December 27, 2024 • 54 mins
Jake and Alexis preview the Rams and Cardinals matchup and discuss their win over the Jets Use the code "JKBOGEN" to play $5 and get $50 instantly. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/JKBOGEN Be sure to follow @DowntownRams, Alexis Kraft - @TheAlexisKraft and Jake Ellenbogen - @JKBOGEN on Twitter Check out Alexis Kraft's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpO4UFq8EQlrPr3NH6Ai7DQ
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
All right, guys, welcome back to Downtown Rams. As always,
I'm Alexis Kraft, join here with Jake ellen Bogan and
we are coming to you live tonight Thursday, December twenty
sixth to preview our Rams matchup against the Arizona Cardinals
this Saturday night. Some Saturday night football. You've got the
(00:22):
Rams taking on Arizona at the end of a slate
of Saturday night games, so that'll be fun. That's a
little different. So we're going to talk about that matchup
this weekend. We'll also touch a little bit on the
Rams win over the Jets nineteen to nine. They were
able to go to MetLife and get the w Jake
was there. So, Jake, you've been present for a Rams
(00:44):
loss this season and you've been present for a Rams win. Obviously,
we know the latter is more fun, and you had
a lot more fun at that game, even though it
sounds like you were freezing, right, It sounds like you
were quite literally frozen.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, handwarmers in the glove and I still got frostbite,
like and I was trying to text you during the
game and I just my fingers weren't working, and then
my face like people came up to me ask for
pictures and whatnot, and I'm trying to have like a
conversation with these people, and my face was like I
could barely talk. So, yes, it was cold as hell.
(01:23):
Well hell's not supposedly cold, but it was cold. I
mean it was very cold. And I just want to preface,
you know, by saying this, we like our job, you know,
as people that analyze the game and react to the
games and things like that, is like to keep it real,
like we're gonna give credit. We're also going to discredit
(01:46):
players and you know, call out bad play. But anybody
calling out anybody for the way that they played in
that game, I just can't do it because I could
barely move and I was up in the seats and
you had these guys running full speed and it was
a crazy, crazy, you know, crazy game because of how
cold it was. I think it totally impacted what the
(02:08):
Rams wanted to do. They ran the ball with Kyron,
they ran the ball with Blake. They only had Matthew
Stafford throw it a few times. I mean, hands up
with one hundred and ten, you know, passing yards. So
it was kind of wild, It really was. Alexis I
would say this, you went to the right MetLife game,
(02:28):
because that one was not one, especially to travel from
the Midwest and go to that.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
That was not the game to go to.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah, the game I was at at MetLife was beautiful weather.
I mean it was a little chilly, but there was
a lot of sun so it was kind of like
that perfect football weather to where you know, I had
a jersey on, I had a hoodie underneath my jersey,
and I felt fine. So I definitely agree with you.
I think I was at the better MetLife game in
terms of weather and score, because I mean the Rams
(02:59):
a blueated the Giants when I went.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
To that, he did.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
But you know what, we still won against the Jets,
and that that's what matters is. It wasn't necessarily a
pretty win. Wasn't a really pretty score nineteen to nine,
you know, not not pretty. But you know what, I
thought that the Rams played well, like you touched on,
you know, the passing game wasn't really there. I thought
the Jets did a relatively good job, you know, through
(03:26):
the air. But Kyrien Williams twenty three carries one hundred
and twenty two yards one touchdown. I was close to
hitting the prediction. My prediction was over one hundred yards
and two touchdowns from Kyroen. I was close. He only
got the one, but that's all right.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I got my prediction. Tyler Higbee, Yes you did.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
You got the Tyler Higbee touchdown, which was just like
a cinematic moment to watch. It was kind of one
that like as soon as he got the ball, I.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Was just like, you know what, everything the earth stood
still seeing that live you so come together and I
was like, oh my god, Tyler Higby's open throw it.
And my Dad's like, nah, I think he's in there
just to block or be a decoy or whatever. I
was like, no, no, there is, And I was like, wait,
that is Tyler Higbye, right, And then I knew it
(04:15):
was when he took off and he freaking dunked on
the end zone because essentially nobody else in the roster
is scoring there. Which brings us to the point where
we were trying to explain how Tyler Higbee adds a
dynamic to this offense that wasn't previously there. We were
hoping it would be. We both interviewed Colby Barkinson. Right,
I'm a big Davis Allen fan. And I've become a
(04:38):
fan of Hunter Long's game. I think he should get
more opportunities. With that said, though, I can't stress enough
Tyler Higby just adds this dynamic that is not otherwise
shown on the field, and so I think that is
important to point out. Man of Paradox, super Chat, Hi,
Jake Slash, Alexis, Saturday Night d Rob two two touchdowns,
(05:01):
big Rig touchdown and Spike in my man too too touchdown.
Love you both, Happy New Year, Well we love you too.
And wow, so you got four touchdown passes for Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I don't think that's crazy, What say you, Alexis?
Speaker 1 (05:16):
I don't think that's crazy at all. I also think,
you know, kind of switching gears away from the Jets game,
you know, talking about this Cardinals game. You know, we
faced the Cardinals earlier this season and it went horribly.
So let's let's get that out of the way. Uh,
you know when the Rams met and listen, I know
that it was a different Rams team, a little bit
(05:37):
banged up at that point. You know, when we played
the Cardinals, there was not an excuse for that game.
That game was just one of those NFL games where
a team gets absolutely I think Clawbird, and there's there's
no excuse for it other than they got out played
and that was not how you and I were expecting
that game to go. No, I don't think that that
happens tonight. And we're going to talk about or Saturday night,
(05:59):
excuse me, and we're going to talk.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
About why you're to get Saturday are you well?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Well, I mean, I'm just I want to I just
want to touch on the fact, like, let's we're talking
about this game, because what I'm going to say for
my predictions against the Cardinals is I think it's going
to be a very different game than it was earlier
in the season because I think the Rams are very
there's a vengeance there. There's a little bit of a
revenge game scenario. So would you lose that badly to
(06:26):
a team in a game like that that it was
against Arizona, You definitely remember that going into your second meetup,
you know, of the season. So I do agree with
you know, man a Paradox and anybody who thinks it's
going to be a touchdown show on Saturday, because I
think the Rams really have something to prove. And let's
also talk about the playoff implications, right, yeah, you know
(06:48):
I'm seeing in the chat right now for everybody listening
via audio. We are recording this live. There are listeners
who are chatting with us as we record this. You know,
people are talking about the Bears game tonight. So the
Bears play the Seahawks tonight. Every Rams fans, every Rams
fan listening needs to be cheering for the Chicago Bears tonight.
(07:10):
It's not. And I'll let Jake kind of explain. He
explains all of this playoff implications really eloquently, and I
do not. I kind of have to talk myself through it.
It's a lot of steps. But Jake, please explain for
us what we should be cheering for tonight, Bears versus Seahawks,
and what will happen Saturday night if we win or lose.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yes, so obviously you're cheering for the Bears. The Bears,
you know, it's frustrating they beat the Rams earlier in
the year, but they could make up for it by
beating Seattle. It's in Chicago, it's on a short week.
Seattle was coming off a heartbreaking loss where they were
going down the field and they threw a game, losing
interception to the Minnesota Vikings. This game is huge because
(07:56):
if Seattle loses this, then if the Rams win on Saturday,
there is zero chance that Seattle, regardless of the Week
eighteen outcome, can win the division.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
They can't win any tiebreaker, no chance.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
But if Seattle wins on Thursday, while still very unlikely,
as long as the Rams handle their business on Saturday,
then realistically speaking, we're talking about a one percent chance
of Seattle getting in with all the different things that
need to be had. And I saw a tweet about this.
(08:31):
It was like a graphic and I want to find
it because it really did a nice job of kind
of showing you, you know, what the hell has to
happen for. Oh here it is, okay, So shout out
to denniz Selman thirty three. If Rams lose to Arizona,
Week eighteen is for the NFC West, regardless of Thursday
(08:54):
night football makes sense. If Rams beat Arizona's, Seahawks' only
chance is to win both of their games and get
a strength of victory miracle. So this man color coded,
and I'm gonna try and bring this up. I never
do this, but I'm gonna try to bring it up
here on the thing. So let's see here. We're going
(09:18):
to try and present this because I think this is great.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
All right, there we go, let's go. Visuals are great.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Okay, Let's let's lower that so you guys can actually
see what the top says.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
All right, So the.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Rams need five of the seventeen to have the strength
of victory. Seattle needs fourteen of the seventeen. So how
does this work? Well, so Dennis color coded all this right,
So the Rams would need the Saints because they beat
the Saints to get that one.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Right.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
However, the Saints got absolutely creamed, so that went to Seattle.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Seattle has one point. Rams just need five.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Keep in mind, so if Cincinnati beats Denver, right because
Denver played Seattle, then Cincinnati is a point towards the
Rams because it hurts Seattle strength of victory. It makes
Denver's record less. So then you have the Minnesota game.
The Rams beat Minnesota and Seattle lost to Minnesota, so
(10:30):
that goes in the rams favor, So that would be
two points. The Rams would only need three more after
that Buffalo to beat the Jets, which I would have
to imagine they're going to do that. There's three. Cleveland
to beat Miami not a guarantee because they beat Miami.
Seattle did and the Rams did not, So that would
go in favor of Seattle. Washington to beat Atlanta. I
(10:52):
like their chances there. San Francisco to beat Detroit. I
don't like their chances there at all. And then week eighteen,
and this is the thing. If five of these things
happen in the Rams favor, then the strength of victory
is clinched, like it's done before week eighteen. But if
(11:15):
you don't have that happen, right, you don't have these
things work, then week eighteen you're okay because if San
Francisco beats Arizona, that's gonna be two points and that
would pretty much end it for the Rams. Minnesota beats Detroit,
that would end it for the Rams. Buffalo beats New England,
that would end it for the Rams. So a lot
(11:36):
of things here. Just the point here is that strength
of victory is going to be a win loss percentage
of the teams that you played. So that's why if
Seattle has played some you know, some of their own
teams where the Rams don't share that team, or if
the Rams do share that team on the schedule and
(11:58):
Seattle beat them, but the Rams didn't. That would go
in favor of Seattle. So a lot of different stuff here,
but really this is a long shot, Alexis.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
This is like hitting a you know, hitting the lottery almost.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I mean, it's it's gonna be really difficult to have
to rely I mean, look at who the Sea how
has to rely on. They need Chicago to beat green Bay,
you know what I mean, Like, they need Chicago to
beat green Bay, they need Denver to beat Kansas City. Right, Like,
this stuff isn't guaranteed at all, and it's not guaranteed
for the Rams, but it is a reminder that this
(12:34):
is what they need to do. So shout out to
Dennis Selman thirty three on Twitter for putting this out there.
I like the whole you know, this thing, like kind
of just the visualization of everything. I don't know if
this helped this hurt you, I like in any way,
But yeah, that's how that is.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Well, Yeah, I think for starters, every buddy, starting with
tonight Thursday Night football, it would really do the Rams
a solid if the Bears could win. We don't need
we don't technically, like Jake said, we don't need them
to win, but it does make things a lot more simple.
If you know the Bears can beat the Seahawks, the
Seahawks take the loss. So we'll see. But I will
(13:21):
say so, I live in Chicago, and a lot of
Bears fans are actually rooting for the Bears to lose
tonight because they have they've kind of made up the scenario,
which I guess is kind of true. I don't know
how true it is that if the Bears just lose
out they'll get a higher draft pick, right and whatever.
(13:44):
Not all Bears fans are thinking that way. I know
a great deal of Bears fans who want the team
to lose tonight. So, in a weird way, Rams fans
are rooting harder for the Chicago Bears to win tonight
than a lot of Bears fans are, which I think
is a little funny. So we'll see. Obviously, I don't
think that the Bears are going into the game with
that mentality. I think they're going to try to win,
and I hope they do win for all the reasons
(14:05):
we talked about, Jake. But we'll see. Yeah, like you said,
the game is in Chicago, it's a home game for them.
They have home field advantage, so yeah, we'll definitely we'll
see how the game turns out. You and I will
be watching, as I know a lot of Rams fans
will be when we get done recording this episode. But
turning to the Rams away from this Bear Seahawks game, Jake,
(14:29):
you know, going into Saturday night, I keep wanting to
say Sunday, reminding everybody it's Saturday night. Don't forget the
Rams are playing Saturday night, December twenty eighth, eight o'clock
Eastern time. I believe. So what do you think, Jake,
is the number one play for the Rams to beat
(14:52):
this Arizona Cardinals team, Because, like I mentioned earlier, we
struggled against them when we first played them. I felt
like our I feel like our defense though, has really
solidified and came together since we played Arizona the first time,
because if everybody remembers correctly, it was really painful watching
Kyler Murray basically dissect the Rams defense when we first
(15:16):
played them, and I feel like a large portion of
that had to do with the fact we had a
young defense. They looked good in the season opener, but
then they kind of showed where they were at that
second game in the season against Arizona. There was no chemistry.
They weren't really playing well together. They looked confused a
lot of the time. So now that we're at the
(15:36):
end of the season, I feel like it's going to
feel a lot differently on defense, Jake, what are your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Yeah, it's going to be interesting because the Cardinals really
aren't playing for a whole lot aside for pride. But
I want to make it very clear that when a
team like the Cardinals gets eliminated in a season where
obviously the players thought that we were going to go
to the playoffs, but the reality is a lot of
us felt like they were probably win like maybe seven
games and show out and really get people excited for
(16:05):
the future.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
That's what the Cardinals are.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Okay, They've set themselves up well where you know, they've
drafted well, they have traded for the right guys, they
have acquired the right pieces, and they have over one
hundred million in cap space next year. They brought back
Buddha Baker finally, it felt like he's been trying to
get paid for eight years. I don't think he's been
the league for eight years, but just felt like that.
But when you talk about the Cardinals winning out could
(16:30):
really do a lot for their confidence moving forward. If
this team finishes nine to eight, we're talking a completely
different thing. And that's that's where the whole well, I
want a better draft pick.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
That's where I don't care about all that.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I just maybe it's just because I watched really bad
Rams football in Saint Louis as you did.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Maybe that's it.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
But I don't care about draft picks because look, if
you don't think that they can trade up five spots
to go out and get the guy they want. If
it ends up being that, I don't know what to
tell you. You don't need, you know, a wicked high draft pick.
What you do need is stability. You need some momentum,
and you need to actually build upon the foundation you set.
(17:14):
It sets a really bad example. If the Cardinals lose
out here and go seven to ten, no doubt about it,
it's just not.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
A good look.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
However, if they finished the season nine to eight, they recovered,
they missed the playoffs by a game or whatever, and
now you can build off that. And not all the time, Alexis,
but most of the time, obviously, injuries come into play.
But most of the time, the hottest teams at the
end of the previous year are the teams that coming
in next year, as you know, the sleeper teams, the
(17:45):
dark horse teams, the teams that really kind of you know,
push their momentum in the following season. So I think
the Rams are going to get a fight from Arizona. Now,
I know they're not going to have likely their left
tackle or their right tackle. They are banged up. That's
not a shock there, But you know, I still think
they're gonna give the Rams a fight. I just don't
(18:06):
think there were was talent as the Rams. The Rams
are healthier. The last time the Rams played Arizona. Here
was the starting lineup. You had Matthew Stafford, Kyen Williams,
Tyler Johnson, Cooper Cup for a half, DeMarcus Robinson, Kolbe Parkinson.
Then you had Kevin Dotson, rob Havenstein, Bohlimmer, Warren mcclennon Junior,
and Jonah Jackson. So the offense without Pooka Nakua, but
(18:28):
for the most part, the offense was pretty much what
they're gonna see.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Now you had Tyler Higbee. Maybe Havenstein doesn't play and
then you look at the defense, and the defense was
Brydon Fizz, Kobe Turner, Bobby Brown, Byron Young, Jared Verse.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Sounds right.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
However, then you had Troy Reider, John Johnson, Quinton Lake,
Trevarius Ward, Kobe Durant, Cameron curl So there were some
different pieces around this team when they last played the Cardinals,
and the Cardinals when they played the Rams they also
had some different pieces as well. But I think the
(19:05):
big thing here for the Rams is that they have
retooled their secondary. They didn't have Darius Williams, they didn't
have a Kellow Witherspoon. I think he signed after this
game to the practice squad, but they did not have him.
John Johnson was like their go to safety earlier in
the year. He goes down, then you find Jaylen McCullough.
(19:28):
Later on the year. You find guys like Cameron Kinchins,
who got absolutely exposed in this game, but really built
himself up as the season progressed. Right, Troy Reider, though,
you have Christian roseboom now who's trying to set the
Rams record for tackles in a season, and you gotta
Omar Spates. So you have all these new guys, and
this is kind of just the NFL in a nutshell.
(19:50):
Time goes on and things change. War mcclennon Jr. Is
not starting for this team. Jonah Jackson is not starting
for this team, whether I think they should give him
a shot at right now or not, because I would
rather have him play the noteboom right now. If haven
Stein can't go, he's not starting for this team. So
a lot of different variables here. It goes back to
(20:11):
Week two as well. This team was vastly different than
what they are right now. And I think a big
thing here, Alexis is what a lot of people might
be shocked to see is if you've already forgotten the
Bills game and you're just going by the fact that
the Rams didn't score a touchdown the forty nine er
(20:32):
game on a short week in the pouring rain, and
if you're forgetting about the fact that they played in
the coldest temperatures in the Sean McVay era and they
only scored nineteen points, well, be ready because this is
going to be at SOFI Stadium. They haven't been there
since the Bill's game when they scored forty four. So
it's just a reminder. I know it feels like it
(20:54):
was a while ago now, but I don't think this
offense is gone. I think they've been in hybridnme because
of the cold, and I think the ready to unleash
themselves in front of everybody on Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
I agree. I think we're in for a big game
from the offense, and just to touch on kind of
the defense. Like we just kind of talked about the
difference between Week two, right and you know now Week
seventeen or whatever it is playing against you know, the
same Arizona team. The chemistry I think is going to
be a parent. Like I said, that Week two game,
(21:30):
something that we really talked about and I know other
RAMS fans talked about as well, was just how confused
that defense looked against Arizona, and how Arizona was able
to exploit a young defense that was still learning and
who's kind of playing with each other lack of chemistry,
Like the confusion was a parent Like you could literally
watch the RAMS players in the field kind of looking around,
(21:51):
not sure what's going on. That's going to change and
I think that's going to be a big factor in
this game. Shout out super Chat that Jake just put
on the screen. Jean said, worried about our tackles health,
They are crucial. Yes, agree, Jake, Let's start there, you know,
talking about specifically what we think is going to happen
(22:12):
on offense. What do you think this tackle situation indicates
for Saturday? Do we think Rob is going to be
able to play?
Speaker 3 (22:20):
I do.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I think they're trying to be very cautious with this.
I also think they wanted this to get out to
let people know like he's going through something. So if
you see some dips in his production and what have you.
This is why. Now it's annoying because they did just
have an injury report right before Christmas that felt like
a Christmas gift.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Nobody was on the injury report.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
I was so tempted to copy and paste that and
put it on a shirt and sell it or just
better yet, just wear it all the time because it
made me feel something. But then the next day they're like, yeah,
Rob Havenstein's shoulder. It's like, come on, you know so
I think they I mean, he already said Sean McVay
(23:05):
already said if he can't go, Joseph Nobuom will be
the right tackle. My issue is Joseph Nopum is not
a right tackle at all in this league. He is
a solid left tackle. I watched him play against the
Giants last year in a pinch. They threw him in
three hours before the game because Aleric Jackson couldn't do
it and guess what, he didn't allow a sack, he
(23:26):
didn't allow a pressure.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
He was really good there.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
But you're not going to move Aleric Jackson, who's playing
at a very high level right now, to right tackle
just because Joe Nopum can only play left tackle or guard.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
So there, you know, therein lies my.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Concerns with a potential game without Rob Evenstein, because it
just takes one guy on the offensive line to have
a terrible game and then all of a sudden, the
rest of your offense line is feeling the effects of it.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
And I feel like Sean.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Is really gonna have to do his best to make
sure that these guys are getting chipped on the right
side if it is Nopum. But I'm gonna be honest
with you, I would really try and do something creative here.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
I might well, I'm not gonna say I might.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
I would, And I don't know if he can do it,
but I know Joseph Nopum can't do it. I would
play Jonah Jackson at right tackle.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
I would.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
I think he's you know, he's built for that. I
think he could absolutely play right tackle. He'd be good
in the run game. I just know from watching Joseph
Nopum he is not a right tackle in the NFL.
It's just he's just not. It does not work. He
does not look natural. That's the reality of it, you know.
And so that's my concern, Alexis, is that I just
(24:50):
don't think the right guy is playing in the right position.
And I get injuries happen. I understand that, but you
have to understand you're putting Stafford in harm.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
This is a must win.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
The Cardinals are trying to knock you out of the
playoffs because the Cardinals look at the Rams as the rival.
The Cardinals look at the Rams as the bully. The
Cardinals haven't been knocked down by the forty nine ers
the way the Rams have knocked down the Cardinals. So
I think there's a lot of you know, I don't
want to say bad blood. I don't feel like the
teams despise each other, like the Rams and Niners do,
(25:23):
but I mean there's some bad blood. But yeah, I
just I think that that would be a mistake if
if No Boom is starting at right tackle, I don't
believe he started since the Dolphins game and we know
how that went, so I just I would temper the
expectations there if he ends up playing.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
I do think Rob Havenstein will play.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I just think they're trying to be really cautious with him,
understandably so, but I would go with Jonah Jackson at
right tackle. And I don't know if he's and I
can look as you uh you say your piece. I
can look and see if Jonas ever played right tackle.
I'm gonna go with the guests that he has.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
But what say you, Well, yeah, I'm not I'm not
sure how I feel about it. I mean, I think,
you know, if we're looking short term, we're looking at
this game against Arizona. I mean we Matthew Stafford got
sacked five times the last time we played Arizona. Three
of those sacks were by Dennis Gardick, who is now
on IR Yeah, you know, so not to say, you know,
(26:33):
because I'm looking at their depth chart now and I
want to be careful because going into that game, I
was like, Oh, I don't really know that there's anybody
that I'm totally afraid of. You know, their pass rushers, right,
and then you know, Stafford ended up getting sacked, you know,
five times. Dennis gave them fits. But again we had
a very different offensive line ish, So I don't know.
(26:59):
I think just whatever they decide to do, either they
do play Rob or you know, they put in note
Boom or like they do your Jonah Jackson idea, whatever
it is that they end up doing, I just think
it's going to be critical to protect the quarterback, especially
you know, you get this late into the season. You
can't have Stafford getting hurt.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
I was wrong. He has never played at right tackle.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
I went all the way back to Rutgers in twenty sixteen.
I'd still play him there because I know Nopum can't
play there.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
So you would rather experiment. And I don't know that
I feel okay. I mean, I'm not saying it's.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
The right answer. I just live on the edge, but
I would do it. I would be like, can it work?
Because now this is where it gets fascinating, because if
they could move him to right tackle, Rob, Heenstein's contract
is almost up. He could end up filling a need
instead of a guy that's just going to be let
(27:59):
go this offseason, probably traded for pennies on the dollar.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Well, I didn't give We did give Jonah a big contract. Yeah,
and you know it might be worth you know, seeing
if we can get some use out of them. Oh. Man,
it hasn't worked out, you know so far. So yeah.
I mean I'm for whatever option doesn't get Matthew Stafford's act.
(28:26):
So if that ends up being, you know what to do,
I'm all for it. I don't have a star. I
don't think that's what they're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
I hate no, No, they're going to go with nopum.
If he already said they're going to go with nopoom.
If haven steinus and I would go with McLendon over nopum,
That's what I would do.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
But I'm not saying they're great. No.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
To answer the question in the comments section, no, noepoom
did play because that was the big thing about the
Dolphins game. They threw three new offensive liignment in from
the previous week, and they benched did it?
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Who picked? Who played well? Pitched well? Good lord?
Speaker 2 (29:01):
He played well? And bo Limmer. So that game, it
wasn't a fluke. It was a direct, you know, response
to what happens when you play three new offensive linemen
on your offensive line after the other guys had kind
of jelled.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
So I don't know, well, but you know.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I think, well, yeah, I mean looking offensively, you know
at the Rams aside from the offensive line, kind of
question mark right now, what do you think that their
game plan is going to be. Do you think that
they're going to look to kind of building off what
they did against the Jets and just really hammer the
run game. Do you think they're going to try to
(29:43):
go balanced offense? I mean, you look at kind of
this Arizona depth chart, Uh, you know their secondary you know,
Sean Murphy, Bunting, Jalen Thompson, Buddha Baker, Starling, Thomas Garrett Williams.
Which I'm I need a look at their ir again
because I feel like there's someone missing from that list.
Was it Elijah Jones?
Speaker 3 (30:06):
It may have been.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
I'm actually Jones started when we played them last at
Corner And.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
My thing is if Havenstein isn't playing, then yeah, I
think they're going to run the ball. They're going to
be conservative, they're going to try and attack the left side.
It just sucks because we all know they you know,
Kyroen looks the best when he's running, you know, behind
guys like Dotson and Havenstein. If haven Stein can't go, well,
(30:37):
now you just have to figure out a way to
make it work.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
And you know that's the thing.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I mean when you look at like the rushing direction
for Kyron Williams on that game against the Jets, this
is somebody who basically was averaging eight yards per carry
running right tackle. He's averaging seven running right guard and
middle right, which is of course the center and the
right guard in between those two, who's averaging five point seven.
(31:04):
When you move over to the other side middle left,
center and the left guard three five point two, left
guard and left end, which is off the tight end
on the left side, who's averaging five point three. Regardless,
he's a very, very good back and he's gonna find
ways to make plays. But there's not really a shock
(31:26):
to people when you say, this guy's clearly better running
to the right side because he's got two of the
best run blockers at their perspective positions. Now, to be fair,
in that forty nine er game, he actually ran better
to the left guard. He had five point four yards
per carry and they kept running it that way. On
the right side, he had two point three yards per
(31:48):
carry running right guard, two point eight running middle right,
and four point five running right tackle. So interesting stuff there.
These are things that I focus on. Other people are
probably have a rip. I just want to win, but
I think this stuff matters, and it's just kind of
the effect when you lose a guy like Rob Havenstein.
(32:09):
This is what you're dealing with. But you know what
makes the most sense.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Now I have this information in front of me.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Probably to look at the last time Joseph Nopum played right,
which would be the Dolphins game. What did we have
moving to the right side. And Karen Williams only ran
the ball near Joseph Nopum four times and he ran
it for four yards, So they don't they know. Luckily
(32:35):
they know middle right five carries twenty yards, four carries sixteen. Yeah,
right tackle and right end did not go over well.
He averaged seven yards per carrie when running to the
left end, which is to the tight end in the
left tackle, So yeah, I mean Nopoom was already always
(32:57):
considered a better run blocker than a pass protector. That
might you might be able to get away with that,
but he's not haven Stein.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
That's the real.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Havenstein's an enforcer on the offensive line, and when you
lose a guy like him that it's significant.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Well, right, so maybe that means that the Rams are
going to be a little bit more inclined. If he's
not playing to try and get the passing game going,
he hasn't really gone, you know, I think the past
couple of games the way that they wanted to go.
But you know, this the secondary, you know, again looking
at this Arizona secondary, I mean, obviously Buddha Baker is
(33:37):
the guy you kind of watch out for, right. I
don't know that the Rams won't try to target like
a Garrett Williams or Starling Thomas. You know, I think
Puka Puka Nakua and Cooper Cup are now both playing,
and that could really give this Arizona secondary problems. In
(33:58):
my opinion, I would not be surprised at all if
the Rams came out and just absolutely targeted, you know,
some of these corners for Arizona and really sought to
look to get the passing game going.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Williams is having a great year. By the way, he's
one of the better corners in the league. I would
say Murphy Bunting. Yeah, yeah, he's he's good.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
He out of Syracuse.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
He's the guy we liked out of Syracuse. Yes, he
tore his acl remember, and that's why he felt.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
You're right, there's all these Williams corners that I feel like.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
I always like, yeah, but no, he's a stud. He
really is. He's not getting love.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
You know who else they have? I need to stop
looking at the depth chart this way. You know who
else they have is Max Melton out of Rutgers.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Yeah, he's also a stud. Now he's not playing on
the level of No, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (34:52):
But I'm Williams expanded. I'm expanding it. And then they've
got Dadrian Taylor Emerson I don't know that I'm familiar with.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Yeah, No, he's a he's an athletic guy, hard hating player. Uh,
back end, the secondary guy. Baker's having a good year.
But I mean he's that's to be expected. A lot
of people know who he is, and.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
They've got I think it's pronounced Katrell Clark out of Louisville.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
I think we watch I think didn't.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
I don't remember. I don't know we're going to interview.
I don't remember if we did.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Well. He was out of Louisville. I watched his tape,
but I don't remember if we interviewed him. Yeah, but
you know, I still again, nevertheless, I still think that
the Rams are going to come out. I think they're
going to target the secondary. I think that this could
be a game where they might have success in the
passing game. I think the uh chat edwin. Thank you
so much, super Cheat.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
I love you guys. I've been listening. I've listened to
as sports fan like Mike Over at a NFC West
round table, and he and his followers think we are
going to blow them out of the water Verse Turner
and Young Sack. I am not going to do this
again because the last time that I said they would
(36:15):
blow the Cardinals out was Week two. So I don't
predict blowouts. They it can look like a blowout, but
I'm not gonna say a blowout's gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
That's just me.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
But no, in all seriousness, the Rams are the better team,
They're more talented. It's at home. They're coming off five
straight road wins. They're coming off wins four straight. It's
the biggest you know, win streak of their season, bigger
than any point last year. By the way they're coming off,
(36:47):
you know, establishing the room with Karen Williams, getting Tyler
Higbee back, getting healthy.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
You know, we'll see what happens with Havenstein.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
But no, there is there is zero excuse for the
Rams to lose if.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
They lose Week eighteen.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Okay, Seattle, they lost in overtime, right then, they could
have won that game. They shouldn't have been able to
win that game. The Rams let him back into it.
But yeah, I could understand that Week seventeen. However, you're
going against a team that embarrassed you. They beat you
thirty one nothing. They made you feel like you were
(37:28):
nothing zero to two to start the season. Now they
responded well, fighting back beating the forty nine ers. But Alexis,
losses like that can kill your season before they start.
And we were talking about it, like, I was really
impressed with their loss against the Lions. I thought what
they did with all the injuries they had was something huge, and.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Then they followed it up with that.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
So if they actually lose this game, because I mean, basically,
this is how works. We keep talking about what happens
at the Rams win. Yeah, yeah, what happens that the
Rams lose. If the Rams lose, then regardless that last
(38:12):
game Week eighteen against Seattle is a win, and you're
in survive in advanced playoff game and it's at home,
no excuses, you're playing at home, back to back games.
I don't care that they're at your rival. Get it done,
and I believe they're going to.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
I do as well. So let's get into our score predictions. Jake,
do you want to s Yeah?
Speaker 3 (38:37):
First, I'll go first.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
I'm going to say, because I actually feel a safety
in this game, I'm gonna say thirty three to twenty hmm. Interesting,
four touchdowns, a field goal and a safety.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
So my I don't know why my gut says this,
but I mean, I have the Rams winning. I think
it's going to be twenty seven to twenty four. Rams.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Damn.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
I think it's gonna I think it's gonna get close
towards the end. But I just I don't know. The
Arizona seem to have our number the first time we
played them. Like I said, I know we had injuries,
but it really was not an excuse. It was really
just bad. It was a bad loss. So I felt like,
you know, they were able to kind of get in there.
They seem to kind of know what we wanted to do.
(39:29):
I think it's gonna be a close game, and I
think the Rams are gonna win twenty seven to twenty four.
Now I won't be surprised if they win by a
much larger margin, but I kind of have that superstition
as I know, do you, because when we predicted the
score last time they played the Cardinals, we were both very,
very wrong, and I'm not gonna mess with that again.
You know again, this is a division rival, this is
(39:50):
a team that knows us well, we know them well.
I think it's gonna be a close game. Jake, going
into our bold predictions, did you just give a sneak
peeg a one because you mentioned to safety that one
of your bold predictions.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
No, because I'll just throw that out there. You know
what I mean, it's a freebie. You guys enjoy it. Okay,
So bold prediction first one. I think we're going to
get the first touchdown of the season for two to
two out Well, God, I feel like I've said this
so many times, it's gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
It's going to.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
He might even get two because I think yes, because
I think the thing that a lot of people might
not know is that Pooka Nakua, for whatever reason, is
not good against the Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
You might not even realize this.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
In two games against the Cardinals, Pooka Nakua has fifty
three yards for on eight catches. He has been targeted
in those games fifteen times. I don't know what it is,
but he has not played well against the Cardinals. Then
he didn't get a chance to play in Week two
because he was out. I just think I'm I mean,
(41:00):
obviously history can be a little weird, like why is
he bad against the Cardinals? Is the allergic to like
the color red? I don't know, but I think with Nikua,
he's gonna open up the door for others. Now you
have Higbee, He's gonna open up the door for others.
So I think two two out. Well is going to
have a touchdown this game. Next I think we get
(41:25):
Blake Koram's first touchdown of his career. It just feels
so obvious like this would be the game because if
it gets tight. If it's in a pinch, they're gonna
just ride with Kiren. But if what I believe is
gonna happen ends up happening, I think they win comfortably
(41:45):
in this one. I'm not saying below out, but comfortably.
Then I think they're gonna feel inclined to give Blake
Korum an opportunity at the goal line, and I think
he's gonna punch it in. So that's number two and
number three. God, I hate saying this. I feel like
jinx in him, but this is the week, and I'm
gonna say this until he actually does it. Kello Witherspoon
(42:07):
is going to have an interception. It is going to happen.
He should have had one against the forty nine ers.
Brock Purty underthrew it. A lot of people think that
led to the pass breakup. In terms, it actually just
saved him from getting intercepted, and then he could have
had it against you know, Aaron Rodgers and the Jets
(42:27):
a couple times actually, But we'll take the pass breakup
on a fourth down and turnover on down. So in
this one, Kyler Murray is going to try doing what
he did in week two, moving around, making plays with
his legs and he's going to fire it into maybe
double coverage or something, and Keller is going to pick
(42:47):
it off.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
And that is what I have.
Speaker 1 (42:53):
I like it. I hope that happens. All of those
are very good predictions. You did steal one of mine.
The first one was gonna be Blake Korm touchdown.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
I could see it in your face.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
I know, right as soon as you said it, I
was like, ugh, that was gonna be one of mine.
I feel like I am jinxing that though, because I've
bet on that so much, almost like like basically the
past four or five RAMS games. I throw it down
Blake Korm anytime touchdown because I just feel like you
can see that the Rams are trying to get him
more involved, I think towards the goal line, and I
think it just you know, they've just had you know,
(43:27):
situations where they end up kind of needing Kyen in
there and and so you know, Blake gets taken out.
But I just feel like, especially if the RAMS start
to get a lead, like you said, this will be
the game to try and you know, get get Blake
that first NFL touchdown and get him in there. So
we'll share that prediction yet again, I will bet on
it Blake korm anytime touchdown and hopefully it hits this week.
(43:50):
So that's my first prediction. Second prediction, let's see see.
I feel like Puka is gonna to break kind of
that energy.
Speaker 3 (44:04):
I just wanted to say to to out well, well, I.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
I think we are going to see too Pookin Akua
touchdowns versus Arizona. I just have this gut feeling he's
gonna have a good game against them and get it going.
And I mean he's Pookin Akua. I mean nothing's gonna
stop him right long. So I think that he's gonna
have a good game against Arizona. Then on the defensive
(44:28):
side of the ball. From my last prediction, I'm gonna
say I think we're gonna see a Cameron Kinchins interception.
I just like the way he's been playing. I feel
like he's gaining more and more confidence. He is I
think going to the Cameron Curl school of tackling. I
don't know if anybody else has picked up on that. Like,
(44:49):
he will hit and it is fun. Yeah, watching something
is in the air. It's it's kind of this infectious,
uh you know, tackling energy that I to see. So
I think we're going to see an interception from Cameron
Kinchins because yeah, I just I think that he's gotten
but I think he struggled as we talked about, you know,
(45:10):
to start the season. You know, he was kind of
thrown in their early definitely had some growing pains, and
I think he's coming into his own and I really
like to see it. So we'll see. I think both
of our all of our predictions were reasonable. Super chat
from Edwin.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Edwin question for both of you, would you rather spend
a day with Kobe Turner or a day with Pooka
and Nakua you were in La you can do whatever
you want. Ooh hmm. I'd probably say either because they
seem they both seemed like they'd be a lot of
fun to hang out with.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
I couldn't decide.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
I would say, I know, I would definitely hang out
with either one of them for a day. I would
say Kobe. I feel like Kobe and I would have
a lot in common because he's a big music lover
as am I like, I don't feel like I know
off the top of my head, and he like picular
hobbies of like Puka like what we could talk. But
maybe that's why I should spend a day with him
(46:04):
so I could like get to.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
Apparently he's big on anime and I'm I'm rocking the
the Goku Game Changers shirt. Shout out to Holden by
the way for hooking me up with it. So I mean, I,
you know, could uh could do something with that. But
I actually met Kobe Turner the in l A the
(46:26):
Rams and Eagles game after that, and it seems like
a really nice guy. He knew who I was apparently,
so that was cool. But you could also throw Ovula
in there as well. Those guys just they feel like
there's like an infectious like joy, like they're they're always smiling.
I met Ovula after the game with uh Brendan Well,
(46:48):
Brendan Jackson. I mean, everybody here, yes, probably knows probably
knows who he is by now, but we interviewed him and.
Speaker 1 (46:56):
Yeah, he's got that like he's due.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Quentin.
Speaker 1 (47:01):
Yeah, I guess Quinton Lake is really cool too. I
would say I would hang out with Kobe or Pooka both.
I would hang out both of them if I had
to pick. Just the question is you know, I just
feel like Kobe and I. On a musical level.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
You can do whatever you want. So would you would
you go out and just sing like duets with Kobe?
Speaker 1 (47:22):
I cannot sing, so no, but I would maybe we'd
just like hit up a ton of concerts or more.
What would probably happen is Kobe would maybe be performing
in a concert and I would go to watch, like
we'd hang out before, and I feel like Kobe would
just have like a concert somewhere.
Speaker 2 (47:43):
I feel like Pooka and I would probably go to
like a Laker game and then go to like Comic Con,
and I feel like Kobe and I would probably go
to like, yeah, probably like a Laker game, and I
don't know, see like yeah, see a concert something like that.
(48:04):
Nothing too crazy. I'm not a very like crazy outgoing person.
So yeah, I know that's probably a boring answer, but
that's the answer. Edwin appreciates you, and then Happy Gilmore, which,
by the way, Happy Gilmore Too is coming out on
Netflix this upcoming year. Looking forward to that. Happy Gilmore
(48:26):
gave us ten thanks for the content, Jake and Alexis.
So we appreciate you guys, and I guess we're gonna
wrap it up because Alexis.
Speaker 3 (48:39):
All eyes are on this game tonight.
Speaker 2 (48:41):
This is probably the most publicity the Bears have had
in quite some time, this late in the season, for
a completely different reasons. Yeah, by the way, so we
got we got, Well, we're gonna help you guys out.
Speaker 3 (48:59):
We got a deal on the channel.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
Of course, you can use code JK Bogan for today's
sponsor prize picks. You're gonna get fifty dollars instantly when
you play at least a five dollars lineup, win or lose.
And because we love you guys so much, we are
going to head on over to our trustee prize picks
(49:21):
app here and we're gonna pick some of these. So, Alexis,
everyone is riding the JSN wave.
Speaker 3 (49:32):
The question is are you one of those people?
Speaker 2 (49:37):
Am I yes, So I'm gonna go with more as well.
I think he's that are wide receiver one. I've been
really impressed with him. I used to call him out
all the time, said he was overrated. He has proven
me wrong. I think he is going to have more
than seventy five and a half. In addition to that, Alexis,
(49:58):
I really like the five and a half. I'm gonna
avoid six. I don't like pushing, and this would be
a push. I think I think he's gonna have exactly six.
But I'll tell you what I do like. I like
this one. You see the devil there. The green one
is like, okay, yeah, this is easy. You see Caleb
just needs to throw a touchdown. But the red one here,
(50:19):
Keenan Allen.
Speaker 3 (50:20):
Look at this.
Speaker 2 (50:22):
He has had five touchdowns in the last five games.
Has almost had a touchdown every game. I like Kean
Allen to have more.
Speaker 3 (50:29):
What say you?
Speaker 1 (50:31):
I agree? I actually have a prop in with a
bonus bet. I had Keenan Allen two plus touchdowns. If
anybody wants like a.
Speaker 3 (50:41):
Fun little I do like that.
Speaker 1 (50:43):
And then he is Caleb's favorite receiver.
Speaker 2 (50:47):
And then Zach Sharboney they just ruled out. And then
I know this looks ugly, but they just ruled out
Kenneth Walker for the rest of the year, which isn't
saying a ton because there's only two more games. But
Sharbonay did not start this Greenmey game. He didn't start
this Minnesota game. Kenneth Walker came back for these when
he was the starter. This is what he did against
(51:10):
the bad run defense. And I'll tell you right now,
Chicago is a worst run defense, second worst right now
in the league. Then Arizona. I'm gonna say more for
Zach Sharboney.
Speaker 3 (51:19):
I like that. And then do you have any that
you'd like to throw in here? You got three?
Speaker 1 (51:29):
Let me look closer. Sorry, guys, my eyesight is bad.
I don't know. I'm gonna not comment because I feel
like I'm gonna jink. Jake and I were just talking
off air, and he's much better at this than I am.
I've not had good luck lately. I mean, I think
(51:50):
that it's gonna be a big game for sure.
Speaker 2 (51:52):
Caleb's gonna have to throw I'm gonna say two d
and twenty plus yards.
Speaker 3 (51:57):
I think he could do that.
Speaker 1 (51:59):
You do that might be cole comet. Ooh, he might
be like, I'm not you know, I don't want to
jinx it. But he's kind of been heating up quietly.
You'd say cole Comet. I mean, Keenan Allen is obviously
his favorite receiver. You're not gonna go wrong with any
Keenan Allen Betts.
Speaker 2 (52:17):
Well, it seems like he kind of fell off, So
I don't know if I would do that.
Speaker 3 (52:22):
But he is averaging twenty two points. Yeah, look at this.
Speaker 1 (52:27):
I don't know I'm gonna take a cole commt prop tonight.
Speaker 2 (52:32):
I you know what, chat, I think I'm gonna stick
with what we got here, although I kind of like
the DJ Moore, I'm gonna go with more than fifty
seven and a half. So there it is. So check
it out over on price Picks JSN. We're taking more
all the way up to I'd say eighty. I would
(52:53):
take more than eighty. Keenan Allen touchdown, Zach Charboney sixty
nine and a half rushing yards more and Dj Moore
fifty seven and a half receiving yards. You can do
it all over on the Prize Picks app using my
code JK Bogan. It'll get you fifty dollars instantly when
you play at least a five dollars lineup. That means
win or lose, you're gonna have fifty dollars added onto
(53:14):
your account. But that is going. I don't know what
happened to a screen, but that is gonna do it
real quick.
Speaker 3 (53:24):
Shout out to Alex, Love you, Alex, you Alex.
Speaker 2 (53:27):
Kobe and AK going on a hunt for vintage vinyl. Yeah, damn,
that sounds like that'd be fun.
Speaker 1 (53:34):
I feel like, yeah, I feel like he's probably into vinyl. Yeah,
we could go shop and good idea. But guys, everybody,
make sure you tune in tonight to the Bear Seahawks
game if you've got nothing else going on, and cheer
hard for those Chicago Bears, because, like we said, if
the Bears win, it's gonna make things a lot easier
for the Rams. But don't get your hopes up. Yeah,
(54:00):
like I you know, they're not favored, but we'll see,
we'll see what happens. But guys, we'll be back next
early next week kind of recapping the game against the Cardinals.
Until then, you can follow us some social media at
Downtown Rams. You can follow me on Twitter at the
Alexis Kraft, you can follow Jake at JK Bogan and
(54:24):
uh yeah, we'll tune into this game tonight. We'll watch
the Rams Saturday night, and until next time, guys, As always,
stay safe, take care, and go Rams
All right, guys, welcome back to Downtown Rams. As always,
I'm Alexis Kraft, join here with Jake ellen Bogan and
we are coming to you live tonight Thursday, December twenty
sixth to preview our Rams matchup against the Arizona Cardinals
this Saturday night. Some Saturday night football. You've got the
(00:22):
Rams taking on Arizona at the end of a slate
of Saturday night games, so that'll be fun. That's a
little different. So we're going to talk about that matchup
this weekend. We'll also touch a little bit on the
Rams win over the Jets nineteen to nine. They were
able to go to MetLife and get the w Jake
was there. So, Jake, you've been present for a Rams
(00:44):
loss this season and you've been present for a Rams win. Obviously,
we know the latter is more fun, and you had
a lot more fun at that game, even though it
sounds like you were freezing, right, It sounds like you
were quite literally frozen.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, handwarmers in the glove and I still got frostbite,
like and I was trying to text you during the
game and I just my fingers weren't working, and then
my face like people came up to me ask for
pictures and whatnot, and I'm trying to have like a
conversation with these people, and my face was like I
could barely talk. So, yes, it was cold as hell.
(01:23):
Well hell's not supposedly cold, but it was cold. I
mean it was very cold. And I just want to preface,
you know, by saying this, we like our job, you know,
as people that analyze the game and react to the
games and things like that, is like to keep it real,
like we're gonna give credit. We're also going to discredit
(01:46):
players and you know, call out bad play. But anybody
calling out anybody for the way that they played in
that game, I just can't do it because I could
barely move and I was up in the seats and
you had these guys running full speed and it was
a crazy, crazy, you know, crazy game because of how
cold it was. I think it totally impacted what the
(02:08):
Rams wanted to do. They ran the ball with Kyron,
they ran the ball with Blake. They only had Matthew
Stafford throw it a few times. I mean, hands up
with one hundred and ten, you know, passing yards. So
it was kind of wild, It really was. Alexis I
would say this, you went to the right MetLife game,
(02:28):
because that one was not one, especially to travel from
the Midwest and go to that.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
That was not the game to go to.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah, the game I was at at MetLife was beautiful weather.
I mean it was a little chilly, but there was
a lot of sun so it was kind of like
that perfect football weather to where you know, I had
a jersey on, I had a hoodie underneath my jersey,
and I felt fine. So I definitely agree with you.
I think I was at the better MetLife game in
terms of weather and score, because I mean the Rams
(02:59):
a blueated the Giants when I went.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
To that, he did.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
But you know what, we still won against the Jets,
and that that's what matters is. It wasn't necessarily a
pretty win. Wasn't a really pretty score nineteen to nine,
you know, not not pretty. But you know what, I
thought that the Rams played well, like you touched on,
you know, the passing game wasn't really there. I thought
the Jets did a relatively good job, you know, through
(03:26):
the air. But Kyrien Williams twenty three carries one hundred
and twenty two yards one touchdown. I was close to
hitting the prediction. My prediction was over one hundred yards
and two touchdowns from Kyroen. I was close. He only
got the one, but that's all right.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
I got my prediction. Tyler Higbee, Yes you did.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
You got the Tyler Higbee touchdown, which was just like
a cinematic moment to watch. It was kind of one
that like as soon as he got the ball, I.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Was just like, you know what, everything the earth stood
still seeing that live you so come together and I
was like, oh my god, Tyler Higby's open throw it.
And my Dad's like, nah, I think he's in there
just to block or be a decoy or whatever. I
was like, no, no, there is, And I was like, wait,
that is Tyler Higbye, right, And then I knew it
(04:15):
was when he took off and he freaking dunked on
the end zone because essentially nobody else in the roster
is scoring there. Which brings us to the point where
we were trying to explain how Tyler Higbee adds a
dynamic to this offense that wasn't previously there. We were
hoping it would be. We both interviewed Colby Barkinson. Right,
I'm a big Davis Allen fan. And I've become a
(04:38):
fan of Hunter Long's game. I think he should get
more opportunities. With that said, though, I can't stress enough
Tyler Higby just adds this dynamic that is not otherwise
shown on the field, and so I think that is
important to point out. Man of Paradox, super Chat, Hi,
Jake Slash, Alexis, Saturday Night d Rob two two touchdowns,
(05:01):
big Rig touchdown and Spike in my man too too touchdown.
Love you both, Happy New Year, Well we love you too.
And wow, so you got four touchdown passes for Matthew Stafford.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I don't think that's crazy, What say you, Alexis?
Speaker 1 (05:16):
I don't think that's crazy at all. I also think,
you know, kind of switching gears away from the Jets game,
you know, talking about this Cardinals game. You know, we
faced the Cardinals earlier this season and it went horribly.
So let's let's get that out of the way. Uh,
you know when the Rams met and listen, I know
that it was a different Rams team, a little bit
(05:37):
banged up at that point. You know, when we played
the Cardinals, there was not an excuse for that game.
That game was just one of those NFL games where
a team gets absolutely I think Clawbird, and there's there's
no excuse for it other than they got out played
and that was not how you and I were expecting
that game to go. No, I don't think that that
happens tonight. And we're going to talk about or Saturday night,
(05:59):
excuse me, and we're going to talk.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
About why you're to get Saturday are you well?
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Well, I mean, I'm just I want to I just
want to touch on the fact, like, let's we're talking
about this game, because what I'm going to say for
my predictions against the Cardinals is I think it's going
to be a very different game than it was earlier
in the season because I think the Rams are very
there's a vengeance there. There's a little bit of a
revenge game scenario. So would you lose that badly to
(06:26):
a team in a game like that that it was
against Arizona, You definitely remember that going into your second meetup,
you know, of the season. So I do agree with
you know, man a Paradox and anybody who thinks it's
going to be a touchdown show on Saturday, because I
think the Rams really have something to prove. And let's
also talk about the playoff implications, right, yeah, you know
(06:48):
I'm seeing in the chat right now for everybody listening
via audio. We are recording this live. There are listeners
who are chatting with us as we record this. You know,
people are talking about the Bears game tonight. So the
Bears play the Seahawks tonight. Every Rams fans, every Rams
fan listening needs to be cheering for the Chicago Bears tonight.
(07:10):
It's not. And I'll let Jake kind of explain. He
explains all of this playoff implications really eloquently, and I
do not. I kind of have to talk myself through it.
It's a lot of steps. But Jake, please explain for
us what we should be cheering for tonight, Bears versus Seahawks,
and what will happen Saturday night if we win or lose.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yes, so obviously you're cheering for the Bears. The Bears,
you know, it's frustrating they beat the Rams earlier in
the year, but they could make up for it by
beating Seattle. It's in Chicago, it's on a short week.
Seattle was coming off a heartbreaking loss where they were
going down the field and they threw a game, losing
interception to the Minnesota Vikings. This game is huge because
(07:56):
if Seattle loses this, then if the Rams win on Saturday,
there is zero chance that Seattle, regardless of the Week
eighteen outcome, can win the division.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
They can't win any tiebreaker, no chance.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
But if Seattle wins on Thursday, while still very unlikely,
as long as the Rams handle their business on Saturday,
then realistically speaking, we're talking about a one percent chance
of Seattle getting in with all the different things that
need to be had. And I saw a tweet about this.
(08:31):
It was like a graphic and I want to find
it because it really did a nice job of kind
of showing you, you know, what the hell has to
happen for. Oh here it is, okay, So shout out
to denniz Selman thirty three. If Rams lose to Arizona,
Week eighteen is for the NFC West, regardless of Thursday
(08:54):
night football makes sense. If Rams beat Arizona's, Seahawks' only
chance is to win both of their games and get
a strength of victory miracle. So this man color coded,
and I'm gonna try and bring this up. I never
do this, but I'm gonna try to bring it up
here on the thing. So let's see here. We're going
(09:18):
to try and present this because I think this is great.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
All right, there we go, let's go. Visuals are great.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Okay, Let's let's lower that so you guys can actually
see what the top says.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
All right, So the.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Rams need five of the seventeen to have the strength
of victory. Seattle needs fourteen of the seventeen. So how
does this work? Well, so Dennis color coded all this right,
So the Rams would need the Saints because they beat
the Saints to get that one.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Right.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
However, the Saints got absolutely creamed, so that went to Seattle.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Seattle has one point. Rams just need five.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Keep in mind, so if Cincinnati beats Denver, right because
Denver played Seattle, then Cincinnati is a point towards the
Rams because it hurts Seattle strength of victory. It makes
Denver's record less. So then you have the Minnesota game.
The Rams beat Minnesota and Seattle lost to Minnesota, so
(10:30):
that goes in the rams favor, So that would be
two points. The Rams would only need three more after
that Buffalo to beat the Jets, which I would have
to imagine they're going to do that. There's three. Cleveland
to beat Miami not a guarantee because they beat Miami.
Seattle did and the Rams did not, So that would
go in favor of Seattle. Washington to beat Atlanta. I
(10:52):
like their chances there. San Francisco to beat Detroit. I
don't like their chances there at all. And then week eighteen,
and this is the thing. If five of these things
happen in the Rams favor, then the strength of victory
is clinched, like it's done before week eighteen. But if
(11:15):
you don't have that happen, right, you don't have these
things work, then week eighteen you're okay because if San
Francisco beats Arizona, that's gonna be two points and that
would pretty much end it for the Rams. Minnesota beats Detroit,
that would end it for the Rams. Buffalo beats New England,
that would end it for the Rams. So a lot
(11:36):
of things here. Just the point here is that strength
of victory is going to be a win loss percentage
of the teams that you played. So that's why if
Seattle has played some you know, some of their own
teams where the Rams don't share that team, or if
the Rams do share that team on the schedule and
(11:58):
Seattle beat them, but the Rams didn't. That would go
in favor of Seattle. So a lot of different stuff here,
but really this is a long shot, Alexis.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
This is like hitting a you know, hitting the lottery almost.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I mean, it's it's gonna be really difficult to have
to rely I mean, look at who the Sea how
has to rely on. They need Chicago to beat green Bay,
you know what I mean, Like, they need Chicago to
beat green Bay, they need Denver to beat Kansas City. Right, Like,
this stuff isn't guaranteed at all, and it's not guaranteed
for the Rams, but it is a reminder that this
(12:34):
is what they need to do. So shout out to
Dennis Selman thirty three on Twitter for putting this out there.
I like the whole you know, this thing, like kind
of just the visualization of everything. I don't know if
this helped this hurt you, I like in any way,
But yeah, that's how that is.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Well, Yeah, I think for starters, every buddy, starting with
tonight Thursday Night football, it would really do the Rams
a solid if the Bears could win. We don't need
we don't technically, like Jake said, we don't need them
to win, but it does make things a lot more simple.
If you know the Bears can beat the Seahawks, the
Seahawks take the loss. So we'll see. But I will
(13:21):
say so, I live in Chicago, and a lot of
Bears fans are actually rooting for the Bears to lose
tonight because they have they've kind of made up the scenario,
which I guess is kind of true. I don't know
how true it is that if the Bears just lose
out they'll get a higher draft pick, right and whatever.
(13:44):
Not all Bears fans are thinking that way. I know
a great deal of Bears fans who want the team
to lose tonight. So, in a weird way, Rams fans
are rooting harder for the Chicago Bears to win tonight
than a lot of Bears fans are, which I think
is a little funny. So we'll see. Obviously, I don't
think that the Bears are going into the game with
that mentality. I think they're going to try to win,
and I hope they do win for all the reasons
(14:05):
we talked about, Jake. But we'll see. Yeah, like you said,
the game is in Chicago, it's a home game for them.
They have home field advantage, so yeah, we'll definitely we'll
see how the game turns out. You and I will
be watching, as I know a lot of Rams fans
will be when we get done recording this episode. But
turning to the Rams away from this Bear Seahawks game, Jake,
(14:29):
you know, going into Saturday night, I keep wanting to
say Sunday, reminding everybody it's Saturday night. Don't forget the
Rams are playing Saturday night, December twenty eighth, eight o'clock
Eastern time. I believe. So what do you think, Jake,
is the number one play for the Rams to beat
(14:52):
this Arizona Cardinals team, Because, like I mentioned earlier, we
struggled against them when we first played them. I felt
like our I feel like our defense though, has really
solidified and came together since we played Arizona the first time,
because if everybody remembers correctly, it was really painful watching
Kyler Murray basically dissect the Rams defense when we first
(15:16):
played them, and I feel like a large portion of
that had to do with the fact we had a
young defense. They looked good in the season opener, but
then they kind of showed where they were at that
second game in the season against Arizona. There was no chemistry.
They weren't really playing well together. They looked confused a
lot of the time. So now that we're at the
(15:36):
end of the season, I feel like it's going to
feel a lot differently on defense, Jake, what are your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Yeah, it's going to be interesting because the Cardinals really
aren't playing for a whole lot aside for pride. But
I want to make it very clear that when a
team like the Cardinals gets eliminated in a season where
obviously the players thought that we were going to go
to the playoffs, but the reality is a lot of
us felt like they were probably win like maybe seven
games and show out and really get people excited for
(16:05):
the future.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
That's what the Cardinals are.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Okay, They've set themselves up well where you know, they've
drafted well, they have traded for the right guys, they
have acquired the right pieces, and they have over one
hundred million in cap space next year. They brought back
Buddha Baker finally, it felt like he's been trying to
get paid for eight years. I don't think he's been
the league for eight years, but just felt like that.
But when you talk about the Cardinals winning out could
(16:30):
really do a lot for their confidence moving forward. If
this team finishes nine to eight, we're talking a completely
different thing. And that's that's where the whole well, I
want a better draft pick.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
That's where I don't care about all that.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I just maybe it's just because I watched really bad
Rams football in Saint Louis as you did.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Maybe that's it.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
But I don't care about draft picks because look, if
you don't think that they can trade up five spots
to go out and get the guy they want. If
it ends up being that, I don't know what to
tell you. You don't need, you know, a wicked high draft pick.
What you do need is stability. You need some momentum,
and you need to actually build upon the foundation you set.
(17:14):
It sets a really bad example. If the Cardinals lose
out here and go seven to ten, no doubt about it,
it's just not.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
A good look.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
However, if they finished the season nine to eight, they recovered,
they missed the playoffs by a game or whatever, and
now you can build off that. And not all the time, Alexis,
but most of the time, obviously, injuries come into play.
But most of the time, the hottest teams at the
end of the previous year are the teams that coming
in next year, as you know, the sleeper teams, the
(17:45):
dark horse teams, the teams that really kind of you know,
push their momentum in the following season. So I think
the Rams are going to get a fight from Arizona. Now,
I know they're not going to have likely their left
tackle or their right tackle. They are banged up. That's
not a shock there, But you know, I still think
they're gonna give the Rams a fight. I just don't
(18:06):
think there were was talent as the Rams. The Rams
are healthier. The last time the Rams played Arizona. Here
was the starting lineup. You had Matthew Stafford, Kyen Williams,
Tyler Johnson, Cooper Cup for a half, DeMarcus Robinson, Kolbe Parkinson.
Then you had Kevin Dotson, rob Havenstein, Bohlimmer, Warren mcclennon Junior,
and Jonah Jackson. So the offense without Pooka Nakua, but
(18:28):
for the most part, the offense was pretty much what
they're gonna see.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
You know.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Now you had Tyler Higbee. Maybe Havenstein doesn't play and
then you look at the defense, and the defense was
Brydon Fizz, Kobe Turner, Bobby Brown, Byron Young, Jared Verse.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Sounds right.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
However, then you had Troy Reider, John Johnson, Quinton Lake,
Trevarius Ward, Kobe Durant, Cameron curl So there were some
different pieces around this team when they last played the Cardinals,
and the Cardinals when they played the Rams they also
had some different pieces as well. But I think the
(19:05):
big thing here for the Rams is that they have
retooled their secondary. They didn't have Darius Williams, they didn't
have a Kellow Witherspoon. I think he signed after this
game to the practice squad, but they did not have him.
John Johnson was like their go to safety earlier in
the year. He goes down, then you find Jaylen McCullough.
(19:28):
Later on the year. You find guys like Cameron Kinchins,
who got absolutely exposed in this game, but really built
himself up as the season progressed. Right, Troy Reider, though,
you have Christian roseboom now who's trying to set the
Rams record for tackles in a season, and you gotta
Omar Spates. So you have all these new guys, and
this is kind of just the NFL in a nutshell.
(19:50):
Time goes on and things change. War mcclennon Jr. Is
not starting for this team. Jonah Jackson is not starting
for this team, whether I think they should give him
a shot at right now or not, because I would
rather have him play the noteboom right now. If haven
Stein can't go, he's not starting for this team. So
a lot of different variables here. It goes back to
(20:11):
Week two as well. This team was vastly different than
what they are right now. And I think a big
thing here, Alexis is what a lot of people might
be shocked to see is if you've already forgotten the
Bills game and you're just going by the fact that
the Rams didn't score a touchdown the forty nine er
(20:32):
game on a short week in the pouring rain, and
if you're forgetting about the fact that they played in
the coldest temperatures in the Sean McVay era and they
only scored nineteen points, well, be ready because this is
going to be at SOFI Stadium. They haven't been there
since the Bill's game when they scored forty four. So
it's just a reminder. I know it feels like it
(20:54):
was a while ago now, but I don't think this
offense is gone. I think they've been in hybridnme because
of the cold, and I think the ready to unleash
themselves in front of everybody on Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
I agree. I think we're in for a big game
from the offense, and just to touch on kind of
the defense. Like we just kind of talked about the
difference between Week two, right and you know now Week
seventeen or whatever it is playing against you know, the
same Arizona team. The chemistry I think is going to
be a parent. Like I said, that Week two game,
(21:30):
something that we really talked about and I know other
RAMS fans talked about as well, was just how confused
that defense looked against Arizona, and how Arizona was able
to exploit a young defense that was still learning and
who's kind of playing with each other lack of chemistry,
Like the confusion was a parent Like you could literally
watch the RAMS players in the field kind of looking around,
(21:51):
not sure what's going on. That's going to change and
I think that's going to be a big factor in
this game. Shout out super Chat that Jake just put
on the screen. Jean said, worried about our tackles health,
They are crucial. Yes, agree, Jake, Let's start there, you know,
talking about specifically what we think is going to happen
(22:12):
on offense. What do you think this tackle situation indicates
for Saturday? Do we think Rob is going to be
able to play?
Speaker 3 (22:20):
I do.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I think they're trying to be very cautious with this.
I also think they wanted this to get out to
let people know like he's going through something. So if
you see some dips in his production and what have you.
This is why. Now it's annoying because they did just
have an injury report right before Christmas that felt like
a Christmas gift.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Nobody was on the injury report.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
I was so tempted to copy and paste that and
put it on a shirt and sell it or just
better yet, just wear it all the time because it
made me feel something. But then the next day they're like, yeah,
Rob Havenstein's shoulder. It's like, come on, you know so
I think they I mean, he already said Sean McVay
(23:05):
already said if he can't go, Joseph Nobuom will be
the right tackle. My issue is Joseph Nopum is not
a right tackle at all in this league. He is
a solid left tackle. I watched him play against the
Giants last year in a pinch. They threw him in
three hours before the game because Aleric Jackson couldn't do
it and guess what, he didn't allow a sack, he
(23:26):
didn't allow a pressure.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
He was really good there.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
But you're not going to move Aleric Jackson, who's playing
at a very high level right now, to right tackle
just because Joe Nopum can only play left tackle or guard.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
So there, you know, therein lies my.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Concerns with a potential game without Rob Evenstein, because it
just takes one guy on the offensive line to have
a terrible game and then all of a sudden, the
rest of your offense line is feeling the effects of it.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
And I feel like Sean.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Is really gonna have to do his best to make
sure that these guys are getting chipped on the right
side if it is Nopum. But I'm gonna be honest
with you, I would really try and do something creative here.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
I might well, I'm not gonna say I might.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
I would, And I don't know if he can do it,
but I know Joseph Nopum can't do it. I would
play Jonah Jackson at right tackle.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
I would.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
I think he's you know, he's built for that. I
think he could absolutely play right tackle. He'd be good
in the run game. I just know from watching Joseph
Nopum he is not a right tackle in the NFL.
It's just he's just not. It does not work. He
does not look natural. That's the reality of it, you know.
And so that's my concern, Alexis, is that I just
(24:50):
don't think the right guy is playing in the right position.
And I get injuries happen. I understand that, but you
have to understand you're putting Stafford in harm.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
This is a must win.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
The Cardinals are trying to knock you out of the
playoffs because the Cardinals look at the Rams as the rival.
The Cardinals look at the Rams as the bully. The
Cardinals haven't been knocked down by the forty nine ers
the way the Rams have knocked down the Cardinals. So
I think there's a lot of you know, I don't
want to say bad blood. I don't feel like the
teams despise each other, like the Rams and Niners do,
(25:23):
but I mean there's some bad blood. But yeah, I
just I think that that would be a mistake if
if No Boom is starting at right tackle, I don't
believe he started since the Dolphins game and we know
how that went, so I just I would temper the
expectations there if he ends up playing.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
I do think Rob Havenstein will play.
Speaker 2 (25:47):
I just think they're trying to be really cautious with him,
understandably so, but I would go with Jonah Jackson at
right tackle. And I don't know if he's and I
can look as you uh you say your piece. I
can look and see if Jonas ever played right tackle.
I'm gonna go with the guests that he has.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
But what say you, Well, yeah, I'm not I'm not
sure how I feel about it. I mean, I think,
you know, if we're looking short term, we're looking at
this game against Arizona. I mean we Matthew Stafford got
sacked five times the last time we played Arizona. Three
of those sacks were by Dennis Gardick, who is now
on IR Yeah, you know, so not to say, you know,
(26:33):
because I'm looking at their depth chart now and I
want to be careful because going into that game, I
was like, Oh, I don't really know that there's anybody
that I'm totally afraid of. You know, their pass rushers, right,
and then you know, Stafford ended up getting sacked, you know,
five times. Dennis gave them fits. But again we had
a very different offensive line ish, So I don't know.
(26:59):
I think just whatever they decide to do, either they
do play Rob or you know, they put in note
Boom or like they do your Jonah Jackson idea, whatever
it is that they end up doing, I just think
it's going to be critical to protect the quarterback, especially
you know, you get this late into the season. You
can't have Stafford getting hurt.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
I was wrong. He has never played at right tackle.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
I went all the way back to Rutgers in twenty sixteen.
I'd still play him there because I know Nopum can't
play there.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
So you would rather experiment. And I don't know that
I feel okay. I mean, I'm not saying it's.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
The right answer. I just live on the edge, but
I would do it. I would be like, can it work?
Because now this is where it gets fascinating, because if
they could move him to right tackle, Rob, Heenstein's contract
is almost up. He could end up filling a need
instead of a guy that's just going to be let
(27:59):
go this offseason, probably traded for pennies on the dollar.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Well, I didn't give We did give Jonah a big contract. Yeah,
and you know it might be worth you know, seeing
if we can get some use out of them. Oh. Man,
it hasn't worked out, you know so far. So yeah.
I mean I'm for whatever option doesn't get Matthew Stafford's act.
(28:26):
So if that ends up being, you know what to do,
I'm all for it. I don't have a star. I
don't think that's what they're gonna do.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
I hate no, No, they're going to go with nopum.
If he already said they're going to go with nopoom.
If haven steinus and I would go with McLendon over nopum,
That's what I would do.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
But I'm not saying they're great. No.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
To answer the question in the comments section, no, noepoom
did play because that was the big thing about the
Dolphins game. They threw three new offensive liignment in from
the previous week, and they benched did it?
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Who picked? Who played well? Pitched well? Good lord?
Speaker 2 (29:01):
He played well? And bo Limmer. So that game, it
wasn't a fluke. It was a direct, you know, response
to what happens when you play three new offensive linemen
on your offensive line after the other guys had kind
of jelled.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
So I don't know, well, but you know.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I think, well, yeah, I mean looking offensively, you know
at the Rams aside from the offensive line, kind of
question mark right now, what do you think that their
game plan is going to be. Do you think that
they're going to look to kind of building off what
they did against the Jets and just really hammer the
run game. Do you think they're going to try to
(29:43):
go balanced offense? I mean, you look at kind of
this Arizona depth chart, Uh, you know their secondary you know,
Sean Murphy, Bunting, Jalen Thompson, Buddha Baker, Starling, Thomas Garrett Williams.
Which I'm I need a look at their ir again
because I feel like there's someone missing from that list.
Was it Elijah Jones?
Speaker 3 (30:06):
It may have been.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
I'm actually Jones started when we played them last at
Corner And.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
My thing is if Havenstein isn't playing, then yeah, I
think they're going to run the ball. They're going to
be conservative, they're going to try and attack the left side.
It just sucks because we all know they you know,
Kyroen looks the best when he's running, you know, behind
guys like Dotson and Havenstein. If haven Stein can't go, well,
(30:37):
now you just have to figure out a way to
make it work.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
And you know that's the thing.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
I mean when you look at like the rushing direction
for Kyron Williams on that game against the Jets, this
is somebody who basically was averaging eight yards per carry
running right tackle. He's averaging seven running right guard and
middle right, which is of course the center and the
right guard in between those two, who's averaging five point seven.
(31:04):
When you move over to the other side middle left,
center and the left guard three five point two, left
guard and left end, which is off the tight end
on the left side, who's averaging five point three. Regardless,
he's a very, very good back and he's gonna find
ways to make plays. But there's not really a shock
(31:26):
to people when you say, this guy's clearly better running
to the right side because he's got two of the
best run blockers at their perspective positions. Now, to be fair,
in that forty nine er game, he actually ran better
to the left guard. He had five point four yards
per carry and they kept running it that way. On
the right side, he had two point three yards per
(31:48):
carry running right guard, two point eight running middle right,
and four point five running right tackle. So interesting stuff there.
These are things that I focus on. Other people are
probably have a rip. I just want to win, but
I think this stuff matters, and it's just kind of
the effect when you lose a guy like Rob Havenstein.
(32:09):
This is what you're dealing with. But you know what
makes the most sense.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Now I have this information in front of me.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Probably to look at the last time Joseph Nopum played right,
which would be the Dolphins game. What did we have
moving to the right side. And Karen Williams only ran
the ball near Joseph Nopum four times and he ran
it for four yards, So they don't they know. Luckily
(32:35):
they know middle right five carries twenty yards, four carries sixteen. Yeah,
right tackle and right end did not go over well.
He averaged seven yards per carrie when running to the
left end, which is to the tight end in the
left tackle, So yeah, I mean Nopoom was already always
(32:57):
considered a better run blocker than a pass protector. That
might you might be able to get away with that,
but he's not haven Stein.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
That's the real.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Havenstein's an enforcer on the offensive line, and when you
lose a guy like him that it's significant.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Well, right, so maybe that means that the Rams are
going to be a little bit more inclined. If he's
not playing to try and get the passing game going,
he hasn't really gone, you know, I think the past
couple of games the way that they wanted to go.
But you know, this the secondary, you know, again looking
at this Arizona secondary, I mean, obviously Buddha Baker is
(33:37):
the guy you kind of watch out for, right. I
don't know that the Rams won't try to target like
a Garrett Williams or Starling Thomas. You know, I think
Puka Puka Nakua and Cooper Cup are now both playing,
and that could really give this Arizona secondary problems. In
(33:58):
my opinion, I would not be surprised at all if
the Rams came out and just absolutely targeted, you know,
some of these corners for Arizona and really sought to
look to get the passing game going.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
Williams is having a great year. By the way, he's
one of the better corners in the league. I would
say Murphy Bunting. Yeah, yeah, he's he's good.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
He out of Syracuse.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
He's the guy we liked out of Syracuse. Yes, he
tore his acl remember, and that's why he felt.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
You're right, there's all these Williams corners that I feel like.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
I always like, yeah, but no, he's a stud. He
really is. He's not getting love.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
You know who else they have? I need to stop
looking at the depth chart this way. You know who
else they have is Max Melton out of Rutgers.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
Yeah, he's also a stud. Now he's not playing on
the level of No, no, no, no.
Speaker 1 (34:52):
But I'm Williams expanded. I'm expanding it. And then they've
got Dadrian Taylor Emerson I don't know that I'm familiar with.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Yeah, No, he's a he's an athletic guy, hard hating player. Uh,
back end, the secondary guy. Baker's having a good year.
But I mean he's that's to be expected. A lot
of people know who he is, and.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
They've got I think it's pronounced Katrell Clark out of Louisville.
Speaker 3 (35:19):
I think we watch I think didn't.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
I don't remember. I don't know we're going to interview.
I don't remember if we did.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Well. He was out of Louisville. I watched his tape,
but I don't remember if we interviewed him. Yeah, but
you know, I still again, nevertheless, I still think that
the Rams are going to come out. I think they're
going to target the secondary. I think that this could
be a game where they might have success in the
passing game. I think the uh chat edwin. Thank you
so much, super Cheat.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
I love you guys. I've been listening. I've listened to
as sports fan like Mike Over at a NFC West
round table, and he and his followers think we are
going to blow them out of the water Verse Turner
and Young Sack. I am not going to do this
again because the last time that I said they would
(36:15):
blow the Cardinals out was Week two. So I don't
predict blowouts. They it can look like a blowout, but
I'm not gonna say a blowout's gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
That's just me.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
But no, in all seriousness, the Rams are the better team,
They're more talented. It's at home. They're coming off five
straight road wins. They're coming off wins four straight. It's
the biggest you know, win streak of their season, bigger
than any point last year. By the way they're coming off,
(36:47):
you know, establishing the room with Karen Williams, getting Tyler
Higbee back, getting healthy.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
You know, we'll see what happens with Havenstein.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
But no, there is there is zero excuse for the
Rams to lose if.
Speaker 3 (37:04):
They lose Week eighteen.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
Okay, Seattle, they lost in overtime, right then, they could
have won that game. They shouldn't have been able to
win that game. The Rams let him back into it.
But yeah, I could understand that Week seventeen. However, you're
going against a team that embarrassed you. They beat you
thirty one nothing. They made you feel like you were
(37:28):
nothing zero to two to start the season. Now they
responded well, fighting back beating the forty nine ers. But Alexis,
losses like that can kill your season before they start.
And we were talking about it, like, I was really
impressed with their loss against the Lions. I thought what
they did with all the injuries they had was something huge, and.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Then they followed it up with that.
Speaker 2 (37:52):
So if they actually lose this game, because I mean, basically,
this is how works. We keep talking about what happens
at the Rams win. Yeah, yeah, what happens that the
Rams lose. If the Rams lose, then regardless that last
(38:12):
game Week eighteen against Seattle is a win, and you're
in survive in advanced playoff game and it's at home,
no excuses, you're playing at home, back to back games.
I don't care that they're at your rival. Get it done,
and I believe they're going to.
Speaker 1 (38:32):
I do as well. So let's get into our score predictions. Jake,
do you want to s Yeah?
Speaker 3 (38:37):
First, I'll go first.
Speaker 2 (38:40):
I'm going to say, because I actually feel a safety
in this game, I'm gonna say thirty three to twenty hmm. Interesting,
four touchdowns, a field goal and a safety.
Speaker 1 (38:56):
So my I don't know why my gut says this,
but I mean, I have the Rams winning. I think
it's going to be twenty seven to twenty four. Rams.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Damn.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
I think it's gonna I think it's gonna get close
towards the end. But I just I don't know. The
Arizona seem to have our number the first time we
played them. Like I said, I know we had injuries,
but it really was not an excuse. It was really
just bad. It was a bad loss. So I felt like,
you know, they were able to kind of get in there.
They seem to kind of know what we wanted to do.
(39:29):
I think it's gonna be a close game, and I
think the Rams are gonna win twenty seven to twenty four.
Now I won't be surprised if they win by a
much larger margin, but I kind of have that superstition
as I know, do you, because when we predicted the
score last time they played the Cardinals, we were both very,
very wrong, and I'm not gonna mess with that again.
You know again, this is a division rival, this is
(39:50):
a team that knows us well, we know them well.
I think it's gonna be a close game. Jake, going
into our bold predictions, did you just give a sneak
peeg a one because you mentioned to safety that one
of your bold predictions.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
No, because I'll just throw that out there. You know
what I mean, it's a freebie. You guys enjoy it. Okay,
So bold prediction first one. I think we're going to
get the first touchdown of the season for two to
two out Well, God, I feel like I've said this
so many times, it's gonna happen.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
It's going to.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
He might even get two because I think yes, because
I think the thing that a lot of people might
not know is that Pooka Nakua, for whatever reason, is
not good against the Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
You might not even realize this.
Speaker 2 (40:36):
In two games against the Cardinals, Pooka Nakua has fifty
three yards for on eight catches. He has been targeted
in those games fifteen times. I don't know what it is,
but he has not played well against the Cardinals. Then
he didn't get a chance to play in Week two
because he was out. I just think I'm I mean,
(41:00):
obviously history can be a little weird, like why is
he bad against the Cardinals? Is the allergic to like
the color red? I don't know, but I think with Nikua,
he's gonna open up the door for others. Now you
have Higbee, He's gonna open up the door for others.
So I think two two out. Well is going to
have a touchdown this game. Next I think we get
(41:25):
Blake Koram's first touchdown of his career. It just feels
so obvious like this would be the game because if
it gets tight. If it's in a pinch, they're gonna
just ride with Kiren. But if what I believe is
gonna happen ends up happening, I think they win comfortably
(41:45):
in this one. I'm not saying below out, but comfortably.
Then I think they're gonna feel inclined to give Blake
Korum an opportunity at the goal line, and I think
he's gonna punch it in. So that's number two and
number three. God, I hate saying this. I feel like
jinx in him, but this is the week, and I'm
gonna say this until he actually does it. Kello Witherspoon
(42:07):
is going to have an interception. It is going to happen.
He should have had one against the forty nine ers.
Brock Purty underthrew it. A lot of people think that
led to the pass breakup. In terms, it actually just
saved him from getting intercepted, and then he could have
had it against you know, Aaron Rodgers and the Jets
(42:27):
a couple times actually, But we'll take the pass breakup
on a fourth down and turnover on down. So in
this one, Kyler Murray is going to try doing what
he did in week two, moving around, making plays with
his legs and he's going to fire it into maybe
double coverage or something, and Keller is going to pick
(42:47):
it off.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
And that is what I have.
Speaker 1 (42:53):
I like it. I hope that happens. All of those
are very good predictions. You did steal one of mine.
The first one was gonna be Blake Korm touchdown.
Speaker 3 (43:02):
I could see it in your face.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
I know, right as soon as you said it, I
was like, ugh, that was gonna be one of mine.
I feel like I am jinxing that though, because I've
bet on that so much, almost like like basically the
past four or five RAMS games. I throw it down
Blake Korm anytime touchdown because I just feel like you
can see that the Rams are trying to get him
more involved, I think towards the goal line, and I
think it just you know, they've just had you know,
(43:27):
situations where they end up kind of needing Kyen in
there and and so you know, Blake gets taken out.
But I just feel like, especially if the RAMS start
to get a lead, like you said, this will be
the game to try and you know, get get Blake
that first NFL touchdown and get him in there. So
we'll share that prediction yet again, I will bet on
it Blake korm anytime touchdown and hopefully it hits this week.
(43:50):
So that's my first prediction. Second prediction, let's see see.
I feel like Puka is gonna to break kind of
that energy.
Speaker 3 (44:04):
I just wanted to say to to out well, well, I.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
I think we are going to see too Pookin Akua
touchdowns versus Arizona. I just have this gut feeling he's
gonna have a good game against them and get it going.
And I mean he's Pookin Akua. I mean nothing's gonna
stop him right long. So I think that he's gonna
have a good game against Arizona. Then on the defensive
(44:28):
side of the ball. From my last prediction, I'm gonna
say I think we're gonna see a Cameron Kinchins interception.
I just like the way he's been playing. I feel
like he's gaining more and more confidence. He is I
think going to the Cameron Curl school of tackling. I
don't know if anybody else has picked up on that. Like,
(44:49):
he will hit and it is fun. Yeah, watching something
is in the air. It's it's kind of this infectious,
uh you know, tackling energy that I to see. So
I think we're going to see an interception from Cameron
Kinchins because yeah, I just I think that he's gotten
but I think he struggled as we talked about, you know,
(45:10):
to start the season. You know, he was kind of
thrown in their early definitely had some growing pains, and
I think he's coming into his own and I really
like to see it. So we'll see. I think both
of our all of our predictions were reasonable. Super chat
from Edwin.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Edwin question for both of you, would you rather spend
a day with Kobe Turner or a day with Pooka
and Nakua you were in La you can do whatever
you want. Ooh hmm. I'd probably say either because they
seem they both seemed like they'd be a lot of
fun to hang out with.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
I couldn't decide.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
I would say, I know, I would definitely hang out
with either one of them for a day. I would
say Kobe. I feel like Kobe and I would have
a lot in common because he's a big music lover
as am I like, I don't feel like I know
off the top of my head, and he like picular
hobbies of like Puka like what we could talk. But
maybe that's why I should spend a day with him
(46:04):
so I could like get to.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
Apparently he's big on anime and I'm I'm rocking the
the Goku Game Changers shirt. Shout out to Holden by
the way for hooking me up with it. So I mean, I,
you know, could uh could do something with that. But
I actually met Kobe Turner the in l A the
(46:26):
Rams and Eagles game after that, and it seems like
a really nice guy. He knew who I was apparently,
so that was cool. But you could also throw Ovula
in there as well. Those guys just they feel like
there's like an infectious like joy, like they're they're always smiling.
I met Ovula after the game with uh Brendan Well,
(46:48):
Brendan Jackson. I mean, everybody here, yes, probably knows probably
knows who he is by now, but we interviewed him and.
Speaker 1 (46:56):
Yeah, he's got that like he's due.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Quentin.
Speaker 1 (47:01):
Yeah, I guess Quinton Lake is really cool too. I
would say I would hang out with Kobe or Pooka both.
I would hang out both of them if I had
to pick. Just the question is you know, I just
feel like Kobe and I. On a musical level.
Speaker 2 (47:16):
You can do whatever you want. So would you would
you go out and just sing like duets with Kobe?
Speaker 1 (47:22):
I cannot sing, so no, but I would maybe we'd
just like hit up a ton of concerts or more.
What would probably happen is Kobe would maybe be performing
in a concert and I would go to watch, like
we'd hang out before, and I feel like Kobe would
just have like a concert somewhere.
Speaker 2 (47:43):
I feel like Pooka and I would probably go to
like a Laker game and then go to like Comic Con,
and I feel like Kobe and I would probably go
to like, yeah, probably like a Laker game, and I
don't know, see like yeah, see a concert something like that.
(48:04):
Nothing too crazy. I'm not a very like crazy outgoing person.
So yeah, I know that's probably a boring answer, but
that's the answer. Edwin appreciates you, and then Happy Gilmore, which,
by the way, Happy Gilmore Too is coming out on
Netflix this upcoming year. Looking forward to that. Happy Gilmore
(48:26):
gave us ten thanks for the content, Jake and Alexis.
So we appreciate you guys, and I guess we're gonna
wrap it up because Alexis.
Speaker 3 (48:39):
All eyes are on this game tonight.
Speaker 2 (48:41):
This is probably the most publicity the Bears have had
in quite some time, this late in the season, for
a completely different reasons. Yeah, by the way, so we
got we got, Well, we're gonna help you guys out.
Speaker 3 (48:59):
We got a deal on the channel.
Speaker 2 (49:01):
Of course, you can use code JK Bogan for today's
sponsor prize picks. You're gonna get fifty dollars instantly when
you play at least a five dollars lineup, win or lose.
And because we love you guys so much, we are
going to head on over to our trustee prize picks
(49:21):
app here and we're gonna pick some of these. So, Alexis,
everyone is riding the JSN wave.
Speaker 3 (49:32):
The question is are you one of those people?
Speaker 2 (49:37):
Am I yes, So I'm gonna go with more as well.
I think he's that are wide receiver one. I've been
really impressed with him. I used to call him out
all the time, said he was overrated. He has proven
me wrong. I think he is going to have more
than seventy five and a half. In addition to that, Alexis,
(49:58):
I really like the five and a half. I'm gonna
avoid six. I don't like pushing, and this would be
a push. I think I think he's gonna have exactly six.
But I'll tell you what I do like. I like
this one. You see the devil there. The green one
is like, okay, yeah, this is easy. You see Caleb
just needs to throw a touchdown. But the red one here,
(50:19):
Keenan Allen.
Speaker 3 (50:20):
Look at this.
Speaker 2 (50:22):
He has had five touchdowns in the last five games.
Has almost had a touchdown every game. I like Kean
Allen to have more.
Speaker 3 (50:29):
What say you?
Speaker 1 (50:31):
I agree? I actually have a prop in with a
bonus bet. I had Keenan Allen two plus touchdowns. If
anybody wants like a.
Speaker 3 (50:41):
Fun little I do like that.
Speaker 1 (50:43):
And then he is Caleb's favorite receiver.
Speaker 2 (50:47):
And then Zach Sharboney they just ruled out. And then
I know this looks ugly, but they just ruled out
Kenneth Walker for the rest of the year, which isn't
saying a ton because there's only two more games. But
Sharbonay did not start this Greenmey game. He didn't start
this Minnesota game. Kenneth Walker came back for these when
he was the starter. This is what he did against
(51:10):
the bad run defense. And I'll tell you right now,
Chicago is a worst run defense, second worst right now
in the league. Then Arizona. I'm gonna say more for
Zach Sharboney.
Speaker 3 (51:19):
I like that. And then do you have any that
you'd like to throw in here? You got three?
Speaker 1 (51:29):
Let me look closer. Sorry, guys, my eyesight is bad.
I don't know. I'm gonna not comment because I feel
like I'm gonna jink. Jake and I were just talking
off air, and he's much better at this than I am.
I've not had good luck lately. I mean, I think
(51:50):
that it's gonna be a big game for sure.
Speaker 2 (51:52):
Caleb's gonna have to throw I'm gonna say two d
and twenty plus yards.
Speaker 3 (51:57):
I think he could do that.
Speaker 1 (51:59):
You do that might be cole comet. Ooh, he might
be like, I'm not you know, I don't want to
jinx it. But he's kind of been heating up quietly.
You'd say cole Comet. I mean, Keenan Allen is obviously
his favorite receiver. You're not gonna go wrong with any
Keenan Allen Betts.
Speaker 2 (52:17):
Well, it seems like he kind of fell off, So
I don't know if I would do that.
Speaker 3 (52:22):
But he is averaging twenty two points. Yeah, look at this.
Speaker 1 (52:27):
I don't know I'm gonna take a cole commt prop tonight.
Speaker 2 (52:32):
I you know what, chat, I think I'm gonna stick
with what we got here, although I kind of like
the DJ Moore, I'm gonna go with more than fifty
seven and a half. So there it is. So check
it out over on price Picks JSN. We're taking more
all the way up to I'd say eighty. I would
(52:53):
take more than eighty. Keenan Allen touchdown, Zach Charboney sixty
nine and a half rushing yards more and Dj Moore
fifty seven and a half receiving yards. You can do
it all over on the Prize Picks app using my
code JK Bogan. It'll get you fifty dollars instantly when
you play at least a five dollars lineup. That means
win or lose, you're gonna have fifty dollars added onto
(53:14):
your account. But that is going. I don't know what
happened to a screen, but that is gonna do it
real quick.
Speaker 3 (53:24):
Shout out to Alex, Love you, Alex, you Alex.
Speaker 2 (53:27):
Kobe and AK going on a hunt for vintage vinyl. Yeah, damn,
that sounds like that'd be fun.
Speaker 1 (53:34):
I feel like, yeah, I feel like he's probably into vinyl. Yeah,
we could go shop and good idea. But guys, everybody,
make sure you tune in tonight to the Bear Seahawks
game if you've got nothing else going on, and cheer
hard for those Chicago Bears, because, like we said, if
the Bears win, it's gonna make things a lot easier
for the Rams. But don't get your hopes up. Yeah,
(54:00):
like I you know, they're not favored, but we'll see,
we'll see what happens. But guys, we'll be back next
early next week kind of recapping the game against the Cardinals.
Until then, you can follow us some social media at
Downtown Rams. You can follow me on Twitter at the
Alexis Kraft, you can follow Jake at JK Bogan and
(54:24):
uh yeah, we'll tune into this game tonight. We'll watch
the Rams Saturday night, and until next time, guys, As always,
stay safe, take care, and go Rams
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Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.