, sure,
but I thought this was a championship or bust expectation
because of how your team is constructed, especially at quarterback.
You've only got so much time with Matthew Stafford, so
you want to squeeze every drop out of his talent
that you can. So I thought the goal was Lombardi's.
So just to shut people up, Great, you made the playoffs,
(12:39):
you won a playoff game. Awesome, I'm with you. It
is something to celebrate. And I'll go back to something
that someone told me. Mike Martz told me his biggest
regret as a coach was not celebrating the NFC championship game.
He treated that as a failure. He said, that's wrong.
So you should celebrate where you are. You should celebrate
winning a wild card game, winning a playoff football game.
(13:00):
But that ain't the only goal. The goal is the Lombardi. Yeah,
the goal is your second since Stafford's been here, your
second in the McVeigh.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Are We said Monday night that inevitably there are several
Rams who are down to their last loss as Rams.
That's life in the National Football League. We just said,
let that not be tonight, let that not be this week,
because I think we're all touching around the same sentiment,
which is I had forgotten just how addictive the NFL
(13:28):
postseason can be. When you are privileged to be with
a team that advances, you'll do anything for one more
week on the job, one more week.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Absolutely, we study the same stat pages and when you
go through and your regular season stats can get very long,
but those postseasons get very short. You know what I mean,
because there's only a few teams left, and this is
exactly where you want to be. And to me, this
is where you make stars. This is where legendary careers
are born. This is where Hall of Fame careers are
cemented or lost. Like you said, I've heard this before
(13:59):
out of I know if it's true, but it's funny.
Sam Darnold lost money in that game. Well that's what
the playoffs do. You can also make money the other way.
So it's big. It's everything. The air gets rarefied and
very thin up here, but every team you face from
here on out is good. Like and I said this before,
this is where the all pros live. If you want
to know where the best players are playing, they're usually
playing on these sort of days this time of year.
(14:22):
So if you want to be one of those guys
be dominant.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
It's so funny because we've spent the better part of
the last two months talking about scenarios and what needs
to happen, and now here you are in the Elite
eight and there's not many options left. One of three
things is going to happen for the Los Angeles Rams
this weekend. They're gonna lose. Their season is going to
end and that's that. Or they win, and if they win,
buh oh. They're going back to Detroit for Round three
(14:48):
against Dan Campbell, Jared Goff and the Lions. And you
know me, I've said all along, it feels like this
season is destined to go through Detroit one more time.
Or option three. Door three is if you win and
both upsets happen both lower seeded road teams win, you're
gonna be hosting a rookie quarterback in the Washington Commanders
at SOFI Staium in the NFC Championship game. From the
(15:10):
Rams lens. We're down to the final three choices.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
You gotta do is beat Philly.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
All you gotta do beat Philadelphia Easier said than done.
A lot of questions they present, but yeah, going back
to Detroit would be very intriguing having the home game.
That's the goal. Come on, that's what everybody wants. That
would be something special, especially with what's going on in
Los Angeles right now. Having that game here would be
something special. But going back to Detroit one more time,
(15:38):
it and over and.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Over between these there's only one door that I don't
want this team to walk.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Through, and that is those three. Oh, the first.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
One, okay, and we'll get to the goal and just
what a monumental task that's going to be a little
bit later on, But I think we'll also use our
reflections from the win of the Vikings to spin the
narrative forward in terms of takeaways on both sides of
the football and how they applied the rematch with the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Be going back to Detroit, I'm just saying, oh, go ahead,
I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Sing me both.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yeah. Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
DeMarco and all of our years together has been right
to point out that too often we start on offense.
We're not going to make that mistake today, especially after
the performance that Chris Shula and had and staff and
players had on Monday night, Like what a perfect mix
of borrowing from the blueprint that the line set forward
I think the week prior, but tailoring it to the
(16:30):
ideal rams ingredient.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
You know, it's funny when you send all out blitzes
and I like it if you're up tempo. Minnesota was
up tempo. But the one thing it does is it
stifles your creativity upfront as a defensive lineman because you're
stuck to one gap, because you're bringing guys through other gaps,
so you're taking away half of what they do. I'm
glad Chris you eula resisted the urge to just copy
that blueprint and just rely on what got you here,
(16:52):
that defensive front. Being creative, Uh, just wrecking shop, jumping
up the field. If you show too much at attention
to the edge, guys and verse and be young, we're
bringing it. You're gonna open yourself up for Fisk and Turner.
And that is exactly what happened. They got after him
up front. Every single time they adjusted their protection covered,
somebody else beat them up the field. So and then
(17:14):
you brought those timely blisters that just got after Sam Darnald.
It was a masterful game plan. It was a great
job by the defensive line and the defensive unit getting
after Sam Donald and just being on the same page.
The communication was outstanding, the pursuit was even better.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
The will, the want to get there otherworldly.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Like you said, playing for the City of la you
could tell that front was playing for something deeper.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
You talked about the money that Sam Donald likely cost himself,
and I think it's a fair question to wonder, like
what percentage of Monday Night was him unspooling at the
end of a Pro Bowl season and what percentage was
what the Rams did. I honestly don't care. Yeah, I
don't think it matters one iota because you got the
job done.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
The only thing I got steamed about was and I
heard that Minnesota's play by play guys were going after
Sam Darky. He's holding the ball too long? Okay, My
first question is why do you think he's holding it.
It's a great plan. They're taking people away. He had
no other option, and he got hit a bunch of times.
Give the defense credit for discombobulating him. Don't just dump
it on him for holding the football. There was a
(18:17):
reason he looked that way, and it was that front
getting after.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
I mean, team radio guys don't know what they're talking well, Stu,
what about the fact that they had nine sacks and
none of them came from the first round pick who
had his own highlight. We'll get there in a second,
but none of them came from Jared Verse.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Yeah, it was the I want to say, it was
eight different players who had at least half a sack,
which was the first time since nineteen eighty two, when
sacks officially became a stat that that had been the case.
So yeah, just really getting after it. I thought it
was the best example of everybody owning their roles and
knowing where their ops were. Because when I talked to
Kobe Turner about this earlier in the season, as far
(18:56):
as just the strides the pass rush had made, and
you know when they were really starting to find in
their roof in the middle of the year, and that
was one of the things he pointed to, was just
guys knowing when their ops are learning how to play
off of each other. And there's no better time for
that to hit its peak than right now.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
MVP Kobe Turner, I just have to say that the
degree of difficulty to go from nose to pass rush threat,
we can't talk about that enough. I need you to
be the tough guy. I need you to be the
spine of the defense. Not move if they run the football,
and then if they pass it, be active in the
pass rush. And he did both with a plumb and
get everybody lined up. Kobe Turner, I see.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
You, man well said two questions about the Jared Verse
scoop and score. First of all, oh, where did Bobby
Brown come from? Did he teleport to the end zone
right there following the flip?
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Don't know, don't know, trapdoor, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah, I was gonna say, I don't think I saw
any of those on the sideline and I was wandering
around down their pregame. But impressive a bill to just
emerge in the frame.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Yeah, and he timed it well thankfully not a penalty.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, is that true?
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Jared Versus was the fastest guy in the field. They
clocked his mph and he was the fastest guy out there.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Almost twenty miles per hour I think was his GP.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Oh my god, that's Jim Brown.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
People forget like we've talked about this with Jared. He
was a skill position player in high school. I think
he only had a couple of reps on defense at
end before he became a collegiate.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Oh you know what I was thinking, Oh, goal line,
let's go.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Did you hear what he was thinking? So my other
question was what was your reaction miked up where he
goes right to mcveigh's like, I need a fade ball
there you go. Give it to him in the midst
of a wild card playoff.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Absolutely, give it to him.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
We got top coverage too, because Russian coverage always go
hand in hand. And what I loved about Monday night
is over the last couple of weeks, it's been a
Kellow or Kobe and how do you find that right combination?
The other night it was both the land shark pulling
the DeMarco far again with a pick and a sack.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Oh nice getting in there.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Look, I think all the corners they played well, and
there were a lot of challenges that Minnesota likes to
try to throw at you. They want to get the
ball deep. But I do love the discipline of the secondary.
If I've got the left hip or the right hip
of said receiver, they stayed with that hip and trusted
their people over the top. Or if you're going to bracket,
(21:17):
I'm going to do my job and make sure I
focus on my responsibility and not worry about what's going
on behind me. That is a defense that trusts each other.
That's a secondary that understands what we're trying to get
done and how we're trying to take away. And I'm
trusting our guys are going to get there on the
pass rush and it worked out. But sending those guys
on blitzes. The hit by a Kello was Wow, good lord,
(21:37):
that's a big due that unloaded on a quarterback and
got the ball out. Now he didn't make him fumble.
The ball shot out of there. So those corners that
the secondary as a whole played a great football game
around what the front man not.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Quinn Lake had a sneaky good game. It's some timely moments.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Stude.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Let me sell you on something, because DeMarco and MJD
weren't having it. They were laughing me off. But I
think cam Kinchins made an adjustment on that four and
long throw, and now that he's been through it, he
pulled off of that and didn't intercept it intentionally.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
I'd agree with either.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Thank you, Stu.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
You mean the one he dropped, You mean he purposely
dropped it? Okay, Yeah, he probably dropped it worked. Yeah,
they're going to get the.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Ball out where they got Let's get to offense, and
again we kind of want to start to transition to
how the plan offense and defense applies to Philadelphia. There's
plenty of that to come. But where do you start
in terms of what was a fast start and an
effective game plan executed by Matthew Stafford and joh McVay.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
I would start with the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
When you he came up fireing, he was you know, look, Minnesota,
Brian Flores, they had a great plan, or at least
their plan was to put as much pressure on Matthew.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Stafford as possible.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
How many times did they rush seven or six trying
to get pressure in Stafford's face? And they got home
a few times with those stunts. Some of those guys
were coming scott free to Matthew Stafford. Problem is the
ball was gone already. So if you want to start
with any praise on offense, start with him and then
work your way out from there. But I'll tell you
this one thing about the offensive line. Life is better
(23:05):
when Rob Havenstein is at right tackle. Oh my god,
he's so big, he's so smart. His football. IQ is
off the charts, and he can just make a guy
go cold with one punch, you know what I mean.
So that just takes the front side away a lark
Jackson on the back side, great too. Up the middle,
they got home a few times. Great job by the
running backs with Matthew Stafford getting the ball out on
(23:28):
time with velocity.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
That was the game for me, unless I forget. Rob
was not there when the Rams played the Eagles. And
I think you're right. Not only does he make right
tackle better, I think he makes right guard and maybe
even center a little bit better too, which.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Makes your quarterback better. I can trust that side. Just
deal here. Oh my god, having him back was big.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
I just love to start that. Tyler Higbee got off too.
I mean, I think he's still in it. Even though
he left the game due to injury. I think he
still finished as the team's leading receiver. And to say
with those five catches for fifty eight yards, but just
his involvement and him being back and made me, you know,
feel grateful that you know he's healthy and able to
contribute in that way.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
To this off.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
We can't say fine, but I think we're hopefully trending
in the right direction. I want to be optimistic. It
seems like the Rams are optimistic.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
I do know this. If he's breathing, he's playing.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Yeah, yeah, good luck keeping him off the playing. Yeah
to Philadelphia, and he was one of them. Cooper was another.
But the targets won at the catch point and that
was one of our keys last week on this show
is Yeah, Matthew's got to have that look in his eye.
He's got to have one of those soul snatching nights.
And he did. But there were some balls that he
trusted his targets to go out and get. Higbee did
(24:35):
it early. Cooper did it on his one clutch targets.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Oh man, the one the Hunter long was right there
and that I think that's the one he needed.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
It was right there.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
It would have been a big play, but he was
on the money with his sorrows beating the defense to
the spot with the football.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
But it was just his.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
Timing and there was a play. Oh my god, I
wish I could remember the quarter. It was early in
the football game, and it's so great. It's like Dad
coming down from upstairs. So you've got Bowlemer and Steve
Abula call out the protections, Stafford goes walks up and
goes no here and then backs up. Kiren, you got him,
motion hike, boom, ball out. I mean, that's perfect. That's
(25:10):
what I love about veteran quarterbacks. Nothing is left unchecked.
And even if if you call it, if he doesn't
like it, he's going to redirect you. I thought that
was absolutely beautiful. He is taking control of the huddle.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Speaking of Limmer, a couple things that I think we
all agree have to be sharper this week for the
Rams to have a chance to pull off this upset.
The penalties piled up, and I think it's a two
touchdown lead, it's a fourteen zero lead if not for
that Limber penalty. There was a hold on Jordan Whittington,
which whatever, I think that prevented the Rams from really
putting the hammer down with their running game at that point.
(25:43):
But penalties can't happen this week against the Eagles and
ball security too. Like Matthew Stafford got away with one.
That's who he is. We know him as the guy
who was definitely throwing a pass there, broaching it not
to get called for either grounding or the scoop and
score and then look, Kyron, I know it was like
(26:03):
tackled in a very awkward position. But because his fumble
against the Eagles is top of mind, I know for
all of us it was a great effort. It wasn't
a letter perfect effort. This feels like the week where
you do not have that margin for air that you
enjoyed against the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Well, and those those penalties and self inflicted mistakes overall
were what I felt like really killed the momentum that
the offense had started to get against the Eagles in
the first matchup, and especially going into environment like link
in Financial Field in Philly, Like that's that's a situation
where you cannot afford to have those or you need
to minimize them as much as possible.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Bow good job, Yeah, I mean look, good job because
it didn't cost It was just it just it was
the crew that flagged that. I mean, should it have
been a flag?
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Eh?
Speaker 3 (26:48):
It was close.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
The whistle blew right when he hit him, so be it.
But I know they're trying to clean up stuff around
the pile. But I love his aggression. He's not gonna
let you tag his guy without you know, him coming
down to be protective.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
That's what you want offense?
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Blindman to hear Sean McVay tell it, it seemed like
the Rams dialed it down, scaled it back a little
bit when they felt like they had firm game control.
Is that a good thing? That they maybe have more
left in their inventory that they didn't show that He was.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
Going to ask you, does that show growth from Sean McVay,
Like way back in seventeen eighteen, when he first took
the gig and he was pedal to the medal, I
wonder if he would have slowed down on offense. I
wonder if he would have even had thought to let's
save some stuff for next week. Because I thought that
was very astute, that's very forward thinking. We got it,
(27:37):
the pressures all on them. I've got an eighteen point lead,
You've got to chase me down. Why would I show
you or my next opponent anything until I have to?
I thought that was very smart.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Are we ready for that next opponent? Any final thoughts
on the Vikings and the win that was Monday? Or
should we transition?
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Hell of a job.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
I thought they had a game plan, but I thought
the Rams rose to the occasion. But we said, of
all the opponents, to pick. I thought Minnesota was the
one you wanted to see, and I'm glad the Rams
did what we thought they could do, go out and
dominate the football game.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Yeah, I think that was the most advantageous mashup matchup,
especially for the defensive front when you consider that Christian
Daris saw their starting left tackle got injured in the
first meeting between those two teams, and that you know,
clearly had an impact on their offensive line ended up
working on the right.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Verse heard him there you go.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Is the opposite of what you guys just said true
this week though. I mean, if that was as good
a matchup, is this as bad a matchup? Not just
for the Rams. The Eagles are a tough matchup, period,
but football games aren't played on paper, right like depth
charts don't decide outcomes.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
People do.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
And there's a reason why we're all getting on that
flight Saturday to go see this game, because the Rams
don't have to win four games in a best of
seven series. It'd be better for four quarters.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
You know.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
I think the same applies to what they said going
into the Minnesota game. Respect all fear none. Philadelphia is tough, man.
I mean, they've got a lot of good players. Saquon
Barkley is arguably the best back in the league right now,
one or two. Jalen Hurts, I feel, is elite. I
think he If you had Matthew Stafford and Jalen Hurts
(29:13):
to start a football team, which guy wins the job,
it depends on what offense you're using, because they're both
great at what they do. So this will be a snootful,
But I don't think the Eagles are unbeatable, and I
still don't think we've seen the best of the Rams
just set.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
I think we're getting close.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
I think this win versus Minnesota is a step in
the right direction. But if there was a best game
to be played, you're gonna need it this Sunday to
beat the Eagles.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
I mean, it's it's such a contrast. I think Minnesota
was the worst offensive line in the playoff field. This
is the best offensive line in the National Football League.
Minnesota isn't great running the ball, isn't committed to running
the ball. They're both elite defenses. That's a similarity that
I but Minnesota is aged opportunistic, super aggressive. Philadelphia is
(30:07):
more poised and patient and young oh Ya and they're
flying around and they're sticky in coverage.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
You know when you watch Minnesota's video and what they
do and how they attack, and you're talking about Brian
Flores and is up the field approach, his aggressive approach.
If he had Philadelphia's talent, he wouldn't have to do
all that. They can get after you with four and
play coverage. That's what makes them special is a talented roster,
a roster full of great players. And but the thing
(30:36):
I think that's right underneath all that, they are very combustible.
I think, like you said, if you get into a
game and you make this a four quarter battle, they
could get frustrated. Bad things can happen. I think the
more connected team will win this if you can get
past the talent of it all. But easier said than done.
But like I said, I don't think Philadelphia is unbeatable
by a long shot. It just you have to play
(30:57):
your best game to beat them.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
How close are you in the weather.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
I've checked the forecast a few times.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
I'll admit it, because possibility of snow, anything that impacts
the game, I think it could.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I mean, we'll see. I mean the Rams have shown
they can commit to running the ball when when needed,
And I guess should you know, conditions present themselves.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
But I do have a question.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
I mean, going back to San fran it was wet,
it was cold, Stafford was off New York Jets.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
It was cold.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Stafford was a little off early until he figured it out.
So is it weather or was it just rest? Because
that guy looked different in Arizona and he had the
week off. So is it the cold affecting him at
thirty six, thirty seven years old or did he just
need the rest? But I hope it was just the rest,
because this is going to be like it could be
a mess of a football game.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Weather.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
It can't control the weather. I don't know if you
can control Saquon Barkley. But this is the portion in
the show. Or I just literally wanted to turn it
over to you and say, coach far Yeah, how how
can you correct a three hundred yard from scrimmage day?
How can you make sure that house calls from seventy
plus yards don't happen?
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Well, one, you know it's coming. You know he has
that ability, so and you have to have all eleven
to the football. So I told you it was Omar
space and Christian Roseboom. They learned a lesson. I didn't
think a running back can get from here all the
way over there and then beat me down the field.
Well this guy can, so now you know. And I
said this before on the radio. There have been games
(32:29):
and I was with Mike Jones that we had her
butts handed to us physically because we didn't know it
was coming. We didn't see it coming. Had we gone
into the locker room and came out and played the
same game a half hour later, it would be totally different.
So this is the second time around, you know what
to expect. It's going to be a little bit tougher
for Sakoon Barkley to do exactly what he did before.
That's not to say he can't chip away and beat you,
(32:50):
but it won't be the same breakaway after breakaway. Because
you've seen it, you understand it, you'll game plan against it.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Rams are a different defense to a little bit in personnel,
but they're in temperament and commitment to stopping the run.
They've been different since that Philadelphia game.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean we've talked about it. It's like
that's that's one of the games where they learned arguably
the some of their toughest lessons of the season, just
in terms of missing one gap or one assignment and
how especially against a backfield like that, that can cost you.
They've made some considerable strides, I would say, since then
and put themselves in a better position to potentially, you know,
(33:27):
you know, stop Jalen Hurts in Saquon Barkley. But yeah,
I mean that that threat of you know, hitting those
home run plays is always going to be there. And
you know whatever, whatever lessons you've learned, especially from you know,
maintaining gap integrity and and again not missing assignments.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Applying and offensively too.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
Yeah, you don't want to be down two scores and
send your defense out against Barkley in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
They're going to pound you out. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
He wears you down. Yeah, he does most of his
damage after half halftime. And so I think the question
is can you force the Eagles to play you on
different terms? Like their winning streak is largely built on
playing games the way they want to play. Even last week.
I mean, if that fumble recovery or not, I guess
goes the other way.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
What did you think by the way I thought he
flipped it out.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
No no, no, no opening kickoff Packers and Eagles. Oh
and you were saying, like there's a real world scenario
where if that doesn't happen, we could be having a
completely different conversation right now. But to everyone's point, for
two notoriously slow starting franchises Philadelphia Los Angeles, the score
at the end of the first quarter is going to
matter this week. Here's what I worry about a bit.
The Eagles have been on a roll and if sick
(34:38):
One doesn't slide at the end of last week's game,
that probably looks like more of a blowout. And maybe
there's not as much discontent, but the Eagles faithful are wary,
like from what I've read and what I've heard, maybe
even like a little disgruntled about how stuck in the
mud this passing game is only one throw beyond twenty
yards last week, and it was off of that fake
push push. So I do worry a little bit about
(35:00):
that week to week adjustment, Like are you going to
have to at once suck up and sell out against
the run and have to deal with Kellen Moore and
company saying all right, here's your play action shot. We're
making sure that we're getting to it early.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
I think.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
I mean, you're probably gonna have to commit the extra
guy of the box too, if you're going to try
to take away Saquon Barkley, like we're just not gonna
allow him to beat us, which means now you're going
one on one with their receivers, and that presents a
whole another set of problems if you're not getting pass rush,
the proper pass rush. Now you mentioned the difference and
offensive line, Like I said, this will be different. It's
(35:36):
not going to be as easy to run over or
through these guys. They are maulers up front and they're
gonna keep you in front of them. But if you
can find a way to stop the run without having
to commit that extra body, then you've got something going.
But that would require a superhuman effort of your fronts,
and I think they're on that path the way they
left that football game.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
I thought.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Jared Vers has comment at the end with so funny
it was a sack party and I wasn't invited.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
Love it.
Speaker 4 (36:04):
He's happy for everyone that got a sack, but he
wants in on it too. So I think the front
the guys you need, Omar Spates Christian Roseboom. I think
they're playing their best ball right now. If you wanted
to go nose to nose with Philly and try to
stop say Kwan without the extra guy, this is the
week to do it.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
I tell you who did not play well that day.
A lot of the rookies and especially a lot of
the rookies on defense. Omar you mentioned Cam Kinchen's Tyler Davis,
Jared vers a little bit about Limbron offense, Like this
is a rookie redemption opportunity to show you're no longer refreshman,
right that in January here, that you're a different player
and that you're a different unit than you were back
in week twelve. You know what's nice about this postseason
(36:41):
past so far. Isn't it refreshing to have other teams
coaches being interviewed or having interview requests, Like last week
it was Brian Flores, this week Kellen Moore, Like we've
become so accustomed to that for the Los Angeles Rams,
it's nice to have your opponent coaches.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
Oh, like, what are you about to tell me? No, no,
what are you about to drop on me?
Speaker 3 (37:02):
Right now? Okay, don't start that.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
The other thing I think, going back to Week twelve
that bears mentioning here is that a couple of standouts
on defense for the Eagles are both on injured reserve.
Like Brandon Graham was oh everywhere that night, A's so
far and then he just calmly tells the media in
the post game that he's done for the season with
an injury, right, crazy, So he's not around. And then
last week it's their green dot linebacker na Kobe Dean,
(37:26):
who also had a phenomenal game against the Rams, now
done for the year. How does that change things to?
Speaker 2 (37:32):
Yeah, it makes me paying paid that much closer attention
to the middle of the defense and see what different
ways the Rams may try to attack it, especially when
you consider that they're still working through exactly you know
who's going to replace the Kobe there. I know that
mcvangio when he was talking to Philadelphia reporters this week,
mentioned rookie Jeremiah Trotter Junior's name as somebody who could
(37:53):
at least see more snaps, not necessarily guarantee that he
would start. But I think Nicholas Morrow, if I'm not mistaken,
was their practice squad, which is.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
A familiar name can backfills some special team snaps for him.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Perhaps, Yeah, And so there's a there's an area to
potentially exploit there. And that's no disrespect to you know,
whoever may step in to fill those shoes, But there's
there's going to be a clear difference. There always is
any time you're not missing, anytime you're missing a regular
starter at a key position like that, especially in a
key role like that with somebody who's the on field
signal caller for that unit.
Speaker 4 (38:25):
Don't you guys like you quate Vic Fangio is like
one of the biggest villains on the planet. Like Vic Fangio,
Darth Vader, same guy.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
I mean really, I.
Speaker 4 (38:32):
Mean the v the v is just like, oh my god,
his name fang It's just, oh goodness. Every time you
have something going, you seem to bump into him. And
you got to figure that guy out.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
I do have to point out that DeVante Smith did
not play the Rams in the first round. He'll be
out there this weekend. When they've had him and AJ,
they've been virtually unbeatable.
Speaker 4 (38:49):
What I mean, you're gonna have to you can't stack
the box. You're gonna to go one on one with
both guys.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Oh man, wow.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
And it too certain too soon to say one way
or another for Akela Witherspoon, but we certainly hope that
he can be out there because he's been on a
heater recently and he's the type of player that you
need in this moment.
Speaker 4 (39:05):
You know, I keep hearing from his coaches that he
is an absolute sponge and you know every rep he
takes is one more than he's had before in his
life or whatever they said. He's still learning to play
the position and he's easily coachable. So he's getting nothing
but better and more aggressive, which is what you love.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Before we get to Keys of Victory, did I forget
anything and the elements you want to talk through?
Speaker 3 (39:26):
Did we talk about the special teams yet?
Speaker 1 (39:29):
I knew there is something?
Speaker 4 (39:30):
Thank you CARDI coming up? Thank you CARDI coming up huge,
Ethan Evans. So Philly's got a great defense, right, So
at some point you're going to be punting backed up.
This is the time, too bombs away. Yeah, you've got
to let it all hang out. And if you cross
the fifty and it becomes now the end zones in play,
you've got to keep it out of the end zone.
(39:52):
You've got to make Jalen Hurts in that offense go
the long route. You can't give them easy first downs
if you kick it shorter out of bounds. So Ethan
Evans must have a big day, and do not forget
watch that tape. Minnesota got home a few times. They
should have blocked one, maybe two, so you know they're
going to come and attack that again. That's got to
be letter perfect. And you know Josh Carty I think
(40:13):
has found his stride, or at least that from snap
to hole to kick they found their rhythm. So I'm
glad he's hitting the stride at this time.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
It's a good call out on the punt block. Also,
didn't like the call on Humble going the other way.
I thought that was whatever.
Speaker 4 (40:26):
So nine penalties instead of ten? How do you roughing
the kicker with your back? Come on, I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
But to your point about Ethan Evans, I think one
of the untold elements to the rams turnaround in success
is that they're top five in the NFL in average
starting field position for their defense. To translate that like,
opponents are consistently faced with long fields because of what
the Rams do with the football when they're on offense
the way they take care of it. But also thanks
to Ethan and the punt.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
Yeah, and he would have been he had one touchback
and he would have had zero if he got the
one to bounce back. It was a beautiful pont He
was on fire. But that protection has got to be
a little bit better. You've got to help him out.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Kisa Victory, who wants it?
Speaker 3 (41:03):
Go ahead?
Speaker 2 (41:04):
Yeah, I'm going to start with winning the battle at
the line of scrimmage. As often as that gets used,
it feels like it rings especially true this week when
you think about, you know, Rob Havenstein being available for
this matchup after not being available for the last one
or the first one. I should say, just the size
on the interior of the Eagles defensive line and what
(41:24):
that means for the Rams offensive line. And on the
flip side too, the defensive front coming off of a
nine sack game and some of the pressure that they
were able to generate, Like, how does that hold up
against you know, what's arguably the best offensive line in
the NFL. I'm really interested in seeing how that plays out.
The success of the Rams have on each side of
(41:44):
the ball. There I think is what determines this outcome.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
I totally agree with that sentiment. Like Monday night felt
like a chess match and the Rams were the smarter team.
If you beat him with brains on Monday against the
Vikings Sunday feels like you gotta find a way to
beat him with bra on. You got to be the
tougher team. I don't know how you do that on
the road in Philadelphia, but doesn't that seem like the.
Speaker 4 (42:04):
Path Oh yeah, you're gonna have to out physical. I
guess for me the obvious, Like you said, control the
line of scrimmage, protect Matthew Stafford, kyn Williams. You can't
put it on the deck. You've ball securities number one,
And I think I would just go ahead and say
I think they're going to do a pretty good job
on Saquon Barkley. The second time around is going to
be a little bit different. So when you do stop
(42:24):
the run and you force this game onto Jalen Hurts,
now this is my key to the game. You cannot
let him jump out the window. If you've got him
in third end whatever and you have a chance to
get off the field, you cannot let him scramble and
pick up the first down and demoralize you. You have
to find a way either to scramble him to the
sideline or get him on the deck proper. You can't
let Jalen Hurts control this with his legs. Make him
(42:46):
throw it through this and make him throw it out
of the club. Absolutely, you've been the Kiren guy for
much of the last month. I'm gonna take your cue.
What if for all the talk of Saquon Barkley, and
I get it, he had an MVP caliber season at
running back, What if Kiren's impact on this game this
weekend is more, is greater, or is at least equivalent.
I'd be great if Kyron is pacing the offense, controlling
(43:08):
the game, and the defense is getting off that would
be something funny. The Rams win and Kyron Williams outrush
is Saquon Barkley. What do you say to that?
Speaker 3 (43:15):
Then? What hater? What hate do you have for that?
Speaker 4 (43:18):
Then that's something that could possibly happen if the defense steps.
Speaker 1 (43:21):
Up, because it goes hand in hand with combating a
team that likes to play bullyball, likes to take the
air out of the football. Nobody wins time of possession
like the Philadelphia Eagles flip the script on him. Can
I shoot one more at you as many as you like.
Speaker 4 (43:34):
You're not gonna beat the Philadelphia Eagles. If Cooper Cup
has one target, Okay, it's.
Speaker 3 (43:39):
Just not gonna happen. Ten has to show up. He
has to.
Speaker 4 (43:43):
You have to balance out this offense. It cannot be
seventeen only or that in a tight end of the
running game, it's got to be both. You've got to
have this offense clicking and functioning. And the only way
that happens is if ten shows up.
Speaker 3 (43:55):
Yeah, it can't be.
Speaker 4 (43:56):
You can't leave Philadelphia with one target or none.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
You asked for it earlier. And I'm not superstitious.
Speaker 3 (44:03):
Is that it?
Speaker 1 (44:04):
But I'm a'mstitious enough to keep eating chocolate.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
Oh my gosh, look at you. Nice.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
Take you and pass it around.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
Thank you very much. I'll take the big one. There
you go home, There you go. JB's chocolate. Love it.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
I'll do a full candy bar if it gets us
to the super.
Speaker 4 (44:16):
Bowl, a full candy bar of our choosing's still rams.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
Thank you guys for your time, Yes, sir, and your friendship.
Speaker 1 (44:25):
I always when I say there's nothing I want more
than to be in these seats again next week.
Speaker 3 (44:29):
Sound like it's over over?
Speaker 1 (44:30):
No, thank you quite the opposite. Let's go that will
do it for our divisional round edition of Between the Horns,
always presented by your Southern California to you to dealers.
Of course, we continue to think about and to pray
for those who've been affected by these wild fires, and
especially our gratitude to those who combat them and who
are supporting the victims in all of the various ways.
(44:52):
These la FD T shirts and hats are still available
at the Ramsfanshop dot com the Rams Fanshop dot com.
All proceeds benefiting the la FD Foundation and American Red Cross.
All right for Tomarco and Stu, I'm JB.
Speaker 3 (45:07):
Long.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
The RAMS wants three games under five hundred, now thirty
one's away from lifting a Lombardi Trophy by any means necessary. Yes, sir,
A small sacrifice, a small price to pay. Have a
great rest of your weekend. Everyone cannot wait to talk
to you from Philadelphia.
Great to see you, Ramiley. Every rams win means another
episode of Between the Horns, presented by your Southern California
Toyota Dealers. Off to Philadelphia for the divisional round with
Stu Jackson, DeMarco Farr I am JB.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Long.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
We're still thinking of those of you who have become
victims of these firestorms. What are you doing there tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Looking for your chocolate? We'll get sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
We'll get here, But we want to reflect on a
whole lot of things. The triumph on Monday, the opportunity
ahead in these twenty twenty four playoffs. But good to
see you guys. That was quite a memory that the
team made, and really the organization made in Arizona.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
I was thinking on the way over it might be
right at the top of just most pride swelling moments
of my life to be involved in something like that.
It was sobering to think the game got moved and
why we were in Arizona. But then the work that
went into getting everybody down there and the team backing
it up with a dominant victory. Just yeah, just one
(01:03):
of the special moments on this side of the fence.
As a broadcaster for a football team.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Yeah, it wasn't the first time.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Obviously this organization has dealt with the impact of wildfires.
But you know what really struck me was just how
quickly everybody mobilized and you know, put a plan in
place and sprung into action with basically a third less
time and not as many plans in place as far
as like you know, twenty eighteen, like Colorado springs, like
(01:32):
all that, Like you guys can probably test it better
than I can, but like that that was already planned
as far as practicing out there and things like that,
Like it was not planned that last week until the
game was obviously forced to be relocated, that it would
be at the at the Cardinals facility. But you know,
kind of the same as you, DeMarco, just like a
lot of pride, and I was almost like choking back
(01:53):
tiers at the end of the game because like just
not only for you know, everything to work out the
way it did, but also just the result and just
the way that the displayed that the team or the
performance of the team I should say, had, especially that
pass rush. I mean it was.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Inspiring, really inspiring, inspiring.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
And I know those sentiments, those emotions for me and
for you were not just about joy for Sean McVay
and Matthew Stafford and the players and the coaches who won,
but so many and will resist the urge to drop
names here because inevitably we'll forget someone who shouldn't be forgotten.
But I think we all agree we were cheering for
and happy for a lot of people with the RAMS
(02:33):
who don't wear pads or helmets. Oh yeah, that won
that game before it was even played, right, Well, that
was an organizational triumph before it was a win in
a wildcard game. And look, if you were able to
be there, thank you so much. Yes, and we're so
happy for you to have made that RAMS memory. If
you wanted to be there but could not, hope you
(02:56):
had a great game, watch or listen, however you ingested
that one, you were there with us in spirit, and
especially if you were planning to be at Sofi Stadium
but were robbed at that opportunity because of this natural disaster.
I'm sorry. Our hearts go out for you. Obviously we
all wanted that, and who knows, maybe the stars will
align that we'll have one more get together at Sofi
(03:17):
Stadium before this is all said and.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
That'd be fun.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
I wanted to go back on one of those buses though.
That had to be one cool trip.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
That's a good point. I don't think i've heard enough
stories about what that round trip was like. They're probably
still sleeping it off.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
I thought there'd be video something.
Speaker 4 (03:32):
I'm sure the ride back was a lot more fun
than the ride up after that butt kicking down there
in Arizona.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Arizona, you know what else was awesome?
Speaker 1 (03:39):
And maybe I was too busy to understand that it
was all going to come together this way. But to
see like Aaron eric o'donald there, to see Tory there, Yes,
to see coach Henny there. Yeah, like it was part
playoff game, part super Bowl experience with the whole staff traveling,
and part four family reunion. Like that was family reunion
(04:02):
under adverse circumstances.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
That was the Rambley coming together special. And I'm just
I'm really glad that this football team, Sean McVeagh and
his group made it stand up and go out there
and play their best game. And it was a playoff game.
We have to remind ourselves that that was wild card weekend.
There was a lot at stake for this football team.
Outside of what was going on, and they got it done.
They brought everything home.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
So just a.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Special weekend and a nine sack day with ad up
in the box. I never thought i'd see that, no way.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, on this edition between the Horns will get our
reflections on defense, on offense, and how it all applies
to the next matchup, a rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles.
But anecdotally, I want to react to something and see
if you've observed this too. The roots of this organization
in Los Angeles are growing deeper through moments like these,
(04:54):
the branches are growing wider. I probably should admit that
I was on the golf, of course recently we're still
in season, but nonetheless I was, and I was struck
by the amount of RAMS paraphernalia that I saw. Our
local gas station has a RAMS house flag outside its doors. Now,
my kids at school, the excitement on Tuesday morning was palpable,
(05:17):
Like the way they were talking in their classmates were
talking about the Rams. This is still a generational project. Yeah,
but it's happening.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
I've been saying it for years since they've come back.
What is the first part of the RAMS on this
it's Los Angeles so I could care less who you
used to root for when there was no team here,
but your team is here. This is your football team.
So this is how it starts. When the team puts
LA on its back and just for a minute, for
(05:46):
a weekend, just take your mind off what's going on
for a second. This is how you build those deep
roots with the fan base LA. The La Rams is
coming in defense of Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (05:59):
This is your team, your city, your community, your everything,
and it's all right here. So I well said JB.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Well, and it's the wins that are those signature moments,
but it's also all the work that so many of us,
especially the community team, are doing behind the scenes and
off season, during season holidays that I think really really
bring that home. Sean McVay has turned to saying his
(06:26):
team and his Rams are built for this. I think
we saw that on Monday night that New Ethos. What
about the resiliency, But also Stu, what about what is
left in the emotional tank coming off that really high
high on Monday night.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, it's a great question, JB. I mean, how do
you manage that you come off such an emotionally charged
game and you know, a situation where in some cases
coaches and players were you know, personally affected by you
know those things. How do you how do you channel
that into something that you know fuels you and motivates
you even further without it getting you too high or
(07:03):
like you were talking about with kind of that you know,
emotional tank too low where you know you're running on
close to empty and what's going to be a pivot game.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Look, the fire is still going. There are people that
are still without power, without their houses.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
This ain't over.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
So it was one game, sure, but it doesn't go
away just because you won.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
You carry this forward.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
This is something that, like you said, galvanizes a community,
and galvanize is a football team. We have been looking
for something. We have been talking about this football team
for this entire season about seizing control of the game
and they need a spark. It seems like they found one.
They have found one and they are carrying the city
on their backs. And I think they are comfortable with that.
(07:45):
When you talk about being built for it, what haven't
they been through? Seriously, everything international travel, playing on the
East Coast in the early window, everything they've been through.
So yeah, they are built for any environment you could
throw them, and they always seem to come out not
on top, but at least they are attacking the challenge.
(08:05):
So going to Philadelphia will be right in line with
what they've already done.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
You're touching on something there that I think is worth
following up on. The twenty one championship team had to
shared purpose and urgency and identity that I've never seen
in any other sports team that I've covered. I don't
expect that to be replicated by the Rams or any
other entity for the rest of my life, but I
do think what you said is correct that for a
(08:30):
team this year in twenty twenty four that probably didn't
have that shared purpose or motivation at the midway point,
it's there now.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
It's not theirs, right, Yeah, they we talked about He
talks about it. Sean McVay talks about being connected. It's
so obvious when you go around the room postgame and
they're all saying the same thing in different ways without
being prompted. That is a connected football team. So not
there yet, not done. The job is not done. But
I'm glad he said built for anything because it's shown
(09:00):
right now.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
And to that point, JB. I think about in that
twenty one season when guys were like, I want to
win it for Eric Weddle, I want to win for
Big Win, I want to win it for Aaron Donalds.
Like you kind of get that same sense amongst this
team too, where I mean, as cliche as it sounds like,
you can tell just with the way these guys interact
and the camaraderie they have that they are truly such
(09:23):
a selfless team that they that they want to win
this thing for each other.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Yeah, they all in label was misapplied. It was an
FM pick sort of like they mortgage their future. That
was good, and we've had that conversation. But really where
they were all in is all in for each other
to lift that Lombardi Trophy in a way that I
think you're right. This group is coming together in that way. Now,
whether they can accomplish the same feat a lot to
(09:47):
be accomplished there, and to take everyone behind the curtain
a little bit, because we all work in the media space,
like we study these matchups week to week. Seven fifty
am Tuesday morning, the Philadelphia Eagles press release hit my
inbox and I'm like, you know, coming off of a
few hours of sleep getting the kids to school, and
(10:07):
it was almost like the opponent this week is rubbing
it in your face, like we're ready, Can you get
ready in time? Because it's a rush order, it's a
short week, it's a long turnaround Arizona La Philadelphia.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
They're all banged up. Everybody's banged up. Everybody's going through
the same stuff right now, and you know those games
can't get here quick enough. But this is your Ivan Drago,
this is the six hundred pound elephant in the room.
You got to go through Philadelphia to get to where
you want to go. As far as being connected, I
think the Rams might be the best team in the league.
Now are they the most talented? We're gonna find out
because I think Philadelphia definitely fits that mode. So this
(10:44):
game will It'll take all four quarters to decide. So
this connectivity, what we're talking about, will come to play
and be tested in Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
That being said, Monday Nights Win is a line that
I think we've all crossed together. And what I mean
by that is, I don't know how anyone could argue
that whatever happens from this point forward twenty twenty four
was anything other than a resounding success. Has the year
been a successful season for you? If the Rams don't
win another game, what do you think?
Speaker 2 (11:14):
I mean?
Speaker 3 (11:16):
I don't want to be that guy.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Go ahead, Okay, yeah, I would say you hope that
this team achieves more than it already has to this point.
But when you consider how few people outside of the
building gave them a shot when they were one and four,
dealing with a bunch of injuries and just not thinking
that they would be in the position they are now,
(11:40):
I would say even just rebounding from that and reaching
the postseason is like something to be proud of and
something to celebrate. But again, I go back to not
wanting that run to end by this weekend.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I feel that you're going. But you swept San Francisco, right,
that's a great season. You won the NFC West. That
is a triumph. You went from one to four, like
you said, to hosting and winning a playoff game. I
think for where this franchise, in this group is, that's
a great season. And now you've got house money. Now
just go cut it loose in Philly and get greedy
(12:16):
and go for more.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
I'm all for it to shut up a bunch of haters, sure,
but I thought this was a championship or bust expectation
because of how your team is constructed, especially at quarterback.
You've only got so much time with Matthew Stafford, so
you want to squeeze every drop out of his talent
that you can. So I thought the goal was Lombardi's.
So just to shut people up, Great, you made the playoffs,
(12:39):
you won a playoff game. Awesome, I'm with you. It
is something to celebrate. And I'll go back to something
that someone told me. Mike Martz told me his biggest
regret as a coach was not celebrating the NFC championship game.
He treated that as a failure. He said, that's wrong.
So you should celebrate where you are. You should celebrate
winning a wild card game, winning a playoff football game.
(13:00):
But that ain't the only goal. The goal is the Lombardi. Yeah,
the goal is your second since Stafford's been here, your
second in the McVeigh.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
Are We said Monday night that inevitably there are several
Rams who are down to their last loss as Rams.
That's life in the National Football League. We just said,
let that not be tonight, let that not be this week,
because I think we're all touching around the same sentiment,
which is I had forgotten just how addictive the NFL
(13:28):
postseason can be. When you are privileged to be with
a team that advances, you'll do anything for one more
week on the job, one more week.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Absolutely, we study the same stat pages and when you
go through and your regular season stats can get very long,
but those postseasons get very short. You know what I mean,
because there's only a few teams left, and this is
exactly where you want to be. And to me, this
is where you make stars. This is where legendary careers
are born. This is where Hall of Fame careers are
cemented or lost. Like you said, I've heard this before
(13:59):
out of I know if it's true, but it's funny.
Sam Darnold lost money in that game. Well that's what
the playoffs do. You can also make money the other way.
So it's big. It's everything. The air gets rarefied and
very thin up here, but every team you face from
here on out is good. Like and I said this before,
this is where the all pros live. If you want
to know where the best players are playing, they're usually
playing on these sort of days this time of year.
(14:22):
So if you want to be one of those guys
be dominant.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
It's so funny because we've spent the better part of
the last two months talking about scenarios and what needs
to happen, and now here you are in the Elite
eight and there's not many options left. One of three
things is going to happen for the Los Angeles Rams
this weekend. They're gonna lose. Their season is going to
end and that's that. Or they win, and if they win,
buh oh. They're going back to Detroit for Round three
(14:48):
against Dan Campbell, Jared Goff and the Lions. And you
know me, I've said all along, it feels like this
season is destined to go through Detroit one more time.
Or option three. Door three is if you win and
both upsets happen both lower seeded road teams win, you're
gonna be hosting a rookie quarterback in the Washington Commanders
at SOFI Staium in the NFC Championship game. From the
(15:10):
Rams lens. We're down to the final three choices.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
You gotta do is beat Philly.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
All you gotta do beat Philadelphia Easier said than done.
A lot of questions they present, but yeah, going back
to Detroit would be very intriguing having the home game.
That's the goal. Come on, that's what everybody wants. That
would be something special, especially with what's going on in
Los Angeles right now. Having that game here would be
something special. But going back to Detroit one more time,
(15:38):
it and over and.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
Over between these there's only one door that I don't
want this team to walk.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Through, and that is those three. Oh, the first.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
One, okay, and we'll get to the goal and just
what a monumental task that's going to be a little
bit later on, But I think we'll also use our
reflections from the win of the Vikings to spin the
narrative forward in terms of takeaways on both sides of
the football and how they applied the rematch with the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
Be going back to Detroit, I'm just saying, oh, go ahead,
I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Sing me both.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yeah. Uh.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
DeMarco and all of our years together has been right
to point out that too often we start on offense.
We're not going to make that mistake today, especially after
the performance that Chris Shula and had and staff and
players had on Monday night, Like what a perfect mix
of borrowing from the blueprint that the line set forward
I think the week prior, but tailoring it to the
(16:30):
ideal rams ingredient.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
You know, it's funny when you send all out blitzes
and I like it if you're up tempo. Minnesota was
up tempo. But the one thing it does is it
stifles your creativity upfront as a defensive lineman because you're
stuck to one gap, because you're bringing guys through other gaps,
so you're taking away half of what they do. I'm
glad Chris you eula resisted the urge to just copy
that blueprint and just rely on what got you here,
(16:52):
that defensive front. Being creative, Uh, just wrecking shop, jumping
up the field. If you show too much at attention
to the edge, guys and verse and be young, we're
bringing it. You're gonna open yourself up for Fisk and Turner.
And that is exactly what happened. They got after him
up front. Every single time they adjusted their protection covered,
somebody else beat them up the field. So and then
(17:14):
you brought those timely blisters that just got after Sam Darnald.
It was a masterful game plan. It was a great
job by the defensive line and the defensive unit getting
after Sam Donald and just being on the same page.
The communication was outstanding, the pursuit was even better.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
The will, the want to get there otherworldly.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Like you said, playing for the City of la you
could tell that front was playing for something deeper.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
You talked about the money that Sam Donald likely cost himself,
and I think it's a fair question to wonder, like
what percentage of Monday Night was him unspooling at the
end of a Pro Bowl season and what percentage was
what the Rams did. I honestly don't care. Yeah, I
don't think it matters one iota because you got the
job done.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
The only thing I got steamed about was and I
heard that Minnesota's play by play guys were going after
Sam Darky. He's holding the ball too long? Okay, My
first question is why do you think he's holding it.
It's a great plan. They're taking people away. He had
no other option, and he got hit a bunch of times.
Give the defense credit for discombobulating him. Don't just dump
it on him for holding the football. There was a
(18:17):
reason he looked that way, and it was that front
getting after.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
I mean, team radio guys don't know what they're talking well, Stu,
what about the fact that they had nine sacks and
none of them came from the first round pick who
had his own highlight. We'll get there in a second,
but none of them came from Jared Verse.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Yeah, it was the I want to say, it was
eight different players who had at least half a sack,
which was the first time since nineteen eighty two, when
sacks officially became a stat that that had been the case.
So yeah, just really getting after it. I thought it
was the best example of everybody owning their roles and
knowing where their ops were. Because when I talked to
Kobe Turner about this earlier in the season, as far
(18:56):
as just the strides the pass rush had made, and
you know when they were really starting to find in
their roof in the middle of the year, and that
was one of the things he pointed to, was just
guys knowing when their ops are learning how to play
off of each other. And there's no better time for
that to hit its peak than right now.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
MVP Kobe Turner, I just have to say that the
degree of difficulty to go from nose to pass rush threat,
we can't talk about that enough. I need you to
be the tough guy. I need you to be the
spine of the defense. Not move if they run the football,
and then if they pass it, be active in the
pass rush. And he did both with a plumb and
get everybody lined up. Kobe Turner, I see.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
You, man well said two questions about the Jared Verse
scoop and score. First of all, oh, where did Bobby
Brown come from? Did he teleport to the end zone
right there following the flip?
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Don't know, don't know, trapdoor, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah, I was gonna say, I don't think I saw
any of those on the sideline and I was wandering
around down their pregame. But impressive a bill to just
emerge in the frame.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Yeah, and he timed it well thankfully not a penalty.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, is that true?
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Jared Versus was the fastest guy in the field. They
clocked his mph and he was the fastest guy out there.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Almost twenty miles per hour I think was his GP.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Oh my god, that's Jim Brown.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
People forget like we've talked about this with Jared. He
was a skill position player in high school. I think
he only had a couple of reps on defense at
end before he became a collegiate.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Oh you know what I was thinking, Oh, goal line,
let's go.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Did you hear what he was thinking? So my other
question was what was your reaction miked up where he
goes right to mcveigh's like, I need a fade ball
there you go. Give it to him in the midst
of a wild card playoff.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
Absolutely, give it to him.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
We got top coverage too, because Russian coverage always go
hand in hand. And what I loved about Monday night
is over the last couple of weeks, it's been a
Kellow or Kobe and how do you find that right combination?
The other night it was both the land shark pulling
the DeMarco far again with a pick and a sack.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
Oh nice getting in there.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Look, I think all the corners they played well, and
there were a lot of challenges that Minnesota likes to
try to throw at you. They want to get the
ball deep. But I do love the discipline of the secondary.
If I've got the left hip or the right hip
of said receiver, they stayed with that hip and trusted
their people over the top. Or if you're going to bracket,
(21:17):
I'm going to do my job and make sure I
focus on my responsibility and not worry about what's going
on behind me. That is a defense that trusts each other.
That's a secondary that understands what we're trying to get
done and how we're trying to take away. And I'm
trusting our guys are going to get there on the
pass rush and it worked out. But sending those guys
on blitzes. The hit by a Kello was Wow, good lord,
(21:37):
that's a big due that unloaded on a quarterback and
got the ball out. Now he didn't make him fumble.
The ball shot out of there. So those corners that
the secondary as a whole played a great football game
around what the front man not.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
Quinn Lake had a sneaky good game. It's some timely moments.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
Stude.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Let me sell you on something, because DeMarco and MJD
weren't having it. They were laughing me off. But I
think cam Kinchins made an adjustment on that four and
long throw, and now that he's been through it, he
pulled off of that and didn't intercept it intentionally.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
I'd agree with either.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Thank you, Stu.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
You mean the one he dropped, You mean he purposely
dropped it? Okay, Yeah, he probably dropped it worked. Yeah,
they're going to get the.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Ball out where they got Let's get to offense, and
again we kind of want to start to transition to
how the plan offense and defense applies to Philadelphia. There's
plenty of that to come. But where do you start
in terms of what was a fast start and an
effective game plan executed by Matthew Stafford and joh McVay.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
I would start with the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (22:35):
When you he came up fireing, he was you know, look, Minnesota,
Brian Flores, they had a great plan, or at least
their plan was to put as much pressure on Matthew.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Stafford as possible.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
How many times did they rush seven or six trying
to get pressure in Stafford's face? And they got home
a few times with those stunts. Some of those guys
were coming scott free to Matthew Stafford. Problem is the
ball was gone already. So if you want to start
with any praise on offense, start with him and then
work your way out from there. But I'll tell you
this one thing about the offensive line. Life is better
(23:05):
when Rob Havenstein is at right tackle. Oh my god,
he's so big, he's so smart. His football. IQ is
off the charts, and he can just make a guy
go cold with one punch, you know what I mean.
So that just takes the front side away a lark
Jackson on the back side, great too. Up the middle,
they got home a few times. Great job by the
running backs with Matthew Stafford getting the ball out on
(23:28):
time with velocity.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
That was the game for me, unless I forget. Rob
was not there when the Rams played the Eagles. And
I think you're right. Not only does he make right
tackle better, I think he makes right guard and maybe
even center a little bit better too, which.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Makes your quarterback better. I can trust that side. Just
deal here. Oh my god, having him back was big.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
I just love to start that. Tyler Higbee got off too.
I mean, I think he's still in it. Even though
he left the game due to injury. I think he
still finished as the team's leading receiver. And to say
with those five catches for fifty eight yards, but just
his involvement and him being back and made me, you know,
feel grateful that you know he's healthy and able to
contribute in that way.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
To this off.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
We can't say fine, but I think we're hopefully trending
in the right direction. I want to be optimistic. It
seems like the Rams are optimistic.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
I do know this. If he's breathing, he's playing.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Yeah, yeah, good luck keeping him off the playing. Yeah
to Philadelphia, and he was one of them. Cooper was another.
But the targets won at the catch point and that
was one of our keys last week on this show
is Yeah, Matthew's got to have that look in his eye.
He's got to have one of those soul snatching nights.
And he did. But there were some balls that he
trusted his targets to go out and get. Higbee did
(24:35):
it early. Cooper did it on his one clutch targets.
Speaker 4 (24:38):
Oh man, the one the Hunter long was right there
and that I think that's the one he needed.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
It was right there.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
It would have been a big play, but he was
on the money with his sorrows beating the defense to
the spot with the football.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
But it was just his.
Speaker 4 (24:49):
Timing and there was a play. Oh my god, I
wish I could remember the quarter. It was early in
the football game, and it's so great. It's like Dad
coming down from upstairs. So you've got Bowlemer and Steve
Abula call out the protections, Stafford goes walks up and
goes no here and then backs up. Kiren, you got him,
motion hike, boom, ball out. I mean, that's perfect. That's
(25:10):
what I love about veteran quarterbacks. Nothing is left unchecked.
And even if if you call it, if he doesn't
like it, he's going to redirect you. I thought that
was absolutely beautiful. He is taking control of the huddle.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Speaking of Limmer, a couple things that I think we
all agree have to be sharper this week for the
Rams to have a chance to pull off this upset.
The penalties piled up, and I think it's a two
touchdown lead, it's a fourteen zero lead if not for
that Limber penalty. There was a hold on Jordan Whittington,
which whatever, I think that prevented the Rams from really
putting the hammer down with their running game at that point.
(25:43):
But penalties can't happen this week against the Eagles and
ball security too. Like Matthew Stafford got away with one.
That's who he is. We know him as the guy
who was definitely throwing a pass there, broaching it not
to get called for either grounding or the scoop and
score and then look, Kyron, I know it was like
(26:03):
tackled in a very awkward position. But because his fumble
against the Eagles is top of mind, I know for
all of us it was a great effort. It wasn't
a letter perfect effort. This feels like the week where
you do not have that margin for air that you
enjoyed against the Vikings.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Well, and those those penalties and self inflicted mistakes overall
were what I felt like really killed the momentum that
the offense had started to get against the Eagles in
the first matchup, and especially going into environment like link
in Financial Field in Philly, Like that's that's a situation
where you cannot afford to have those or you need
to minimize them as much as possible.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
Bow good job, Yeah, I mean look, good job because
it didn't cost It was just it just it was
the crew that flagged that. I mean, should it have
been a flag?
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Eh?
Speaker 3 (26:48):
It was close.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
The whistle blew right when he hit him, so be it.
But I know they're trying to clean up stuff around
the pile. But I love his aggression. He's not gonna
let you tag his guy without you know, him coming
down to be protective.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
That's what you want offense?
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Blindman to hear Sean McVay tell it, it seemed like
the Rams dialed it down, scaled it back a little
bit when they felt like they had firm game control.
Is that a good thing? That they maybe have more
left in their inventory that they didn't show that He was.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
Going to ask you, does that show growth from Sean McVay,
Like way back in seventeen eighteen, when he first took
the gig and he was pedal to the medal, I
wonder if he would have slowed down on offense. I
wonder if he would have even had thought to let's
save some stuff for next week. Because I thought that
was very astute, that's very forward thinking. We got it,
(27:37):
the pressures all on them. I've got an eighteen point lead,
You've got to chase me down. Why would I show
you or my next opponent anything until I have to?
I thought that was very smart.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
Are we ready for that next opponent? Any final thoughts
on the Vikings and the win that was Monday? Or
should we transition?
Speaker 3 (27:53):
Hell of a job.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
I thought they had a game plan, but I thought
the Rams rose to the occasion. But we said, of
all the opponents, to pick. I thought Minnesota was the
one you wanted to see, and I'm glad the Rams
did what we thought they could do, go out and
dominate the football game.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Yeah, I think that was the most advantageous mashup matchup,
especially for the defensive front when you consider that Christian
Daris saw their starting left tackle got injured in the
first meeting between those two teams, and that you know,
clearly had an impact on their offensive line ended up
working on the right.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Verse heard him there you go.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Is the opposite of what you guys just said true
this week though. I mean, if that was as good
a matchup, is this as bad a matchup? Not just
for the Rams. The Eagles are a tough matchup, period,
but football games aren't played on paper, right like depth
charts don't decide outcomes.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
People do.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
And there's a reason why we're all getting on that
flight Saturday to go see this game, because the Rams
don't have to win four games in a best of
seven series. It'd be better for four quarters.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
You know.
Speaker 4 (28:53):
I think the same applies to what they said going
into the Minnesota game. Respect all fear none. Philadelphia is tough, man.
I mean, they've got a lot of good players. Saquon
Barkley is arguably the best back in the league right now,
one or two. Jalen Hurts, I feel, is elite. I
think he If you had Matthew Stafford and Jalen Hurts
(29:13):
to start a football team, which guy wins the job,
it depends on what offense you're using, because they're both
great at what they do. So this will be a snootful,
But I don't think the Eagles are unbeatable, and I
still don't think we've seen the best of the Rams
just set.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
I think we're getting close.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
I think this win versus Minnesota is a step in
the right direction. But if there was a best game
to be played, you're gonna need it this Sunday to
beat the Eagles.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
I mean, it's it's such a contrast. I think Minnesota
was the worst offensive line in the playoff field. This
is the best offensive line in the National Football League.
Minnesota isn't great running the ball, isn't committed to running
the ball. They're both elite defenses. That's a similarity that
I but Minnesota is aged opportunistic, super aggressive. Philadelphia is
(30:07):
more poised and patient and young oh Ya and they're
flying around and they're sticky in coverage.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
You know when you watch Minnesota's video and what they
do and how they attack, and you're talking about Brian
Flores and is up the field approach, his aggressive approach.
If he had Philadelphia's talent, he wouldn't have to do
all that. They can get after you with four and
play coverage. That's what makes them special is a talented roster,
a roster full of great players. And but the thing
(30:36):
I think that's right underneath all that, they are very combustible.
I think, like you said, if you get into a
game and you make this a four quarter battle, they
could get frustrated. Bad things can happen. I think the
more connected team will win this if you can get
past the talent of it all. But easier said than done.
But like I said, I don't think Philadelphia is unbeatable
by a long shot. It just you have to play
(30:57):
your best game to beat them.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
How close are you in the weather.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
I've checked the forecast a few times.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
I'll admit it, because possibility of snow, anything that impacts
the game, I think it could.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I mean, we'll see. I mean the Rams have shown
they can commit to running the ball when when needed,
And I guess should you know, conditions present themselves.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
But I do have a question.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
I mean, going back to San fran it was wet,
it was cold, Stafford was off New York Jets.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
It was cold.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Stafford was a little off early until he figured it out.
So is it weather or was it just rest? Because
that guy looked different in Arizona and he had the
week off. So is it the cold affecting him at
thirty six, thirty seven years old or did he just
need the rest? But I hope it was just the rest,
because this is going to be like it could be
a mess of a football game.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Weather.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
It can't control the weather. I don't know if you
can control Saquon Barkley. But this is the portion in
the show. Or I just literally wanted to turn it
over to you and say, coach far Yeah, how how
can you correct a three hundred yard from scrimmage day?
How can you make sure that house calls from seventy
plus yards don't happen?
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Well, one, you know it's coming. You know he has
that ability, so and you have to have all eleven
to the football. So I told you it was Omar
space and Christian Roseboom. They learned a lesson. I didn't
think a running back can get from here all the
way over there and then beat me down the field.
Well this guy can, so now you know. And I
said this before on the radio. There have been games
(32:29):
and I was with Mike Jones that we had her
butts handed to us physically because we didn't know it
was coming. We didn't see it coming. Had we gone
into the locker room and came out and played the
same game a half hour later, it would be totally different.
So this is the second time around, you know what
to expect. It's going to be a little bit tougher
for Sakoon Barkley to do exactly what he did before.
That's not to say he can't chip away and beat you,
(32:50):
but it won't be the same breakaway after breakaway. Because
you've seen it, you understand it, you'll game plan against it.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Rams are a different defense to a little bit in personnel,
but they're in temperament and commitment to stopping the run.
They've been different since that Philadelphia game.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean we've talked about it. It's like
that's that's one of the games where they learned arguably
the some of their toughest lessons of the season, just
in terms of missing one gap or one assignment and
how especially against a backfield like that, that can cost you.
They've made some considerable strides, I would say, since then
and put themselves in a better position to potentially, you know,
(33:27):
you know, stop Jalen Hurts in Saquon Barkley. But yeah,
I mean that that threat of you know, hitting those
home run plays is always going to be there. And
you know whatever, whatever lessons you've learned, especially from you know,
maintaining gap integrity and and again not missing assignments.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Applying and offensively too.
Speaker 4 (33:47):
Yeah, you don't want to be down two scores and
send your defense out against Barkley in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
They're going to pound you out. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:54):
He wears you down. Yeah, he does most of his
damage after half halftime. And so I think the question
is can you force the Eagles to play you on
different terms? Like their winning streak is largely built on
playing games the way they want to play. Even last week.
I mean, if that fumble recovery or not, I guess
goes the other way.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
What did you think by the way I thought he
flipped it out.
Speaker 1 (34:16):
No no, no, no opening kickoff Packers and Eagles. Oh
and you were saying, like there's a real world scenario
where if that doesn't happen, we could be having a
completely different conversation right now. But to everyone's point, for
two notoriously slow starting franchises Philadelphia Los Angeles, the score
at the end of the first quarter is going to
matter this week. Here's what I worry about a bit.
The Eagles have been on a roll and if sick
(34:38):
One doesn't slide at the end of last week's game,
that probably looks like more of a blowout. And maybe
there's not as much discontent, but the Eagles faithful are wary,
like from what I've read and what I've heard, maybe
even like a little disgruntled about how stuck in the
mud this passing game is only one throw beyond twenty
yards last week, and it was off of that fake
push push. So I do worry a little bit about
(35:00):
that week to week adjustment, Like are you going to
have to at once suck up and sell out against
the run and have to deal with Kellen Moore and
company saying all right, here's your play action shot. We're
making sure that we're getting to it early.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
I think.
Speaker 4 (35:14):
I mean, you're probably gonna have to commit the extra
guy of the box too, if you're going to try
to take away Saquon Barkley, like we're just not gonna
allow him to beat us, which means now you're going
one on one with their receivers, and that presents a
whole another set of problems if you're not getting pass rush,
the proper pass rush. Now you mentioned the difference and
offensive line, Like I said, this will be different. It's
(35:36):
not going to be as easy to run over or
through these guys. They are maulers up front and they're
gonna keep you in front of them. But if you
can find a way to stop the run without having
to commit that extra body, then you've got something going.
But that would require a superhuman effort of your fronts,
and I think they're on that path the way they
left that football game.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
I thought.
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Jared Vers has comment at the end with so funny
it was a sack party and I wasn't invited.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
Love it.
Speaker 4 (36:04):
He's happy for everyone that got a sack, but he
wants in on it too. So I think the front
the guys you need, Omar Spates Christian Roseboom. I think
they're playing their best ball right now. If you wanted
to go nose to nose with Philly and try to
stop say Kwan without the extra guy, this is the
week to do it.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
I tell you who did not play well that day.
A lot of the rookies and especially a lot of
the rookies on defense. Omar you mentioned Cam Kinchen's Tyler Davis,
Jared vers a little bit about Limbron offense, Like this
is a rookie redemption opportunity to show you're no longer refreshman,
right that in January here, that you're a different player
and that you're a different unit than you were back
in week twelve. You know what's nice about this postseason
(36:41):
past so far. Isn't it refreshing to have other teams
coaches being interviewed or having interview requests, Like last week
it was Brian Flores, this week Kellen Moore, Like we've
become so accustomed to that for the Los Angeles Rams,
it's nice to have your opponent coaches.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
Oh, like, what are you about to tell me? No, no,
what are you about to drop on me?
Speaker 3 (37:02):
Right now? Okay, don't start that.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
The other thing I think, going back to Week twelve
that bears mentioning here is that a couple of standouts
on defense for the Eagles are both on injured reserve.
Like Brandon Graham was oh everywhere that night, A's so
far and then he just calmly tells the media in
the post game that he's done for the season with
an injury, right, crazy, So he's not around. And then
last week it's their green dot linebacker na Kobe Dean,
(37:26):
who also had a phenomenal game against the Rams, now
done for the year. How does that change things to?
Speaker 2 (37:32):
Yeah, it makes me paying paid that much closer attention
to the middle of the defense and see what different
ways the Rams may try to attack it, especially when
you consider that they're still working through exactly you know
who's going to replace the Kobe there. I know that
mcvangio when he was talking to Philadelphia reporters this week,
mentioned rookie Jeremiah Trotter Junior's name as somebody who could
(37:53):
at least see more snaps, not necessarily guarantee that he
would start. But I think Nicholas Morrow, if I'm not mistaken,
was their practice squad, which is.
Speaker 1 (38:01):
A familiar name can backfills some special team snaps for him.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Perhaps, Yeah, And so there's a there's an area to
potentially exploit there. And that's no disrespect to you know,
whoever may step in to fill those shoes, But there's
there's going to be a clear difference. There always is
any time you're not missing, anytime you're missing a regular
starter at a key position like that, especially in a
key role like that with somebody who's the on field
signal caller for that unit.
Speaker 4 (38:25):
Don't you guys like you quate Vic Fangio is like
one of the biggest villains on the planet. Like Vic Fangio,
Darth Vader, same guy.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
I mean really, I.
Speaker 4 (38:32):
Mean the v the v is just like, oh my god,
his name fang It's just, oh goodness. Every time you
have something going, you seem to bump into him. And
you got to figure that guy out.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
I do have to point out that DeVante Smith did
not play the Rams in the first round. He'll be
out there this weekend. When they've had him and AJ,
they've been virtually unbeatable.
Speaker 4 (38:49):
What I mean, you're gonna have to you can't stack
the box. You're gonna to go one on one with
both guys.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Oh man, wow.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
And it too certain too soon to say one way
or another for Akela Witherspoon, but we certainly hope that
he can be out there because he's been on a
heater recently and he's the type of player that you
need in this moment.
Speaker 4 (39:05):
You know, I keep hearing from his coaches that he
is an absolute sponge and you know every rep he
takes is one more than he's had before in his
life or whatever they said. He's still learning to play
the position and he's easily coachable. So he's getting nothing
but better and more aggressive, which is what you love.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Before we get to Keys of Victory, did I forget
anything and the elements you want to talk through?
Speaker 3 (39:26):
Did we talk about the special teams yet?
Speaker 1 (39:29):
I knew there is something?
Speaker 4 (39:30):
Thank you CARDI coming up? Thank you CARDI coming up huge,
Ethan Evans. So Philly's got a great defense, right, So
at some point you're going to be punting backed up.
This is the time, too bombs away. Yeah, you've got
to let it all hang out. And if you cross
the fifty and it becomes now the end zones in play,
you've got to keep it out of the end zone.
(39:52):
You've got to make Jalen Hurts in that offense go
the long route. You can't give them easy first downs
if you kick it shorter out of bounds. So Ethan
Evans must have a big day, and do not forget
watch that tape. Minnesota got home a few times. They
should have blocked one, maybe two, so you know they're
going to come and attack that again. That's got to
be letter perfect. And you know Josh Carty I think
(40:13):
has found his stride, or at least that from snap
to hole to kick they found their rhythm. So I'm
glad he's hitting the stride at this time.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
It's a good call out on the punt block. Also,
didn't like the call on Humble going the other way.
I thought that was whatever.
Speaker 4 (40:26):
So nine penalties instead of ten? How do you roughing
the kicker with your back? Come on, I'm sorry, go ahead.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
But to your point about Ethan Evans, I think one
of the untold elements to the rams turnaround in success
is that they're top five in the NFL in average
starting field position for their defense. To translate that like,
opponents are consistently faced with long fields because of what
the Rams do with the football when they're on offense
the way they take care of it. But also thanks
to Ethan and the punt.
Speaker 4 (40:51):
Yeah, and he would have been he had one touchback
and he would have had zero if he got the
one to bounce back. It was a beautiful pont He
was on fire. But that protection has got to be
a little bit better. You've got to help him out.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Kisa Victory, who wants it?
Speaker 3 (41:03):
Go ahead?
Speaker 2 (41:04):
Yeah, I'm going to start with winning the battle at
the line of scrimmage. As often as that gets used,
it feels like it rings especially true this week when
you think about, you know, Rob Havenstein being available for
this matchup after not being available for the last one
or the first one. I should say, just the size
on the interior of the Eagles defensive line and what
(41:24):
that means for the Rams offensive line. And on the
flip side too, the defensive front coming off of a
nine sack game and some of the pressure that they
were able to generate, Like, how does that hold up
against you know, what's arguably the best offensive line in
the NFL. I'm really interested in seeing how that plays out.
The success of the Rams have on each side of
(41:44):
the ball. There I think is what determines this outcome.
Speaker 1 (41:46):
I totally agree with that sentiment. Like Monday night felt
like a chess match and the Rams were the smarter team.
If you beat him with brains on Monday against the
Vikings Sunday feels like you gotta find a way to
beat him with bra on. You got to be the
tougher team. I don't know how you do that on
the road in Philadelphia, but doesn't that seem like the.
Speaker 4 (42:04):
Path Oh yeah, you're gonna have to out physical. I
guess for me the obvious, Like you said, control the
line of scrimmage, protect Matthew Stafford, kyn Williams. You can't
put it on the deck. You've ball securities number one,
And I think I would just go ahead and say
I think they're going to do a pretty good job
on Saquon Barkley. The second time around is going to
be a little bit different. So when you do stop
(42:24):
the run and you force this game onto Jalen Hurts,
now this is my key to the game. You cannot
let him jump out the window. If you've got him
in third end whatever and you have a chance to
get off the field, you cannot let him scramble and
pick up the first down and demoralize you. You have
to find a way either to scramble him to the
sideline or get him on the deck proper. You can't
let Jalen Hurts control this with his legs. Make him
(42:46):
throw it through this and make him throw it out
of the club. Absolutely, you've been the Kiren guy for
much of the last month. I'm gonna take your cue.
What if for all the talk of Saquon Barkley, and
I get it, he had an MVP caliber season at
running back, What if Kiren's impact on this game this
weekend is more, is greater, or is at least equivalent.
I'd be great if Kyron is pacing the offense, controlling
(43:08):
the game, and the defense is getting off that would
be something funny. The Rams win and Kyron Williams outrush
is Saquon Barkley. What do you say to that?
Speaker 3 (43:15):
Then? What hater? What hate do you have for that?
Speaker 4 (43:18):
Then that's something that could possibly happen if the defense steps.
Speaker 1 (43:21):
Up, because it goes hand in hand with combating a
team that likes to play bullyball, likes to take the
air out of the football. Nobody wins time of possession
like the Philadelphia Eagles flip the script on him. Can
I shoot one more at you as many as you like.
Speaker 4 (43:34):
You're not gonna beat the Philadelphia Eagles. If Cooper Cup
has one target, Okay, it's.
Speaker 3 (43:39):
Just not gonna happen. Ten has to show up. He
has to.
Speaker 4 (43:43):
You have to balance out this offense. It cannot be
seventeen only or that in a tight end of the
running game, it's got to be both. You've got to
have this offense clicking and functioning. And the only way
that happens is if ten shows up.
Speaker 3 (43:55):
Yeah, it can't be.
Speaker 4 (43:56):
You can't leave Philadelphia with one target or none.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
You asked for it earlier. And I'm not superstitious.
Speaker 3 (44:03):
Is that it?
Speaker 1 (44:04):
But I'm a'mstitious enough to keep eating chocolate.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
Oh my gosh, look at you. Nice.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
Take you and pass it around.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
Thank you very much. I'll take the big one. There
you go home, There you go. JB's chocolate. Love it.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
I'll do a full candy bar if it gets us
to the super.
Speaker 4 (44:16):
Bowl, a full candy bar of our choosing's still rams.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
Thank you guys for your time, Yes, sir, and your friendship.
Speaker 1 (44:25):
I always when I say there's nothing I want more
than to be in these seats again next week.
Speaker 3 (44:29):
Sound like it's over over?
Speaker 1 (44:30):
No, thank you quite the opposite. Let's go that will
do it for our divisional round edition of Between the Horns,
always presented by your Southern California to you to dealers.
Of course, we continue to think about and to pray
for those who've been affected by these wild fires, and
especially our gratitude to those who combat them and who
are supporting the victims in all of the various ways.
(44:52):
These la FD T shirts and hats are still available
at the Ramsfanshop dot com the Rams Fanshop dot com.
All proceeds benefiting the la FD Foundation and American Red Cross.
All right for Tomarco and Stu, I'm JB.
Speaker 3 (45:07):
Long.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
The RAMS wants three games under five hundred, now thirty
one's away from lifting a Lombardi Trophy by any means necessary. Yes, sir,
A small sacrifice, a small price to pay. Have a
great rest of your weekend. Everyone cannot wait to talk
to you from Philadelphia.
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