I couldn’t resist. C’mon… he does look like Santa. Alright, onto the pre-game write-up…Seattle would like to hold onto their lead in the NFC West as they have a one-game lead over the Arizona Cardinals in a division that was wide open heading into the season. Right now, the Rams, who started 0-8, have won two in a row and are playing better football.
The Seahawks are going against conventional wisdom and historical practices in an attempt to win any way possible. Seattle has gone to a runningback by committee, put QB Matt Hasselbeck in the shotgun and have passed first to set up the run.
The Rams are slowly getting some of their injured players back on the field and are refusing to go down without a fight. The running game with Steven Jackson and the passing with QB Marc Bulger are finally looking like everyone thought they would at the beginning of the season. Defensive coach Jim Haslett has his unit playing extremely tight football
As is the case everytime the Rams and Seahawks play, this game will be a difficult task for both involved. The team that does the better job of minimizing mistakes and protects the ball better, will win this game. Both teams are evenly matched on offense and their defenses are strikingly similar.
Rams Keys For Success
1. Run the ball with Steven Jackson. Having Jackson healthy and running the ball changes the Rams’ offense. He is running like a back who’s making up for the missed time while injured. Teams will have to show that they can stop Jackson, or their defense will be on the field all day and the Rams will control the clock. A successful running game also will set up the play-action pass and give QB Marc Bulger more time to throw.
Jackson will pound the middle of the Seahawks’ defense and keep the linebackers and a safety up in the box to give Bulger bigger holes in the passing lanes. The sooner Jackson gets going, the more stress he puts on a defense. The Rams will use Jackson on his straight ahead runs, swing passes and screens, so he can build momentum and allow the offense to dictate the game to the Seahawks.
2. Pressure QB Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck has been asked to carry the Seahawks’ offense until Shaun Alexander can come back and contribute. He will be asked to read the defense and make any necessary adjustments at the line of scrimmage. The Seahawks know that they must pass first and run second. The passing game will consist of short passes to the receivers and backs — around 40-45 times a game.
The Rams will bring pressure and force Hasselbeck to move around and avoid the rush. The Rams have a fast defense, and they bring blitz packages on running and passing plays. The Seahawks have to be successful with quick pass patterns and hot reads for Hasselbeck on every play.
3. Use Multiple Receiver Sets. The Seahawks know that the Rams will run Jackson. The Rams need to come out in their four-receiver set and force the Seahawks to play extra cover corners. Their four-receiver set with one running back allows them to run or pass and keeps some of the better run stoppers off the field. This will give Bulger better matchups at the line of scrimmage.
PREDICTION: The Seahawks offense gift-wraps a victory as the Rams defense takes advantage of 1 tipped ball for an interception to give the Rams great field position and the go ahead score late in the game.
The Rams started a dismal 0-8, their worst season-opening losing streak ever. However, consecutive wins against the Saints and 49ers jump-started the team, which, to the shock of the football world, rattles off 8 straight victories to finish 8-8 and win the awful NFC West as the Seahawks falter down the stretch. The suddenly unstoppable offense plows its way through the early playoff rounds, winning games with the greatest of ease. They head into Super Bowl XLII in Arizona as 14-point underdogs to the New England Cheatriots, but proceed to dismantle the Pats 44-7, a perfect clobbering which culminates in a poignant scene in which Tom Brady and Bill Belichick break down and beg a fiery-eyed Steven Jackson for mercy, who merely grins as he hands the football to a terrified Patriot linebacker, picks him up, carries him into the end zone, then takes the ball back for Jackson’s fourth touchdown of the game.
That may be a little far-fetched, but hey, the day after Thanksgiving officially marks the beginning of Christmas season, and making dreams come true is what Christmas is all about, right?
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will be back tomorrow with a preview of the Rams-Seahawks matchup on Sunday.
They are going to do it! The Rams will go 8-8 and MAKE the playoffs! BAM!! How do you like that for a bold prediction. Bulger is Back! Jackson is Back! The receivers are healthy, enough. The division is weak. Heck, the conference is weak. Through 11 weeks (10 games), not many teams have separated themselves from the rest of the NFC. Sure, it appears Green Bay and Dallas are off on their own, but then there is Tampa and Seattle at 6-4 leading their divisions. the current wildcard spots go to New York and Detroit. After them, no team in the NFC is over .500. If the Rams role off a few wins…. maybe they have a chance.
If the defense and O-line step it up, good things will happen. That is asking a lot. I still believe in all honest 7 wins is reasonable; Seattle, Arizona, Atlanta and one more somewhere. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help anything but morals. Winning 6 or 7 games only hurts their draft position next year. We need a good draft pick.
The win this past weekend against the division rival 49ers, marked the franchise’s 500th win. A nice feet, but doesn’t mean much for this season.
Here is a look at the injury report of the Rams, this may explain some of the losses IR: Jerome Carter, depth at safety and special teams Adam Goldberg, offensive line Richie Incognito, offensive line Leonard Little, arguably the best player on the defense Orlando Pace, arguably the best player on the team Mark Setterstrom, offensive line Raonall Smith, depth at LB and special teams Aaron Walker, emerging TE That is just IR, Bulger has missed games. Jackson has missed games. Bruce, Hall, Bennett have been hurt while Holt hasn’t been 100% since his surgury. Many more injuries that just kill everything they had going for them. Many people picked them to go to the Super Bowl before the season.
The Rams get to face a Shaun Alexanderless Seattle Seahawks this week. Hasselbeck may not play also. That just means the Rams would have to contain the everathletic Seneca Wallace. They can get the job done. Don’t be deceived by the 2-8 record, they are playing decent football now.
Head Coach Scott Linehan reacts to a play against the New Orleans Saints. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
When the Rams knock off the 49ers on Sunday in San Francisco, they will have posted back-to-back victories. “That’s a winning streak,” coach Scott Linehan declared Friday.
After a slight pause, he added, “When you don’t have any, one in a row is a winning streak.”
After slogging through his team’s 0-8 start, Linehan can be excused for expanding the definition a bit. Just as his players can be pardoned for lingering in the aftermath of the 37-29 triumph at New Orleans.
“You try to stay the same, no matter if you win or lose,” tackle Alex Barron said. “But that’s hard to do after you’ve gone 0-and-whatever and then you win a game. It’s going to give you a little kick.”
The result was a more upbeat mood this week at Rams Park. “Just winning in itself changes the entire atmosphere,” Isaac Bruce said.
Added fellow wide receiver Torry Holt: “Winning always inspires you, gives you a little more bounce. You’re just a little bit more chipper, a little bit more excited about coming to work.” Still, Linehan emphasized that no one is organizing a celebratory parade just yet.
“The perspective is there; we understand where we are and how we got here,” he said. “If we can find a way to flip the result of the second half (of the season) from the first half, it’s going to continue to improve the atmosphere around here.”
Was there anything more exciting during the 1999 season than watching the Rams' grocery-clerk led offense? The Rams scored 526 points during their 13-3 regular season, an average of almost 33 points per game. Kurt Warner threw 41 TD passes on his way to a 109.2 QB rating, and Marshall Faulk ran for 1,381 yards (an average of 5.5 yards per carry) and caught 87 passes for another thousand yards?
Kurt Warner led a Rams offense that averaged nearly 33 points a game in 1999.
The defense wasn't too shabby, either, allowing only 15 points per game, fourth in the NFL. In the playoffs, the Rams proved they could win high-scoring ballgames (they beat the Vikings 49-37 in the divisional playoff), low-scoring ballgames (they beat the Bucs 11-6 for the NFC title), and a rare the-hell-with-the-dip Super Bowl over the Titans 23-16.
“The Tackle”
On the final play of the game, St. Louis linebacker Mike Jones tackled Tennessee wide receiver Kevin Dyson one-yard short of the goal line to prevent a game-tying touchdown. This play later became known as simply "The Tackle."
Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, who completed 24 out of 45 passes for 414 yards and 2 touchdowns, was named the Super Bowl MVP. His 414 passing yards and 45 pass attempts without an interception were both Super Bowl records.
Faulk was the consummate professional. After a rough end to his career in Indianapolis (including a threat of a contract hold out due to “misunderstandings” with Colts brass), Faulk arrived in St. Louis and promptly became the catalyst for the “Greatest Show on Turf.” Faulk holds the record for yards from scrimmage in a season and set the record for touchdowns in a season (since eclipsed). In what may have been the best three consecutive seasons in NFL history (he totaled 4,122 rushing yards in a pass-happy offense, 59 touchdowns, 251 receptions and 2,643 receiving yards in that span of 44 games), Faulk was named MVP once and NFL Offensive Player of the Year three times. (As an aside, Faulk also won his team MVP award the two years that Kurt Warner won the league MVP.) For his career, Faulk collected 12,279 rushing yards (9th all-time), 767 receptions (16th all-time, 84 behind the top 10, all 10 being receivers), 6,875 receiving yards (tops among backs) and 136 touchdowns (4th all-time). Faulk also pops up on more obscure record lists, such as most consecutive games with a reception to start a career (146).
The numbers don’t speak to the man, though. Faulk was the prototype for the do-everything back all the rage in the NFL today - Faulk was lining up as a slot receiver before Reggie Bush was even in high school. And Faulk was one of the classiest players in the league, donating $500,000 to area children’s charities (and $20,000 for every touchdown to his own foundation) and displaying a work ethic rarely seen in athletes of his stature.
Even as he was ravaged by injuries, Faulk remained a contributor to his team’s success, whether playing on the field or playing as one of football’s best role models. After his reconstructive knee surgery, Faulk was asked by an NBC Sunday Night Football analyst if he was “retired or not.” Faulk replied that he was still a Ram and would be a Ram for the rest of his life. You just can’t teach an attitude like that.
If there’s still any doubt about Faulk’s merits, I’d like to point to one game in particular: Super Bowl XXXIV. Jeff Fischer and the Tennessee Titans, intent on limiting Faulk’s touches, held him to just 17 rushing yards. No matter: Faulk busted out for 90 receiving yards on only 5 catches and was one of the major reasons the Rams prevailed in one of the best Super Bowls in recent memory.
Sir Isaac Isidore Bruce (born November 10, 1972 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2nd round (33rd overall) in the 1994 NFL Draft. He went to Memphis State. He is one of the few players to achieve the goal of twelve thousand (12000) yards receiving. He is known for his fast first step, ability to change direction, and is considered the most precise route runner in the league. Bruce is one of the most respected receivers in the history of the NFL. He's nicknamed "The Reverend" because he wishes to become one after he finishes his football career. Married in 2006. He is the last "LA Ram" on the roster, a connection to the franchise when it was formerly in Los Angeles, California.
Bruce and teammate Torry Holt became only the second WR duo from the same team to each gain over 1400 yards in the same season for the St Louis Rams (see Herman Moore and Brett Perriman). On October 1, 2006, Isaac Bruce moved past Larry Centers to become 9th in all-time receptions with 833 catches. Bruce recorded one of his best seasons in recent past in 2006 eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark for the 10th time in his career.
2006 - Achieved 13,376 receiving yards and 887 receptions, putting him at 7th place for all-time wide receiver receptions and 7th for total yardage.
Caught Kurt Warner's 77 yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXIV to give the Rams a 23-16 lead, which turned out to be the game winner.
When he makes a big play, it is custom for Rams fans to yell "Bruuuuuuce". To the uninitiated fan, it may sound like he is being booed.
Holt was the sixth overall draft pick in the 1999 NFL draft and the first selection made by the St. Louis Rams. In his rookie season he posted 53 receptions, 788 total yards and six touchdowns on the way to the Super Bowl XXXIV championship. Since then Holt has consistently reached at least 1,300 yards every season through 2005. Holt's streak was broken in 2006, due to injuries to himself and other teammates that hindered the offense for parts of the year.
On October 15th, 2006, Holt became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards, doing so in the sixth game of his eighth season.
The Super Bowl is really only half about the game. The other half is about seeing how much food and booze you can shove down your #### before midnight rolls around, and having a free pass to show up to work hung-over the next day. Many folks agonize over throwing or attending the perfect party, but agony is futile because, really, all Super Bowl Parties feature the same things: lots of nachos, lots of beer and the following infuriating cast of characters.
The “Tomorrow Should Definitely Be a National Holiday” Guy
In this tool's view, a day when everyone's hung-over and unproductive would fit perfectly on the federal holiday ledger between the day in mid-January commemorating civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the day in mid-February commemorating Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
The Guy Who's in It for the Commercials
He won't pay attention to the game, but he'll shoot to the TV like a laser when the commercials come on. He'll spend the first few minutes after each commercial break—important plays or not—analyzing what everyone else just saw, routinely mentioning that “that last ad was pretty good, but not even close to the George Costanza Rold Gold ad in ‘98 or the P-Diddy Pepsi truck ad in ‘04.” This guy also probably loved the Bud Bowl and will get really quiet and attentive during the ads for E.D. drugs.
The Guy Who Hasn't Paid Attention to the NFL in a Decade
He won't be able to get over the fact that the 49ers aren't in it this year and may ask if Reggie White or Walter Payton still play football. If you're bored, it's fun to make football references to him all night so he feels like he is some sort of eunuch-like non-man.
The Guy Who's in a Squares Pool at Work
In a squares pool, everyone throws in a buck or two, and a couple people walk away with an extra 50 bucks. It's a friendly way to keep everyone involved, but there will always be one overly intense guy who shows up to your party with his own squares chart from work, where he bought a $250 square and—as he'll be certain to remind you—could win a ton of money if the AFC team manages a field goal and a safety, and the NFC squad gets a touchdown and a two-point conversion. You'll be able to spot him as the one furiously shouting, “Why the hell didn‘t they go for two?” when the AFC squad scores a TD to go up 14-3.
The Football Pro Guy
Not necessarily a fan of either team, the Football Pro will spend the whole party watching the game on one of the smaller TVs on the fringe, “because I don't want to miss a play and I can't hear the announcers in that other room.” He's likely to be a meatier fellow, probably will spend halftime reminiscing about high school football and will constantly use phrases like “fade hook route” and “flanker-back.” He'll also let is slip at some point that he would have made it to the pros if not for an unfortunate knee injury in high school. Which may be true. Although the fact that he's 5-foot-8 with short, stubby sausage fingers probably hurt his chances too.
Obnoxious Girl Who Cheers Way too Hard
Moderately attractive but not actually hot, she'll be decked out in full regalia of whichever team the guy she wants to #### likes. She'll celebrate a relatively innocuous first quarter field goal like it's just clinched the win, and will instantly show a disturbing amount of concern if a player on her adopted team is slow getting up. It'll be clear that she was molested by her father during NFL games as a child, and should be pitied, not reviled.
The “Is it Cool If I Smoke in Here?” Guy
Even though people will be politely smoking in the backyard, at least one guy will pop up during a semi-important moment in the game and ask, “I don't want to miss this drive—is it cool if I smoke in here?” The answer, as always, is an awkward “I guess,” although it's definitely not cool at all.
The "Line Just Moved Half-Point” Guy
Likely to befriend the Guy Who's in a Squares Pool at Work, this guy will bet on everything and let everyone know it. He'll lose $150 on the opening coin toss, but hit nice on his 6:1 wager that a tight end will produce the first score. He'll be really concerned that the third-quarter line moved a half-point during halftime, but he'll look real good on the over, so he won't mind laying that extra half-point. He also threw down $10 bucks at 850,000:1 that a hurricane would hit Pro Player Stadium during the game…you know, just for the hell of it.
The Little Kid
He's there because his parents were too cheap to hire a babysitter for the night. And while they brought their kid, they probably forgot to bring the chips and beer they signed up for. So while it's not really the kid's fault that he is there to keep sticking his hand in the pretzels after picking his nose, if he does it again he's getting cracked upside the head with a beer bottle.
The "Told You So” Guy
This guy will spend the entire game informing everyone that everything that he predicted would come to pass has happened. Did he? Probably not. But who knows – no one has listened to the #### that constantly flows from this guy's mouth in years.
The “Favored Team Apparel Guy”
You can spot this guy immediately upon entering the party – he's decked out in logoed apparel of the team favored to win the game. The stuff is so new it looks like he may have picked it up at the mall on the way over to the party. The tags may even still be attached. You can attempt to call the guy out on his duplicity: “Hey, weren't you a Steelers fan last year and a Patriots fan the year before that?” But he'll just mumble something about having an aunt who lives in his new favorite team's city which is why he's rooted for them since he was a kid. It's all ####, of course, but at least the guy isn't completely lacking in loyalty. Which, he'll be sure to tell you, is why he still lives with his parents.
The "Fantasy Football Guy”
Fantasy Football Guy spends the entire game pointing out to all who would hear which players were on his fantasy football team this year and in years past. “Oh, man. Great touchdown by Joseph Addai there. I wish he would have done that more for my fantasy team this year.” Hey, buddy, if you like fantasies so much, here's one for you: we all hope you're killed by a drunk driver on the way home tonight.
The Seven Dwarfs were marching through the forest one day they fell in a deep, dark ravine. Snow White, who was following along, peered over the edge of the steep chasm and called out to the fallen dwarfs. From the depths of the dark hole a voice returned, "The Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl contenders."
Snow White thought to herself, "Thank God... at least Dopey's survived!"
2. It's a Wonder
Why do SanDiego Chargers players keep their Wonderlic results on their dash boards?
So they can park in the handicap spaces.
3. Kissin' Cousins
What do you get when you put the girlfriends of a dozen Tennessee Titans fans in one room?
A full set of teeth!
4. Grounded
Why did the NY Jets players miss their flight for the big game?
They were stuck on a broken escalator!
5. Hit and Run
If you see a Oakland Raiders fan on a bike, why should you not swerve to hit him?
It could be your bike.
6. A Day at the Beach
What do you get if you see a New England Patriots fan buried up to his neck in sand?
More sand!
7. No Way Out
You're trapped in a room with an angry grizzly bear, a hungry Lion, and a fan of Denver Broncos. You have a gun with two bullets. What should you do?
Shoot the Bronco’s fan… twice.
8. On the Bright Side
What do you call a Buffalo Bill’s fan with half a brain?
Gifted!
9. Playing Possum
Why the Arizona Cardinals are like a possum?
Because they play dead at home and get killed on the road.
10. Licking the Problem
What did the average Sanfransico 49er player get on his Wonderlic test?
Drool!
I hope everyone enjoyed the jokes. Feel free to add ones that you think are funny!
After Adam Schein read my post NFC WEST is the best division in the NFC from top to bottom. Written Jun 19 under the name TOMBRADYISSTILL####. He recently took it a step farther and claimed they were the best division in the NFL. I agree along with 38% of Fox Sports readers thats more than twice the percentage of any other division the closeset being 18% for the The NFC EAST.
I hope Adam continues to read my blogs and predicts the ST. Louis Rams going to the Superbowl before the season starts.
Not even 24 hours after being cut by the Chicago Bears DT Tank Johnson has begun prelimanary disscussions with the STL. Rams. Rams defensive end Leonard Little said he would love the chance to play with Tank and would put him under his wing.
After painstaking analystist this is the new and improved predictions for the NFC WEST.
St. Louis Rams (Last Year: 8-8)
Veteran Additions: WR Drew Bennett, TE Randy McMichael, DE James Hall, MLB Chris Draft, CB Lenny Walls, CB Mike Rumph, S Todd Johnson, KR Dante Hall. Draft Picks: FB Brian Leonard, WR Derek Stanley, OT Ken Shackleford, C Dustin Fry, DE Adam Carriker, DE Clifton Ryan, DT Keith Jackson, CB Jonathan Wade. Major Subtractions: RB Stephen Davis, RB Tony Fisher, FB Paul Smith (DEN), WR Kevin Curtis (PHI), WR Shaun McDonald (DET), G Adam Timmerman, C Larry Turner, DE Brandon Green (SEA), DT Jimmy Kennedy (DEN), DT Jason Fisk, OLB Dexter Coakley, MLB Isaiah Kacyvenski, LB Jamel Brooks, CB Travis Fisher (DET), CB Jerametrius Butler (WAS), S Dwaine Carpenter, P Matt Turk, KR Willie Ponder.
Offense This Year: When Scott Linehan took over the head-coaching job in St. Louis and the Rams failed to score more than 20 points in each of their first three games of the 2006 season, I was concerned that the "Greatest Show on Turf" that we've all loved to watch over the past half decade had disappeared and never would be seen again. Well, I was relieved to notice that St. Louis was able to score 24.6 points per game the rest of the campaign - which was only .4 less than last year's average when Marc Bulger was in the lineup.
Speaking of Bulger, I was shocked to see that he started all 16 games in a season for the first time in his career. That's a pretty impressive feat, considering he was sacked 49 times. If Bulger's healthy, he's one of the best and most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL. What he, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce have done over the years is amazing, especially when you take into account how atrocious the offensive line has been.
I already mentioned Bulger's 2006 sack total. Rams quarterbacks have been taken down 46 times in 2005; 50 times in 2004; 43 times in 2003; and 46 times in 2002. I thought Linehan would decrease that total, though to be fair, it should be noted that left tackle Orlando Pace missed eight games. The right side of the front looks better, as guard Richie Incognito and tackle Alex Barron started every single contest last season. However, left guard Mark Setterstrom, taken in the seventh round of the 2006 Draft, and 37-year-old center Andy McCollum will both be taking care of buisness.
McCollum isn't the only one whose age Rams fans need to be concerned about. Bruce turns 35 in November, which hurts because receivers Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald defected for other teams via the free-agent market. Drew Bennett was signed, and will be a effective a replacement. Newly acquired tight end Randy McMichael should fit well into the offense, but the man who makes the entire unit work is running back Steven Jackson. Jackson, free of Mike Martz's pass-happy scoring attack, rumbled for 1,528 rushing yards, 806 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most potent weapons in the NFL. Jackson could be in for better numbers if Pace stays healthy.
The Stl. Rams have the best QB, RB, & WR combination in the NFC.
Last year Mark Bulger threw for 4,301 yds. 117 less than Drew Brees the league leader. RB Steven Jackson ran for 1528 yds thats 471 yds more than Deuce McAllister. Steven Jackson also had 806 yds recieving thats 608 more yds than Deuce. Torry Holt had a down year and amassed 1188 yds 150 more yds than rookie sensation Marqus Colston.
New Orleans had one good year.Stl. has been consistantly putting up big numbers for years.
With WR'S Isaac Bruce ,Dane Looker,and the addittion of Drew Bennett TE Randy McMichael RB Travis Minor ,Brian Leonard and Dante Hall returning punts.
The STL. Rams will have from top to bottom the most dangerous offense in the NFC.
Little theme music to set the mood:
Kurt Warner led a Rams offense that averaged nearly 33 points a game in 1999. 
1. A Voice in the Darkness 
