Official Post Game Thread- Rams beat the Pats

[50-yard-line]

Couple of observations:

1. Not to pile on, but in one throw, Newton had more yards than he had last week! Unfortunately, those yards went the other way.

2. Were it not for that throw, omg, the score would have been 10-6 or 10-10, which is amazing, given how badly they had been outplayed to that point.

3. Down 17-3, the Patriots have zero chance. Their offense is terrible and one dimensional (mark that as my "no ****, Sherlock" comment)..

4. When the Pats were 3rd, and 4th, and goal, the Rams didn't even try to defend a pass. Kind of amazing after watching Harry high point Chris Harris in the end zone last week that they never even considered that option. Why draft a guy known for winning contested catches if you're not even going to throw them...when you have AJ Brown and Deebo Samuel (and others) still on the board? That's not a knock on Harry, but on the disconnect between drafting a certain player vs. what you want to do.

5. There are players who are valuable off the bench, but who are not NFL starters. Rams DL ate one of those last night.

6. The Rams have put together a really strong team there. I don't know who beats them in the NFC unless Goff has a sucky Goff game. Maybe Green Bay?

7. While I like some of the younger Pats a lot, I think they might be on their second contract before this team becomes a true challenger again. I'm beginning to wonder where to even begin, after QB, with this team.

 

[Santi]

ngl that throw for the pick 6 was atrocious, I still think Cam is still our best option but dear god learn when to take the sack.

Completely different game if he takes that hit and we just take the FG.

 

[sb1]

 

[Santi]

Even in our darker days we're tying records

 

[sb1]

I think my point yesterday about the defense was validated.

Just like the Niners game. Another huge game by a meh RB.

 

[Kontradiction]

I think my point yesterday about the defense was validated.

Just like the Niners game. Another huge game by a meh RB.

Just because you may not watch college ball and aren’t familiar with him doesn’t mean Akers is a meh RB. He was productive behind one of the worst college OLs I’ve ever seen at FSU and will be a stud in this offense. He’s just a rookie right now. Last night was likely a preview of what he will do for them.

 

[sb1]

Just because you may not watch college ball and aren’t familiar with him doesn’t mean Akers is a meh RB. He was productive behind one of the worst college OLs I’ve ever seen at FSU and will be a stud in this offense. He’s just a rookie right now. Last night was likely a preview of what he will do for them.

Did watch a bit of him before but not as much as I’m sure you have. I’ll take your word for it.

 

[Triumph]

When you perform an autopsy on the deceased the cause of death leans towards the killer having help from the victim.

1. John Simons neutral zone infraction was a kick in gonads keeping the Rams first drive alive.
2. NE only had 6 total drives in the first 30 minutes. 2 were 3 and out punt drives. 1 drive ended up as a pick 6. 1 ended on a 4th down try that failed. 1 scored 3 on a FG and the last drive ran out of clock.
3. We can play this game all day, but take out the Cam INT for 7 points and kick the other FG and you have a Rams 10 - NE 6 game at the half.
4. BB is the GOAT but perhaps the FG would have been best in lieu of going on 4th @ 17 - 0.
a You take away the satisfaction of the Rams pitching a shut out and sort of crack the egg.
b Now its 17 - 6 heading into the half. Not great but still manageable with a TD, Conversion and FG to get back to even.
c At 17 - 3 youre down 2 TDs. Passing to get back in the game is paramount. Too bad Cam scoring a passing TD is like a goal in a soccer game. You m ight not see one at all and if you do, go nuts yelling GOAL.
5. 2nd half amounted to 6 drives, 3 - 3 and out punts, 1 punts on stalled drives, 2 drives ended on downs.
6. The NE defense had to have been worn out.

PS: The Cam lateral was another shot in the foot. Smart of Harris to keep after the ball.

 

[luuked]

****ty game on many levels.

The defense kept us hanging in there for a while but just couldn't find a consistent recipe to counter the Rams' run game. They dominated the LOS in those 2-3 long drives with their heavy formations. Tip of the hat to McVay and his coaching to pull out a 2 TE package they have rarely shown this season on a short week and have it work that efficiently.

The offense was able to sustain longer drives but if you get into the redzone four times and end up with 4 points there is not much to feel good about. The pick 6 was a though situation and Harris really should have been in place for it but it just goes to show the dangers of screens with so many bodies around. Either way you can't throw that ball blindly because it is just not worth the risk.

That being said the OL this year might be as inconsistent as it was last year when it comes to pass protection. Whether that is Eluemunor who week after week looks awful as a backup for Wynn, multiple blitz pickup issues by Harris or Owenwu having his worst game of the year. As good as the unit has been in the run game -- especially when pulling guards -- they have really not held up well in pass protection.

I feel like it was a pretty poor game for Harris especially.. with missed blocks, not being decisive enough on that screen that was picked and a couple of additional pass pro snaps where he seemingly forgot to chip the DE on the way out. One of those resulted in a Donald sack because Eluemenor was put on skates without help.

Before the game I was saying they need to continue their improvement against the run, a clean game in blitz pickups and win the turnover battle to win this game. Well they did none of it and deservedly lost.

Overall this team feels like the other side of the coin that was the 2013 team. Back then we were able to pull out some crazy wins and end the season with a 12-4 record that could have as easily been 8-8. This year we were not able to pull out those last minute wins and will most probably end the season around 8-8. Football is a game of inches and if your margin for error is so razor thin you gotta take advantage of the chances you get.


I wouldn't be surprised if Cam keeps his starting job but might get pulled way earlier (i.e. halftime) if things look similarly slow against the Dolphins and then stays benched for the rest of the year.

The shot at the playoffs is essentially gone and at this point you might as well gain some more information about Stidham and what he can do with a full week of prep. Nothing Cam will or won't do in the last 3 games will change anything about how they will approach him and a possible extension (or lack thereof) in the offseason. They know what he brings to the team in terms of leadership, on the field and also what's missing.

The silver lining to the entire season has been that rookies at various positions on defense have gotten way more reps and experience than they usually would which in some cases has already paid dividend (Uche and Dugger look good). It is too bad that Keene and Asiasi had injuries cut their season short on offense. But even a redshirt year can give some pay off as we have seen with Harris.

 

[sb1]

I really hope Harris is ok.

 

[Patsgofor4]

We almost saw the first Asiasi catch on the 4th down pass from Stidham, but the CB got away with a sly DPI. You could see Asiasi’s body twist real time and that slowed his route enough to allow the DB to be in position to get his hand on Stidham pass, which was on target.


Of course, that dolt Aikman missed the jersey grab.

 

[Triumph]

Stidham may have been trying to draw a PI call.

He looks more lasered in after sitting on the bench post KC.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

ngl that throw for the pick 6 was atrocious, I still think Cam is still our best option but dear god learn when to take the sack.

Completely different game if he takes that hit and we just take the FG.

Or throw it at the receiver's feet on purpose so you do not have to take the sack. Is that Cam's longest pass completion of the year?

 

[amfootball]

Looks like we finish 7-9. Just about the worst record to have when you want to reload in the draft and need QB as your primary position of need.

 

[lancerman]

No bad news imo. BB has done an unbelievable job this season. Unfortunately the Cam experiment isn't working out. Imagine if this team had an average QB.

Hopefully next season will include training camps and a pre-season because the more time BB has to coach these players the better.

I'm excited for next season but still haven't given up hope on this year.

If this team had an average QB we’d still have WR’s that made people think Brady was done last year, an offensive line that needs everything perfect to play well because they lack so much depth, and a front seven that could make me look like Walter Payton.

We have a good secondary.

 

[lancerman]

4-12 > 8-8

Said this for a year. The worst case scenario is hovering around .500. If you do better you can likely get a playoff chance if you do worse you can likely find a way to get a QB. Either one is preferable to get neither.

When your team is 2-5 you really have to think about this question: “are we likely to win out at this point or is it time to think about next year”.

 

[Ring 6]

Name them.

Look at the rosters.

 

[Sfpat]

I've been a give Cam the benefit of the doubt guy, mainly because I haven't been able to watch much of the Pats this year. the last Pats game I saw was the Seattle game and he looked pretty good in that one. But after last night I have to agree, it's time to move on. Cam was lost out there.

 

[sb1]

Looks like we finish 7-9. Just about the worst record to have when you want to reload in the draft and need QB as your primary position of need.

I think we'll beat Miami and the Jets to get us to 8-8, one win less than I predicted at the beginning of the year.

Either way the QB answer doesn't necessarily have to be at the top of the draft. Having a QB who can pass the ball would be worth +2 wins this year in the standings.

 

[102 Pat]

Is this was the Colts they would probably raise a banner!

Hope is a beautiful thing (especially in 2020) but when it fails it's a such a punch to the soul. I hoped at the start of the season for the playoffs and that goal now the equivalent of someone playing the Cliffhanger game on the Price is Right and saying a hairdryer is $200

That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing how the last 3 games play out. I'd love for them to affect the Bills or Dolphins playoff position in some possibility.

I typically enjoy the Aikman and Buck duo but they were borderline unbearable last night, it seemed like every second line was about this being a revenge game for SB 53...