Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
All right, guys, welcome back to Downtown Rams. As always,
I'm Alexis Kraft, join here with my co host Jake
ellen Bogan, and we are coming to you to recap
our Bills Rams win, well, the Rams win over the
Bills I should say, forty four to forty two last
Sunday at Sofi Stadium, as well as preview our Thursday
(00:24):
night football matchup against the forty nine Ers. We have
a special doubleheader episode tonight because we have a short
week playing on Thursday Night football, so we're going to
start off kind of recapping what happened against the Bills,
and then we will also preview our matchup against the
forty nine ers. But Jake, I have never been so
excited to be wrong, and I were so wrong about
(00:47):
how this Bills and Rams game was going to go,
and you and I are We're stand up guys. When
we're wrong, we're wrong and we admit it and we're
happy to be wrong. And this is definitely one of
those situations. So let's talk about it. I mean something
I did say when we were previewing this game against
the Bills, and you also, I think said this that
(01:08):
if the Rams wanted to win this game. They had
to make it a shootout. It was the only way
you want to beat this team, you want to beat
Josh Allen, Well.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
You said that. I don't think they can win a shootout,
So good for you. You got that right. I never
thought we'd see this.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Well in my mind, you know, I just think, you know,
a guy like Josh Allen, and he still had an
incredible game, which we'll talk about. I mean, Josh Allen, yeah,
is very you know, him and Saquan are my two
picks for MVP. I think both of them are very
deserving of the award, and he had an incredible game.
But the Rams were able to have the shootout on
(01:45):
offense that they needed to have to win. And I
think that that was a very pleasant surprise to many
Rams fans, you and I included, just because of kind
of the inconsistency that we've seen on offense throughout the season.
Even though they have been getting better in previous games,
we still kind of were like, is it gonna be enough?
Is it gonna be enough? Is Josh Allen an absolutely
(02:07):
butcher on defense? Is he gonna call him up? That's
kind of what we thought was gonna happen, and he
had his moments, but the defense did just enough to
allow our offense to get out there and win. You know,
looking at our stats, you know, our leaders obviously obviously
Matthew Stafford two touchdowns, three hundred and twenty yards, Kyron
Williams eighty seven yards rushing, two touchdowns, Puknakua one hundred
(02:28):
and sixty two yards, twelve receptions, one touchdown. I mean,
those three guys, I mean, really, I think we're the
key to the success for the offense. And then kind
of an unsung hero, Cooper Cup. He still went for
ninety two yards, had five receptions in a touchdown, but
he had a very good game in the blocking game
that I think is gonna, you know, maybe go unnoticed
(02:50):
in the stats chat, but he's still, you know, obviously
was a major contributor in offense. Jake, what do you
think the sole factor was that propelled the Rams to
be able to beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
I think there were a lot of factors.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
But if you asked me how they scored how on earth,
how the hell how whatever they scored forty four points
in this game? Well, I'm going to tell you. It
is because of a theme that you and I have
literally said all year long. I'll start off by saying this,
I was surprised to see this, but I wasn't entirely
(03:26):
shocked that they had it in them because I picked them,
just like you, to win the Super Bowl, because we
both said they were capable of having an offense like this.
Why did it take until Week fourteen to see it?
Health The offensive line for the first time all year
had back to back games of being fully healthy all
five that they intended on starting, and that made a
(03:50):
huge difference, not just in the passing game, but running
the football. We saw Kiren get two touchdowns. We saw
Blake Koran be able to run. I mean, when you're
able to have a pass protection that doesn't give up
sacks against the Buffalo Bills front that has one of
the more dominant pass rushers in the league in Greg
(04:10):
Russo and just absolutely blank him in that pressure column,
I mean, that is a stellar performance. And I just
think that, really, you're not going to be playing too
many teams like the Bills the rest of the year.
You won't play another team like that in the regular season.
You might see them if you get as far as
to the super Bowl, but just talking about what's in
(04:34):
front of us right now. That Rams team looked like
one of the best teams in football this past Sunday
in a game that you and I picked against them.
We didn't want to, but we had. We owed it
to our listeners to be objective and to really you know,
we'll never say anything we don't believe in, right, And
(04:54):
that's what I think separates us from being just a
fan podcast and just having a little bit more. And
and you know, as much as it sucks picking against
the Rams, I mean we said, well, at least I
said this.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
You probably agreed. I think you did. They're winning out
regardless of this outcome against the Bills. Well, I haven't
changed my mind. So instead of going ten to seven
waiting the division, I ain't. They'll go eleven and six
to win the division. And I think right now, if
you're a Rams fan that gave up on this team,
instead of other people crapping on you, people should welcome
(05:28):
you back on you know, bandwagon and all more the
merrier this Rams team, as long as they stay healthy.
They basically made a statement to the rest of the
league this is a team that's won three straight road games,
they've won six of their last eight games in general,
and no one gave them a chance in hell to
(05:49):
beat the Bills. A lot of Rams fans said this
would be a blowout. I said it'd be a ten
point loss. I believe you said it'd be something in
that neighborhood. But they went out and they won. And
you know what else, they won a game that Craig
Rolstad officiated in and he had his handprints all over
this game. So I have a lot of respect for
(06:10):
the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen alien as Sean McVay put
him probably the MVP after that performance. But instead of
looking at Josh Allen saying six touchdowns, look at the
Rams and say, wow, Josh Allen had six touchdowns and
you still won. If you told that, if you told
me that before the game, back when we're talking about
a twenty eighteen caliber RAMS team or twenty twenty one,
(06:30):
I would have said there's no way they win. But
this team they won, and they won in all three phases.
Defense made key in critical stops while giving up big
explosive play. Sure, but they made that huge stop that
QB sneak took a lot of time off the clock
at the goal line, and then in addition to that,
you had the special teams unit with the pump block
the score Hunter Lung's first score.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
That's kind of funny.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
I would have thought it would have come in the
shape of a touchdown pass, but nonetheless, and the offense
was just in credible and Matthew Stafford has just been
unconscious as of late. It's something that we continue to see.
It's something that Sean McVay continues to do. The Rams
when they are healthy, they have Stafford and co they
are unstoppable come December.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Yeah, I mean, I just think it was a big
statement win against a very good Buffalo Bill's team, particularly
their offense. You know, when we talked about we were
previewing this matchup, we talked about how like this offense
is basically Josh Allen, not that they don't have like
James Cook or you know, Amari Cooper, but the key
(07:38):
difference is Josh Allen and he's very very good and
he still played very well against the Rams. I mean
all the credit to him. I mean for him to
put up the you know, the numbers that he did
you know, looking at this now, you know, three rushing touchdowns,
three passing touchdowns, which was an NFL record. I believe,
you know, he for him to do all of that
(08:00):
in the Rams to be able to overcome that and win,
I think says a lot. And honestly, you know, the
Rams could have won by more. You know, there was
we had a bigger lead at one point and that
started to kind of close in thanks to Josh Allen
kind of doing what he does. So you know, anybody
watching this game, I mean, it's not incredibly far stretched
(08:21):
to say that the Rams could have won this game
by more. So it's just it's very impressive. I think
what the Rams did against the Bills. You know the defense, yes,
had some moments where they gave up some big plays. Obviously,
you know you're playing against a very good quarterback. It's
going to be a struggle at times. But overall, you know,
they did what they needed to do to get the wins.
(08:41):
So I was super impressed. And I also want to
give a shout out to the offensive line. They stepped
up against a Buffalo front that's pretty good. You know,
I thought that they they executed perfectly and something that
people might notice is the run game was able to
act actually get going on like you know in previous weeks.
(09:03):
You know, when when your offensive line is struggling, it
doesn't just affect the passing game, it affects the run
game too. And you know, they had obviously some moments
against the Bills where you know, they they made, you know,
some bad calls and the run got blown up. But
I thought they did a very good job compared to
previous weeks creating those lanes, letting the run game thrive,
(09:24):
you know, like we talked about, you know, Kyron Williams
twenty nine carries for eighty seven yards. Blake Koram had
eight carries for thirty four yards. Pukunukua had add some
you know rush yards. He had sixteen rush yards. They
like to get them involved in the run game a
little bit too. So yeah, I just thought it was
a really, really impressive performance and it just shows how
(09:45):
good this Rams team is when they're healthy.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, and the Rams have only run the ball over
forty times I think twice in their you know, their
time with McVeigh, and they're two and zero in those games.
You know, it was just one of those games that
I think they've really needed that we didn't realize they
needed because I was already chalking this up as a loss,
and I'm like, this game, it'd be nice to win,
and those are the best wins. I would say Alexis,
(10:11):
it'd be nice to win this game. Was I expect
him to absolutely not And for them to win this
game against the Buffalo Bills team that I think proved
in that game that they can go to the super
Bowl because they have a response for just about everything.
That was a huge, huge, huge win. I want to
bring up the super chat Man of Paradox. I remember
(10:31):
last week, Man of Paradox had the Rams beating the Bills.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
And I didn't think.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
That, you know, Man Paradox was crazy or anything like that.
I just had a different, you know, idea of the game.
So shout out to you for getting this one right. Hi, folks.
You'll recall I predicted Rams victory against the Bills. I
see the game this Thursday as most critical for the
Rams this year because it's harder to prepare for if
(10:59):
we win, take it to New Orleans. So you are
saying that they go to the super Bowl if they
win this game.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
I appreciate the ten.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I'll say this, Sean mcvayh is dominant on Thursday Night Football.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
He just has been.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
And I don't expect them to lay an egg like
I think some other people are hoping for. I think
this is where alexis. You're gonna find the media. You're
gonna find forty nine Ers fans that are gonna look
at that game against the Bills and say they are
doing for they are due for letdown. And you know what,
I think you're looking at it wrong. I'm thinking you're
looking at it like this. Last year they had a
(11:35):
game like the Bills game. It was against the Ravens.
They lost that game. They went on to win every
game after that. They won the tough game. This year,
they won that game. They've now won three straight road games.
They've won six of their last eight. And Amber, who
is a friend of the show, she gives us a
(11:55):
lot of credit, and you know she's always in here.
But I did catch you said something about the Lions
that I want to address here.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Can't say the.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Injuries because the Lions are scoring forty plus whatever, that's true,
but the Lions Day one, they had everybody around them.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
The Rams did not.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
They did not have Alec Jackson, Joseph Nopoom went down,
Kevin Dotson left that left the stadium in a walking boot.
He hasn't missed a down, but he's been banged up
the majority of the year, which a lot of people
don't know. No, Rod Havenstein, a lot of injuries all
across the board, Steve Avula, Jonah Jackson. If you don't
(12:36):
start healthy, then it's going to take you longer to
have any sort of continuity, any sort of momentum. You
can't build it. And that was the thing with the Rams.
They didn't have, you know, the ability to stay healthy. Okay,
right away they're down their number one corner.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
Or that they expected.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
And Darius Williams, Trey White, the plan was for him
to play in November, so now he gets thrown into
the fire. They had injuries every which way, So this
is why it took until the week fourteen for them
to finally look like injuries were an excuse, because I
(13:18):
hear excuses, excuses, they're the reason for this happening. If
you never have any sort of sustainability. Phukin Akua goes
down that game Cooper Cup. Not long after at no
point did they have a baseline as to what they
could be. They were basically trying to figure it out
on the fly. It's why two to two out Well,
(13:39):
who barely even plays in week one, is starting in
week three.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
And that's the thing.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
We look at the forty nine er game up coming,
and we'll get into that, you know, a little bit later.
But the forty nine er game upcoming, Alexis and I
have it right here. The win probability chart is absolutely insane.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
The forty nine ers were winning the entire game.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
The win probability chart, they are above sixty percent. They
they stay above eighty percent for like seventy five percent
of the game.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Guess what it.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Goes from the forty nine ers at a ninety three
point nine percent win probability and this is fourth and
five LA thirty seven to then the Rams steal the
game and win at the end. And guess what for
the forty nine er fans looking at that, like, oh,
you guys got lucky. We should have beat you. We
(14:31):
were banged up. Uh yeah, here's who played in that game, righty.
So in that game, two to two out Well had
four catches for ninety three yards, DeMarcus Robinson had a
catch for thirty two. Jordan Whittington, who hasn't seen a
reception or a target in the offense in three weeks,
had to catch three catches for twenty eight. Kyron had
(14:51):
two catches for twenty seven, Colby Parkinson three catches for
twenty one, and Tyler Johnson three catches for twenty. Okay,
Pukaaku and Cooper Cup did not play, and the offensive
line was you were starting scraps, right. That was the
first game back for Alaric Jackson, but you were really
starting scraps so much so they had to use a
trick play and have two two out, we'll throw the ball. Okay,
(15:14):
That's how down bad they were, and they still won
twenty seven to twenty four. In addition to that at Alexis,
I seem to remember during that time, the Rams were
historically bad against the run. They have since recovered. They're
still they struggle against the run, for sure, but that
defense only got better and better and better as time
went on. So this is what I'm talking about, is
(15:34):
that the Rams right now are what they're supposed to be.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
This is who we thought they were going to be.
This was the vision.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
If they continue and they build off this Bills game,
they are going to be a freaking nightmare for any team.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
I agree. You know, now, just talking about the forty
nine ers, you know, we talk about kind of the
Rams injuries and being banged up. I mean, I think
the forty nine ers are one of the few teams
that have had it worse this season than the Rams.
So if we just you know, kind of you know,
just being honest about that, I mean, the forty nine
ers have been absolutely banged up in shambles. They've had
(16:13):
kind of a revolving carousel of players the entire season,
just in and out, you know, looking at as of
right now the date that that we're recording this, I mean,
Brock Party's back. So they've got Brock Party. They've got
Jwan Jennings, who you and I like a lot, you know, Deebo,
Samuel's playing Roocky, Ricky Pursall, George Kittle. So they're relatively
(16:36):
healthy in the receiving game, but in the run game,
I mean they're out Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, so
they're now to their three.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
He hasn't even practiced, right, so.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
They might even be out their third string running back,
so essentially, you know, let's see if we can even
see I think Patrick Taylor junior in Israel oh a
ban Abanakanada, Yes he was. He played for pitt.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Right, Yeah, he was a draft crush of mine. I
don't remember if he liked it, but I know I did.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I don't know that I saw much of him, but
I recognize the name. So the forty nine ers are
very you know, we'll just say for all intents and purposes,
I mean they've got their three starting running backs out
right sore. They probably are going to struggle in the
run game. I think that offense is probably going to
run through Kittle against the Rams, although Juwan Jennings, I.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Mean, the guy had one hundred and seventy five yards
and three touchdowns.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
So they're going to have to do a better job
of covering him. And that does concern me a little
bit with our secondary, which I think is kind of
a weakness right now for the Rams. So, you know,
forty nine ers, I would say, are a little bit
healthier against the Rams than they have been. They're still
not totally all there. I think Nick Bosa, I don't
know if you've heard an update on him. Was he not?
(17:53):
I think he was limited at practice, so we're recording.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I don't think did he practice.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
He might not. I'm just I'm trying to pull up.
I'm not fine, which.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
I'm not putting too much stock in, and the reason
being because I know everyone gets all upset about practice
and they're like, oh, all these guys weren't practicing for
the Rams.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
It's a short week.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
It doesn't if you have any sort of injury and
they expect you to play, I wouldn't be surprised if
they just keep you out. I think, really the the
concern as I look this up, by the way, for Kittle,
I think the concern not Kittle. I'm sorry you just said,
Nick Posa. The concern for me is Kobe Durant. Is
he gonna be okay? He's played very well, Obviously. I
(18:35):
believe a Kello Witherspoon can fly right in there. But
Kobe Durant is in the corner that should be replaced
right now, that is Darius Williams. So I don't exactly
love that. Also, lung contusion sounds awful. I wouldn't want
a lung contusion.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
I just say yeah, I mean I think, like kind
of we touched on Juwan Jennings. That's who's gonna, you know,
cover him, I guess would be is the question for
the Rams right now. I mean, Kobe Durant injured, Darius
Williams has been a liability, you know, if we're being honest,
(19:13):
didn't look good the past couple of games. Not wouldn't
be super psyched to see him covering Juwan. You know
George Kittle. You know, the Rams have been better against
tight ends, but George Kittle is so good that you
kind of I mean, he's always going to be a factor.
Right So there's some big question marks on this offense.
(19:34):
Even though the run game might not be there for
the forty nine Ers right now due to injury, there's
they've still got some receiving threats in there. You know, Jake,
I think you know, talking about this forty nine Ers offense,
to me, the key is obviously, yes, stopping Jennings, but
I think you have to really bring the pressure on
Party because I don't think he's going to be able
to rely on the run game. As we just covered,
(19:56):
I think he's gonna by the way, Okay, so that's.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
A big thing, yes for the forty nine ers, but
you were saying brock Party, so sorry for all good.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
So I think that the key to stopping this forty
nine ers offense is going to just really pressure brock Party.
I think we're going to have to see big games
from Jared Versus Brayden, Fist, Kobe Turner, Byron Young up front,
really putting the pressure on force him to make quick
decisions and then you know, I think that that he
could turn the ball over or you know, they're not
(20:27):
going to be able to get any type of rhythm
on offense. Like I said, I think it's it really
matters that they're running back squad is injured, you know,
I think that can't really affect their game plan. So
I don't know if you have any thoughts on that,
but to me that that's where the key is to
stopping the forty nine ers is just putting the absolute
pressure on Rock Party.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
No. I think that makes a lot of sense.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
And Brock Party has had some good success against the Rams.
In that game, by the way, he had three touchdowns,
no interceptions, one hundred and thirty seven point one passer
rating its twenty two to thirty four two hundred and
ninety two and he ran for forty one on ten carries.
Party has been a problem for the Rams. I mean
he just has, you know, So that is something you
have to worry about for sure. And big reason is
(21:12):
because you get that guy's confidence going, and he could
be a problem. I mean we've seen it. He's he's
a good player in this league. I don't care what
anyone says. Is he worth sixty million dollars next year? No,
but he's still a good player. And so you have
to be cognizant of the fact that he can move.
He can, you know, get out of the pocket. He
can you know, make you miss and you know run
(21:32):
for a first down. But he could also buy himself
some time with his legs. I mean, this is the
number one, you know, pressure team in the league. They
forced tons of pressures on quarterbacks. But you know brock
Purdy and his mobility. I mean, he could do basically
what we saw Jalen Hurts do. With that said, though,
the way the Rams are playing and the way it's trending,
you know, that offense, I don't know how you're I
(21:55):
don't know how you're going to stop that offense. If
what we just saw is what they are, and I
be surprised if that is what they are. I think
a big thing in this game for me is, you know,
you look at that Bears game, and you know, here's
the thing. Okay, the forty nine ers they just beat
up on a bad Bear scene. An inexperienced quarterback who
(22:15):
is gonna have his bumps and his bruises.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
He's gonna have his highs, he's gonna have his lows.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Caleb Williams threw two touchdowns, no interceptions, right, But the
problem was, aside from that, they really just couldn't move
the ball. They tried running the football, and the forty
nine Ers did a really good job of stopping the run.
You saw that DeAndre Swift had fourteen carries two point
seven yards per carry.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
They really shut him down.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
And because they took the run game out of it,
they really left it all up to Caleb Williams to
have to do everything on his own.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
I don't necessarily think that.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
You just look at a team that stopped the run
well the week prior and it's like, oh, can't run
the football. It doesn't work that way. The way the
Rams are run blocking. I've been really impressed, and I'll
tell you right now, I think the Bills put a
heavy emphasis. They didn't buy this Rams pass attack at all.
They put a heavy emphasis on stopping Kiraen Williams and
keeping him bottled up. And that's why he had twenty
(23:09):
nine carries and didn't have over one hundred yards. The
Bill's defense gave up a lot of yards to Christian McCaffrey,
gave up a lot of yards to Jordan Mason in
the snow. But I think they knew the Rams right now.
The one thing you can't have is Kiraen Williams going
because when you get him going, now unlock's play action.
I don't think they're gonna have an issue run in
the football. I understand the forty nine Ers have improved
(23:32):
on that area of their game, but after that game
against the Bills, now it's out there. This team is
not afraid to throw it all over the yard. This
team is not afraid to be explosive. But also another
thing is this team used a lot of bubble screens
and they had a lot of success, and they mixed
up their pitches. They used a lot of jet motions,
jet sweeps, and to rounds. And what that did is
(23:56):
give you multiple things now on tape that you have
to be ready and just when you think you know everything,
it's Sean McVay and I think we learned. I mean,
Sean McVay gets in his own way, and we're critical
of him, but he's one of the five.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
Best play callers in football.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I think he is the best culture builder in football, truthfully,
for any head coach, but he's definitely one of the
top five best play callers in football. And for everyone
that has a complaint with him, and I'm with you,
I have complaints about him. He was fantastic against the Bills,
and I thought one thing that really stood out to me,
especially that third that fourth down that they could have
(24:33):
gone for, they kicked the field goal ten to seven.
That's him not only just be a good play caller,
because obviously that's not really play calling, right, that's just
decision making, that's game management. He's starting to really get
back to where he was. And so Kyle Shanahan. I
know they're desperate. They're four and three at home, they're
six and seven, they're still in the mix. But Kyle
(24:55):
Shanahan has not proven to me that he has that
game manager in him. So if Rock Party and the
forty nine Ers don't get up to a big lead
early on, I do think the Rams are going to
have I don't I won't say the win easily, but
I think they'll win comfortably.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
Yeah, I mean it's going to be interesting, you know,
for sure, and kind of talking about our offense and
the run game, you know, I expect the RAMS to
try to get the run game going at first, you know,
like you said, you know, the forty nine ers, I
think they are able, you know, to stop the run.
(25:37):
I do think the RAMS might be able to overcome it,
but at least I think they'll at least try because
I think what we're seeing with the Rams, and when
I think that Sean McVay is finally starting to I think,
I don't know if except is the right word, but
when you use a balanced offense, I think that what
we have seen is he is just naturally a very
pass happy coach. He has been his whole career at times.
(25:58):
At some times it were most of the time, it doesn't.
So seeing this balanced approach of mixing in the run
with the pass, not only does it give opposing defense's
trouble and you don't know what's gonna happen, especially when
you have a running back like Kyron out there, because
he really is kind of that Swiss army knife that
teams don't really know what's going to happen. Sometimes you
(26:19):
have running backs or you have players that you put
in and you know exactly what's gonna happen. They're gonna
run the ball, right Kyron. They have started to use
him a little bit in the receiving game. He lined
up a lot at receiver against Buffalo. He's very good
in pass pro. You don't really know what's going to
happen when he's out there, and I think the Rams
are starting to use that to their advantage a lot.
They can run more of that balanced offense that we
(26:41):
like to see from them, So I do think that
they're going to try that. I do think that they
should put a heavy emphasis on the run, at least
at first. If the forty nine ers are able to
shut it down find move on from it. But I
would like to see them do the balanced offense that
they've been doing, particularly the past two games, because they've
had a lot of success when they do that.
Speaker 2 (27:01):
I think A lot of that also stems from their success.
Their obvious success, Like everybody now knows it in the
in the play Action game, and now Stafford.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Wants the play action you know he wants it.
Speaker 2 (27:15):
I know there was a rumor or a narrative out
there that he didn't want play action. I can tell
you that is false. He likes play action. So you
know he's kind of in his bag right now. Stafford.
Right now, the last four games, there's not a better
quarterback in the league than Matthew Stafford. Maybe Josh Allen,
(27:35):
but the way he's playing, he's been unconscious the last
ten games.
Speaker 3 (27:40):
I mean, it's been incredible.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
And so yeah, I'd probably say the two best quarterbacks
right now in football in this current time, not saying
for the full season, but the two best quarterbacks in
football just played against each other and Matthew Stafford was
the one that won. Now, quarterback wins aren't everything, right,
but it just goes to show you that right now
the Rams have.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
One of the best quarterbacks in football.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
They have a guy that has what forty seven fourth
quarter comebacks, game winning drives, whatever.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
I mean.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
You have that, then you have a running back that
I believe I saw a stat the other day, Alexis.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
I don't know if you saw this too.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Since the Eagles game is leading the league Kien Williams
in mistackles forced. You have an offensive line that is
dominating at the point of attack, and you have a
defense that you know, they've played some games where they
were down. But let's not forget what they did against
the Saints, only given up fourteen points. Let's not forget
(28:43):
what they've done since the bye week. Let's not forget
the interceptions they've had, the sacks they've had, the pressure
they've generated, and let's not forget the special teams. It
takes all three phases and the rams. Right now, they're
trending upward in the all three phases category and it
makes them a really tough out. And when you look,
and here's the thing that stems on the whole trap game,
(29:06):
right because that's the most overused thing. Oh yeah, this
is a trap game. First off, anytime you play against
your rival, especially a rival like the forty nine ers
that has guys like the Diamador Lenor coming out and
saying that they were trash essentially and they got lucky,
Like what was it? Trash can finds a stake or
whatever illiterate thing he tweeted, when you do stuff like
(29:29):
that bulletin board material. Right, So there's no way this
is a trap game because it's also a primetime game.
There's no trap game on primetime. The Rams are fully
aware they need to take care of business. In addition
to that, a trap game would also follow after the
trap game would be a big time game going up
against the three and ten jets they are now, I
think is that's not a big time game, Like, yeah,
(29:52):
you're traveling across the country, but you know, and you
gotta win the game. And I think it's gonna be
a probably the toughest game they play all year because
of the travel, because it's a December football game, you know,
in the Northeast. I live in the Northeast, so I
can tell you it's probably gonna be shitty weather. But
I am not at all I said the three and ten,
not ten and three, So I'm not at all sitting
(30:16):
here and saying, yeah, this is a trap game because
the Rams aren't playing anybody following the forty nine ers
where you're like, oh, they might be looking ahead and
Sean McVay is the opposite of a coach that'd be
looking ahead. They were barely celebrating the biggest win potentially
of his regular season career, Like barely celebrating like they
(30:39):
had that.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
I mean, I've seen them celebrate more for other things.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
That was a huge win, and they were just ready
straight to business, get ready for the short week.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
So I'm just saying, you know, like looking at it
right now.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
If there was a trap game and say, okay, and
I wouldn't be you know, a divisional rival. But the
argument would be if the forty nine ers they were
playing this week and then next week Alexis they're playing
the Kansas City Chiefs, they might be looking ahead a
little bit, right, that's the narrative that would be a
little understanding. But good god, this isn't a trap game
(31:19):
right before the Jets game, with ten days to prepare
for the Jets afterwards a mini buy. So I'm just
telling you right now, that's how I see it. I
think the Rams are gonna be fine. They're gonna play
their style of football. If you think they lay a dud,
then you just don't know Sean McVay, and you haven't
been paying attention.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
I agree, I agree. I think the Rams are fully
aware of the implications of this Thursday night football game.
I mean, like we've touched on many times, the Rams
got them. The Rams lost a lot of games early
in the season that they should have won. Yeah, regardless
of injury, they just they went ahead and they lost, right,
you know, the Bears comes to mind. So because that happened,
(32:01):
the Rams have now put themselves in a situation late
in the season where every game is critical and it's
crucial that they get to win, particularly this game against
the forty nine ers, because it's a division rival. It's
it's another team in the NFC West. The NFC West
is wide open. You know, yes, the Rams beat the
forty nine ers in our first matchup, but forty nine
(32:24):
ers six and seven. Listen, it's it's very critical that
the Rams win this game. So if anybody wants to
say trap game because of you know, whatever narrative you
know they've made up in their mind, it just simply
doesn't make sense. This is arguably one of the most
important games the Rams will play the rest of the
season because it is an NFC West team in a
(32:44):
division that is wide open. So yeah, I don't know
how anyone would come to that conclusion.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
It's just so funny because we would talk off air
about shit like this, and I just knew when I
started talking about the trap game, like you have like
eyes rolling in the back of your head, essentially, because
we've had this conversation so many times.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Not every single game is a trap.
Speaker 2 (33:06):
Get okay, not every single time there's good momentum, there's
you know, guaranteed to be bad momentum. The Bills won
seven straight before having their down game that everyone was like, see,
I knew it, Bills were due. Well yeah, I mean
the greatest show on Turf lost three games and then
the game you know, they lost to the Patriots in
(33:26):
the Super Bowl. They lost two games. Okay, so the
lost five games across those two seasons. They didn't go undefeated.
What are they not good? Right? I mean the sixty
and oh Patriots lost the Super Bowl like you could, Oh,
they were always due, Alexis. They were those New England Patriots,
you know, the undefeated team.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
They were always due for a loss. They were always
due for a letdown.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
I mean, we could play that game all day, and
I just seriously, I'm all about just talking football and
focusing on the football. This whole like they're due for
a letdown that's just rooted in mainstream rhetoric that has
no actual basis of anything that could be considered a fact,
(34:14):
And I'm just we're not going to sit here and
even entertain that anymore.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
So I just wanted to throw that out there.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
But yeah, I think it's it's time for the prediction
part that I know you've been dying for.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
I don't know, maybe you haven't.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
But I mean I can certainly give my prediction people
haven't guests already. I do think the Rams are going
to win, Yeah, I do. I do think the Rams
are gonna win Thursday night. You know, my score prediction
is thirty one twenty four Rams. You know, I think
that's a very fair, uh prediction.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
You know, I don't.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
I don't think it's going to be a blowout either way. Listen.
I think anytime you play Division rival, you know, typically
those games are pretty close. They're always hard fought. There's
a lot on the line for both teams, not just
the Rams. You know, forty nine ers also need to
you know, win in order to keep their playoff hopes. Alive, right,
and yeah, it's a division that's wide open, and I
(35:16):
think that the Rams are going to come away with
the W. I just feel like they have all the
momentum right now. I don't really like what I've seen
from the forty nine ers, you know, in recent weeks.
And again, you know, they obviously are injured, and we've
talked about that and made sure to point that out
because that's obviously a very important factor. They're missing some
very good players across the board. So I just think that,
(35:38):
you know, they are not on the trend that I
think the Rams are right now, and I think the
Rams are going to go out there. I think they're
going to build on the positive momentum that they've shown,
particularly offensively. I feel like this offense is really starting
to get hot. And listen, it wouldn't surprise me if
the Rams scored more than thirty one points. I'll say that.
(36:00):
But I'm giving credit to the forty nine ers. I'm
giving credit to the rivalry, and you know, I think
it's again I think, you know, Shanahan has done well
against the Rams historically in the regular season. But I
do think the Rams are going to get the win.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
So The forty nine ers have given up thirty plus
only twice this year, but it's two of the last
three games. I don't think the Bears are good. I'm sorry,
Alexis for your grandpa. I just I don't I'm still
really mad about that loss. Anyway, I think this is
(36:38):
I think you're on the right track. I think it'll
be a close game. The Rams don't blow anybody out.
They absolutely could have blown out the Bills in that game.
It just didn't, you know, it didn't work out. The
Bills came back and everything. But I'm gonna say they
win thirty to twenty four. I think I like that score.
(36:58):
So I'm gonna say thirty to twenty four. Yeah, they
give I'm gonna give them three touchdowns on the forty
nine er side in a field goal, and I think
the Yeah, I think the Rams. You know, they'll have
a collection of field goals, I think. But I think
they'll get to thirty.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
Yeah. I like that, so so twenty one.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
Actually, I'll say thirty one to twenty four because I
think they're gonna score four touchdowns and kick a field goal.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
So we have the same score prediction two weeks in
a row.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Yeah, and the last time that happened, they won forty
four to forty two.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
So hey, you know what, let's keep it going.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
I don't Yeah, we don't need to get the score right. Honestly,
as long as we get the win part right, I'll
be fine, you know whatever. With the Rams will win
by one point or forty points. As long as they win,
I think we'll be fine.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
So yeah, we're on the same page as far as that. Now,
what are your three bold predictions for this game?
Speaker 2 (38:03):
Hmmm, let's see. So number one bold prediction. God, I
feel like I just I'm a broken record. I always
give this guy credit. But Well to too out Well
tried to throw a touchdown pass in the first game.
He did complete that. I don't care what anyone says.
(38:24):
Markus Robinson came down with it. They called it an
incomplete pass. I'm gonna say they throw they have him
throw a touchdown this one to tow out Well.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
Touchdown pass number two, I'm gonna say.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Brock Party leads the league in sacks responsible for I
think he had fourteen right now. I think the Rams
get to him five times or more in this game.
So five plus sacks and brock Party, and last, but
not least, I'm gonna do it. I've said it before,
I'll say it again. It's time Josh Allen his way.
(39:01):
He was on the field for six snaps and Josh Allen,
who is an alien, would not throw anywhere near number four.
Akello Witherspoon is picking it off against his former forty
nine er team, and I don't know if it'll be
a pick six, but he's getting a pick in this
one as long as he starts.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
Solid. M some solid predictions there. I'm gonna say Kien
Williams two touchdowns. I don't know if that's bold or not,
considering he just did it, but I feel like he
is going to have a good game. He might not
put up the yards, kind of like against the Bills.
You know, I think the forty nine ers are going
(39:42):
to do something similar. They are going to really put
an emphasis on trying to stop the run. However, I
do think like, nevertheless, he'll persist, and you know, I
think we could see a potentially big game out of
Kien Williams. Let's say Kien Williams two touchdowns. Let's say
you know what, I think Cooper Cup's going to go
for over one hundred yards. I think we saw Pooka
have his day against the Bills. You know, Cooper Cups
(40:04):
still got ninety two yards receiving. You know, we kind
of touched on it earlier, like he had like a
very quiet ninety two yards somehow, I think, because you know,
Puka was just so involved that, you know, people might
not have noticed Cooper Cup, you know, as much he's
sot and he caught a touchdown. But it was crazy
because I feel like nobody was giving Cooper Cup any credit,
you know, for what he did against the Bills, particularly
(40:24):
in the blocking game, that he excel that. But I
think the Cooper Cup's going to go over one hundred
yards have a touchdown as well, they were going to
see a big game out of him against a division rival. Defensively,
let's see, maybe I'll do a more realistic prediction because
I've kind of been getting like really bold on my
defensive predictions on the past few episodes. So let's say defensively,
(40:51):
I'm gonna say Brandon Fisk two sacks.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
I really like it.
Speaker 1 (40:55):
I just he says, again, you talk about positive momentum.
I just I feel like he's gonna have a really game.
You know what, Let's do a fourth prediction.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
I think Jared I was gonna do that too.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
A fourth one. Yeah, Well, I'm gonna say Jared Verse
also has a sack because I feel like, you know,
I saw a lot of people saying that he had
a quiet game, you know, against the Bills, which sure,
I think he was due a quiet game. He's had
such a phenomenal rookie season. But I think he's gonna
have a really good game against forty nine ers. So
those are my predictions. You want to throw in one
last one before we head out?
Speaker 3 (41:25):
Yes, so real quick. Sean McVay. By the way, seven
and two.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
I finally looked it up seven to two on Thursday
and Football, and since Amazon Prime has taken over, John
Kimball actually pointed out the Rams are undefeated. So let's, uh,
let's go with this. I feel like it's overdue. I
feel like they definitely wanted him to get this. They've
been giving him a lot more carriers. I'm gonna say
(41:50):
Blake korm gets his first touchdown. I have a gut
feeling about it. So that is my fourth Bowld prediction.
So let's see if I can remember my predictions five sacks,
five plus sacks, right, that was one of them a
Kellow pick Blake Koram and two too out we'll passing touchdown,
(42:11):
so he'll catch three touchdowns and then I'll be wrong
even though I had the right idea of to two
out will getting his spotlight.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
So yeah, I like the quorum big I have the
past two weeks that on a Blake Korum touchdown.
Speaker 2 (42:25):
Yeah, speaking of which, Price Picks, Oh yeah you could, yeah,
you could go if you think Blake Koram, if you
think Blake korm is gonna have a touchdown, you can
go check out Prize Picks. Uh link is in the
description fifty dollars when you play a five dollars lineup,
use co JK. Bogan and they got a lot of stuff.
(42:46):
They even have a free square. So what I mean
by that is it's a freebe you got two to
six players for a lineup. Patrick Mahomes is zero point
five yards for I believe this whole week. So definitely
check that out. And yeah, JK. Bogan shout out to
Price Picks.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
Shout out to Prize Picks guys. Games coming up two
days away. That's one of the benefits is Football. Fans
of Thursday Night football is you know, we don't have
to wait that long after watching our team on Sunday
to see him play Thursday Night against division rival San
Francisco forty nine Ers. Jake and I will be back
(43:27):
on Friday night to recap that game, but as always,
please follow us on social media at Downtown Rams. You
can follow me on Twitter at the Alexis Craft.
Speaker 3 (43:36):
With a K.
Speaker 1 (43:36):
You can follow me on Instagram at Alexis Craft. You
can follow Jake on Twitter and Instagram at JK Bogan
and guys. Like I said, we will be back Friday night,
but until then, as always, stay safe, take care, and
go rams.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
The US to
Speaker 3 (44:06):
SIS