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[Los Angeles Rams]

Puka Nacua just keeps getting better

Is this Puka Nacua’s best season yet? The NFL’s all-time rookie king at wide receiver has only been improving since his first season and his third year in the league is the best one so far.

Nacua leads the NFL with 93 catches despite missing a game and he’s on pace for 128 if he plays in all 16 games. Nacua is averaging career-highs all over the board:

• 98.8 yards per game
• 71.2% success rate
• 6 touchdowns (7 total)
• 78.8% catch rate
• Only 2 drops

Nacua was blamed for 13 drops as a rookie. So this is a massive improvement from year one. Nacua has set a new NFL record for most catches through 40 career games at 277.

Puka Nacua has 277 receptions in his 1st 40 career games, which passes Michael Thomas for the most in #NFL history. pic.twitter.com/VB7JkOxgIa

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) December 10, 2025

I know that PFF said this week that Nacua’s game against the Cardinals was the best they ever graded for a receiver, which is…silly. Not a single Rams fan came out of the game saying that Nacua had the best game by a receiver that they’ve ever seen, let alone the best game by a Rams receiver they’ve ever seen…let alone the best PUKA NACUA game they’ve ever seen.

But it was still yet another great game on his resume.

Per Next Gen Stats, Nacua’s best game of the season by EPA (estimated points added) came against the Colts:

• 13 catches
• 170 yards
• 1 TD
• Close game!

That’s the sixth-best game by a receiver of 2025.

Nacua’s next best game came against the Texans:

• 10 catches
• 130 yards
• Close game!

That’s the 32nd best game by a receiver of 2025.

Then at +10 EPA, Nacua’s game against the Cardinals (7 catches, 142 yards, 2 TD, not a close game) is his third-best EPA performance of the season. With that, Nacua has three of the top-37 games by a receiver in 2025.

Puka Nacua already has 23 contested catches this season… on just 29 targets — an absurd 79.3% rate on such plays.

PFF has tracked CTCs since 2016 — the single season record is 26.

Both Allen Robinson & Kenny Golladay did that on 40+ targets in 2019.pic.twitter.com/wjM4TZrBiw

— Mike Kennedy (@MikeKennedyNFL) December 10, 2025

Nacua has 7 of the Rams’ best 9 games by receiving EPA despite the fact that he’s teammates with the NFL’s leader in touchdown catches.

Although Nacua won’t set any major franchise receiving records this season (mostly because Cooper Kupp was so dominant in 2021), he is still having one of the individual seasons by a Rams player in history. Nacua could finish the season over 120 catches and over 1,500 yards while leading L.A. to a division title in the league’s toughest division. He’s tracking to score double-digits for the first time.

Puka Nacua was phenomenal as a rookie. He’s even better in year three.

Puka Nacua is a highlight machine @NextGenStats | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/3c8EeYVhTN

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) December 10, 2025

Puka’s price tag in 2026?​

If Nacua is extended after the season, which seems probable given that as a fifth round pick he’s been so vastly underpaid for the last three years, the price tag should go above Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. I tried to argue a couple of years ago that Puka would make more money than Chase and was laughed at. He’s going to make a lot more.

The free-spending Rams should not and probably will not prolong negotiations with Puka in 2026.

Chase makes $40.25 million per season as the NFL’s highest paid receiver. Jefferson’s $110 million guarantee is the most for a receiver.

But Nacua’s agent could instead point to Micah Parsons and target the “highest paid-non QB” deal in the NFL instead: Parsons makes $46.5 million per season with $136 million guaranteed.

The structure of a Nacua extension could look something like four years, $170 million, $115 million guaranteed. That’s $42.5 million per season. It’s not as much as Parsons, but it’s plenty more than the highest paid receivers in the league.

At the trajectory he’s been on since 2023, Puka Nacua deserves that extension as much as any player in the league.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...515/puka-nacua-rams-contract-extension-rumors

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

The Joe Burrow-Rams rumors are inevitable

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has expressed that he’s discontent with his football career and that has led many to speculate that a trade request is on the horizon. When you’ve made as many high profile trades as the Rams have made under general manager Les Snead, including the biggest trade for a discontent quarterback in the history of the NFL, it’s inevitable that the Rams will become a part of the rumors too.

The moment that Matthew Stafford’s future in football becomes a question in any way, shape, or form, the Los Angeles Rams will move directly to the front of the line for Burrow and usurp all the weak franchises rumored to make sense for the quarterback right now. But forget the Raiders or Jets: If the Rams need a quarterback in 2026 and the Bengals are even 1% open to trading Burrow, the quarterback could very well be on a plane to L.A. by the next day.

Is Joe Burrow really that sad?​

In a meeting with the press on Wednesday, Burrow expressed that he’s not having fun anymore.

“If I want to keep doing this, then what am I trying to do with myself?” Burrow told reporters. “And I have to have fun doing it. You know, if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? So, that’s the mindset.”

“Do I have fun playing?” Burrow asked while at the press conference. “I mean, how much? Winning’s always fun, but in general, was it as fun as before? No, I wouldn’t say it was that way.”

Fans couldn’t be blamed for sarcastically saying “boo-hoo” to a multi-millionaire athlete with a very successful football career. But even if Burrow is overreacting to a few bumps in the road with the Bengals over the last few years (mostly tied to his own inability to stay healthy) he’s not wrong about Cincinnati’s shortcomings when it comes to building a competitive roster. “People will write book about it” says Dan Orlovsky:

Here's where Cincinnati has ranked in pass pro (win rate) during Joe Burrow's otherwise Hall of Fame career…

2020 (29th)
2021 (30th)
2022 (30th)
2023 (27th)
2024 (32nd)
2025 (28th)
2020-25 (32nd)

People will write book about it.@PaulHembo

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 11, 2025

Of course the Bengals constantly have bad defenses too.

It’s just hard to believe that Burrow could be this mad at the Bengals after they overpaid Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for him. He’s really leaving Cincinnati out in the lurch if he asks to be traded right after the Bengals added $30-$40 million annual price tags on two receivers for him.

Burrow’s attitude here looks a little weak, but it’s hard to argue with results. He’s been good in almost every respect when he’s been healthy even in spite of being on bad teams. Chase says the narrative being pushed on Burrow right now is completely false, despite it not being a “media narrative” other than literally just quoting him:

“He smiles every day. The narrative that y’all are trying to pin on him right now, I don’t see it.”

“He loves work. He loves the guys in the locker room, so he’s pretty positive to me.”

– Ja’Marr Chase on Joe Burrow pic.twitter.com/4idD116lAg

— SleeperBengals (@SleeperBengals) December 11, 2025

Is he even trade-able?​

Trading Burrow in 2026 would not even be that complicated, believe it or not. It would leave $56.5 million dead money on Cincinnati’s cap next year, which these days is chump change for trading a franchise QB with a contract.

They don’t save any cap space but they save $25 million in cash and a lot of cap space in 2027. The Bengals would have a lot of resources to build a team around a new quarterback in 2026-2027 and they already have the two receivers they want for him.

Is Joe Burrow on his way out of Cincinnati? pic.twitter.com/bxV0Aia0Rz

— BetMGM (@BetMGM) December 11, 2025

Yes, I would say Joe Burrow is able to be traded in 2026. But I don’t think he wants to be the next Carson Palmer and request a trade from the Bengals only to end up with the Raiders and Cardinals.

Are the Rams a legit destination?​

They are if Matthew Stafford retires or wants to go have a different challenge. It was less than a year ago that Stafford openly requested the opportunity to talk to other teams. You can make up all sorts of excuses for why that happened — like that he’s just trying to get a raise in L.A. — and that’s fine if you want to do that. But it happened. It really happened.

Stafford might also want to play for the Rams for three more years, which isn’t that insane. He’s playing at a high level at age 37, which means that he can probably play at a high level at age 38. There’s no Burrow trade happening if Stafford is returning to the Rams in 2026, that much is clear.

But what if Stafford doesn’t?

Then that’s when the Rams potentially become the ONLY team that’s a real threat to trade for Joe Burrow.

They have the draft picks, the desire, and the ability to turn Burrow’s frown upside-down that no other franchise has in 2026.

"You know I love Brock [Purdy] and I think Brock's really good, but I believe Joe [Burrow] is better than Brock is and brings more to the table…Joe is one of the special ones."

– @kurt13warner on @WillardAndDibs.

https://t.co/Nx1Zq7mlzM pic.twitter.com/WXmiBzeQze

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 12, 2025

All due respect to people who cover the Jets or the Raiders or the Cardinals but…be serious. You are no better to Joe Burrow than the Cincinnati Bengals. In fact, those teams are WORSE for Burrow. What are you talking about?

The Rams are the team that Burrow would want to go to if the Rams have an opening for Burrow.

What would a trade cost?​

SI made up a pretty awful trade offer from the Vikings to the Bengals for Burrow, if you ask me: A quarterback who NOBODY wants, two first round picks, a second, a third, and an edge rusher yet to show that he was worthy of being a first round pick. All to try and manufacture a reality where the Vikings get Burrow and keep Justin Jefferson.

If Joe Burrow asks the Bengals for a trade, should the Vikings make an all-in offer to reunite him with college teammate Justin Jefferson?

Here's the case for it: https://t.co/mlzXplABZx pic.twitter.com/gcUnkWOHK8

— Bring Me The Sports (@BMTNSports) December 11, 2025

I really doubt the Bengals would go for that.

J.J. McCarthy is a net-negative value. He’s a terrible QB with a guaranteed contract. He’s not going to interest the Bengals whatsoever. Dallas Turner has 8.5 sacks in two years. He’s not proven to be special whatsoever.

It’s a classic case of trying to trade players who have disappointed you for one who wouldn’t. Most NFL GMs aren’t that dumb. Most.

We know — immediately — that if the Rams got involved they could trump those picks without blinking an eye:

• Falcons 2026 first rounder (as good or better than Minnesota’s)
• Rams 2026 first rounder (more valuable than Minnesota’s 2027 first rounder)
• Rams 2027 first rounder

Snead could top this trade offer just by offering three first round picks in two years and we know that Snead is able to build a competitive roster without first round picks. Three first round picks for a QB is practically chump change to the Rams.

Of course, L.A. might need to go higher than this with more draft picks or players, but already they’re starting from a place of “we can afford this” by offering the three first round picks they have in 2026 and 2027. They practically gave up less to get Stafford.

The Rams could end up with a top-6 pick in the 2026 draft from the Falcons. Would they be better served drafting a QB themselves (if Stafford hints at retirement either next year or 2027) or using it to get Burrow? Would the Bengals be better served shopping Burrow to one of their AFC rivals like the Jets (Orlovsky stupidly suggests the Steelers, as if that’s ever going to happen) or getting him all the way the hell to the NFC?

That depends on how available Joe Burrow actually is in 2026, and if the Rams end up actually needing a quarterback (Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett are not answers), but it’s not hard to see the path we’re on right now: Give it 2 months, rumors of Burrow-to-LA are inevitable.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-rumors/131562/joe-burrow-rams-rumors-trade-sean-mcvay

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

L.A. Rams News: Will Rivers hold up Stafford from some records?

Before Philip Rivers unretired, he had been in the league for a long time (look it up if you doubt me), and as Matthew Stafford has continued his career, he’s given himself chances to pass quarterbacks in the record books including Rivers. So give it up to the headline/article below because I hadn’t thought about this angle at all (though I love that Rivers is taking on some NFC West teams), but Rivers come back to play could prevent Stafford from passing some records this year and maybe in general (who knows what the future holds?)

Matthew Stafford might not move up the NFL record books again in 2025 (ramswire)​

“Before Week 15, he had a good shot to eclipse a few other veterans, including Philip Rivers. Stafford is 277 passing yards from passing Rivers for seventh place all-time and needs just nine touchdowns to move past Rivers for sixth all-time (Stafford needs six touchdowns to pass Ben Roethlisberger and eight to pass Dan Marino before, though).

But with the news that Philip Rivers rejoined the Indianapolis Colts this week and could start as soon as Week 15, Stafford might need even more production numbers to add to his legacy. It’s unclear if Rivers will play past the 2025 season, but he appears poised to play at least through the regular season and likely into the postseason if the Colts make it.“

My hope is you have a great Friday; we made it to Friday (TGIF) and please comment on whatever you want and thank you for checking out Turf Show Times!

Rumble of Rams running backs is getting louder at the perfect time of year (ramblinfan)​

“Don’t look now, Rams fans, but this offense can run the football.

The Detroit Lions have a fairly solid run defense, currently at tenth in the NFL. But LA has faced six of the NFL’s best 10 run defenses, and has won every game. Better still, the offense boasts two of the three running backs who have rushed for at least 70 yards and 1 touchdown in each of the last two games. The Lions have to face an offense that has dominated in the running game.“

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/131556/la-rams-news-rivers-stafford-week-15

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

5 keys to victory: Can Rams learn from past mistakes to beat Lions?

For the fourth time since the infamous Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade before the 2021 season, the Los Angeles Rams will take on the Detroit Lions. After winning the first game at SoFi Stadium in 2021, the Rams have lost each of the last two meetings in Detroit. Needing a win to stay atop the NFC and a game against the Seattle Seahawks looming, this will be a big one. They will also knock the Lions’ playoff chances down to 32 percent. Here are five keys to victory for the Rams against the Lions.

1. Avoid a Panthers Situation on Defense​

The way in which the Lions play offense is very similar to how the Panthers operate. In that game, the Rams defense had one of their worst games of the season as the Panthers were able to play ball control and finish drives in the end zone with explosive plays. One of the few ways the Lions can give themselves a chance in this game is by playing ball-control style, and they are more than capable.

Back in Week 13, the Panthers ran the ball 35 times between their two running backs for 141 yards. They didn’t necessarily get explosive runs, but they were able to beat the Rams with a ‘death by 1,000 paper cuts’ tactic. The small 3-4 yard gains set the Panthers up in 3rd-and-short consistently. The Lions have a running back duo that can do the same. This is a team that has one of the lowest early down passing rates in the NFL. Back in Week 9, the Minnesota Vikings held the Lions to 3.1 yards per rush, putting them in obvious passing downs.

It is worth noting that the Rams didn’t have a healthy Poona Ford in that game. With Ford on the field, the Rams have been very good at stopping the run. They’ve contained players like Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. However, this Lions team is different and doesn’t mind getting physical. The Rams simply can’t allow the Lions to dictate tempo and limit possessions while maximizing their own.

2. Win on 4th Down and Red Zone​

Over the last two games that the Rams have played against the Lions, they have gone a combined 2-for-8 in the red zone while allowing a 2-for-2 success rate on fourth down. It sounds obvious, but touchdowns win this game. The Rams have been one of the best red zone teams this season, scoring a touchdown on 66.7 percent of their trips inside of the 20. Tied with them for the third-best rate in the NFL is the Lions. However, while the Lions rank 23rd in red zone defense, the Rams rank second. This is a game in which the Rams defense needs to lock in when the Lions enter the red zone.

A big part of that will be getting stops on fourth down. The Lions have gone for it on fourth down on 25 different occasions this season. That’s tied for the seventh-most in the NFL. It should be assumed that if the Lions get across their own 40-yard line, they are going to go for it on 4th-and-short. In the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Lions were 0-for-5 on fourth down, including twice in scoring range. Against the Packers on Thanksgiving, they were 0-for-2.

It’s typically critical for the Rams defense to win on second down to set up third-and-long. It’s going to be even more important in this game to win on third down to force the Lions in a kicking situation. If the Rams can force punts or field goals in this game, they will have a very good chance to come out on top.

3. Get to Goff with Interior Pressure​

As is always the case with Jared Goff, the Rams need to be able to not just get pressure, but create interior pressure. The Rams were able to create this interior pressure with Sam Darnold against the Seahawks. They will need to do the same on Sunday.

Chris Shula does a great job mixing up his pressure plans. One of those twists is using Jared Verse as a stand-up linebacker on third down and rush him through the interior. This not only eliminates Jahmyr Gibbs as a receiver, but puts the Rams’ best pass rusher against the weak point of the Lions offensive line. The Vikings did this by blitzing Ivan Pace and Blake Cashman. However, the Packers lined up Micah Parsons as a stand-up linebacker to bring pressure and had similar success. The Rams can and should do that with Verse as well as bring a safety from the third level. This will also be a big game for Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske.

7) In terms of how to attack them… how do you get after immobile quarterbacks? Get pressure up the middle! The Lions can be susceptible to interior pressure, and Goff is a statue in the pocket, so he's unable to create outside of structure if the play breaks down. pic.twitter.com/izBbBuKE8m

— Jonny Page (@JonnyPage9) November 13, 2025

With no pressure, Jared Goff ranks third in the NFL in EPA per dropback at 0.43. Under pressure, he’s on the exact opposite side of zero at -0.43 EPA per dropback. The Rams pass rush has taken a step back recently, but the weak point of the Lions offensive line is in the middle. For the Rams to slow down the Lions offense, they have to be able to get Goff off of his spot and mess with his timing.

4. Contain Jahmyr Gibbs and Lions crossers​

When it comes to tests that the Rams have faced at running back, they’ve risen to the occasion at every turn. Barkley had 2.6 yards per carry back in Week 2. Jonathan Taylor had his lowest success rate of the season against the Rams. Christian McCaffrey was held to 2.6 and 2.5 yards per carry. When the Rams have been tasked to stop the run, they’ve done it. It’s what they were built to do.

However, there may not be a more explosive running back than Gibbs. Gibbs ranks fifth in explosive run rate and is second in yards per carry. His 0.28 missed tackles forced per attempt also leads the NFL as do his yards before contact. This is a player with very good vision that can make players miss and take it the distance. That’s a player that the Rams haven’t faced this season at running back. When Gibbs has been held under 3.5 yards per carry, the Lions are 1-3. Their lone win came back in September against the Baltimore Ravens. David Montgomery rushed for 151 yards in that game.

This also applies to the passing game. Gibbs has 36.5 receiving yards per game which is the fourth-most for any running back. The Rams defense has allowed 34.3 receiving yards per game to running backs which is the 11th-most. This is also an offense that loves to hit crossing routes over the middle with their speed. Nate Landman needs to have a good game on Sunday. This is one where the Rams will likely miss Quentin Lake. Josh Wallace and Jaylen McCollough need to be able to come up and make the tackle in space.

5. Win With Matthew Stafford​

It seems only right that the Rams should rely on Matthew Stafford to win this game. He’s in the heat of an MVP race with Drake Maye. If Stafford wins this in a nationally televised spot and plays well, he’ll take firm control of that conversation. This is Stafford’s old team that the Rams have lost to each of the last two times they’ve played. The last time the Rams beat the Lions, it came at SoFi Stadium in 2021. It only makes sense to lean on him for this game as well.

Matthew Stafford has thrown three or more touchdowns in seven games this season. The Lions are allowing two passing touchdowns per game, tied for the fourth-most in 2025. Since Week 10, the Lions have allowed an average of 254.8 passing yards per game, third most in the NFL. The Lions defense will be without Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. That doesn’t mention that Terrion Arnold is also out. Matthew Stafford should be able to go at the Lions secondary and should have time to do it. The Lions have the second-longest time to pressure in the NFL and don’t have the talent to hold up for that long.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...3/rams-lions-five-keys-to-victory-nfc-week-15

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Projecting movement on the Rams all-time stat list

Rams QB Matthew Stafford contiues to climb up the Rams career stat list.(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

There’s a number of serious consequences for the Los Angeles Rams when they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Quickly, with a win, L.A. could lock in a playoff berth, Detroit, currently seeded 8th needs a win to keep up in the playoff hunt, and of course, there’s the old Stafford/Goff rivalry for fans to debate.

This piece is not about any of those important possibilities.

Looking for a Stafford vs. Goff slant, there wasn’t much left on the Rams career stat list. I did find it interesting how far down the list most of the current Rams players are. Since career records are mostly about tenure, how much movement is there, week-to-week for a young team.

Here’s how far the 2025 L.A. team can bump up the career chart in a given week. The stat projections provided on this week’s are conservative and fairly realistic. The official stats are from pro-football-reference.com

Passing​

Career Attempts

Matthew Stafford (2374) needs 48 attempts to pass Jared Goff for 4th place

Career Pass Yards

Stafford (18054) needs 117 yards to overcome Goff for 4th place.

Career Pass Yards per game

Stafford (257.9) needs to total 429 pass yards to overcome Goff for 2nd place.

Rushing​

Career Attempts

Kyren Williams (775) needs 23 carries to pass Jerome Bettis and Les Josephson for 8th place.

Blake Corum (159) needs 10 carries to pass Jared Goff and two others for 53rd place.

Matthew Stafford (121) needs four carries to pass Pat Haden for 67th place.

Ronnie Rivers (71) needs three carries to pass Norm Van Brocklin and tie Elroy Hirsch for 102nd.

Puka Nacua (29) needs one carry to pass three others into a tie for 146th place.

Tutu Atwell (16) needs one carry to pass six others for 191st place.

Jordan Whittington (5) needs one carry to pass 14 others into a tie at 267.

Xavier Smith (4) needs one carry to pass seven others for a tie at 277th.

Terrance Ferguson (1) needs one carry to pass 60 others for a tie at 332nd.

what a cut by Kyren Williams pic.twitter.com/KkANdiy1YE

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) December 22, 2023

Career Yards

Blake Corum (757) needs 57 yards to pass Dante Magnani for 47th place.

Ronnie Rivers (290) needs 12 yards to pass CJ Anderson and Marc Bulger into 96th place.

Puka Nacua needs 10 yards to pass thee players into 113th place

Matthew Stafford (148) needs 10 yards to pass Issac Bruce and two others into 126th.

Tutu Atwell (72) needs 10 yards to get by 11 others and into a tie at 166.

Xavier Smith (36) needs 10 yards to pass 14 others and tie Bud Cooper for 215th.

Jordan Whittington (24) needs 10 yards t0 pass 20 others to be alone at 235.

Terrance Ferguson (0) needs at least a yard to make the plus side of the ledger.

Career Touchdowns

Kyren Williams (34) needs one score to pass Dick Bass for 6th.

Blake Corum (4) needs one touchdown to pass 14 others and into a tie for 58th place.

Puka Nacua (2) needs running score to break a 15-man logjam and join 14 others in 79th.

Both Tutu Atwell and Matthew Stafford need a TD to stand at two and in 92nd.

Receiving​

Career Receptions

Tutu Atwell (103) needs two catches to join three others in a tie for 62nd place.

Kyren Williams (101) needs a pair of grabs to join Atwell at 65.

Davante Adams has 56 receptions and needs seven catches to be alone in 97th.

Colby Parkinson also has 56, three more would move him into a tie with Vitamin Smith at 102.

Jordan Whittington needs three catches to stand alone at #142.

Davis Allen (35) needs a pair of grabs to join two others in 134th place.

Ronnie Rivers (15) gets one catch and he moves up from 213th to 205th.

Tied with 13 snags, if Blake Corum and Xavier Smith can grab one apiece they’ll be up to #214.

Terrance Ferguson and Konata Mumpfield are in the same boat, one catch and up to 278th.

Career Touchdowns

Puka Nacua (15) needs to catch one score and he moves into a tie at 20th place.

Davante Adams (14), with two TD receptions joins Nacua at #20, in 13 career Rams games.

Tutu Atwell (5) needs one score to move from #89 to a tie for 76th.

Colby Parkinson (5) is in the same situation as Atwell.

Davis Allen (4), with a scoring catch could join Parkinson and Atwell.

Terrance Ferguson (1) and Konata Mumpfield (1) with a TD pass, could jump

Defense​

Career Interceptions

Kamren Kinchens (6) needs one INT to jump 15 others, including London Fletcher and Corey Littleton into 63rd.

Jaylen McCollough (4), in less than 700 defensive snaps, needs one INT to jump 30 others for 93rd.

Ahkello Witherspoon (4) is in the same boat as McCollough, but has 1672 snaps.

Emmanuel Forbes (3) needs an INT to pass 25 others, including Adam Archuleta for 110th.

Kamren Curl (2), Cobie Durant (2), and Troy Reeder (2) need an INT to jump 50 others into 141st place.

Derion Kendrick (1) or Nate Landman (1), with an INT, can go from a logjam at 326th to another for 167th.

There are a handful of young Rams looking for their 1st career INT.

Jaylen McCollough brings the BOOM

LARvsPHI on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/GeDP2XPrqf

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025

Career Solo Tackles since 1994

Darious Williams (157) needs four tackles to pass Quentin Lake into 56th place.

Kamren Curl (115) and Byron Young need seven tackles to match Christian Rozeboom at #69.

Cobie Durant (90) needs three tackles to break into the Top 100 at #98.

Kobie Turner (80), with three tackles, can tie Sebastian Joseph Day for 106th place.

Derion Kendrick (78) needs two tackles to for 111th.

Ahkello Witherspoon (74) needs three tackles to slide into 115th.

Omar Speights (70) needs seven tackles to also vie for #115.

Jared Verse (64) needs four tackles to be alone in 125th place.

Jaylen McCollough (54) needs two tackles to pass Dante Fowler and into 140th.

Nathan Landman (52) needs eight tackles to jump 13 players to 135th.

Braden Fiske (30) needs three tackle to get to a tie for 187th.

Emmanuel Forbes (27) needs three tackles to move from 202nd to 193rd.

Tyler Davis (25) needs three to pass Clay Matthews for 197th.

There are many Rams with less than 25 career tackles that could move up with a tackle or two

Career Sacks since 1960

Byron Young (26.5) needs a pair to pass Michael Brockers into 22nd place.

Kobie Turner (21.5) needs two for spot #28.

Jared Verse (10.5) and Braden Fiske (10.5) both need two to jump 14 players for 50th place.

Troy Reeder (5) needs one sack to pass Ernest Jones and Alec Ogletree into 84th.

Desjuan Johnson (3) needs a sack to pass 22 others into another big group at 116th.

Jaylen McCollough (2) and Josaiah Stewart (2), with a sack, can bump up to 132nd place.

Nathan Landman (1.5) can jump 46 players to #149.

What does this have to do with the Lions game?​

Not much, just that Detroit is the opponent and the QB movement will be the Lions starter. Maybe a little excitement with Stafford passing Goff in a few more categories.

It is interesting, that while many fans like to say that stats are mostly meaningless, whenever two players are compared, stats are always included in the argument. In the sports atmosphere, where analysis is extremely subjective, stats are the closest thing to being objective, an accurate portrayal of on-field production. You can add subjective opinion as to why the stats ended as they did, but the production numbers are there just the same.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...cting-movement-on-the-rams-all-time-stat-list

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

What Rams need to keep #1 seed

The Rams hold the top seed in the NFC with four games remaining, starting with Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions. What does L.A. need to have happen to keep the 1-seed going into their Thursday night game against the Seahawks? And what do they need to have happen to avoid falling into the 5, 6, or even 7 seed if they lose?

They almost certainly need to beat the Lions for that to happen because the top of the NFC is so tight.

In a complete disaster situation, the Rams could even be out of the playoffs entirely less than a week from today.

Rams keep the 1-seed if:​

The Rams beat the Lions​

Simple. If the Rams win and improve to 11-3, they will have the 1-seed no matter what else happens.

Rams lose, but Seahawks lose, Packers lose, Bears lose, 49ers lose​

If the Rams lose, they need a smorgasbord of upsets to retain the top seed.

If the Rams fall to 10-4, then any of Seattle (vs Colts with Philip Rivers), Green Bay (vs Broncos), Chicago (vs Browns), or even San Francisco (vs Titans) can swoop in and claim the top spot with a win.

So in other words, the Rams can’t afford to lose to the Lions if they want to be the 1-seed going into Thursday.

Rams fall to a wild card spot if:​

Rams lose, Seahawks win or 49ers win​

If L.A. loses and Seattle wins, then the Seahawks take over first place in the NFC West. If both teams lose and the 49ers win, then San Francisco takes over first place.

Remember way back when I wrote that if the Rams had tied the 49ers instead of losing in OT, they’d hold an advantage later in the season? Yeah, this is that. L.A. would be in a more secure position right now if they were 10-2-1 instead of 10-3. That’s just facts. Especially because that tie would be against a division foe that has now almost caught up to first place.

In other words there’s a good chance that if the Rams lose this game that they will also lose their position in first place in the NFC West. They can regain it with a win on Thursday (unless the 49ers keep winning).

Rams drop to the 2-seed if:​

Rams lose, Seahawks and 49ers lose​

In the off-chance that all three NFC West teams lose and one of the Packers or Bears wins, then the Rams just move down to the 2-seed instead of the 5-seed.

There’s no chance of being the 3-seed or 4-seed after this weekend, even if the Eagles win. They’d only be 9-5.

Rams drop to 6 or 7-seed if:​

Rams lose, Seahawks win, 49ers win, Bears win, Packers win​

There’s actually a chance that not only could the Rams fall from 1 to 5, they could fall from 1 to 7.

In a disaster situation where L.A. loses but all their rivals win, the Rams could drop below the 49ers and even the Bears too. They’d be a 7th place 10-4 team.

In that scenario, the Rams could potentially even be out of the playoff picture entirely less than a week from now:

• If the Rams lose to Detroit, then the Lions would only trail them by1 game with a head-to-head tiebreak advantage
• If the Rams lose to the Seahawks, and Detroit beats the Steelers, the Lions would jump over the Rams

So yes. One week from now, the Rams could either have a huge lead for the 1-seed or be out of the NFC playoff picture entirely.

The stakes are high. Higher than you may have thought a minute ago.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...131653/playoff-picture-rams-need-week-15-seed

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams vs. Lions Discussion: L.A. trails at the half

The Los Angeles Rams trail the Detroit Lions by a score of 24-17 after the first half of play. These teams have played each other tough, and it’s been a good test for both teams in Week 15.

The Rams had a chance to strike first after a missed kick by Detroit, but Matthew Stafford threw an interception in the red area, and Detroit capitalized to take a 7-0 lead.

The Rams responded with their first touchdown of the day, with a Kyren Williams rushing score to knot the game at 7-7.

The Lions answered with a field goal, and then the Rams answered with another Williams rushing score to take a 14-10 lead, but the lead was short-lived as Jared Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown for his second receiving touchdown of the day, and they took a 17-14 lead after the extra point.

The Rams faltered on their next drive and were forced to punt the ball back to Detroit, giving the Lions a chance to pull away. The Lions did exactly that when Goff threw his third passing TD of the game and a 24-14 lead.

Before the half ended, the Rams marched down the field to score 3-points before the second quarter came to its close.

The game is 24-17 with two quarters to go.

There is an entire half of football to go, so you’re going to want to stay locked in to see how this Week 15 contest comes to an end!

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a.../131674/rams-lions-discussion-second-half-nfl

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Stafford and Nacua highlight top plays from Rams win

The Los Angeles Rams are playoff bound after defeating the Detroit Lions amd America’s Game of the Week featured a high scoring affair between Sean McVay’s Rams and Dan Campbell’s Lions. But it was Los Angeles that prevailed 41-34 even after the Lions clawed their way out to a 10 point lead. The Rams offense stayed aggressive, scoring 20 unanswered points at one point, and with 75 total points between the two teams there were plenty of big moments.

Here are the 5 key plays that solidified the Rams win.

Matthew Stafford connects with Puka Nacua on 4th & 4, (Rams 0 – Lions 7), 5:34 left in the 1st Quarter ​

The Rams knew going into this game that they wanted to capitalize on every possession. After throwing an interception on the opening drive, McVay trusted his MVP caliber quarterback to deliver. The Rams faced a 4th down at the DET 45. Instead of attempting a 62 yard field goal or punting, McVay kept his foot on the gas; trusting the Stafford-Nacua connection.

—> DET (7) @ LA (0) <—
LA has 4th & 4 at the DET 45, Q1 05:34

Recommendation (STRONG): Go for it (+3.9 WP)
Actual play: (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass short right to P.Nacua to DET 39 for 6 yards (A.Anzalone). pic.twitter.com/lqVsfPuR8H

— 4th down decision bot (@ben_bot_baldwin) December 14, 2025

Stafford finds Nacua again on 4th & 8, (Rams 0 – Lions 7), 4:14 left in the 1st Quarter​

Three plays later, the Rams offense couldn’t convert again on 3rd down. This time, McVay could have attempted a 55 yard field goal, but passed yet again. Stafford hit Nacua along the near sideline for 10 yards to move the chains.

Stafford hits Nacua for the big 4th down conversion!!! #NFL #RamsHouse
pic.twitter.com/kJvBe41v4v

— OutOfSightSports (@OOSSports) December 14, 2025

The two 4th down conversions ultimately set up a Kyren Williams touchdown run from the 4 yard line, tying the game at 7-7.

Nacua hauls in deep bomb from Stafford to set up field goal before halftime, (Rams 14 – Lions 24), 0:18 left in the 2nd Quarter​

LA’s defense did not have any answers to stop the Lions offensive attack in the first half. Detroit scored 14 straight points giving them a 10 point lead just a few minutes before half. With two timeouts, McVay wanted points before the half. And right on cue, Stafford hit Nacua who beat DJ Reed up the far sideline. Though they couldn’t score a touchdown in the waning seconds, Harrison Mevis was able to drill a 37 yard field goal to give the team momentum going into halftime.

Matt Stafford AIRS IT OUT for Puka Nacua

pic.twitter.com/DayPUeJJ3s

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 14, 2025

Colby Parkinson 26 yard touchdown [play stands], (Rams 27 – Lions 24), 2:26 left in the 3rd Quarter​

Trailing by 4 points towards the end of the 3rd quarter, Matthew Stafford operated out of shotgun on 1st & 10. Without hesitation, Stafford looked left and then immediately turned to his right looking up the far sideline for… Colby Parkinson. Stafford laid the ball in perfectly to his tight end, who beat safety Daniel Thomas. The play was ruled a touchdown as video review could not give indisputable evidence as to when Parkinson gained complete control of the football.

To quote @TomBrady, an absolute piss missle from Matthew Stafford to Colby Parkinson for six!

@NFLonFOX | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/4OCFJe8QZ9

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 14, 2025

Kobie Turner drags down Jared Goff for sack, (Rams 27 – Lions 24), 2:15 left in the 3rd Quarter​

Los Angeles finally got some defensive support in the second half; forcing three consecutive three & out drives for the Detroit Lions offense. The second three & out was in large part because of Kobie Turner. The third year defensive lineman pulled down Jared Goff for the team’s only sack. It was a pivotal one that completely saw the Rams defense and the home crowd fired up.

Kobie Turner’s 2 play sequence of QB hit & sack after LA’s go ahead touchdown helped turn the game for the #Rams – we talked about that, clinching a playoff spot & more in our postgame interview pic.twitter.com/NtwRY0Hw6b

— Omar Ruiz (@OmarDRuiz) December 15, 2025

Kyren Williams picks up first down to move chains before 2:00 warning, (Rams 41 – Lions 34), 2:37 left in the 4th Quarter ​

The Rams needed every play to seal their win against Detroit. Even though it wasn’t a highlight reel play, the offense was able to convert a first down with under 3 minutes remaining in the game. Knowing they needed to burn Detroit’s timeouts, the offensive line continued to generate running lanes for Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. Kyren powered through to pick up 6 huge yards. The conversion allowed LA to drain nearly 2:30 minutes of game clock before punting. With no timeouts, Detroit was only able to run one play before time expired.

Rams get a much-needed first down! We're at the two-minute warning.

Kyren Williams picks up the first down and that will nearly do it. One more first down puts this game away.

— Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) December 15, 2025

What other plays stood out to you? What do the Rams fans think of Tutu Atwell’s shoe string catch?

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a.../rams-lions-recap-matthew-stafford-puka-nacua

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Blip or trend? Rams have a recent tackling issue.

Week 16’s Thursday Night Football clash between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks is probably the most important game for either team this season.

The Rams are on a two-game win streak. If we pop the hood and look underneath, there is a concerning trend for Los Angeles that could derail their hopes of beating Seattle and strengthening their grasp on the NFC West division and first place in the NFC conference.

LA has a tackling problem​

While the Rams have won their last two games by a combined 35 points, they are also fresh off their two-worst tackling performances of the year according to Pro Football Focus (PFF):

• Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals: 32.4 tackling grade; 14 misses
• Week 15 vs Detroit Lions: 38.8 tackling grade; 13 misses

We have to go back to Week 5’s brutal loss to the San Francisco 49ers to find a comparable outing for Los Angeles. They drew a 57.2 tackling grade in this game and missed 12 tackles.

If we zoom out across the entire NFL, the Rams rank 10th in overall tackling grade. Earlier this season, however, they were leading the league. It’s a troubling concern that likely helps explain LA’s recent regression on defense. They haven’t felt as dominant since their Week 12 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So who is to blame?

Braden Fiske has seven missed tackles so far this season. He’s missed three in the last two weeks and five over the last four games. Fiske didn’t register a single miss in Weeks 1-6.

Josh Wallace—the primary replacement for the injured Quentin Lake—has missed three tackles in his last two games. Another player seeing an increased role in Lake’s absence, Jaylen McCollough, missed on two plays this week against the Lions. Lake leaves big shoes to fill. He has a miss rate of only 10.3% (7), which ranks 32nd among the 103 safeties that have logged at least 187 defensive snaps this year. It’s clear Lake’s replacements are not as sure-handed.

Not to pick on those while they are down, but Ahkello Witherspoon was a healthy scratch and gameday inactive against Detroit. In his second game after returning from a collarbone injury, he missed two of six tackle opportunities versus the Cardinals. It’s clear now that the Rams view Witherspoon as the team’s fourth corner behind Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes, and Darious Williams. Tackling—or lack thereof—could be a key factor.

A blip or a trend?​

It could very well be a coincidence that the Rams happened to have their two-worst tackling performances in back-to-back games. This could also be an indicator of future performance, and that is the more worrying outcome for the Rams.

Lake was a very important player for the defense. He won’t be back for the most important game of the regular season Thursday night against the Seahawks. Wallace and McCollough need to make the plays that are in front of them, especially after they watched Amon-Ra St. Brown accumulate over 150 yards and two scores. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is on deck and perfectly capable of exploiting such a weakness.

Let us know whether you believe this is a two-week blip or a concerning trend in the comments below!

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/131818/rams-pff-grades-seahawks-preview

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Should Rams rest Davante Adams for the playoffs?

Davante Adams is a 33-year-old receiver with a nagging hamstring injury. Can you believe it? Adams, who officially turns 33 on Christmas Eve, aggravated a hamstring injury in Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions and could miss the rest of the regular season because of it, which is a huge blow to the Los Angeles Rams if true because they’re still only tied for the lead in the NFC West.

The Rams face the Seahawks on a short week, on the road, this Thursday in Seattle. It is not really expected by anyone that Adams will be ready for that. But should the Rams play it extra cautious and sit Adams for the rest of the regular season in the hopes that he will be able to play every game of the playoffs?

Jesse Morse, who doesn’t have any inside information or intel but has a good track record of his weekly assessments and explanations of particular NFL injuries, believes that Adams will miss Week 16 and that there’s a chance he could miss the final three games of the season if it’s a Grade 2 hamstring strain: “I expect Adams to miss Week 16…there’s a chance he misses Week 17 and 18 if it’s closer to a Grade 2 strain than grade 1.”

I expect Davante Adams to miss Week 16’s matchup with a reinjury to his hamstring.

Depending on the severity of reinjury, there’s a chance he misses Week 17 and Week 18 if it’s closer to a grade 2 than grade 1.

The Rams are currently the only NFC team to clinch a playoff spot.…

— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) December 15, 2025

Do you think the Rams should rest Adams for the rest of the season and hope that they can still clinch the bye week without him?

Let us know in the comments.

It’s remarkable that Adams has led the NFL in touchdown catches during his age-32 season but at the same time it’s not surprising that at his age he hasn’t been nearly as productive outside of the 10-yard line. Nothing against Adams, especially because Puka Nacua is all the weapon that Matthew Stafford needs between the 20s, but it’s just factual that he’s only worth the $20 million he’s being paid because of what he does near the end zone.

And that’s something that the Rams will need in the playoffs: The red zone threat that Adams provides.

Davante Adams’ 14 touchdowns this season.

pic.twitter.com/yNavTNmzbY https://t.co/Qdej886dEt

— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) December 1, 2025

Adams has only caught 13-of-35 targets on third down this season. That’s right: 37%! That’s not all on Adams of course, it’s just fair to say that when Stafford throws to Adams on third down, the pass is incomplete two-thirds of the time.

He’s only completing 27% of his passes to Adams on third-and-Medium.

Shockingly, Adams only has a 42% catch rate in the red zone this season, but 12 of his 13 red zone catches are touchdowns.

Adams is also only catching 50% of his targets in the second half of games and 10 of his 14 touchdowns have come in the first half of games. In terms of getting the ball rolling, the Rams have relied heavily on Adams in the first half. It does not appear that they will have him as an option in Seattle on Thursday.

And it would be a little surprising if Davante Adams is brought back in 2026, at age 33-34, without any expectation of him being re-injured or less effective at his age.

As such, the Colby Parkinson train is starting to roll out just as Adams has left the station: Parkinson has taken over the red zone role and has caught six touchdowns in the last six games. The former Seahawk should be a featured “WR2” option against Seattle on Thursday and is likely to soak up Stafford’s attention in Adams’ absence. If it works this week, should the Rams just go ahead and shut down Adams for the final two games and hope that they can secure a bye week anyway, giving Adams a full month of rest prior to the divisional round of the playoffs?

That’s the risk you take when you sign an over-30 receiver to be your WR2. Adams was never going to be Mr. Reliable. But if the Rams play their cards right over the next three games, he could be Mr. Available.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...17/rams-davante-adams-injury-update-hamstring

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams don’t rule Davante Adams out, but who could replace him?

The Los Angeles Rams could be without wide receiver Davante Adams on Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks. While the assumption seems to be that the Rams will be without Adams until the playoffs, according to head coach Sean McVay, the Rams aren’t ruling out Adams for Thursday night’s game.

Davante Adams has a hamstring injury and will not practice during today’s walkthrough.

They’re not ruling him or anyone else out yet for Thursday in Seattle.

“He’s as tough as it gets,” Sean McVay said. “I want to see what it looks like with the time we have.”

— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) December 16, 2025

ESPN’s Sarah Barshop added,

“After Sunday’s game, Rams coach Sean McVay said Adams was “optimistic” about the injury, but cast doubt on whether the receiver would be able to play on the short week. McVay said Tuesday that the Rams were going to give Adams “every chance” to be able to play in Seattle, adding that the team will take it “all the way up to game time” before making a decision.”

Adams was initially seen as being out until the playoffs, but his status has since moved to week-to-week. That’s certainly a positive for the Rams wide receiver. Still, given that the injury was something that Adams re-aggravated, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Rams play it safe with Adams. They will need him to be 100 percent for the playoffs.

McVay keeping Adams’ availability open appears to be a mental game to force the Seahawks to prepare as if the Rams will have Adams on the field on Thursday night. However, if he does play, it would likely be in a limited capacity.

If Adams does miss time, especially on Thursday, the question becomes who replaces Adams. At the end of the day, there isn’t a one-for-one swap for Adams. The Rams rank third in red zone scoring this season, and that is in large part because of Adams. McVay’s offenses have consistently struggled in the red zone. Only in 2019 and 2023 did the Rams rank inside the top-10 in red zone touchdown percentage. Again, the Rams are third heading into Week 16.

As fun as the idea of bringing back Odell Beckham Jr. in a limited capacity would be, it’s not something that’s going to happen at this stage. The Rams are rightfully happy with their receiving room and it’s time for the depth to step up.

1. TE Terrance Ferguson/Colby Parkinson​

The Rams have been a heavy 13-personnel team since Week 7. By utilizing three tight ends, the Rams primarily have just one wide receiver on the field at a given time. That adds importance to the tight end position and both Ferguson and Parkinson have played well in recent weeks. Following Adams’ injury, Parkinson had one catch for 11 yards and a touchdown. With that said, the Rams did utilize Parkinson out wide on the perimeter against the Lions. He’s shown that he can win in that spot. He’s also made key plays in the red zone. After Adams, Parkinson and Nacua are tied for second on the team with six touchdowns.

Similarly, this is where Terrance Ferguson could be utilized as well. The Rams have tried to get Ferguson involved in the offense. Unfortunately, Stafford and the Rams rookie simply haven’t been on the same page consistently enough. Ferguson played his most snaps in a game last week and seems to be on the rise. He and Stafford just need to connect. Ferguson can win vertically, specifically on the slot fade like Adams. Ferguson isn’t as polished of a route runner or as smooth of a mover, but he can still be a threat in the passing game in the same areas of the field.

2. WR Konata Mumpfield​

Stafford targeted Mumpfield along the sideline against the Lions and the rookie nearly came down with it. Mumpfield has been a solid player this season and from a snap perspective, he’s been the team’s third wide receiver. Mumpfield has out-snapped Jordan Whittington each of the last two weeks. Mumpfield is also someone that the Rams have utilized in the red zone and has been the lone wide receiver in 13 personnel. Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur noted on Tuesday that Mumpfield and Adams have similar traits. Said LaFleur,

“Has similar traits to Davante in terms of just how they’re wired in their lower halves and how they see the game. It’s been a really cool deal. ‘Mump’ a smart dude as I’ve alluded to quite a bit. It was very easy for him to realize, ‘Wow, there are a lot of things that ‘Tae’ does that I want to do because my body will allow me to do it.’ ‘Tae’ likewise has seen that for ‘Mump.’ I would say that’s the one he’s really taken a hand to because he sees a lot of similar traits that he had when he was younger.”

It’s lofty expectations to expect a seventh-round pick with five catches this season to take over for Adams. It’s not a direct swap even if they may have some similarities in their skillsets. Mumpfield’s frame is still much smaller. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get a snap increase against the Seahawks.

3. WR Tutu Atwell​

When the Rams re-signed Tutu Atwell to a one-year, $10 million fully guaranteed contract, they did so before signing Davante Adams. As it stands, Atwell seems to have fallen down the depth chart. He played four snaps against the Lions and seems to be splitting time with Xavier Smith as they have similar skillsets. Still, if the Rams paid Atwell $10 million, it was for these moments. He did make a difficult catch last week in limited action after Adams went down.

This isn’t to say that Atwell is going to take over Adams’ production and have a breakout game against the Seahawks. However, Atwell is a player that can line up on the outside and win vertically. He’s always played bigger than his size and shown an ability to go up and get the ball. Atwell will be the most experienced wide receiver behind Nacua. If the Rams are simply looking for a wide receiver that they can trust to be in the right spot, Atwell provides that.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a.../rams-depth-chart-davante-adams-injury-status

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

L.A. Rams News: Has Colby Parkinson arrived?

Is Colby Parkinson going to the be the future of the Los Angeles Rams’ tight end position? Or maybe something similar to what Tyler Higbee had been for the Rams over the course of his career? Higbee had some incredible highs with the Rams, including at times being a top-tight end in the league on a week-to-week basis, but is what Parkinson’s been doing sustainable?

Or should we expect Parkinson to fizzle out as other players step-up in bigger ways (Terrance Ferguson, anyone?)

For a small comparison on a Wednesday (Hump Day) Higbee was drafted to the Rams (Parkinson was a Seattle Seahawks before joining the Rams), and if memory serves, Jeff Fisher was still the head coach when Higbee was added.

Though it took Higbee time to become L.A.’s consistent (and reliable) starting tight end, he’s been with the team a long time. This is Parkinson’s Year 2, so I suppose let’s not jump to conclusion, then again, let’s do exactly that: Jump to conclusions.

Is Parkinson the future TE for the Rams, or will fans always say, “He never lived up to his contract?” Maybe the truth lies in the middle.

Alright, I’ve rambled enough (I think this Thursday game is stressing me out). Please comment on whatever you want and have a great Wednesday! Thanks for checking out Turf Show Times!

PS: Thank you all for yesterday’s comments! I did not see them until later, but good discussion(s)! And some feedback! That’s what we want!

Colby Parkinson on how the Rams’ 13-personnel identity was born and the TEs embracing their role in the run game | Featured on Rams Revealed Ep. 146 (therams.com)​

“It’s all about running the ball first,” Parkinson said. “As a tight end room, that’s really where we can make our mark, and that’s what we take pride in. Run game and pass protection. If we do those things well, I think the Rams are going to be doing alright.”

“You can tell that tight end meeting room is having a lot of fun making contributions to this team and not just in the pass game, but blocking in the run game,” general manager Les Snead said, while filling in on Monday’s Coach McVay Show.“

Lumen Field
🗓 December 18
5:15 PM PT
@NFLonPrime

More on how to watch our Week 16 matchup » https://t.co/UuzwntHvBe pic.twitter.com/meAgUiK0Od

— x – Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 17, 2025

Seahawks To Debut Rivalries Uniforms In Week 16 vs. L.A. Rams (seahawks.com)​

“One very unique aspect of these uniforms is that they represent the connection to the 12s as the uniform includes a 12s patch as well as a 12 pattern in the jersey numbers. There are also soundwave patterns on the shoulder and pants that were made to represent the loudest fans in the NFL.

For more information on the upcoming Thursday Night Football matchup vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16, click here. For more information on the Seahawks’ Rivalries uniforms, click here.“

Thursday Night under the lights pic.twitter.com/WGbXssKmVe

— x – Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 17, 2025

Rams rival is flirting with disaster by trying to curtail Sam Darnold’s INTs (ramblinfan)​

“By the end of the game, Seahawks fans pointed to quarterback Sam Darnold’s four interceptions as the sole reason for the loss. Turnovers certainly played a role in that game. But, so did play calling. Rams running backs were gashing a Seattle defense that was focused on stopping the pass.

The Rams never adjusted.

Wide receiver Puka Nacua had a rare fumble for a turnover. The Rams defense surrendered more than 400+ yards, but few points. It was an ugly game that gave Seahawks fans enough reason to believe that Seattle could win the rematch.“

“Both of those guys can really do everything we ask of a back in this offense.” pic.twitter.com/PLWX00HZRC

— x – Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 16, 2025

Random Ramsdom Fandom:​

“Big question, Snead loves Arch Manning so with Arch returning to school, do you keep the ATL pick or trade it and package it in ‘27 to get who the QB you really want? I’m still a believer in McVay likes veteran QB’s and not all that patient with molding fresh meat right out of college” –Jballa2005

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/131898/la-rams-news-colby-parkinson-seahawks

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams must beat Seahawks in the trenches

When the Rams face the Seahawks on Thursday for supremacy in the NFC, the most important matchup will be a battle of who wins in the trenches. Does L.A. have a significant advantage there? Perhaps no matchup is better than the Rams offensive line against Seattle’s defensive line. Will Kevin Dotson and company be their best selves against Leonard Williams and company?

These are the key matchups for a huge Thursday night game.

The Rams currently have the tiebreaker over the Seahawks as they won the Week 11 matchup 21-19, in large part because of four Sam Darnold interceptions. The Rams defensive front forced plenty of pressure throughout the game but Seattle’s defense gave LA fits at varying moments. A run-stuffing duo of Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy have negated teams’ rushing attacks and made them one-dimensional. Who will win Week 16? It all starts in the trenches. Let’s take a look at each roster headed into Thursday Night…

QBs: #9 is the MVP of the NFL. Funny, how they are trying to create a narrative that Josh Allen is now in the mix. Did we forget that Josh Allen put up a dud against the (5-9) Falcons? Anyways. Stafford continues to play lights out football. He is clutch when it matters. Seattle will be a tough test for him, especially if the weather is unfavorable. But, I expect him to put a final stamp on an MVP season.

Sam Darnold has fallen in the eyes of PFF since his Week 11 dud against Los Angeles. His grade now sits at 82.5 (7th / 42 QBs). The gameplan this time will likely limit the number of deep and “long-developing” passing attempts early. This will minimize the turnover margin allowing Seattle’s defense to carry the load instead of playing from behind.

RBs: The Rams rushing attack has really come alive. Blake Corum in particular has provided a lot of explosiveness in their rushing attack. Seattle bottled him up last time. But it will be very intriguing to know if Sean McVay can get Corum with some open space because when he does…look out. He leads all running backs in EPA/rush.

*Kyren Williams has gone over 1000 yards rushing and double digit touchdowns for the third season in a row*

Blake Corum is averaging 9.3 YPC over the last 3 weeks. No RB has more (min. 20 attempts).

He's breaking out in real time. What a stud. pic.twitter.com/ldADD5ctLE

— Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) December 16, 2025

Kenneth Walker is a top 5 RB according to PFF even though he is 19th in the NFL in rushing yards. He’s been an inconsistent explosive runner but also finds himself getting stuffed at the LOS often.

WRs: Puka Nacua continues to impress week after week. The volume despite the limited snap count on offense is ridiculous. Nacua is WR1 in the NFL and I don’t say that to take anything away from Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

All eyes during this short week will be about the availability of Davante Adams. He reaggravated his hamstring in the Week 15 win versus the Detroit Lions. The Rams have not ruled him out but it would seem likely that he is used sparingly or ruled out altogether. It’s not a crushing blow since the Rams operate with 13 personnel quite a bit. However with 11 and 12 personnel packages, it makes things interesting. Tutu Atwell, Xavier Smith, and Jordan Whittington will be called upon to pick up the snaps. More importantly, the redzone is where the Rams will have to get creative without their touchdown machine. This could be a good time for Terrance Ferguson to emerge in the tight end room…

Again, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a phenomenal receiver. He is pacing the field with 1541 yards (174 more than Puka). It’s the drop off from Smith-Njigba to Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed, and Tory Horton that is alarming. None of those players are averaging more than 40 yards/game.

TEs: Colby Parkinson’s recent production is making a lot of TST users to retrack their comments about cutting him this past offseason / early in the 2025 season. The yards might not be there but the 6 touchdowns have been breath of fresh air for that tight end room needing a spark. The room altogether has 12 of Stafford’s 37 passing TDs.

From Weeks 10-15, Colby Parkinson is tied for the most TD receptions in the NFL (w/ Davante Adams) with 6. It's also tied for the most TD receptions in a single season for a tight end in franchise history. @colbyparkinson #Rams | #RamsHouse | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/bAcwyzpSAW

— Los Angeles Rams PR (@TheLARamsPR) December 16, 2025

AJ Barner will require a lot of attention Thursday Night. In their last meeting, Barner collected 10 receptions (11 targets) for 70 yards. Nate Landman and Omar Speights will need to lock down the middle of the field because that will likely be Darnold’s early target area going into this one.

OL: LA’s really adopted a bully ball of their own. Jackson-Avila-Shelton-Dotson-McClendon are moving guys in the run game. Speaking of McClendon. This is a key change for the Rams in Week 16. Rob Havenstein was the starting right tackle in Week 11 and received a 42.6 overall grade with a 19.9 pass blocking grade. McClendon will now get the start in Week 16 and has been significantly better in pass protection. He only allowed 1 pressure last week to Aidan Hutchison.

Tough matchup this week. But have to say impressed with former fifth-round RT Warren McClendon in substitution for injured Rob Havenstein…just five pressures and a sack allowed in 7 starts per Next Gen. Rams have allowed third-fewest sacks in NFL (19; Seattle is No.2).

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) December 16, 2025

Cross-Zabel-Sundell-Bradford-Lucas make up the Seattle offensive line. The interior is the weak spot, particularly Anthony Bradford, who is a huge liability in pass protection. X has made a montage of his attempts at playing the right guard position.

These Anthony Bradford clips all year have been hilarious.

I wonder if Seahawks players see these pic.twitter.com/EIZaRai49P

— Sami ON Tap (@SamiOnTap) December 15, 2025

DL: Poona Ford gets his former team again. Ford and the rest of the interior held Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to just 3.5 yards/carry. Gibbs in particular only averaged 2.9 yards/carry. I expect Ford, Turner, Davis, and Fiske (if he plays due to ankle injury) to have their way with Seattle’s interior again.

Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams form a strong anchor in Seattle’s interior. They can rush the passer and stop the run just like Ford, Turner, and Fiske. I mentioned before, that McVay may want to get creative in using Tutu Atwell in jet sweeps to neutralize Williams and Murphy firing off the ball. Another method will be using TE screens. Either way, this is the marquee matchup for this game. Can Avila-Shelton-Dotson win more often than not against Murphy and Williams? I think so.

EDGE: Before getting to Jared Verse and Byron Young, one name I want to identify is Desjuan Johnson. The Rams have converted the defensive lineman into an edge rusher, just like they did with Michael Hoecht. Johnson has impressed me with his limited snaps and tape. He is a 2023 7th rounder from Toledo and has produced a 75.3 PFF grade when called upon. Josiah Stewart, the 2025 3rd round rookie has a 74.4 grade. The Rams have more than just Verse and Young. The group is four deep…

This is part of what makes Desjuan Johnson such an important player at edge.

With his size, he holds that edge in the run game which forces the RB inside towards the tacklers. Over the last two weeks, he ranks 3rd in run defense among edge players via PFF. pic.twitter.com/nziOMktSsc

— Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) December 15, 2025

Verse and Young have been quieter as of late. Verse’s sophomore production has dipped a little bit, particularly in run defense. I wonder if there is a minor injury somewhere. Young collected 9 sacks in his first seven games. In the last seven, he only has 2 sacks.

Uchenna Nwosu and Demarcus Lawrence will rush the passer. Nwosu had some pressures in the last meeting but that was against Havenstein. McClendon will draw this assignment. McClendon should have a size advantage and combat any speed moves from him.

LBs: Not a lot of difference here as Nate Landman and Omar Speights continue to patrol the second level. Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas will do the same for Seattle. Jones has 5 interceptions which means Stafford will need to be careful on those in-breaking routes and avoiding any batted passes at the line.

DBs: Emmanuel Forbes, Josh Wallace, and Cobie Durant got worked a little bit in the first half by Amon Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The only reason it got better in the 2nd half was because of the defensive line’s pressure. It’s worth noting that the two veterans, Darious Williams (backup) and Akhello Witherspoon (inactive) have fallen in the depth chart behind the young guys. Williams does provide a lot of postseason experience. Quentin Lake is eligible to come off IR but is not yet ready to return to performance.

This is Seattle’s biggest advantage over Los Angeles. Devon Witherspoon is the #1 corner in football. Nick Emmanwori, Josh Jobe, Coby Bryant, and Julian Love are all playing great football as well.

*Side note: Derion Kendrick was playing for the Seahawks in this one but will now be playing for the Rams. He may not dress but you have to wonder if he can give some insight to the Rams on what Seattle was doing to slow down their passing attack.

ST: Harrison Mevis will likely get his first taste of kicking in the elements as he did not have any field goal attempts at Carolina. Even though McVay will want to be aggressive, he may need to consider taking the points more often because Seattle’s defense will be stingy.

Jason Meyers and Michael Dickson form one of the best special teams tandem in football. The majority of Myers misses have come from beyond 50 yards.

Coaching: This should be another great face off between Sean McVay and Mike Macdonald. Macdonald have success slowing down the 13 personnel packages in Week 11 so it will be key for McVay to have a counter punch ready. Again, the running game for Los Angeles is paramount. If rain is in the forecast, it could be about who has better traction… as they say… low man wins!

For those who thought the Rams offensive struggles against the Seahawks were a one-off issue, you may want to check how Macdonald's defense played against McVay and Stafford last year pic.twitter.com/8iI6bOG1Ae

— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) December 16, 2025

What matchup do you like most for Los Angeles?

What matchup do you like most for Seattle?

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-roster/131878/rams-seahawks-defenses-top-5

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams can’t afford another bad game on defense

If you take the six worst games by the Los Angeles Rams against the deep pass this season, they are 3-3. In every other contest, they’re 8-0. Chris Shula’s defense must shut down Sam Darnold for the second time this season to beat the Seahawks on Thursday, otherwise L.A.‘s defensive coordinator could be guaranteed a return to the Rams in 2026 without any other job offers.

The Rams defense is on a cold streak right now. Can Shula get it right in 24 hours?

Rams pass defense struggles​

By expected points added (EPA), a stat from Next Gen Stats that essentially just measures the value of each play relative to the score, down, distance, and game situation, the Rams just had their worst game of the season against deep passes:

Jared Goff went 5-of-5 for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns on throws over 20 air yards.

Only one team allowed more big plays in Week 15 than the Rams defense did…The Detroit Lions.

Big Plays in Week 15

Big play -> 10+ yard rush or 20+ yard rec

The Rams had 7 big passes for the offense and allowed 6 big passes for the defense

Check out your team pic.twitter.com/OUE4nIqv72

— Josh (@JoshiosTweets) December 16, 2025

That EPA of +1.89 per pass attempt against Goff is L.A.’s worst game of the season. Unsurprisingly, the -17.65 defensive EPA for the entire game was also the Rams worst game of the season.

This comes two weeks after the Rams’ second-worst game of the season (-14.28 EPA), a 31-28 loss to the Panthers. Sandwiched in between was a middling, average defensive performance against the Cardinals (0.21 EPA), a very bad offense. Despite blowing out Arizona, L.A. also had their second-worst special teams game (-6.66 EPA) of the year last week.

As such, a defense that still ranks third in points allowed and fourth in points per drive allowed over the course of the entire season…how now allowed the 10th-MOST points in the past three games. It is only thanks to scoring the most points in the league that L.A. has won two of those games.

Can Sean McVay count on out-punching his opponents every week, especially in the playoffs? For the Rams to be the most complete team in the league, as many believe that they are, McVay and Shula need to figure out a way to start ducking some of these body blows.

Sam Darnold’s last game against the pass defense broke him​

By intercepting him four times in the first meeting, L.A. has forced Darnold to abandon his tendency to attack tight windows. Per Benjamin Solak, Darnold went from the best tight-window passer in the league before the Rams to missing his last 9 such throws and going 2-for-20 since playing the Rams.

If you're watching the Seahawks offense and feeling like "huh, this looks different" it's because it is!

Darnold was the GOAT tight window thrower pre-Rams game. He hasn't hit a tight window throw in three weeks. https://t.co/oLdPaLn7Un pic.twitter.com/a0KrwLLudC

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) December 16, 2025

That’s a great performance by the Rams defense, especially considering L.A.‘s matchup against Darnold on Thursday, but is it a great sign of things to come?

Darnold was terrible against the Rams in the first game and he averaged just 4.7 yards per deep pass with -1.41 EPA/deep pass against L.A. the last time. He was intercepted four times. He was disrupted. That’s a great skin on the wall for Shula, but that’s in the past. Given how mediocre the pass defense — and deep pass defense — has been since then, can Shula get the defense back on track before the playoffs?

Tackling problems​

The Rams have slipped from the best tackling defense in the league (historically great) to two of the worst games by any defense on any team this year in the last two weeks, as pointed out by JB Scott:

While the Rams have won their last two games by a combined 35 points, they are also fresh off their two-worst tackling performances of the year according to Pro Football Focus (PFF):Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals: 32.4 tackling grade; 14 misses and Week 15 vs Detroit Lions: 38.8 tackling grade; 13 misses.

If we zoom out across the entire NFL, the Rams rank 10th in overall tackling grade. Earlier this season, however, they were leading the league. It’s a troubling concern that likely helps explain LA’s recent regression on defense. They haven’t felt as dominant since their Week 12 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So far we’ve covered that the Rams pass defense coverage has been terrible recently and their tackling has fallen off exceptionally as players have regressed to expected season averages.

Do the Rams need to score 35 points every week to win? Shula has to realize that’s unsustainable. McVay too.

Run defense hasn’t correlated to wins​

The Rams are actually 0-2 in their two BEST run defense games (49ers Week 5, Eagles Week 3) of the season. Is i noteworthy that the 49ers game was also on a Thursday?

Of course, both of these games were close, including an overtime loss and the brutal ending to the Philly game. The Rams could have won. But regardless the games were close despite their most impressive run defense efforts of the 2025 season.

The Rams are 6-1 this season when the opponent rushes for OVER 90 yards. That includes 135 rushing yards in LA’s win over Seattle.

Good stuff here from Rams DC Chris Shula in the second half.

Overloads the right side and drops the left into coverage. Wins the numbers game. Turns into 3 blockers vs. 4 pass rushers. Forces a quick throw and then good tackle in space by Durant. pic.twitter.com/1UQrst67Np

— Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) December 16, 2025

That being said, L.A.’s defensive line did get pushed back consistently in losses to the Panthers and Eagles, as well as their narrow win over the Colts. Those represent three of the Rams four worst games by “Rushing yards allowed before contact” of the season.

The Seahawks are already one of the worst rushing offenses in the NFL despite being the most run-heavy offense in the NFL. Seattle insists on running the ball to setup the play action passing game, which as of today is the most efficient and productive play-action offense in the league. Klint Kubiak’s plan is working for something.

Seahawks are a below-average passing team when they can’t run play action.​

What do you get from an offense when they can run and can’t execute play action? A bad offense. But this only matters if Shula gets his best pass defense game of the season from struggling players like Emmanuel Forbes and Josh Wallace, better tackling, and more pressure on Darnold. The Rams have the ninth-highest pressure rate in the league, but didn’t sack Darnold (again, intercepted him FOUR times) the last time.

Players like Jared Verse, Byron Young, Kobie Turner, and Braden Fiske will need to step up on Thursday to alleviate the pressure on a struggling secondary. Nate Landman, who has been less effective in coverage lately than he was in the first half of the season (123.3 passer rating allowed and 4 TD allowed in the last eight games), will need to rebound from last week with his best game of the year.

Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak and Rams DC Chris Shula are arguably the two hottest names on the head coaching market for coordinators. Either one of them could land a significant notch on their belt for the resume with a great performance on Thursday; or either of them could get pushed to the bottom of the pile with an ugly loss.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...awks-preview-defense-chris-shula-klint-kubiak

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams-Seahawks discussion: Will L.A. close out Seattle?

The Los Angeles Rams lead the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 13-7 after the first half of play.

The game didn’t start how L.A. wanted when they failed to convert on a fourth down during their opening drive. Seattle quickly had the ball on offense with good field position, and they took a 7-0 lead only a few plays later.

Though Seattle’s defense made it hard on L.A., the Rams’ offense responded on their second drive by marching down the field, but it ended with a field goal. However, the Rams were on the board and the score was now 7-3.

Chris Shula’s defense was able to force a stop which allowed L.A. to tack on another field goal to make the score 7-6.

Then Shula’s defense forced another Seattle punt, which then gave L.A. a chance to score again and take a lead, and the Rams did exactly that when Matthew Stafford found Terrance Ferguson for a touchdown and L.A.‘s first lead of the day with a 13-7 score.

The Rams had Seattle on a third and long with a chance to get the ball back before the end of the half, but Seattle converted right at the 2:00 minute warning.

The Seahawks were driving, but then Cooper Kupp fumbled the ball to give possession back to the Rams with about 0:40 seconds to go in the half, and the score would stay 13-7.

Will the Rams close out this game with a victory?

There is an entire half of football to go, so you’re going to want to stay locked in to see how this Week 16 contest comes to an end!

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-discussion/132005/rams-seahawks-second-half-tnf-nfl

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

L.A. Rams News: It’s a setback, not an elimination

If you are in any way affiliated with the Los Angeles Rams, then I am going to guess you didn’t sleep much last night after what was a heartbreaking, deflating and exhausting loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. The good news is: The Rams are going to the postseason.

The bad news: Their path to the Super Bowl was always going to be hard, and it just got harder.

L.A. could’ve basically coasted the next two weeks with a win, instead now they will likely need to fight for seeding, but we’ll see. Maybe Seattle and the San Francisco 49ers drop their remaining games, but I doubt it, and you don’t want to leave things like that up to chance if you don’t have to.

Well, now the Rams have to.

The Rams have had a great season, but they’ve been up and down. They’ve been up and down week-to-week (though mostly up) but they’ve been up and down in games and it’s been frustrating for the organization. A blown 19-point lead to the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year planted the seed that the team can lose leads and lose games, that fact revealed itself again last night.

I’ll keep it real, I’m gutted, but this is not the same feeling as 2019 when the Rams lost to SF in the second to last game of the year, and were eliminated from the playoffs. This isn’t that at all. The Rams can still go where they want to go, but they are going to have a long week, and so are the fans.

The Rams could’ve given themselves an early Christmas gift, and instead they laid down some coal.

I’ll try not to be all doom and gloom, it’s depressing, but the Rams are still alive and that’s exciting. It’s Friday, the holidays are coming, and the Rams still look like they can beat anyone in the league, they can lose to anyone too.

Thank you if you had the strength to check out Turf Show Times and please feel free to leave a comment!

What is the Rams’ clearest path back to an NFC West title and No. 1 seed? (ramswire)​

“Though it may feel like the sky is falling for the Los Angeles Rams after Thursday night’s devastating loss to the Seattle Seahawks, their season isn’t over. They still have two more regular-season games and are guaranteed one playoff game. It’s just that their playoff game may now be on the road on wild-card weekend instead of at home in the divisional round.

Had the Rams beaten the Seahawks and not blown a 16-point fourth-quarter lead, they would’ve had a 95% chance to win the division and a 90% shot at a first-round bye. Now, those odds have sunk to 24% and 20%, respectively.“

Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua apologizes for doing antisemitic touchdown dance on livestream (nbcnews)​

“During the livestream, Ross guided Nacua, a star wide receiver, through an antisemitic touchdown celebration, which ended with Nacua looking into the camera and rubbing his hands together — a stereotypical gesture indicating greed that Ross’ fans call his “iconic Jewish dance.”

Ross then asked Nacua to perform the celebration during the Rams’ game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, and Nacua promised he would.“

MOVING ON LA Rams coach Sean McVay sends Puka Nacua message after ‘antisemitic’ gesture – ‘handle with class and learn from it’ (the-sun)​

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-news/132112/la-rams-news-seattle-seahawks-nfl

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams on Draft: Players to watch during College Football Playoff

The Los Angeles Rams have clinched a playoff spot, but the NFL draft process is getting started with bowl games already beginning. With over 40 games to be played over the next month, there will be plenty to watch in preparation for the NFL Draft.

This list could change with players opting to stay in school or not to play in the game at all. This is simply a potential list players to keep an eye on throughout the draft process. Most of these players will be from the consensus top-300. This is a good starting point to get us ready for draft season. As a note, this list will get updated with more bowl games over the coming weeks.

College Football Playoff​

Oklahoma vs. Alabama (Dec. 19)​

• QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
• OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
• EDGE L.T. Overton, Alabama
• WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
• LB Deontae Lawson, Alabama
• CB Domani Jackson, Alabama
• iOL Parker Brailsford, Alabama
• S Keon Sabb, Alabama
• DL Tim Keenan III, Alabama
• S Bray Hubbard, Alabama
• iOL Jaeden Roberts, Alabama
• TE Josh Cuevas, Alabama
• RB Jamarion Miller, Alabama
• EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
• WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma
• QB John Mateer, Oklahoma
• DL Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
• RB Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma
• TE Jared Kanak, Oklahoma

Ty Simpson is going to be an interesting one to watch. With a solid College Football Playoff, the Alabama quarterback may decide to declare for the draft. This is expected to be a thin quarterback class at the top. If Simpson garners some first-round buzz, he should declare. The Rams may not need a starting offensive tackle, but Kadyn Proctor is a top name to watch. On the Oklahoma side, Deion Burks is an electric player.

Miami vs. Texas A&M (Dec. 20)​

• EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami
• OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
• EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
• QB Carson Beck, Miami
• CB Keionte Scott, Miami
• WR CJ Daniels, Miami
• DL Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami
• EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
• WR Kevin Concepcion, Texas A&M
• iOL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
• CB Will Lee III, Texas A&M
• LB Taurean York, Texas A&M
• S Dalton Brooks, Texas A&M
• OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M
• OT Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M
• DL Albert Regis, Texas A&M
• RB Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M

Carson Beck is another player that will have a lot to prove during the College Football Playoff. If he can lead Miami to a National Championship, it would prove a lot. Francis Mauigoa is a prototypical left tackle and one of the best tackles in the class. Will Lee III is a day two cornerback with good size and length. That size makes him one of the better man corners in the draft class.

Check out the instincts from RT 61 Francis Mauigoa. He feels the edge slant in to beat the TE & collapse the run play. Instead of climbing to LB 34 he walls off the edge to give the run play a chance. This shows feel for the game & the instincts to make a quality decision quickly pic.twitter.com/nVoUQkQYph

— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) November 21, 2025

Tulane vs. Ole Miss (Dec. 20)​

• DL Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss
• LB Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
• QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

Zxavian Harris is a player I’ll be watching throughout the draft process. He’s an intriguing prospect because of his size and versatility. He can line up inside. Ole Miss will use him as an edge rusher because of his explosiveness off the ball. We’ll see how Ole Miss performs without their head coach.

Zxavian Harris is a very very interesting DL prospect at 6’8, 330lbs pic.twitter.com/NzMXuiRj9b

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) November 13, 2025

James Madison vs. Oregon​

• QB Dante Moore, Oregon
• TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
• EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
• DL A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
• iOL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
• OT Isaiah World, Oregon
• S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
• iOL Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
• DL Bear Alexander, Oregon
• OT Alex Harkey, Oregon
• TE Jamari Johnson, Oregon

The Oregon player that I’ll be watching is Dante Moore. This is one of the two quarterbacks that I would be fine with the Rams drafting in the first-round, even in a trade-up scenario. My comparison for him is CJ Stroud and that’s a quarterback worth building around. He’s only 20 years old and the perfect option to sit behind Stafford. With the Rams running more 13 personnel, Kenyon Sadiq can’t be ruled out as an option for the Rams. However, if the Rams do go tackle, Isaiah World may be one to watch.

Oregon QB Dante Moore has nothing left to prove at the college level. This is an easy top-5 lock if he declares. He'd be turning down at very large amount of guaranteed money, potentially 1.1 guaranteed money, to go back to school. pic.twitter.com/efRkbDhzQG

— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) November 30, 2025

Bye Week Teams: Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas Tech​

Indiana	Ohio State	Georgia	Texas Tech
QB Fernando Mendoza	LB/EDGE Arvell Reese	LB CJ Allen	EDGE David Bailey
WR Elijah Sarratt	S Caleb Downs	DL Christen Miller	EDGE Romello Height
OT Carter Smith	WR Carnell Tate	WR Zachariah Branch	iOL Sheridan Wilson
CB D’angelo Ponds	LB Sonny Styles	CB Daylen Everette	LB Jacob Rodriguez
WR Omar Cooper Jr	DL Kayden McDonald	TE Oscar Delp	DL Lee Hunter
S Amare Ferrell	OT Austin Siereveld	OT Monroe Freeling	TE Terrance Carter
EDGE Mikail Kamara	TE Max Klare	P Brett Thorson	WR Caleb Douglas
LB Aiden Fisher	EDGE Kenyatta Jackson	TE Lawson Luckie
CB Davison Igbinosun	OT Earnest Greene
S Keenan Nelson Jr.	QB Gunner Stockton
EDGE Beau Atkinson
CB Jermaine Matthews
EDGE Caden Curry

Ohio State is probably the most talented team in the country and that’s seen by how many players they have in the consensus top-300. If the Rams are picking inside the top-10, Caleb Downs could be the most ‘sure thing’ at safety. The Rams do a good job developing safeties, but Downs provides exactly what they need if they can’t bring back Quentin Lake. Austin Siereveld is a day two tackle with guard versatility who consistently finds ways to win his matchups. Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is a big-bodied wide receiver that I could see the Rams liking. Lastly, Lee Hunter may end up being one of my favorite players in this class. He’s a nose tackle, but does a lot of underappreciated dirty work.

Caleb Downs, the number 1 overall player in the draft if the league wants a free Hall of Famer, wrong-arming a pulling Guard in the box and making the tackle. pic.twitter.com/p5M3e0JZXN

— Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) December 7, 2025

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...-football-bowl-games-nfl-draft-prospects-rams

 

[Los Angeles Rams]

Rams-Seahawks: 5 plays that cost LA the 1 seed

It hurts. It stings. As it should. The Los Angeles Rams (11-4) did not finish all 60 minutes (and then some) and that is why they are now in 5th place in the NFC. Thursday night was another example of Los Angeles still having yet to prove that they can consistently close out games. Ever since the 2024 Divisional Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams are 1-4 in games where it came down to the final possession.

Wk 3 – Loss @ Philadelphia Eagles

Wk 4 – Win vs Indianapolis Colts

Wk 5 – Loss vs San Francisco 49ers

Wk 12 – Loss @ Carolina Panthers

Wk 16 – Loss @ Seattle Seahawks

In all 5 of those games, the Rams failed to execute a few plays that could have easily changed the outcome in their favor. Last night in Seattle was no different. Here are the five keys plays that handed the division lead to the Seattle Seahawks…

1. Sean McVay elects to kick XP after Puka Nacua’s 1 yard TD, (Rams 29 – Seahawks 14), 13:34 left in the 4th Quarter

This was pointed out a lot by people on X. The Rams casually elected to kick the XP when they were up 15 with one quarter left to play. The strategic move would have been to go for 2 in order to make it a three score game. Had Los Angeles done so and converted, they would have likely increased their chances of winning the game exponentially. Even if LA did not convert, the game would still have been a two score game and requiring Seattle to convert at least one two-point try. This is one of the moments where keeping your foot on the gas could have put away Seattle for good instead of keeping the door open.

2. Rashid Shaheed returns punt 58 yards for touchdown, (Rams 30 – Seahawks 22), 8:03 left in 4th Quarter

After intercepting a Sam Darnold pass to kill a drive, the Los Angeles Rams had a three & out on offense. Ethan Evans punted 43 yards (YIKES) to Shaheed in the middle of the field with no one in a 10 yard radius to make the tackle. The talented speedster took the kick towards the SEA sideline, getting past Derion Kendrick, Jordan Whittington, and company to make the game a one score game after a successful two point try to Cooper Kupp.

RASHID SHAHEED 58-YARD PUNT RETURN TD!

LARvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/BrJpea7SCE

— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2025

3. Inadvertent whistle and questionable call on Seattle 2 point try ties the game, (Rams 30 – Seahawks 30), 6:23 left in the 4th Quarter

It is the most talked about play last night which is unfortunate. For a game to be decided by something like this is an indictment on the NFL and referees. See for yourself…

The luckiest 2-point conversion ever. This is called a backward pass and recovered in the endzone for a successful two-point try. Game is now tied.

What the heck. CRAZY. pic.twitter.com/rQo2wWbErp https://t.co/0nkKykHfmY

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 19, 2025

4. Harrison misses first field goal of the year from 48 yards out, (Rams 30 – Seahawks 30), 2:11 left in the 4th Quarter

Los Angeles had multiple chances to still win the game despite blown coverages and breakdowns. After driving 51 yards in just over a minute, LA attempted a field goal from the SEA 29. The initial kick looked promising but it just kept pushing right.

#Rams kicker Harrison Mevis picked the worst time for his first missed fg of the season
pic.twitter.com/u7yFLJzCI9

— Ron Whitmore (@ronniewhitmore) December 19, 2025

5. Omar Speights blown coverage on final 2 point try gives Seattle win, (Rams 37 – Seahawks 38), 3:13 left in Overtime

The Rams had a good play call on the final 2 point try but Omar Speights came out of his zone coverage to follow the running back into the flat, vacating the middle of the endzone for Eric Saubert. Sam Darnold went through his progression and finally landed on Saubert for the easy conversion.

.@RamsNFL @Seahawks the winning TD to @jaxon_smith1 and the 2 point try to @EricSaubert …Saubert was the 3rd option on the 2 pnt try…and then Mt Ranier erupted. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/SRtC2Xicjg

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 19, 2025

What other plays do you think caused the Rams collapse in the 4th quarter and overtime? Comment below.

Source: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-a...seahawks-5-plays-change-nfc-west-week-16-game