Rams Get Rolled in the 2nd Half after Losing Stafford Again; Saints 27, Rams 20; From LA Rams Up

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Welcome back Rams fans 2 Rams up your favorite LA Rams podcast. And for a little while I thought I was going to have a happy Joyful Rams podcast for you. Didn't turn out that way. It looked like our offense had finally shown up. We get a big play to 2/2. Not well, and then we close the first half of the beautiful drive and we're up 14 to 10. Things are looking good for our Los Angeles Rams keeping our playoff hopes alive, perhaps. And then two things happened in the second-half that really turned things around for us. Our defense basically folds. They continue to play that bend. It don't break soft style, and the Saints just chew us up. Score 17 points in the second-half against us and on the offensive side, the one thing that had been the bright spot. This game Matthew Stafford's play. We don't get to see that in the second-half on the Rams first drive. He is sacked and ruled out for the game. Team and those two things combined that soft style of Rams defense that was not working and having to go to a backup quarterback. Once again, Rams couldn't overcome those two things and they lose 27 to 20 to the New Orleans Saints. I was really happy with the way this game went in the first half. Our defense was playing very well, giving up yards, but not a lot of points. We LED 14 to 10 as I said, Matthew Stafford. He looked like he was on a little bit of a slow start, but that drive at the end of the half he was money. And their hands look like they're taking control of this game plan. The Rams quarterbacks have figured out get rid of the ball in 2.2 seconds. You're going to have one or two guys open. Get rid of it. Take the yardage, huddle up and do it again, and that's what the Saints did in the second-half. Their first two drives. Just chewing up yards against us Rams defense wide open receivers for five 1015 yard gains over and over and over again and they started the gaseous in the run a little bit to Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill. And our defense really had no answer. Outscored 17 to 6. And of course, that second part not having Stafford. Bryson Perkins. I mean, he made a few things happen. Had one good drive, but overall you had to know this was not going to end well. It was going to be on our defense. Our defense. Had to make a play. Get some stops a take away once again no take. Praise wasn't happening for our ramps in the second-half, and Rams are in deep trouble. Falling into three and seven heading to Kansas City now to take on the Chiefs. My prediction? This game was Rams 13 Saints 10. Probably my worst prediction yet. Didn't expect the Rams to score 20. Didn't expect them to give up. 27 to Andy Dalton and the same. It's my fearsome 4 keys to this game. How about a take away? Nope, still haven't had a take away since that Caroline again for some key #2 moved the ball on the ground. Well we did 148 yards rushing Cam Akers and Kyren Williams both contributing. Bryson Perkins and Darrell Henderson. A little bit. You'd think that would be enough to win this game. But not the case for some key #3. How about a chunk play and we got one. We got a chunk play a 62 yard touchdown to 2/2 at well. So two out of three so far, and fearsome king #4 someone step up in the receiving game. And you know, I can't say anyone did it. Jefferson and Robinson all kind of let Stafford and Perkins down at times did not see Bryson Hopkins at all that I know of. Karen Williams. Contributed a little bit, but I can't say any of these receivers really stepped up for our quarterbacks. Robinson had the touchdown reception. Sure, 2/2 at well had the big catch. One catch one target and that was it. Over some team stats here real quick. Yes, the Rams rushed for 148 yards, basically twice their average. Leonard Floyd and Greg Gaines had two sacks of peace. That's usually a good indication things are going well for you. Right? Stafford had a great first half before getting hurt early in the second-half, 11 for 18 for 159 yards and a healthy. 8.8 average per pass plate and the two TD's Perkins comes in five for 10 for 64 yards and 39 yards rush. And by the way, his 23 yard run matched the longest run from scrimmage for the Rams this year. Darrell Henderson did the same a couple weeks ago. Akers finished 14 rushes 61 yards 4.4 average not bad canemaker stepped up Karen Williams 7 rushes for 36 yards and this was not garbage time he was getting action in primetime. Didn't see Darrell Henderson after that first series at well leading receiver. With his one catch for 62 yards, his last catch. A 54 yarder several weeks ago against Dallas did some calculations. His next catch we can expect to be on Christmas Day Week 16 for 58 yards against the Broncos. The way the ramps are using them. I think that's a reasonable estimate. Saints stats. They make Colt McCoy Cooper rash, Jimmy Grappolo and now Andy Dalton looked like the second coming of Joe Montana. 21 for 25 for 260 yards and three TDs, and Andy Dalton smart enough to know, hey, I'm going to take this snap and I'm going to. Get rid of it in 2.2 seconds and my guy or maybe even a second guy are going to be wide. Open, get rid of it. Rinse and repeat and that's what Andy did all day long. Hill and Kamara combined for 94 yards rushing there. Hanstein was really good in the first half, not so much in the second-half, and that might have been partly due to a Shawn Robinson leaving the game and now it just didn't catch that, but he has been a solid force. In the middle of that line, against the run and we were kind of exposed without him. So where does that leave us? The Rams head to KC with a three and seven record missing. Their best offensive player, Cooper Kupp, possibly missing their quarter. Black, Dinah Secky hurt in this game, so we'll probably be playing with our 4th or 5th left tackle of the air. If they roll with Bobby Evans, he's already our 4th after Noteboom Jackson and Doseki, they slide someone else in there. It will be our fifth. And we're looking up at a lot of NFC teams now in that wild card picture, including the Cowboys, giants commanders, Lions, Falcons, Saints and 49ers, and probably leaving someone out. It's a pretty dismal picture for the Rams. Right now. They're not eliminated, but they really need to go to KC and get a win. And how likely is that? Dark days for the Los Angeles Rams. We got more to come. We're going to capture the game for you coming up. Then we're going to have a bunch of more notes on this game, followed by our loop around the league. Hang in there Ram fans. We'll try to make it as fun as possible, 'cause it's certainly not fun watching these games. Well, at least watching the second-half of this game first half was great. Loved it, it was good. If second-half brought back to Earth, the 2022 Los Angeles Rams are not a very good football team right now.  

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Let's capture this game for you. First half Rams get the ball first three and out. Brandon Powell coming up short on a jet sweep on 3rd and One Saints first possession. They go three and out Ramsey, preventing the first down contesting a catch at the line to gain Rams get the ball back at their own 15 Kyren Williams in on 1st down. But it's Akers who picks up the Rams first down. Again, first down by Interteam actually, but nothing after that. At Saints in good field position at their own 41 play action to Jajuan Johnson, their big tight end on 3rd and one for 26 yards to the Rams. 24 Saints get to the Rams 12 wrap tips away at pass in the end zone gains in Floyd back-to-back sacks. And the Saint settle 446 yard field goal to take a 3 did nothing lead Rams next possession on the kick return Powell fakes a toss back and runs it up the middle to the Rams 38 and on the next. Hey, this guy named 2/2 at well never heard of him goes in motion to the left, rips up the left sideline and Stafford hits him in stride for 62 yards. At well now two catches on the air at this point for 54 and 62 yards. But hey, this guy doesn't need touches. Rams up seven to three Saints. Ensuing possession. Pick up one first down, but have to punt, but they punt to the Rams two and this offense backed up the two. It's bad news, right? Third and eight the balls knocked away from Jefferson trying to pick up the first down. The ramps have to punt from their four and the Saints start at. Midfield Kamara picks up 11 on a run. Taysom Hill picks up 13 Alvin Kamara and underneath pass to the Rams 11 and then this Johnson dude. This tight end scores the touchdown with Ramsey and coverage. And the Saints are back up. 6:50 Rams. Get the ball. Back up around 25. Karen Williams picks up a first down Mccutchen and Williams in on a few plays together on this drive. 3rd and five Stafford slides just short of a first down 4th and inches acres. Picks it up, gets 13 on a pitch, left, third and 6th Sky. Ronic picks up five to set up another fourth and one, and Williams has stuffed on a run up the middle and the Saints get the ball back, turned over on downs. At the round 36, but they were throwing out Rams. Get the ball. Back for one last possession. Starting from the round 13. Can't have a lot of hope for this offense at this point, and in this situation, but they come through it. Convert 1/3 and 1 Stafford, hitting Robinson. Ban Jefferson 16 yard reception to the 47. And another one for 20 yards to the Saints 34. Kyren Williams picks up another first down eluding attacker. In the left flat. Nice move. Starting to see why the Rams love this guy. They get into the red zone, uh, hold on Bobby Evans pushes them back, but they hit Higbee at the six and with 22 seconds left Rams call a timeout their last time out. And Stafford hits Allen Robinson for the touchdown. And the Rams are back up 14 to 1011 plays 87 yards, taking 254 off the clock, something we haven't seen from this team in a while. Stafford that off to a really slow start. Well really, the Rams are just trying to run the ball, but he finishes 11 for 17 for 159 yards and two TD's. Akers leading rusher at halftime with 47 yards. The Rams defense holding the Saints to four. .2 yards per play. And 77 total yards passing Rams also outrushed the Saints 65 yards to 51. That's close to what the Rams are averaging per game at this point, so they have to be extremely happy with the running game at this point. Halftime Rams up 14. Intent, but of course we have to talk about the second-half, don't we? The Saints first drive. They make mincemeat of the Rams defense drive down the field. That soft Rams defense doing their thing. Given up small chunks at a time, and since move the ball down to feel pretty easily, and Jarvis Landry scores on a 7 yard pass from Andy Dalton. And Saints had the lead back 17 to 14 Rams ensuing possession Stafford's sack and the Rams have to punt. And Stafford ghost the blue tent. After that series and we will not see him again. But the Rams defense will step up, right? It's a 3 point game. The Rams running game has been working for the most part, but not gonna happen today. The Saints drive down the field once again. This is the drive where the Rams sacked Dalton on that trick play, but they get in position for a third and nine and convert on a path to Joanne Johnson and then. Dalton to Chris Alovi for 52 yards, beating Ramsey. Wrap trying to come over to help. Can't get there in time, so two possessions, 2 touchdowns for the Saints in the second-half, and they're up. 24 to 14 and the Rams are without Matthew Stafford. Brice Perkins comes in Perkins picks up 23 yards on a read option, scrambles for another first down and they get down to the Saints. 36 a holding call backs them up, but Karen Williams picks up a first down on 3rd and 10, but it stalls from there and the Rams settle for the 33 yard field goal. Still in this game. Down 24 to 17. But the Saints offense continues to chew on this soft Rams defense. Their first four plays all go for first downs. That's including a facemask the 5th play goes for 9 yards, they pick up another first down a lava, a reception down to the three yard line. But Leonard. Lloyd picks up a sack. The Saints settle for a field goal, but they're back up by 1027 to 17. We're in the fourth quarter now, and three Saints possessions have resulted in 17 points. Rams next possession ends in a punt. Saints go three and out 336 left in the game. At this point. Perkins Sacked twice. The Rams have no choice but to punt Saints playing it safe. Give it back to the Rams and the Rams manage a little drive. Ending with a 58 yard field goal by Matthew gave the Rams thinking hey, let's just get this field goal and try an onside kick and maybe have time for a Hail Mary, but the onside kick doesn't work so the Rams end up losing 27 to 20, outscored 17 to 6 and the second-half but the Saints. An offense that was able to get a little bit done without Stafford and Cup, but not nearly enough. The way this defense was giving up chunks of yardage to the Saints and the Rams go down. Final score 27 to 20 Saints. The Rams. Fourth straight loss. The first time, McVay has lost four straight in the NFL. Let's dive a little deeper into this. 27 to 20. Lost to the New Orleans Saints? What were my fearsome 4 big plays? Well, big play number one was down three to nothing to the Saints from their own 38 Stafford hits 2/2 at well for a 62 yard TD. Pass Rams go up 7 to 3. Man, I felt good after this play. It was like a soul cleansing the way this Rams offense has been playing to see some electricity in the air. Stafford to two at well, and that's the last time we'll hear tutus name of course. But anyways, at the time I was pretty pumped. Big play #1 there. There's some big play #2 the Saints punt to the Rams 2 yard line. That's a pretty boring big play, isn't it? But but when you back this Rams offense up to their two yard line? Man, it's an impossible situation, really. The way this team has been playing, and sure enough, the Rams go three and out punt it back to the Saints who start from their own 49 and quickly cash in and go up. 6:50 for some big play. #3 on the Rams first possession of the second-half, Stafford. Sacked at the Rams 18 and. And the result of that play may be not such a big deal, other than the fact that Stafford is out for the game banging his head twisting his neck. Goes to the. Blue tent and he's done for the day. So two takeaways from that the the Rams have to punt from deep in their own end, but even worse the guy. That's really carrying this offense on his shoulders. Up to this point, Matthew Stafford done for the day and the Rams have to go to Bryce Perkins. Through some big play #4, the Rams are hanging in there down 17 to 14 and then Andy Dalton hits Chris Olave, streaking past Jalen Ramsey for a 52 yard TD pass. We got our chunk play and then we give one up and the Saints go back up 10 points. Late in the third quarter and gotta have a bad feeling at this point. The Rams offense led by Bryce Perkins at this point down by 10. Yeah, not a good feeling and that bad feeling turned out to be pretty warranted. Rams were able to add 2 field goals after that, but not nearly enough. Some notes from this game. The Rams lost the coin toss again. It seems like last year their. Super Bowl year. I I have to go back and look. I swear they won 15 coin tosses. At least it seemed that way this year. I think they've maybe one once really weird flip statistically on that. Brands need to switch up. Who's ever calling a coin toss. Maybe that's what they need to do. And you know on our punt coverage teams is the first guys assignment to go flying by the returner saw it again today. I think it was Robert Rochelle. We are not giving up big punt returns, but we're also doing a horrible job of having our first guy make a tackle or get a hit on the returner not doing a good job in that respect. As I mentioned, a Shawn Robinson did not play in the second. Half didn't see that called out by. The announcers apparently banged up his knee and he's a big part of our run defense. That was a big loss as we saw our offensive lineman. It just never ends. The starters nissaki Skira, Shelton, Abboushi and Havenstein. How about that? He who saw this coming couple months ago and now in the SEC out, replaced by Bobby Evans, thought maybe a Curry would get his first shot. They must not feel comfortable with him yet. So by my count, that's four left tackles, 4 left guards, 3 Centers, 4 right guards and one right tackle. This year, that's just incredible. The Rams had seven active receivers today. Jefferson Robinson's chronik pal at well. We're counting Jacob Harris as well, and Lance McCutcheon all but Harrison McCutcheon had receptions, so the Rams got guys involved, just didn't pile up a lot of catches. A lot of yardage. And a lot of that had to do with Stafford essentially not playing in the second-half. The Saints, by the way. We're missing. Perhaps her three best defenders, Cameron Jordan, Pete Warner, and Marcus Latimer all missed this game. And I tell ya. How many times this year have we played teams that were just totally depleted on offense or defense and it just didn't seem to matter? I'm going to give out some player props. Who deserves kudos, you know. Matthew Stafford was on fire. His receivers let him down a little bit, but he was throwing very well finding the open guy that last drive of the first half was very, very impressive for a guy that. Knows he's not playing behind a solid offensive line. Matthew Stafford shout out to him. I thought he had a very good half game. Greg Gaines stepped up, had a couple sacks. Not sure how he did in the run game. We'll have to see off to take another look at that and see what his Pro Football focus grades are and that was clearly the best version of Cam Akers we've seen all year. He was getting extra yardage a little bit less of a little bit of powerful. That's the old Cam Akers first time. We've seen that this year, though, and I thought Kyren Williams had a good game. First extensive action and I like what I see. I don't know if he's a 25 carry a game type of guy even 20 carries, but he is definitely a weapon. Rams got to. Figure out how to use. And how about a guy we've learned to take for granted, especially in a season like this? Our kicker? Matthew Gay nailed it from 58 yards. Would have been good from 70. It's just too bad he's not having this kind of year when it really mattered. In games that were on the line, but Matthew Gay. Getting the job done week in and week out and this week. Once again, had a very good game who screwed up? Well, let's start with Jake Gervase that hold man Rams had a chance there on that proper turn to get back into the scam. Do some damage. They need every yard they can get and that basically was a 30 plus yard penalty. Wiped out the return trick play. Powell thrown it to Ramsey man. Not sure what would have happened, don't have a lot of confidence that our offense would have been able to punch it in there, but hey, we'll never know. And once again, Jalen Ramsey did not have a good game in my opinion, basically gave up two touchdowns. The one to the tight end. And the other the deep ball to alovi. Hey, he's probably our second best player right now. Maybe our third batch. However, you want to stack him and he needs to shut those plays down. Maybe Taylor Rapp should have gotten over there earlier on the deep ball, but still. I don't think Ramsey is earning his paycheck right now. Hate to say it. Love watching him play. He's very exciting. Glad to have him on our team, but crunch time he hasn't been getting it done. Two other guys 1A guy that I usually love. Ernest Jones. Zero solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles. Now I'm just going on the stats. Didn't see anything glaring in his play, but statistically, that is not a good showing for one of our inside linebackers. And I think Taylor Wrap Struggle 2 continues to take bad angles and that is so critical at that safety position. I think he hurt us a little bit. Had the one break up in the end zone, but that's about it. Coaches corner McVay should have called a timeout when they got that stop at the Saints 17 yard line with 350 left. Just going to leave it at that. And how do the Rams get a delay there late in the game when they're in hurry up mode? Made no sense to me. And the announcers you know. Jonathan Vilma, I mean I enjoy him. He knows a lot about the game. He's very positive likes to call out the good stuff and I appreciate that. But I almost laughed when he was talking about how much speed the Rams have. Especially with this guy at well, I was like I started to write down, take a note there, Jonathan. The Rams don't even use this guy. They do not get him involved. He's had one catch all year long and then seconds later. Stafford hits at well for the big Bomb and the touchdown. Vilma must have known something I put. I had to draw a line through my note there and rewrite it so shout out to Vilma. On that one I was going to criticize him for that call. Actually, looks like a genius. Be back in a minute with our loop around the league. 

Into our week 11 loop around the league starting with the Thursday night game, Titans 27 Packers 17 Packers still struggling to get it going enough that they'd win this one at home, but Titans were too much for them. Trailer Burks the guy that Titans drafted with an eye on him replacing A.J. Brown. Breakout game for him, 7 catches for 111 yards. Sunday morning Falcons 27 bears 24 Dustin Fields 85 yards rushing 153 yards passing coup kicks. The 53 yard game winner just inside the two-minute warning. Ravens 13 Panthers, three only TD. Lamar Jackson 1 Yard run in the fourth quarter. Commanders 23, Texans tend to commanders suddenly six and five. All four teams in the NFC East, in serious contention, at this point commanders held Dameon Pierce to 8 yards on 10 rushes. Kyle Fuller had an early pick six in Detroit. The Bills 31. Browns 23 they moved that game from Buffalo due to the crazy storm they're having there. The Bills scored on all five of their second-half possessions. Eagles 17 Colts 16. Jeff Saturday almost improved 2 now Jalen Hurts scored the game winner with a late TD run. Patriots 10 jets three man. The Jets just can't figure out the Patriots. Both teams at 6 and four now. The only TD in this game came on an 84 yard punt return by the Patriots with eight seconds left. The Lions win their third straight, 31 to 18 over the Giants. Giants slipped to 7 and three. The Lions are four and six now. Jamaal Williams rushed for three TDs. Alliance rushed for 160 yards. Williams and Justin Jackson, doing most of the damage. Afternoon games the Raiders 22. The Bronco 16. Both teams at three and seven now. This game went to overtime and on the Raiders first possession Derek Carr to Devante Adams for the 35 yard game-winning touchdown and how. About the Cowboys. Vikings were on A7 game-winning streak there at home hosting Dallas. And the Cowboys crushed them 40 to 3. Zeke led the rushing attack. 15 rushes 42 yards. Tony Pollard 6 receptions for 109 yards and two TD. 's That's the largest margin of defeat for the Vikings in 11 years. So if Cowboys improved to 7 and three, the Vikings slipped to 8 and two that number one seed. In the NFC still up for grabs. And the Bengals beat the Steelers 37 to 30 Joe Boro, tying Kurt Warner's record the fewest number of games to get to 10,000 yards. He threw four TD passes and this is without Jamar Chase my do 24 for 39355 yards in the four TDs. Did throw 2 interceptions. Can he pick up the rookie quarterback for the Steelers? 25 for 42 for 265 yards so he was chucking it all day long. Joe Mixon left that game with a concussion. And in the Sunday night game, the Chiefs pull it out 30 to 27 over the Chargers at Sofi Travis Kelce scores three times, including the game winner with 31 seconds left. Guaranteed Pure entertainment when these two teams play and they did it again and the charger is coming up. The short end once more. That's going to do it for this episode. We hope you enjoyed it. Remember, you can reach us at Rams up podcast@gmail.com. Visitourwebsite@ramsup.com to find links to all of our episodes, as well as transcriptions. Don't forget butter YouTube. Channel our handle is at La Rams up.com 'til. Next time horns up stay safe. Have fun. 

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