y era. Adding Pro Bowl talent to both sides of the ball. Starting the season 8-0 and bouncing back from a single loss to improve to 11-1. The game of the year against the Kansas City Chiefs that could get some kind of ESPN’s 30 for 30 treatment. The Los Angeles Rams went into their Week 12 bye as the predestined Super Bowl champions after an offseason of astronomical expectations.*cue the whistling of a bomb dropping to Earth*The Rams sleep-walked their way to a win against a punchless Detroit Lions team. The Rams managed 30 points in that contest Cooper Kupp Jersey , but 17 were scored off drives starting in Lions territory probably because the new stationary kickoff rules have inadvertently torpedoed onside kick attempts. Thanks, hands team.But if that game was a head-scratcher, I can’t imagine what’s left of your scalp after these last two games. The Rams, the predetermined Super Bowl winners with their high-octane offense, charismatic head coach, and a surging defensive unit led by a tackle that was endangering Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record, wet the bed on a national stage. The Rams were averaging 34 points a game when they went to Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears...and scored six points. Next up, the Philadelphia Eagles who are likely not making the playoffs. Their starting running back tore his ACL. Their starting quarterback broke his back. And their secondary is so beat up that I could show up to their practice and they’d hand me a jersey number in the 20’s and tell me I’m their new nickel corner. And despite all of that, America was treated to a second consecutive showing of the predetermined Super Bowl champs laying an egg. The Rams did manage to make it close towards the end, benefiting from soft coverage from a naturally soft secondary. But I’m personally a lot more alarmed by the 17-point hole they dug vs. encouraged by their ability to almost crawl back from it.Even when it was tied at 13 at halftime Todd Gurley II Jersey , it felt like the Rams were lucky it was that close. But these are the Rams. They’re supposed to win it all this year. And they’re one of the best teams in the league at halftime adjustments. Up until this game, the Rams had led the league in 3rd quarter scoring offense. They were outscored by the Eagles, 17-0. For those keeping score at home, the Rams have managed three points in 3rd quarters since their bye. Atotal of three points. Like, they kicked a field goal against the Lions and have been shut out of the last two...Now come the narratives. And as someone who was at the game who had to deal with inebriated Eagles fans flapping their arms and celebrating a minor victory in a lost season, I can’t help but buy in to them.Is QB Jared Goff a liability? Since their bye, he has one touchdown pass and seven interceptions. That’s one more interception than what he had in the eleven games before their bye. Is the book out on DL Aaron Donald? Zero sacks the last two games after 6.5 the previous three. And what about the special teams? Another fake punt that didn’t work and a back-breaking fumble by JoJo Natson Jr. that essentially cost the Rams a minute and a half of clock when there was only three minutes left. The sports news cycle the day after an embarrassing prime time loss is always a tough one. The talking heads are always ready to bury a team with high expectations.The Rams are 11-3 and I believe, despite what I’ve said up to this, that they have as good a shot as any other team to win the Super Bowl this year. This isn’t the same kind of frustration I’ve felt during the Jeff Fisher, Steve Spagnuolo Aaron Donald Jersey , Jim Haslett or Scott Linehan eras. This isn’t the hopeless feeling of rooting for a team destined to finish 4-12.This is the fear of watching what is probably the most talented roster in the NFL get dropped in the divisional round. Swept away and forgotten by everyone but us Rams fans.And all we’d be left with is a series of “what-ifs.” THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — When Clay Matthews knew he was leaving the Green Bay Packers, he immediately told his agent he wanted to play for the Los Angeles Rams.Eric Weddle says he did the same when his time in Baltimore ended this month.Blake Bortles took it a step further: The veteran quarterback was so eager to join the Rams after Jacksonville released him that he says he would have signed even without visiting the team first.“My agent didn’t think that would be the best thing to do,” Bortles said with a laugh.The Rams’ combination of Southern California sun, recent success and Sean McVay has proven irresistible to the handful of veteran free agents who arrived this month to bolster the NFC champions’ roster.Matthews spent Tuesday at the Rams’ training complex, which happens to be about 13 miles from his high school. It’s also a short commute from the new house that the star linebacker was already building for his young family even before his 10-year tenure with the Packers ended.“To be back here now and to be able to play for the local football team and have family and friends (around), to be able to start our family here and kind of plant our roots here, is something that’s pretty awesome,” Matthews said.After reaching their first Super Bowl in 17 years, the Rams have made only a few judicious additions to their roster this month. Along with signing five-year Jaguars starter Bortles to be Jared Goff’s backup Darrell Henderson Los Angeles Rams Jerseys , Los Angeles snagged six-time Pro Bowl safety Weddle to take over for Lamarcus Joyner, while Matthews will step into a yet-to-be-determined role as a linebacker and pass-rusher.Matthews started his Packers career as an edge rusher who moved into the middle of the Green Bay defense midway through his tenure. Six Pro Bowl selections and one Super Bowl ring later, the 32-year-old former USC star felt he still had more to do.Although he had a career-low 3 ½ sacks last season, Matthews plans to be a force for the Rams, who could lose Ndamukong Suh to free agency. Matthews expects his position “to be fluid,” but McVay expects him to get after quarterbacks.“I know I have the ability to produce like I’ve done before,” Matthews said. “Not to make excuses, but there was some change last year in the Packers organization, and unfortunately it didn’t work out for me. But as far as moving forward, I know I’m a difference-maker. I know I can change games. I look forward to proving that Los Angeles Rams Jerseys 2019 , and showing everybody here that what you saw these past 10 years is what you’ll get for these next two.”Matthews was 8 years old when the NFL left Los Angeles, although he didn’t root for the Rams or the Raiders: He supported the teams of his father, Clay Jr., and uncle, Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews.Ever since the Rams relocated in 2016, Matthews had an eye on the West Coast. He savored the chance to play in the Coliseum last season when the Packers lost to the Rams — and now he’ll return to his college arena all season long.“For (the Rams) to come back here, and for it to be so close to home, it truly is a perfect fit for me,” Matthews said.Bortles spent five up-and-down seasons as the Jacksonville starter before the Jaguars added Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. Faced with free agency for the first time, Bortles chose the Rams even though he wouldn’t be in real competition for the starting job.That’s because Bortles was eager to play for McVay Darrell Henderson Jersey Cheap , who fostered Goff’s development and built a dominant NFL offense in just two seasons in LA.“Everybody wants a piece of what (McVay) is doing, and wants to understand how he’s doing what he’s doing at the level he’s doing it at,” Bortles said. “I want to get an opportunity to start in this league and I think in order to do that, this is the best step.”
