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[Los Angeles Rams]

NFL Week 9 picks: Rams get much-needed NFC Conference win

Upsets by the Jets, Ravens, Dolphins, and Texans ruined a lot of people’s Week 8 picks. As for now, I am staying above the .600 winning percentage mark after 120 contests.

As for the Los Angeles Rams, they will return to action with a home date against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. While the Saints are inferior competition to the Rams, LA must get a win coming out of the bye in order to boost its NFC conference winning percentage, a key tiebreaker for playoff standings. Here’s how I see the Rams game and other Week 9 games unfolding…

Week 8 picks: 7-6, Cumulative picks: 72-47-1 (.605)

Week 9 Matchups & Predictions

(Thursday) Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins, 8:15 PM EST

I don’t understand the Miami Dolphins. When they are supposed to be bad, they win. When you think they will beat a Cleveland Browns team, they get smoked.

Lamar Jackson is expected to return and although there might be some rust, I don’t see how Miami contains Baltimore’s offense with the running threats of Lamar and Derrick Henry.

John Harbaugh is 4-12 without Lamar Jackson since 2018.

The Ravens are averaging 15.3 PPG during that stretch.

You can make a strong case that the Ravens are among the worst teams in the league when Lamar doesn't play.

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) October 25, 2025

Pick: Ravens win 30-20

Chicago Bears @ Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 PM EST

Cincinnati’s defense is bad and that will allow Ben Johnson to exploit enough areas to get Caleb Williams operating successfully.

Cincinnati needed that win last week against New York and they might have lost their season with that collapse.

Pick: Bears win 24-20

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions, 1:00 PM EST

Someone at ESPN wrote about how the NFC North could produce four playoff teams. Talk about clickbait. The NFC North will only produce two playoff teams. Detroit and Green Bay. Chicago and Minnesota don’t have the caliber of quarterback play to make the dance.

Detroit will exploit the Vikings on both sides of the ball. The defense could give up 40 points and the offense will be trying to get out of neutral with JJ McCarthy resuming his role under center.

Talk about getting your ass kicked… the Lions OWN the Vikings in recent years.

– The Vikings haven't won at Ford Field in Detroit since the 2020 season
– The Vikings are 1-6 in their last 7 games against the Lions
– The Vikings are currently on a 5 game losing streak to Lions pic.twitter.com/PVHEhD04YO

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) October 27, 2025

Pick: Lions 40-17

Carolina Panthers @ Green Bay Packers, 1:00 PM EST

GB is undefeated at home and will take on a Panthers team that is 1-3 on the road. I don’t see the Panthers pulling off an upset in Lambeau.

Pick: Packers win 33-17

Los Angeles Chargers @ Tennessee Titans, 1:00 PM EST

The Titans are trading away assets, one of which to the Rams. Justin Herbert should be able to expose a thin Tennessee secondary.

Pick: Chargers win 34-14

Atlanta Falcons @ New England Patriots, 1:00 PM EST

The Falcons are a confusing team too. They beat the Bills but lost to the Dolphins. New England is on a heater right now and I’ll take them at home with Atlanta having to play in the northeast, away from their indoor stadium.

Another MVP hopeful is #Patriots QB Drake Maye, who continued his hot streak with 3 TDs in their win vs the Browns, despite 5 sacks from DE Myles Garrett!

Maye has passed for 15 TDs this season, and his 118.7 Passer Rating is top of any QB with 4+ starts.pic.twitter.com/eZgWNJm5fR

— Ryan Wolf AI Sports Picks (@RyanWolfPicksAI) October 28, 2025

Pick: Patriots win 27-20

San Francisco 49ers @ New York Giants, 1:00 PM EST

The injuries for the 49ers are beginning to become insurmountable. Fortunately for them, the Giants have lost Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, making life for rookie Jaxson Dart very difficult.

Still devastated about the Cam Skattebo injury
The dude scored 7 TDs in 8 games (and barely played in Week 1). The Giants haven't had a TD scorer like that since 2018 Saquon
Was starting to REALLY come into his own as a receiving weapon. specifically red zone
Can't replace this pic.twitter.com/8L1fE2GFiQ

— Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL) October 27, 2025

Pick: 49ers win 26-16

Indianapolis Colts @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 PM EST

I’m going to make my upset pick here. Something tells me that the Colts will get tripped up. Pittsburgh’s defense has been awful but just when you feel like Tomlin’s teams are bad, they surprise you. With the game being in Pittsburgh, I think they find a way to slow down Jonathan Taylor and Indy enough.

Pick: Steelers win 24-23

Denver Broncos @ Houston Texans, 1:00 PM EST

Two great defenses will highlight this game. Houston is starting to find a rhythm on offense. However, the Broncos will be too much for them to figure out…even at home.

Pick: Broncos win 24-20

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 PM EST

The Jaguars have been plagued by a lot of self inflicted mistakes (drops and penalties). If they lose this game it’s because of those things still lingering. I’m going to ride with them though coming off a bye week and having time to scheme and game plan against a weak Raiders team.

Pick: Jaguars win 23-17

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Rams, 4:05 PM EST

With a weak opponent after a bye week, I am expecting there to be some sluggish behavior with LA. But they cannot afford to lose this NFC game. Doing so would drop them to 0-3 in conference play. They must beat a bad opponent the way they are capable of (i.e. Jacksonville in Week 7). If anything, maybe I am predicting the defense to underperform with the Saints turning to rookie quarterback Tyler Shough…an unknown.

Nine so nice. pic.twitter.com/ODLAFIMGLy

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 23, 2025

Pick: Rams win 30-20

Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills, 4:25 PM EST

Buffalo figured out how to lessen the load for Josh Allen. James Cook had a field day against Carolina.

The Bills strength of victory is only .256, so their 5-2 record has been padded by beating bad teams (Dolphins, Panthers, Jets, Saints).

I’m giving Mahomes and the Chiefs the nod here because of their win over Detroit. They have an extra gear right now that I’m not sure the Bills have found yet.

I think we will get another wire to wire game with KC and BUF…

Did Chiefs vs Bills in 2022 have the best ending in NFL playoff history? pic.twitter.com/OhZqOXYh2Y

— Kickr Games (@KickrGames) January 24, 2025

Pick: Chiefs win 28-27

(Sunday Night Football) Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Commanders, 8:20 PM EST

Even if Jayden Daniels plays, I think Seattle controls this game with their defense. Bobby Wagner and the Commanders might play with a little extra heart against Wagner’s former team but that will only carry them so far.

Pick: Seahawks 24-16

(Monday Night Football) Arizona Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 PM EST

The Jonathan Gannon seat is getting hot. And asking his team to slow down the number two overall offense is a troublesome task. Furthermore, Dallas is averaging 41.3 ppg at home this year! Give me a Brandon Aubrey field goal for the game winner.

Pick: Cowboys win 33-30

Teams on Bye: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What are your predictions for Week 9? Is this a trap game for Los Angeles or do they win handedly? Include your picks and predictions in the comments below.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-game-information/129091/nfl-week-9-picks-rams-saints

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Random Ramsdom: Who’s the last rookie quarterback to play them?

Cam Ward. No punches pulled, just a question for a headline to try and get you to check out today’s Random Ramsdom, and we give you the answer right up front. Cam Ward. I wonder how many people will click because of this headline? 100, 1,000,000, maybe zero? We just don’t know. But what we do know is the last rookie quarterback to start against the Rams, was Tennessee Titans rookie, Cam Ward.

If you are reading this, welcome! Thank you for checking out today’s Random Ramsdom, we are so glad to have you on what is hopefully a fun Friday!

This week the Rams will be taking on their second rookie QB this season when they take on Tyler Shough on Sunday. Sometimes rookies give a team an edge, but on paper the Rams should win, and that’s the bottom line. But if you know, you know. It’s any given Sunday in the NFL.

Happy Halloween! If you’re into that sort of thing, and if not, that’s cool that’s cool. Thanks again for checking out our website today!

Rookie QB Tyler Shough makes his first NFL start when Saints face surging Rams defense (hngnews)​

“Saints offensive line vs. Rams defensive line. In a quickly arranged joint practice staged back in August, the Los Angeles front got the better of its visiting counterparts. The talent shown that day in Carson, California, was on full display in London against Jacksonville, accounting for 4 1/2 of the Rams’ seven sacks and adding three more tackles for loss. The Saints’ struggles in protection have only gotten worse over the past two weeks, allowing nine sacks in losses to Chicago and Tampa Bay. New Orleans has to maximize every avenue to keep Tyler Shough upright in the rookie’s first NFL start.“

Week 9. pic.twitter.com/8WhkghoPzo

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 30, 2025

Is The Rams New CB Better As A Slot Specialist or Outside Threat? (lafbnetwork)​

“McCreary’s career has seen a significant transition from outside corner to slot specialist. Early in his career, he played predominantly on the outside, but in 2025, he has lined up almost exclusively in the slot. While he has strengths in man coverage, his slot performance this season has struggled, allowing a career-high 90.5% completion rate.“

Back to business. pic.twitter.com/1X861XdyUX

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 30, 2025

Sean McVay relishes chance to play the Rams newly acquired CB In Week 9 (ramblinfan)​

“From Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead’s perspective, the team is ready to roll through the second half (figuratively, not literally) of the 2025 NFL season. While the team emerges from its Week 8 BYE with five wins to just two losses, Snead understands that holes in the roster must be plugged instantly to ensure success the rest of the way.

It just so happens that the secondary needed the help, as starting cornerback Darious Williams is expected to sit out Week 9 with a shoulder injury. Despite Williams’ injury, Snead and head coach Sean McVay were comfortable enough to part ways with cornerback Tre Brown. That sets the stage for Week 9 and the New Orleans Saints for veteran cornerback Roger McCreary.“

Random Ramsdom Fandom:​

“Rams cut Tre Brown yesterday which opened up a roster spot. Be interesting to see if they sign someone from a practice squad (or their practice squad) or if they have another trade in the works.“ -holtfan

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/129234/rams-news-tyler-shough-cam-ward

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Should Rams consider resting key injured starters vs. Saints?

The Los Angeles Rams will play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday as they come out of their bye week and enter the second half of the season. Following the Saints game, the Rams will enter a gauntlet over the next three weeks. The Rams will play the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Seattle Seahawks in back-to-back-to-back weeks.

Over the past few weeks, the Rams have been managing injuries at key spots. They were without wide receiver Puka Nacua in the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Additionally, right tackle Rob Havenstein has been navigating an ankle injury for most of the season that has caused him to miss each of the last three games. Nacua was limited in practice on Wednesday, but a full participant on Thursday and Friday. Havenstein was a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday. For the first time since early in the season, he was upgraded to a full participant on Friday. According to McVay, both Nacua and Havenstein will play against the Saints.

Final Rams-Saints injury report of the week pic.twitter.com/9wkr3280Im

— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) October 31, 2025

It is the NFL and no opponent should be taken lightly. Still, the Saints are 1-7 and that’s a game the Rams should be able to win even if they’re not at 100 percent. If the plan is for Havenstein to take over at right tackle when he is healthy, there shouldn’t be a rush to get him back in the lineup, especially with Warren McClendon playing as well as he has.

In the case that Havenstein takes over at right tackle again, it would need to be for the remainder of the season. It doesn’t make sense to rush Havenstein back and disrupt the chemistry of the offensive line only for him to re-injure his ankle. At that point, it’s better to just stick with McClendon. The Rams need Havenstein healthy through this difficult stretch.

When it comes to Nacua, the answer is slightly less clear and gets more complicated, especially with Tutu Atwell going on injured reserve. With that said, the Rams had one of their better offensive performances in their last game without Nacua. There’s no doubting the value that Nacua brings to the offense. At the same time, when it comes to the second half of the season, the Rams really need Nacua healthy for the division games and against the Buccaneers and Lions. This may be a game that the Rams could get by without Nacua and once again rely on the tight ends and running backs.

Again, it’s the NFL and no team should be overlooked and treated lightly. That still applies to a team as bad as the New Orleans Saints who sit at 1-7 and are making a change at quarterback. If Havenstein plays, it’ll give the offensive line a chance to build chemistry before the three-game gauntlet mentioned earlier. In Nacua’s case, the Rams can at least limit his role if they deem that necessary.

The worst thing that the Rams can do is play Nacua and Havenstein and have them re-aggravate their injuries in the same way that Atwell did. While it’s trending towards Havenstein and Nacua playing, hopefully they can both get out of the game healthy as the Rams look ahead to a crucial second half of the season.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...1/rams-injury-report-week-9-saints-puka-nacua

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams fans reach peak level confidence

A couple weeks after hitting a season-low under 60%, fans have checked in with a season-high 98% confidence level for the 5-2 Rams. The results this week, coming off of a bye, show that L.A.’s fans believe that this is the type of team that can win the franchise’s third-ever Super Bowl and certainly should have no problem with the New Orleans Saints.

Do you agree with the 98% confidence or is that too high?

The Rams did not play last week but they did move up in the standings with the 49ers loss. L.A. is one of the top teams on both sides of the ball, as Matthew Stafford is an MVP candidate and Chris Shula could be one of the hottest names on the head coach interview circuit in January. The defense is top-10 in most major categories without having that many big stars and some obvious holes in the secondary.

What’s it going to take for the Rams to reach 100%?

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/129296/rams-fans-confidence-survey-saints

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Pete Carroll compliments Sean McVay’s coaching tree

The Las Vegas Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars face off this weekend. Ahead of the matchup, Raiders coach Pete Carroll told reporters that Jags coach Liam Coen comes from the coaching tree Carroll respects the most—that of the Los Angeles Rams’ leading man Sean McVay:

“He’s got all of the good stuff that’s going around the league,” Carroll said. “The tree that he comes from is really the one I respect the most, in terms of innovation and creativity and really good fundamental aspects of their offense. He’s representing all those guys. It’s a big offense, they do a lot of stuff. You can’t just zero in on this or that. They love to run the football, they’re willing to stay with it when they can, the play action is good, The perimeter stuff off the running game is there. And they really trust the quarterback. They have a lot of downfield routes and concepts.”

Current head coaches from the McVay tree​

• Kevin O’Connell, Vikings
• Matt LaFleur, Packers
• Liam Coen, Jaguars
• Zac Taylor, Bengals
• Raheem Morris, Falcons

The McVay tree, including Sean himself, accounts for nearly one in five of the head coaches around the NFL.

Current coordinators from the McVay tree​

• Wes Phillips, Vikings OC
• Zac Robinson, Falcons OC
• Ejiro Evero, Panthers DC
• Brandon Staley, Saints DC
• Nick Caley, Texans OC

This is an impressive list for someone who has been a head coach for less than a decade, and there has still been enough time for McVay acolytes to find jobs elsewhere and lose them—such as Thomas Brown’s stints with the Panthers and Bears and Shane Waldron with the Seahawks and Bears.

Who is the next branch on the tree?​

Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula should draw attention in coaching searches this spring. Shula has been molded by the three different coordinators he’s worked under during his time in Los Angeles: Wade Phillips, Brandon Staley, and Raheem Morris. Shula has overseen a youth movement and defensive turnaround for the Rams, and he’s one of McVay’s closest confidants.

There’s no reason that Matt LaFleur shouldn’t get a look, though when he went on his own to become the offensive coordinator for the Jets under Robert Saleh, he fell flat and couldn’t get Zach Wilson’s NFL career off the ground.

Other names to keep an eye on:

• Aubrey Pleasant – Rams’ current assistant head coaching and someone they’ve been grooming for a larger role
• Nate Scheelhaase – Interviewed for OC positions a year ago and will be on radar for 2026
• Alex Van Pelt – Was Patriots OC recently and is probably overqualified for his current role

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...carroll-compliments-sean-mcvays-coaching-tree

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

L.A. Rams vs. New Orleans Saints: 2nd half game thread

The Los Angeles Rams lead the Saints 20-10 at halftime but they could be leading by a lot more if not for special teams miscues. What else is new?

The Rams have a missed extra point by Joshua Karty and then later Karty missed wide right on a field goal try that would have been blocked if he had not re-directed the kick. However, the Rams lead by 10 points at halftime because of three touchdown passes by Matthew Stafford:

• 1-yard TD to Tyler Higbee
• 3-yard TD to Davante Adams
• 39-yard TD to Puka Nacua

In his first game back from an ankle injury. Nacua has caught six passes for 87 yards. Rookie Terrance Ferguson has a career-high 54 yards already. And Kyren Williams is on pace for 100 yards on the ground.

Can the Rams hold the lead in the second half and will Karty get right?

Talk about it with your fellow Rams fans in the comments below!

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/game-day-threads/129327/rams-vs-new-orleans-saints-game-thread

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

The NFC West went crazy in Week 9

The NFC West is the best division in the NFL and that was even more apparent in Week 9 as the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks won their games by a combined score of 109-48. The 49ers were the “worst” NFC West team of the day and that’s even with Mac Jones at quarterback and going on the road. All three teams scored at least 34 points and both the Rams and Seahawks won their games by 24 points.

At 6-2, 6-2, and 6-3, the NFC West looks destined to send three teams to the playoffs, but the winner of the division could be determined on which team wins the trade deadline on Tuesday. Either by making a huge acquisition or by sitting out and trusting their players and coaches to win an explosive second half showdown between these three teams.

That war picks up next week with the 49ers hosting the Rams.

The 49ers open as 3-point underdogs against the Rams at Levi’s Stadium next Sunday pic.twitter.com/hUMUUE7Tse

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) November 3, 2025

Although the 49ers have lost multiple superstars during the season, like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, San Francisco seems no worse for the wear. Mac Jones was supposed to be a temporary fill-in but he may have outright stolen the starting job from Brock Purdy by going 5-2 in his starts.

The 49ers have been linked to many big names on the trade market, including pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, which might be a little more realistic because the Bengals lost 42-41 on Sunday.

The Rams have been linked to cornerbacks, even after making several additions during the season, but Emmanuel Forbes played pretty good against the Saints. And you never know what L.A. general manager Les Snead will do.

Seahawks GM John Schneider told the media over the weekend that Seattle is talking to teams and ready to make a move if they have to. The Seahawks have been getting a great season from former Rams linebacker Ernest Jones, but Jones was injured on Sunday night. Will they be looking for a linebacker all of a sudden?

The NFC West is a three-horse race and the meetings are only going to get more tense from here. Who wins the division and will the NFC Championship end up being two teams from one of these rivalries? It’s looking like vintage 2010s-2020s NFC West again.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...c-west-standings-rams-seahawks-49ers-playoffs

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Will anything happen at the trade deadline?

The NFL trade deadline is usually all talk and little action. Will the 2025 story be any different by Tuesday’s deadline?

As much as the media knows how badly fans want there to be real news at the trade deadline, many of them can’t really help themselves but to make things up and stretch baseless speculation into something that will be clicked. If you can’t tell the difference between Ian Rapoport or Adam Schefter and one of these wannabes who has yet to actually get anything right before, do you actually even want the truth? Is it easier to just believe that a timeline where all these trades happen is just as good as the world dimension we actually live in?

The NFL trade deadline is boring. At best, the big names you’ll hear thrown around at the deadline are on their way to being moved but there are too many complicating factors that make a trade impossible at midseason:

A couple of years ago the Titans and Giants were reportedly open to shopping Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley. Those running backs stayed pat at the deadline but left in 2024 free agency, which ultimately became two of the biggest player movements of last year. But they weren’t traded at the deadline despite being good players on bad teams.

Brian Burns was one of the biggest rumored names at the deadline in both 2022 and 2023 — the Rams allegedly offered two first round picks for him — but he didn’t get dealt until the Giants stepped up during the 2024 offseason.

This year, it’s Trey Hendrickson, Maxx Crosby, and Chris Olave generally leading the discussions on the biggest names rumored to be moved at the deadline. But just because these players could be on the way out, it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen tomorrow.

The Raiders: "we're not trading Maxx Crosby"

Maxx Crosby: "I don't want to be traded"

National Media: "They are telling the truth"

Cowboys Fans: pic.twitter.com/ZPXNmJxp73

— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) October 30, 2025

Hendrickson is more likely to leave the Bengals as a 2025 free agent, not as a deadline move. If the Bengals want a first round pick for Hendrickson — no team is going to pay that — they’d stand a better chance by waiting until they can franchise tag him in February.

Crosby is more likely to be traded by the Raiders in 2026. Olave too, although I would bet that the Saints end up extending him instead.

It will be far less surprising if the best receiver traded on Tuesday is Jakobi Meyers, a 29-year-old stuck on the Raiders with zero touchdowns who is openly dying to get out of Las Vegas.

Jakobi Meyers doesn’t fix a single issue with the Buffalo Bills offense.

Stop putting him in mock trades.

— BillsCast (@BillscastPod) November 3, 2025

The best pass rusher traded might not be Crosby or Hendrickson, but Jaelan Phillips. A perfectly okay player who has 10.5 sacks since the start of the 2023 season. It’s possible, if not likely, that the best pass rusher at the deadline was already traded: The relatively unknown Keion White.

Update: Phillips has been traded to the Eagles

We have agreed to acquire OLB Jaelan Phillips from the Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 3rd-round pick. pic.twitter.com/tuSPMf2rgb

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 3, 2025

The Jets are also not incentivized to trade Breece Hall for anything less than a second round pick, which is too high of a price for any team to pay. Hall just had 133 yards and two touchdowns last week. What rush is New York in to move their best offensive weapon for a day three pick?

Plenty could happen in the next 24 hours, but it probably won’t. Some players will be traded, but given the extremely bad values we’ve seen moved for players (every single trade since Micah Parsons is a day three pick swap for a player), we may have already seen most of the deals we’ll see, and the best deals so far.

Hendrickson? Anything is possible.

The Rams, or any other NFC West team moving a mountain for an edge at the trade deadline? Not that probable.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-rumors/129451/rams-trade-deadline-rumors-cowboys

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Random Ramsdom: Will Puka Nacua be back on Sunday?

The expectations by the Los Angeles Rams is that Puka Nacua will be suiting up for them in their Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Matthew Stafford has been cooking, but the more talent around him the better.

Puka Nacua to get scan for rib injury but Rams ‘optimistic’ about his status (ramswire)​

He didn’t return to the game but still finished with seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Nacua reminded everyone how good he is after a brief absence, and the hope is he’ll be available again on Sunday when the Rams visit the 49ers.

Sean McVay shared an update on Nacua Monday by saying he was scheduled to have a scan for his rib injury. McVay feels “optimistic” about his status moving forward, reiterating the positive outlook he shared after Sunday’s game.“

Rams WR Puka Nacua was scheduled to have a scan for rib injury, McVay said. McVay said he feels “optimistic…in regard to where we’re potentially heading.”

— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) November 3, 2025

The Rams have looked like one of the best teams in the NFL the last few weeks, and even if Nacua were to miss any time, there should be an expectation that this offense can and should get it done. In fact, they’ve been spreading the ball around, trying different things and it’s been working.

Rams snap counts: LA continues to diversify on offense in Week 9 (ramswire)​

“Tight ends play major role: The Rams keep leaning into their new 13 personnel packages, deploying three tight ends at a time often on Sunday. That gave Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson all a chance to contribute and they each caught multiple passes for a total of 114 yards receiving. It’s a new dynamic on offense, one previously unseen in Sean McVay’s scheme aside from a few snaps here and there in past years.“

Emmanuel Forbes Jr.'s first interception as a Ram!

More highlights on https://t.co/ugyQZrawqR pic.twitter.com/NP8FkeNamf

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 3, 2025

Will the tight ends keep up their high level of play for L.A.?

Thank you so much for checking out today’s edition of Turf Show Times!

Injury To Rams WR Puka Nacua Now Requires Further Evaluation Ahead of Week 10 (lafbnetwork)​

“Nacua left the game in the second half after taking a hard shot to the midsection. At the time, he had been one of the Rams’ most productive players, hauling in seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown, helping Los Angeles build a 27-10 lead entering the fourth quarter. McVay later noted Nacua could have returned if the score had been closer, suggesting the injury isn’t considered severe.“

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/129443/rams-news-puka-nacua-injury

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

How confident are you in Rams after trade deadline?

The Los Angeles Rams did not make any moves at the trade deadline, instead deciding to stand pat with the roster they have and last week’s deal for Roger McCreary. Are you more confident that L.A. is headed in the right direction knowing that the Rams held onto their 2026 draft picks?

How confident are you in the direction of the L.A. Rams after they beat the Saints in Week 9 by a score of 34-10?

The Rams have a lot going for them right now. Two first round picks in 2026, an MVP candidate at quarterback, and a top-3 defense by the numbers. Should the Rams be considered Super Bowl favorites?

Answer by replying to this week’s Reacts Survey, then jump into the comments section below for more!

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rams fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...rams-fan-survey-confidence-post-trade-edition

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

5Qs, 5As with Niners Nation: Is this the year Kyle Shanahan takes home COY honors?

The Los Angeles Rams earned their first one over an NFC opponent last week, and have a chance to make it two against the evil 49ers. San Francisco stunned the Rams at SoFi Stadium in overtime last month. Can Los Angeles avoid the season sweep by their mortal enemy?

With the rematch this weekend, I once again interviewed Nicholas McGee from Niners Nation to get the inside scoop on Kyle Shanahan’s COY prospects, how the 49ers’ coaching staff has made Mac Jones look like a serviceable NFL starter following a rough end to his Patriots tenure and more.

Q – Backup quarterback Mac Jones has filled in nicely for Brock Purdy. Jones is 5-2 as a starter with the 49ers and has a 10-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. What has the coaching staff done to help unlock his potential as an NFL starter, and how sustainable is his growth as a QB long-term?

A – In truth, the 49ers have largely stuck to the classic Shanahan offense, for which Jones has always been an excellent fit. As they did against the Rams back in Week 5, the 49ers have centered their passing game around attacking underneath and intermediate areas, trusting Jones to make the right throws with his speed as a processor. For the most part, he has delivered, consistently delivering accurately and with anticipation on throws over the middle of the field.

One thing that has stood out is how well the 49ers have done at creating easy answers for Jones through the use of motion and route distribution, utilizing such tools to consistently get Christian McCaffrey into open space out of the backfield. There have been some wow throws from Jones, but the easy buttons have regularly been there thanks to some of the staple tricks in the Shanahan bag.

Jones has also unsurprisingly thrived on play-action, which was particularly effective last week against the New York Giants as the 49ers produced their best rushing performance of the season. With Purdy under center, the 49ers have relied more on pure dropback concepts and his ability to push the ball downfield and create outside of structure. The offense with Jones is more vintage Shanahan.

There’s nothing to indicate Jones’ development as a quarterback can’t be sustainable long term. He’s in the perfect spot with the 49ers and is contracted for one more year after this season. His performances this year could make him a popular target on the trade market, but any team considering a move for him would need to understand his strengths and weaknesses. The 49ers haven’t asked Jones to be something he isn’t, and that’s been critical to his success. For Jones to ascend outside of San Francisco a similar ecosystem and offense would likely need to be in place for the team acquiring him.

Q – Despite all the injuries, head coach Kyle Shanahan has managed to keep the ship afloat in San Francisco, with the 49ers sitting at 6-3 and in the thick of the NFC playoff picture. What do you expect from Shanahan’s squad the rest of the season, and what do you think about his odds for winning Coach of the Year?

A – I would give him Coach of the Year right now, and that’s taking into account the exceptional jobs being done by Shane Steichen and Mike Vrabel in Indianapolis and New England. I think he’ll once again miss out, but this is undoubtedly his finest coaching job.

With the games they have left and with the likes of Ricky Pearsall, Bryce Huff and, hopefully, Brandon Aiyuk set to return, I expect the 49ers to do enough to claim a Wild Card spot. They’ll likely need to rely on their stars on offense to get them there, but there have been signs of encouragement on defense even amid the injury adversity. A deep playoff run figures to be beyond the 49ers, but this team’s season deserves to at least end in the Wild Card round.

Q – All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner was lost for the season in a loss to the Buccaneers in October, this coming after the defense had already lost Nick Bosa for the year. Who has stepped up in Warner’s absence?

A – Former seventh-round pick Tatum Bethune stepped into Warner’s middle linebacker role and is wearing the green dot on defense. He’s had his ups and downs since being thrust into that spot and the defeat to the Houston Texans in Week 8 was a particularly tough one for him.

But Bethune and WILL linebacker Dee Winters were excellent last week against the Giants. Bethune was everywhere, registering 16 combined tackles and a pass breakup. He’s a long way from being Fred Warner, but you sense the role isn’t too big for him as a second-year player and he certainly has the athletic traits to continue to excel.

Facing the play-caller and quarterback combination of Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford promises to be his biggest challenge yet, but it’s undoubtedly one he will embrace.

Q – In our last Q&A, you asked Rams fans about one area of weakness that they were concerned about. What would you say is the Niners’ main weakness entering the rematch?

A – So much depends on how Bryce Huff looks coming off his recent injury, but I think right now it has to be the defensive line. The addition of Keion White in a pre-deadline trade will help, but the hits on the D-Line have been too many, with the loss of Mykel Williams for the season exacerbating the issues up front.

The frustrating thing is the 49er D-Line fixed its biggest problem from last season, and is now a good run stopping group, but the injuries have left it largely ineffective as a pass-rushing unit.

San Francisco’s offensive line was overwhelmed by Houston a couple of weeks back and has for so long been regarded as the main weakness. However, that group has improved overall this season and looked much stronger for Spencer Burford slotting it at left guard against New York, with the 49ers bullying the Giants in the run game and holding up well against a talented group of pass rushers.

It’s rare to be able to say this during the Shanahan era, but right now the O-Line is the stronger of the side of the trenches for San Francisco, and figuring out ways to engineer pressure of Stafford looks likely to be the 49ers’ biggest issue in this one.

Q – What is your final score prediction for this game?

A – It took everything the 49ers had to stun the Rams in LA back in Week 5, and that was with Fred Warner still on the defense.

I expect another admirable effort here, but I don’t think it’ll be quite enough. I think the Rams win it, 26-20.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-schedule/129464/rams-49ers-week-10-kyle-shanahan-coy

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

McVay officially opens Rams kicker competition

Sean McVay says that Joshua Karty has to compete for his job as the Los Angeles Rams kicker this week. McVay told the media on Wednesday that Karty will be competing against Harrison Mevis, who the team signed to the practice squad this week, despite some fans feeling like the problem is not the kicker but the protection and special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn. Still, McVay wants to open up everything, including signing longsnapper Jake McQuaide and starting him this week against the 49ers.

“It’s all geared towards trying to be able to just get some solutions and some kick consistency, really, with our field goal operation,” McVay said prior to Wednesday’s practice. “And so (I) think it’s important to be able to have good competition at some spots that we feel like we can have improved play, to be able to evaluate all 11.”

McVay’s history with sweeping special teams problems under the rug is well documented, at least at Turf Show Times.

McVay inherited special teams coordinator John Fassel, but then fired him at the end of the 2019 season. The Rams hired John Bonamego that year, but then fired him after one season and replaced him with Joe DeCamillis. That project worked for two years until McVay fired DeCamillis and hired Blackburn. In the process, the Rams lost assistant Jeremy Springer, now the special teams coordinator for the New England Patriots.

What was wrong with Bones? Fassel is still a star special teams coordinator credited with being one of the lone bright spots on the Titans staff.

Titans STC John Fassel with a phenomenal answer about turning his unit around from last year. pic.twitter.com/CeZjmuaLuL

— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) September 30, 2025

McVay’s penchant for parting with good special teamers continued by cutting kicker Greg Zuerlein in 2020 and then going through three different kickers until he landed on Matt Gay midseason. By then, the Rams had already missed four extra points and four field goals in nine games.

The team then cut Johnny Hekker in 2022 and went through another process there, first using Riley Dixon as the punter and then drafting Ethan Evans in 2023. Gay had two good seasons on the Rams but left in free agency in 2023. L.A. went through two more kickers, Brett Maher and Lucas Havrisik, until drafting Karty in 2024.

If Mevis takes the job from Karty, he will be the Rams’ eighth kicker since 2020. Eight! And that’s not including offseason competitions.

Karty is 10-of-15 on field goals and 23-of-26 on extra points this season. Even if the Rams have had protection issues, that’s way too many missed kicks. Whether it’s this week or in the future, Mevis is destined to get an opportunity at this rate. Will the Rams address kicker seriously in 2026 or continue this carousel of a special teams circus?

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a.../rams-kicker-competition-mcvay-karty-position

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Random Ramsdom: ‘Karty Party’ or ‘Thiccer Kicker’

There are times in life when we find ourselves at a crossroads, and the Los Angeles Rams are at a crossroads with their kicker. Do they stay the course with Joshua Karty (the Karty Party!), or should the make a move to Harrison Mevis (AKA the Thiccer Kicker)?

Call me crazy, I think I’ve seen enough of Karty and I feel bad saying that (I really want it to work out!), and I really don’t think that if the Rams cut him that someone else scoops him up right away (but the NFL can for sure prove me wrong there), so maybe it would make sense for L.A. to give Mevis a chance, but then again, if Mevis doesn’t work out, what do the Rams do? Go back to Karty? Find someone else no other team wants?

Castoff kickers can find success elsewhere, we’ve seen it with Matt Gay and the Rams, but a team would rather have a kicker that works, than shuffle through someone they “hope” works.

Good thing for me, I don’t have to make any decision for the Rams. I get to sit back and relax/stress about the decisions they make, and right now there may be no bigger question mark for the Rams, than their kicker position.

Feel free to let us know which kicker you like in the comments and thank you for checking out Turf Show Times!

Rams finally bring in another kicker, sign former UFL standout (ramswire)​

“Joshua Karty has had a terrible second season with the Los Angeles Rams, missing an NFL-high eight kicks in eight games. Not all of the miscues have been his fault, but the kicking unit hit rock bottom on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints when he missed a field goal and PAT badly.

Sean McVay indicated the Rams would bring in some competition and they did so on Wednesday. The team announced it has signed kicker Harrison Mevis to the practice squad, putting a little bit of pressure on Karty to maintain his job in Los Angeles.“

From the Podium: Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams discuss preparation for 49ers, special teams signings (therams.com)​

“WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams signed long snapper Jake McQuaide and kicker Harrison Mevis to the practice squad this week ahead of their game against the 49ers in an effort to improve on special teams. Getting those new additions acclimated in practice will be part of their week of preparation leading up to Week 10.

Ahead of the divisional road game, Rams head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams spoke with local media about the upcoming matchup in San Francisco and their special teams signings. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.“

How the 49ers outmaneuvered the Rams to land two future Hall of Famers (sfgate)​

“Instead, Williams focused on getting a deal done with San Francisco, where his former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was now the head coach. By the time the Rams realized their mistake in asking Williams to move positions, it was too late.

“So I kind of zeroed in on the 49ers and we made it work,” Williams said. “[The Rams] came back and was like, ‘No, we’re going to let you play left tackle.’ Whitworth contacted me himself and said he’d love to play with me. But at that point, it was kind of a little too far — I’d already taken my mind off of them and I was doing whatever I could to get to San Francisco.”

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/129560/rams-news-karty-party-thiccer-kicker

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

49ers set to make QB decision on Friday

Mac Jones or Brock Purdy?

That’s the question on most San Francisco 49ers fans’ minds as the team prepares for Sunday’s contest against the Los Angeles Rams. The answer—for at least this weekend—will be made by the 49ers on Friday.

Purdy has played only two games and led San Francisco to a 1-1 record. He remains sidelined by a toe injury, although his practice workload is ramping up as he potentially nears return. Head coach Kyle Shanahan says the toe injury is likely something that will bother his quarterback for the remainder of the season:

“We’re trying to ease Brock out there in the practice stuff, but anytime you’re dealing with this turf toe, it’s something that probably won’t fully go away all year,” Shanahan said. “Regardless of when he comes back, he’s going to always have to deal with it a little bit, especially with the people you talk to who have gone through turf toe.”

The 49ers learned the hard way that toe injuries are fickle. They potentially rushed Purdy back too quickly resulting in a setback that led to this extended absence:

Last time, we felt like he was feeling pretty good in practice. And then in the game, one hit set him back five, or six weeks. Whatever this has been. Four weeks. So, it’s kind of a sensitive situation. Hopefully, getting some reps in practice will give him some confidence that it was better than last time.

There also exists the complication that the 49ers have seemingly been just fine with Jones at the helm. The former first round pick helped San Francisco to a 5-2 record in the seven games Purdy has missed. Jones led a win over the Rams on Thursday Night Football this season and could be set to start again in the rematch Sunday.

Jones might be 95% as good as Purdy. He’s also a lot cheaper. It’s a tough pill to swallow after San Francisco committed more than $265M to Purdy over the next five years.

The bottom line is that the 49ers have positioned themselves to play in the postseason, though they’ve cooled off of late and are battling a slew of injuries across their roster. If they are going to make a run in 2025, they’ll want Purdy at the height of his powers over the back stretch.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...29603/49ers-set-to-make-qb-decision-on-friday

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

How the 49ers have changed since last meeting with Rams

The San Francisco 49ers got the best of the Los Angeles Rams the last time these two teams met in Week 5. San Francisco upset LA on the road under the primetime lights of Thursday Night Football. They’ll square off this weekend as the pecking order in the NFC West division begins to sort itself out.

But this is hardly the same 49ers team that left fans at SoFi Stadium stunned in overtime. Injuries are mounting for San Francisco and approaching unsustainable levels quickly.

These are the key individuals who are expected to be absent from the rematch:

Fred Warner, MLB​

Warner is one of the best off-ball linebackers in football. Simply put, he’s as close as it gets to irreplaceable on the defensive side of the ball.

The three games of life after Warner have gone far from ideal for the 49ers. Dee Winters and Tatum Bethune are the primary replacements.

Bethune is reliable in run defense but a liability in coverage and as a tackler. Despite playing only 241 snaps (14th on SF’s defense), the second-year linebacker has already missed six tackles on the year—good for 11.8% of his attempts. In comparison, Warner missed just four tackles in 330 snaps (37% more) and Rams LB Nate Landman has missed only five tackles out of 495 plays.

Tackle Leaders since Week 6

1. Tatum Bethune (44)
2. Cedric Gray (41)
3. Barrett Carter (40)
4. Christian Rozeboom (39)
5. Devin White (38)

Week 6 is when Tatum replaced Fred Warner in Tampa Bay

via: @PFF pic.twitter.com/N5HwsTmDQs

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) November 4, 2025

In coverage Bethune has been targeted as the nearest defender 16 times (seventh most on SF’s defense), allowing 13 receptions (81.3%) for 166 yards and a passer rating of 109.9.

Winters is somehow even worse in coverage, and he does not redeem himself in run defense as well as Bethune. Winters is the 49ers’ most targeted player with 56 such plays. The next closest defender is rookie Upton Stout with 41 targets. Winters has allowed 47 receptions (83.9%) for 327 yards, five touchdowns, and a passer rating of 120.8.

Warner is no longer in the middle of this defense. The Rams will probably be able to get whatever they want over the middle of the field. That is a troubling sign for San Francisco considering LA’s recent utilization of 13 personnel and tight ends in the passing game. Sean McVay is also infamous for putting linebackers in a blender.

Mykel Williams, EDGE​

As far as expectations go for the 11th overall pick, it’s difficult to be more disappointed with the debut of rookie Mykel Williams.

Mykel Williams was the 11th overall pick pic.twitter.com/MfbeEG2jEa

— Steven Patton (@PattonAnalytics) October 16, 2025

The Georgia product was billed as a run-first EDGE defender (why would you take such a player in the top 15 of the draft?) and has been wholly ineffective in this facet at the professional level. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF)—and among all EDGE’s with at least 245 snaps—Williams is the 46th in run defense grade. He’s also not adding juice as a pass rusher with just 19 pressures on 245 rushes. For comparison, Josiah Stewart, who the Rams drafted in the third round, has 11 pressures on 87 rushes.

Williams’ rookie season was cut short in Week 9 when he suffered an ACL injury. The 49ers might be better off without him in the lineup. He’ll be mostly replaced by the recently acquired Keion White and veteran Clelin Ferrell.

Kendrick Bourne, WR​

First of all, Bourne is healthy and will play in this game. His production has fallen off a cliff of late despite looking like Puka Nacua or Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first game against Los Angeles.

RAMS WEEK IS HERE…

Let’s not forget what Kendrick Bourne did the first time #FTTB pic.twitter.com/uGg6DVaSel

— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) November 4, 2025

Bourne against Rams: 10 catches for 142 yards

Week 6 at Buccaneers: five catches for 142 yards

Week 7 vs Falcons: two catches for 14 yards

Week 8 at Texans: three catches for 44 yards

Week 9 at Giants: two catches for 34 yards

While Bourne was one of the main reasons San Francisco was able to upset the Rams originally, he’s been less effective in recent weeks and may not be a thorn in LA’s side this time around.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...ers-have-changed-since-last-meeting-with-rams

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Are their special teams shaking fans’ confidence?

Coming off of the bye week, fans of the Los Angeles Rams were 98% confident in this team, but coming after a win over the New Orleans Saints in which the special teams performed poorly again, confidence that the team is headed in the right direction has dropped to 91%.

Going from 98% to 91% isn’t the biggest dip, but it is still a dip, and coming off a win where the team dominated, that number may surprise some, but not all.

The fact is that the best teams in the NFL compete and do well in all three phases, the Rams are doing well in two out of three with special teams being the negative outlier.

Due to the NFL being a week-to-week league in a way that other sports aren’t, the swings can be very high, and if the San Francisco 49ers beat the Rams this Sunday how much will fan confidence drop?

Let’s flip that, if the Rams beat SF on Sunday, how much should confidence in the Rams go up?

Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below and why you believe or don’t believe this team is headed in the right direction!

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...rams-49ers-nfc-west-standings-playoffs-survey

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

College football game day thread

Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis is one of the Maroon Goons.(Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The initial College Football Playoff rankings were released this week and the opening 12 teams in the bracket are #1 Ohio State, #2 Indiana, #3 Texas A&M, #4 Alabama, #5 Georgia, #6 Ole Miss, #7 BYU, #8 Texas Tech, #9 Oregon, #10 Notre Dame, #11 Virginia, #12 Memphis. The selection committee will update this opening list four times before coming up with the official list of teams that are in.

These are the names/games TST will be monitoring, but there are dozens of others in action. Tell us about your favorite matchups, prospects, or teams in the forum.

#7 BYU (8-0) @ #8 Texas Tech (7-1)​

9 a.m. PST on ABC

Eyes on: BYU Wants to control the flow with RB LJ Martin (JR) running behind G Weylin Lapuaho (SR) and T’s Isaiah Jatta (SR) and Andrew Gentry (JR). On defense the “Cougs look to DT Keanu Tanuvasa (JR), LB’s Jack Kelly (SR) and Isaiah Glasker (JR), S Faletau Satuala (SO), and CB Evan Johnson (JR). TTU QB Behren Morton (SR) has battled injuries, but has weapons in WR’s Caleb Douglas (SR), Reggie Virgil (SR), and Coy Eakin (JR). RB’s Cameron Dickey (SO) and J’Koby Williams (SO) offer a nice 0ne-two backfield punch.

#9 Oregon (7-1) @ #20 Iowa (6-2)​

12:30 p.m. PST on CBS

Eyes on: The Ducks offense is young and fast. QB Dante Moore (SO), RB’s Noah Whittington (SR) and Dierre Hill (FR), WR’s Dakorien Moore (FR) and Malik Benson (SR), and TE Kenyon Sadiq (JR) can score from anywhere. Iowa, once again, has a stingy defense, led by DT Aaron Graves (SR), E’s Ethan Hurkett (SR) and Max Llewellyn (SR), ILB S Xavier Nwankpa (SR), and CB TJ Hall (SR).

#3 Texas A&M (8-0) @ #22 Missouri (6-2)​

12:30 p.m. PST on ABC

Eyes on: Texas A&M’s outstanding offensive line, the Maroon Goons. LT Trey Zuhn (SR), LG Chase Bisontis (JR), C Mark Nabou (SO), RG Ar’maj Reed-Adams (SR) and RT Dametrious Crownover (SR) are all over 315 lb. The two primary backups T/G Ruben Fatheree has 22 starts early career starts and C/G Koli Faaiu had 16. With Missouri QB Beau Pribula out, the Tigers will likely have to lean on their defensive prospects. DT Chris McClellan (SR), ILB Josiah Trotter (SO), ILB Khalil Jacobs (SR), E Zion Young (SR), E Damon Wilson (JR), S Jalen Catalon (SR), and CB Drey Norwood (SR).

LSU (5-3) @ #4 Alabama (7-1)​

4:30 p.m. PST on ABC

Eyes on: How does LSU respond after losing 3 of 4 and firing the coach? The offensive line has struggled and because of, there hasn’t much of a run game and a lot of prospects have been hamstrung. QB Garrett Nussmeier (SR) has battled nagging injuries, WR’s Barion Brown (SR), Zavion Thomas (SR), and the Anderson’s, Aaron (JR) and Nic (JR), haven’t got going. ‘Bama QB Ty Simpson (JR) has moved to the top of draft boards and he’s got plenty of outlets, but the defense has a grip of prospects as well. DT James Smith (JR), E’s Yhonzae Pierre and LT Overton (SR), ILB’s Deontae Lawson (SR) and Justin Jefferson (SR), S’s Bray Hubbard (JR) and Keon Sabb (JR), and CB Domani Jackson (SR).

Navy (7-1) @ #10 Notre Dame (6-2)​

4:30 p.m. PST on NBC

Eyes on: QB Blake Horvath (SR) running for 972 yards and passing for another 1143. “Snipe Z” (WR/RB hybrid) Eli Heidenreich (SR) has 919 rushing/receiving yards. On defense the lifeguards are NG Landon Robinson (SR) and LB MarcAnthony Parker (SO). The Fighting Irish are stacked with prospects. They have, arguably. the two top RB prospects, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Add to to that, five respected receivers, WR’s Jordan Faison (JR), Malachi Fields (SR), Will Pauling (SR), and Jaden Greathouse (JR), along with TE Eli Raridon (SR).

Other games with interesting prospects​

#2 Indiana (8-0) @ Penn State (3-5) 9 a.m. PST on FOX

Eyes on: While IU’s offense gets a lot of love, the defense has draft prospects as well. DT Tyrique Tucker (JR), E Kellan Wyatt (SR), ILB Aidan Fisher (SR), S Amare Farrell (JR), and CB D’Angelo Ponds (JR) lead a unit that gives up 11 points per game. PSU, lost season or not, always has prospects, as two top RB’s Nicholas Singleton (SR) and Kaytron Allen (SR), E Dani Dennis-Sutton (SR), ILB Amare Campbell (JR), S Zakee Wheatley (SR), and CB AJ Harris (JR) can attest.

Duke (5-3) @ UCONN (6-3) 12:30 p.m. PST CBSSN

Eyes on: Duke QB Darian Mensah (SO) is every bit as good a prospect as the current favorites. He has three solid WR’s to throw at, Cooper Barkate (SR), Que’sean Brown (SO), and Sahmir Hagans (SR). T Brian Parker (JR) highlights a strong offensive line. UCONN has a strong triad of NFL prospects, albeit all under the radar. QB Joe Fagnano is backing a solid junior season with a stellar 2025. RB Cam Edwards (JR) has led the team in rushing three straight seasons. WR Skyler Bell (SR) won’t be a sleeper much longer.

Cal (5-3) @ #15 Louisville (7-1) 4 p.m. PST on ESPN2

Eyes on: Cal WR/PR Jacob DeJesus (SR) has 1032 all-purpose yards, while RB Kendrick Raphael (JR) can both run and catch. On defense, CB Hezekiah Masses (SR) is, arguably, a Top 10 corner and Cade Uluave (JR) is a tackling machine. Louisville rolls behind QB Miller Moss (SR), RB Issac Brown (SO), and WR Chris Bell (SR). Caullin Lacy (SR) is a talented multi-purpose player.

Nebraska (6-2) @ UCLA (3-5) 6 p.m. PST on FOX

Eyes on: Cornhusker’s QB Dylan Raiola (SO) works to imitate Patrick Mahomes behind a questionable offensive line, RB Emmett Johnson (JR) is a true dual threat, 1000+ yards rushing and 33 receptions. WR Dane Key (SR) has a draftable grade, WR Nyziah Hunter (SO) is one of the fastest players in 2025, and WR Jacory Barney (SO) does double duty as a punt returner. Is UCLA the improved team that recently won three games in a row, or is their 56-6 loss vs Indiana more indicative of what’s in store? QB Nico Iamaieava (SO) is relevant again. WR Kwazi Gilmer (SO) is his top target. On defense, ILB Jonjon Vaughns (SR) and S Key Lawrence (SR) have drawn draft notice.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/game-day-threads/129548/college-football-game-day-thread

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

The Rams’ schedule is about to get TOUGH

The Los Angeles Rams are 6-2 and have positioned themselves well in the NFC playoff picture.

Their next two games might be their most important of the season so far. They’ll travel to take on the San Francisco 49ers this weekend and then on deck are the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium. While fans feel confident in the team at this point in time, the outlook will drastically change if LA falls behind either or both of the 49ers and Seahawks.

And the degree of difficulty remains high for the Rams even after the next two weeks. This is their schedule into the final stage of the season:

Week 10 at 49ers​

It’s a three-man race for the NFC West lead. The 49ers aren’t far behind the Seahawks and Rams at 5-3, though it does feel they are overachieving given their rash of injuries and overall talent level.

Since San Francisco upset the Rams at home earlier this season, this is simply a must-win game for Los Angeles if they want to take the divisional crown in 2025.

Prediction: WIN (7-2)​

Week 11 vs Seahawks​

It’s a troubling sign that the Rams still have two remaining games against Seattle, who might be one of the best teams in the entire NFL let along the NFC West. Sam Darnold is playing at an MVP level. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is giving shades of the 2021 version of his teammate Cooper Kupp. Their defense is multiple and talented across the board, and can give offenses fits with creative game plans.

The Seahawks are down right scary. It will be interesting to see how the Rams matchup.

If winning the division is the goal, you have to take care of business in the remaining two games against Seattle.

Prediction: LOSS (7-3)​

Week 12 vs Buccaneers (SNF)​

Tampa Bay currently has the same record as Los Angeles. They’ve been among the best teams in the NFC since Baker Mayfield took over at quarterback a few years ago. The Bucs have battled through injuries—especially on offense—to remain competitive.

This matchup will be on Sunday Night Football and emotions will be high between two of the better teams in the conference. It could also be a potential playoff preview.

Prediction: LOSS (7-4)​

Week 13 at Panthers​

The Panthers aren’t world beaters, but they are still better than most expected from them this season. Carolina currently holds a 5-4 record.

They can beat you on the ground with Rico Dowdle. Their defense is littered with talent even if they have trouble putting it together consistently. Bryce Young can look capable one week and disastrous the next.

It’s important not to look past Carolina. In isolation they can hang with the best for four quarters and seem to be getting better. Their win last week over the Green Bay Packers is easily their most impressive win on the season.

Prediction: WIN (8-4)​

Week 14 at Cardinals​

The Cardinals aren’t as good as I’d thought they’d be this season, though their arrow does seem pointed up in recent weeks with Jacoby Brissett at the helm. Their talented pass catchers seem reinvigorated with Brissett, and the talent level of their defense has raised from previous years.

Should the Rams worry about the Cardinals in terms of standings? Probably not. Can the Cardinals hang around and potentially upset LA, as they did last season? Absolutely.

Prediction: WIN (9-4)​

Week 15 vs Lions​

This will be a highly anticipated return of Jared Goff to SoFi Stadium. The Lions have had LA’s number in the handful of matchups since the two teams swapped quarterbacks. Detroit knocked the Rams out of the playoffs and then last season claimed victory in the opening weekend.

Is this the game where the Rams get over the hump? It’s going to be tough for sure.

Prediction: LOSS (9-5)​

Week 16 at Seahawks​

Prediction: WIN (10-5)​

Week 17 at Falcons​

Week 17 is a must-win for Los Angeles for multiple reasons. The NFC West is sure to be tightly fought and a victory could clinch playoff positioning or a division win, if not already done with a win over Seattle in the preceding week.

The Rams also must beat the Falcons in order to make their earlier of two first-round picks more valuable. Atlanta is currently 3-5 and their draft choice held by LA is on the edge of the top 10. This selection will be an important building block for the future, and possibly how the Rams decide to thread the needle between the Matthew Stafford era and the future.

Prediction: WIN (11-5)​

Week 18 vs Cardinals​

Prediction: Hopefully it doesn’t matter?​

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...29716/the-rams-schedule-is-about-to-get-tough

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Week 10 morning NFL games: Talk!

Share your takes and observations about the NFL’s morning games in Week 10 with your fellow L.A. Rams fans. Will the Saints stay on the bottom? Will the Patriots stay on top?

It’s all happening in Week 10.

5-3 Jaguars at 3-5 Texans

1-8 Saints at 5-4 Panthers

7-2 Patriots at 6-2 Bucs

2-6 Browns at 1-7 Jets

3-5 Ravens at 4-4 Vikings

6-2 Bills at 2-7 Dolphins

2-7 Giants at 5-3 Bears

The Rams do not kick off until 1:25 west coast time, until then you can talk about what’s happening in lead up to the game and the morning games.

Jump down to the comments now to join in the talk.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/game-day-threads/129719/week-10-morning-nfl-games-talk