Rams roll on with another big divisional win
The Rams are eyeing off the NFC West crown after three straight W’s.
It’s been a good week for the Rams. After Arizona’s shock loss to the previously struggling Detroit Lions on Sunday, L.A. had the opportunity to jump into equal first in the NFC West — and they didn’t let themselves down.
After three straight losses Rams have bounced to three consecutive victories, defeating rivals Seattle 20-10 at SoFi Stadium on Tuesday night.
A dour first half was what the doctor ordered — not for the fans — for a Rams team criticised for its lack of physicality in recent losses. Aaron Donald and Von Miller stood tall recording two tackles-for-loss and a sack each. It was Miller’s first sack as a Ram, ending a seven-game drought, the longest of his illustrious career.
The second half started poorly from an L.A. perspective, as Seattle running back DeeJay Dallas ran in a 4-yard touchdown to secure a 10-7 advantage. From then on, the Rams’ — and potential NFL — MVP Cooper Kupp rose from the shadows.
Kupp, who finished the night with 136 receiving yards from nine catches, tied the game on a 6-yard reception with 6:31 left in the third. Simultaneously, the Eastern Washington product set a franchise record -- amassing 120 catches in a single season.
Early in the final quarter, Kupp pushed the Rams ahead 17-10 with a superb 29-yard touchdown to place a cherry on the top of an 88-yard drive.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing from thereon. Seattle had their opportunity to restore parity, and perhaps would have if Rams linebacker Ernest Jones was flagged for pass interference on a Russell Wilson pass intended for Dallas.
Controversially, the play came on fourth-and-six with just 3:27 remaining in the ball game. The no-call virtually ended Seattle’s hopes, with the only flag coming for Dallas’ unsportsmanlike conduct.
From a scoring perspective, pinpoint Rams kicker Matt Gay knocked in a 35-yard field goal to push the Rams to a 20-10 lead — the game’s final score.
Despite the tie, Los Angeles are currently seeded No. 5 in the NFC due to atheirhead-to-head record with Arizona. Up next are a tricky Minnesota team — the NFC’s current No. 7 seed — in what will be a fantastic spectacle for the neutral.
Seattle’s ninth loss of the season meanwhile, has earned Pete Carroll’s team their first losing season since 2011 — and the first of Russell Wilson’s career. They host the 4-10 Bears next week in a game for only the purists.
Gutsy Rams pull off key Divisional win in Arizona
Los Angeles are right in the NFC West race now.
It was a win the Rams wanted and one which they most certainly needed.
After a trying month — mixed in with a covid crisis — Los Angeles were considerable outsiders heading to the desert. Laying in wait was an Arizona team who had the league’s best record heading into Week 13, now they have slipped to the #3 seed in the NFC after a crushing 27-20 loss.
To their credit, the Rams deserved every bit of their ninth win of the season. Without All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey and tight end Tyler Higbee among others, L.A. showed character previously unseen.
Despite the initial hype, Sean McVay and co. had been criticised for the addition of star talents Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr, with both failing to adapt quickly. Admittedly Beckham showed signs of improvement last week and took it up a notch on Monday night, exploding for 77 yards on 6 receptions. The former Giant also scored the opening touchdown of the game, capping it off with a hilarious celebration.
Miller stood out too, constantly pressuring Kyler Murray while stifling the Cardinals’ run game on occasion. The former Bronco may not be posting the statistics he was famed for in Denver but it’s undeniable he is slowing getting in the groove and provides a huge help to his fellow rushers Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd.
Critically, the Super Bowl 50 MVP made a stop of fourth down with five minutes left in the ball game which gave Los Angeles a chance to ice the game. These are the plays he was brought in to make. Big plays in crucial moments, that’s all the Rams need from Von Miller moving forward.
Rams head coach Sean McVay credited his team’s fortitude amidst the adversity both on and off the field. "This was the sign of a mentally-tough team,” McVay told reporters postgame. “I just can’t say enough about the guys’ ability not to flinch.”
Beckham was equally pleased with the team, but also his own performance. "It just felt like the complete game that I've been talking about," he said. "I told you there was a little more on this game for me, lost to Arizona earlier in the year, didn't sit well with me, so it was a much-needed win tonight."
Week 1 NFC Players of the Week announced
Los Angeles Rams debutant Matthew Stafford claimed offensive honours, Chandler Jones’ dominant performance earned him DPOW while Bradley Pinion’s punting scooped up the special teams gong.
After a wild start to the 2021 NFL season, three players were selected as a class above the rest in the National Football Conference.
Los Angeles Rams debutant Matthew Stafford claimed honours on the offensive side of the ball, Chandler Jones’ dominant performance earned him Defensive Player of the Week while Bradley Pinion’s perfect punting scooped up the special teams gong.
Under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football, Matthew Stafford shone brighter than any of his peers, completing 20 of 26 pass attempts for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Stafford was near-flawless with no interceptions and a passer rating of 156.1 in the Rams’ comprehensive 34-14 drubbing of the Chicago Bears. The former Georgia quarterback is the first bulldog signal-caller to win the award multiple times.
Two-time Arizona All-Pro stood tall above all of his NFL brethren in Week 1, putting in the most prepotent performance across all sixteen games. The 31-year-old linebacker registered an incredible five sacks, six tackles — four of those for loss, and two forced fumbles. In one of the most historic displays in recent memory, Jones became just the third player since 1982 to record at least five sacks in Week 1.
The former Patriot takes his Player of the Week tally to five — four of which are with Arizona, tying Adrian Wilson for the all-time Defensive Player of the Week record for a Cardinal. Jones also joints fellow pass rusher Dwight Freeney (six-time winner) as the only former Syracuse players to earn Defensive Player of the Week five times.
Last but most certainly not least, Tampa Bay punter Bradley Pinion picked up the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week after four phenomenal punts.
Pinion was critical to the overall result, pinning the Cowboys inside the 10-yard line on three of four punts. The former Clemson product averaged 49.3 yards per punt and is the second time he was won a Player of the Week award.
NFL announces Preseason TV schedule
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel…this includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The NFL announced this week there will be a record number of preseason games will be shown on NFL Network.
Let’s hope we’ll see more of this!
Importantly, all preseason games will be shown on NFL GamePass, which is fantastic news for international and American fans alike.
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel will show eight games through Weeks 1-2 before a final seven during the third and final week of preseason.
This includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The Football Team kick off NFL Network’s coverage on August 12 at New England, where we should get our first official look at Mac Jones in a Patriots uniform.
Trevor Lawrence is likely to hit your screens on August 14 as Urban Meyer and the Jags host AFC rivals, Cleveland.
Media and fans alike will be hoping to get a glimpse of Jordan Love too, which may come as early as Week 2 (August 21) at home to Zac Wilson and Gang Green.
Below is a full list of the games to air on NFL Network across the preseason:
Week 1
Thursday, August 12
7:30 PM ET – Washington Football Team vs. New England Patriots
Friday, August 13
7:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions
10:00 PM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, August 14
1:00 PM ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears
4:00 PM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings
7:00 PM ET – Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 15
1:00 PM ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 2
Thursday, August 19
7:30 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, August 20
8:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team
Saturday, August 21
1:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears
4:25 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers
7:30 PM ET – Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
10:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 22
1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns
7:30 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 3
Friday, August 27
8:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday, August 28
1:00 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills
7:00 PM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, August 29
1:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys
4:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers
6:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
For American fans — NFL Network will blackout live games shown concurrently in local markets.
NFL announces joint practices - Who your team is playing and why
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
Joint practices aren’t a new phenomenon in the NFL. They essentially act as an opportunity for teams and players to go through scrimmages against different personnel.
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
New Orleans and Jacksonville were set to meet in Louisiana on August 20, but since the release of the schedule both teams have confirmed otherwise.
Teams NOT involved in joint practices this offseason:
Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Football Team
Some teams will engage in two bouts of joint practices; the Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and both the New York clubs (Jets and Giants).
Arguably, the most famous joint practice moment of recent memory involved then-Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins and Washington’s DeAngelo Hall getting into it. Things got interesting, real quick…
Thankfully for DB’s everywhere their ankles won’t be tested by D-Hop until preseason at the earliest.
Full list of this year’s joint practices:
Courtesy of NFL Communications