season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/jets-news-first-round-pick-likely-out-rest-of-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jets first-round pick likely out for rest of season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NY-first-round-pick-likely-out-for-rest-of-season.jpg"></figure><h1>Jets first-round pick likely out for rest of season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-23T14:45:54-08:00">December 23rd, 2:45pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-23T14:45:54-08:00">December 23rd, 2:45pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Rams</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Jets continued their bleak 2024 season with a 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at home in Week 16. The team fell to 4-11 while losing promising lineman <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-news-bad-olu-fashanu-injury-new-york-nightmare-season">Olu Fashanu to a serious-looking injury</a>.</p><p>Fashanu is <a href="https://x.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1871303624468705476" rel="noopener">expected to miss</a> the last two games of the regular season after going down with a foot injury in Sunday’s loss, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The first-round rookie needed to be carted to the locker room halfway through the fourth quarter against LA.</p><p>While it was originally feared that Fashanu suffered an Achilles injury, which would keep him sidelined for most, if not all, of the 2025 season, Jets reporter Rich Cimini <a href="https://x.com/RichCimini/status/1870982317734547629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1870982317734547629%7Ctwgr%5E11d28ad9ff480c89da0dd32712bd3b76308d87f4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fjetswire.usatoday.com%2F2024%2F12%2F23%2Finjury-update-report-new-york-jets-olu-fashanu-foot-rams-nfl%2F" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> that the first-year tackle hurt his foot, not his Achilles. It’s a relatively small but significant break for New York.</p><p>The success rate of Joe Douglas’ final draft as the Jets’ GM is still being determined. However, he certainly appears to have hit on Fashanu. The 22-year-old Penn State standout was selected 11th overall in 2024. He’s played all 15 games for New York with seven starts this season. And Fashanu boasts above average grades as both a pass and run blocker.</p><p>While Rodgers has been sacked 33 times in 2024, 12th most in the league, the rookie lineman has only allowed one sack in 534 snaps this year. That places him in the <a href="https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/olumuyiwa-fashanu/129777#latestNewsWidget" rel="noopener">top quarter</a> of tackles in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.</p><h2><b>The Jets lost promising rookie tackle Olu Fashanu to a foot injury Sunday</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Olu-Fashanu_187833.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Jets were efficient in their ineptitude Sunday, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-news-new-york-unfathomable-feat-done-only-1-other-time-since-1940">making history as just the second team since 1940</a> to not punt in a game while failing to score 10 points. While New York was competitive in the first half of Week 16’s contest, taking a 9-6 lead into halftime, the team was unable to score in the final two quarters. And an <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-news-aaron-rodgers-bad-admission-loss-rams">Aaron Rodgers fumble</a> late in the game allowed the Rams to take control.</p><p>It was a late-December win against the Rams that cost the Jets the first overall pick in the 2021 draft. New York came into that contest with an 0-13 record. But the surprise victory on the road over a playoff-bound Rams squad changed the draft landscape.</p><p>The Jets went 2-14 in 2020 while the Jacksonville Jaguars finished the season with a 1-15 record, securing the top pick in the upcoming draft. As expected, Trevor Lawrence was selected first. The Jets grabbed Zach Wilson second overall. That decision led the franchise to its current situation – playing out a lost season four years later with huge question marks surrounding the GM, coach and quarterback.</p><p>Of course, the Jets would probably be in this same spot if they had drafted Lawrence, assuming the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-rumors-woody-johnson-teen-sons-accused-meddling-bashing-jets-players">rumors of staggering dysfunction</a> are even half true. Either way, here they are, eliminated from the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season, the longest drought in professional sports.</p><p>The Jets will <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-news-aaron-rodgers-issues-stern-message-culture-loss-rams">play for team culture and professionalism</a> over the final two games of 2024. New York will travel to Buffalo in Week 17 to take on the Bills before wrapping things up on January 5 against the Miami Dolphins.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jets first-round pick likely out for rest of season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rams-news-kyren-williams-explains-response-toward-frigid-weather-vs-jets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kyren Williams explains how Rams responded to frigid weather vs. Jets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kyren-Williams-explains-how-LA-responded-to-frigid-weather-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Kyren Williams explains how Rams responded to frigid weather vs. Jets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T15:37:56-08:00">December 22nd, 3:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T15:39:22-08:00">December 22nd, 3:39pm</time><address><a>Lorenzo J Reyna</a>Lorenzo J Reyna has joined ClutchPoints as Associate Editor of NFL &amp; NCAA Football. He's equipped with past experience for both realms through his recent stops at Pro Football Network and Heavy while also writing for 247Sports. His Twitter/X handle is @LJ_Reyna and his Instagram is @lj_zo_rey.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Rams</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Cold weather never left the Los Angeles Rams on ice Sunday. The frigid weather in New York handed no effect on a franchise spoiled with sunny rays and a coastal breeze. Turns out there’s a side of the Rams Kyren Williams mentioned that few know about.</p><p>The Rams became the one doing the plowing under temperatures built for snow. Los Angeles rode its way to a 19-9 road win over the Jets. Williams grabbed 23 handoffs, wearing down the host team with 122 yards.</p><p>The Pro Bowler comes from a cold weather place. He played his college ball in South Bend, Indiana — where the temperatures drop under 30 in December. The former Notre Dame star told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network he and the Rams are equipped for these elements. The warm weather stereotype doesn’t apply to the 2024 Rams.</p><p>“That’s what I do. Literally, I’m built for this,” Williams said. “So every time I get a chance, I’m going to make the most of it.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sean McVay was confident the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rams?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rams</a> would handle the elements vs. the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jets</a> with a Kyren Williams-led run game. With a frigid Williams after 23 carries for 122 yards: “That’s what I do. Literally, I’m built for this. So every time I get a chance, I’m going to make the most of it.” <a href="https://t.co/UbpT8EDhUU">pic.twitter.com/UbpT8EDhUU</a></p><p>— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1870950771287634249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2>Rams and Kyren Williams flipping switch late in year</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Kyren-Williams-vs-Jets.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Rams once thrashed defenses off the air attack. Matthew Stafford arrived via trade in 2021 to ignite the lost element missing from Sean McVay’s offense. That electric passing game culminated in the Super Bowl LVI title run.</p><p>Stafford no longer needs to rely solely on his arm to will the Rams to victory. McVay trusts his largest five options to plow the road and give Williams running room.</p><p>Williams since has become the newest 1,000-yard rushing star in L.A. And for a franchise known for producing star backs named Steven Jackson, Marshall Faulk, and Eric Dickerson. Yet Williams knows who the most important group is who gives him his yardage totals.</p><p>“It’s a shout out to my O-lineman,” Williams told Garafolo. “They see me making that first contact. They’re always behind me and start pushing. They give me more yards.”</p><p>Williams gashed the Jets with 27 yards through his first four carries. The former fifth round find then trailed his left guard to tally 13 yards during the second quarter. He punched the ball into the end zone two plays later on his two-yarder — his lone touchdown of the afternoon.</p><p>But here’s where the Rams prove their cold weather side. Los Angeles settled for only 110 aerial yards from Stafford at MetLife Stadium. Williams and the ground game performed the heavy lifting — tallying more yards at 132. It’s the first time this season the running attack out-performed the passing game.</p><p>The Rams’ new philosophy has them getting hot late. L.A. is now winners of four straight games. At 9-6, the Rams are in position to clinch the NFC West title either by Dec. 28 or Jan. 5.</p><p>Turns out, these Rams heat up even when the temperatures drop under 25 degrees.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kyren Williams explains how Rams responded to frigid weather vs. Jets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/jets-news-aaron-rodgers-bad-admission-loss-rams');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jets’ Aaron Rodgers makes ‘bad, bad’ admission after Rams loss');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jets-news-Aaron-Rodgers-makes-bad-bad-admission-after-loss-to-Rams.jpg"></figure><h1>Jets’ Aaron Rodgers makes ‘bad, bad’ admission after Rams loss</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-22T15:08:52-08:00">December 22nd, 3:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-22T17:15:13-08:00">December 22nd, 5:15pm</time><address><a>Dakota Zientek</a>Dakota Zientek graduated from the University of Iowa in 2020 and has been writing about the NFL ever since. As a die-hard NFL fan, Dakota's fandom rides with the Chicago Bears through thick and thin -- regardless of how much pain it has caused his heart throughout the years. One day, he believes he will celebrate the Bears winning a Super Bowl. Maybe even... a few?</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Rams</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In their 19-9 <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-news-jeff-ulbrich-thinks-new-york-should-be-proud-despite-ugly-loss-rams">loss to the Los Angeles Rams</a> in Week 16, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers <a href="https://x.com/Connor_J_Hughes/status/1870944387816972629" rel="noopener">wore plenty of the blame</a> for this outcome, per Connor Hughes on X.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“That was bad, bad play” – Aaron Rodgers on the sack-fumble. </p><p>Feels he should have gotten rid of it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jets?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jets</a> <a href="https://t.co/U0GQeNlHZT">pic.twitter.com/U0GQeNlHZT</a></p><p>— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Connor_J_Hughes/status/1870944387816972629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The play Rodgers is referencing happened in the fourth quarter while the game was tied 9-9. Rodgers stayed in a collapsing pocket, scanning the field for an open target. However, instead of finding an open receiver, Rodgers was sacked, fumbling possession away.</p><p>The Jets lost possession, leading to a Rams touchdown that ultimately was the game-winning score.</p><p>Rodgers noted the team’s lack of <a href="https://x.com/ZackBlatt/status/1870946319881396439" rel="noopener">attention to detail</a> as a reason that this season hasn’t gone as planned, per Zack Rosenblatt on X.</p><p>“Aaron Rodgers on how Jets players can overcome their issues in messing up the ‘little things’ over and over, a recurring issue this season: ‘We have the ability to inspire, but in the end, motivation comes from within,’ ” Rosenblatt wrote.</p><p>Now, as the Jets sit 4-11 through the 2024 season, it appears that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-aaron-rodgers-2024-disaster">Jets’ experiment with Rodgers</a> can be chalked up to a massive failure.</p><h2><b>Jets must move on from Aaron Rodgers in 2025</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Aaron-Rodgers_0276b2.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>With this Jets team having strong pieces, the major flaw is their quarterback play.</p><p>Though he’ll retire as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, many will remember his time with the Jets as a major stain in his career.</p><p>When the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-news-new-york-finally-completes-blockbuster-aaron-rodgers-trade-packers">Jets traded for Rodgers</a>, expectations were high. So much so, that the NFL made his Jets debut a massive spectacle, with Rodgers starting the festivities with his viral <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-fans-go-absolutely-bonkers-during-aaron-rodgers-epic-introduction-before-monday-night-football">run out of the tunnel</a> carrying the American flag.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Aaron Rodgers takes the field holding the American flag 🙌</p><p>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BUFvsNYJ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BUFvsNYJ</a> on ESPN/ABC<br>📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/6SstXq1rq7">https://t.co/6SstXq1rq7</a> <a href="https://t.co/cXcCVlH0mX">pic.twitter.com/cXcCVlH0mX</a></p><p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1701387904373969244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>However, after just <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-news-aaron-rodgers-exits-monday-night-football-vs-bills-apparent-injury">four offensive snaps into Rodgers’ 2023 season</a>, his highly anticipated first full season with the Jets was pushed back a calendar year.</p><p>Now, some can argue Rodgers’ 2024 has been better, and technically, they’d be right. Compared to his four snaps in 2023, Rodgers’ 2024 campaign has been significantly better.</p><p>But, having thrown 23 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and eight fumbles with two games remaining, Rodgers’ time in New York has been nothing short of a failure.</p><p>That isn’t just including his on-the-field performance, either.</p><p>While nothing has been confirmed on this, a lot of the moves made by the Jets since getting Rodgers seem like moves he had a part in orchestrating.</p><p>Whether it be bringing in offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett after his failed head coaching attempt with the Denver Broncos or having the Jets acquire receivers Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, and Davante Adams, all <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-news-aaron-rodgers-breaks-silence-davante-adams-trade">moves seem to point back to their veteran quarterback</a>.</p><p>Although this team has seemingly done everything Rodgers has asked for, it’s resulted in back-to-back seasons with at least 10 losses for the Jets.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jets’ Aaron Rodgers makes ‘bad, bad’ admission after Rams loss

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rams-news-sean-mcvay-reveals-how-la-replaced-aaron-donald-after-retirement');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rams’ Sean McVay reveals how LA has replaced Aaron Donald after retirement');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rams-news-Sean-McVay-reveals-how-LA-has-replaced-Aaron-Donald-after-retirement.jpg"></figure><h1>Rams’ Sean McVay reveals how LA has replaced Aaron Donald after retirement</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T22:04:58-08:00">December 20th, 10:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T22:04:58-08:00">December 20th, 10:04pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a multifaceted writer who specializes in NFL and WWE content at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Rams</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When news broke that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-news-aaron-donald-burnt-out-admission-explains-retirement" rel="noopener">Aaron Donald was going to retire from the NFL</a> after a decade of borderline unparalleled dominance, it created a massive problem for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams.</p><p>Sure, they had multiple quality players on the roster already in Byron Young, Bobby Brown III, and Kobie Turner, and added a few more rushers in the 2024 NFL draft to help ease his absence, with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/vic-fangio-reveals-eagles-draft-evaluations-of-rams-jared-verse-braden-fiske" rel="noopener">both Braden Fiske and Jared Verse</a> looking like certified studs at their positions, but losing Donald? A certified Hall of Famer at just 33? Gosh, that’s a tough pill to swallow.</p><p>Well, on his final media session before Week 16, McVay explained how he accomplished the feat, which, needless to say, <a href="https://rams.1rmg.com/quotes/rams-transcripts-head-coach-sean-mcvay-friday-december-20/" rel="noopener">required a group effort to get it done</a>.</p><p>“I think it’s always a collaborative effort and really like you said, you never replace somebody like him. I think the ‘one-of-one’ term gets thrown around loosely. He’s really one-of-one. He made a tremendous impact on a lot of guys who are in their second year or their third or fourth year, that are key contributors. I think you wanted to be able to say, ‘Alright, based on the different phases, what do we want it to look like to try to be able to complete that group?’ You’re expecting, like what he’s done, Kobie Turner to be able to take that step just by the way that he works and the way that he impacts and influences his teammates. Bobby Brown III has been outstanding. I really think he’s done a great job. I can’t say enough about the job that [Run Game Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach] Giff Smith has done as well in terms of developing those guys along with [Assistant Defensive Line Coach] AC Carter,” McVay told reporters.</p><p>“Then you say, ‘Alright, do you have the ability to add a player like a Braden Fiske who you really like that has some traits and some mental makeup that are similar to what you love about an Aaron or some of these guys that are really disruptive from the interior and then you get a guy like Tyler Davis.’ I’ve been really pleased with that group and I think they’ve only gotten better. [Desjuan] ‘Des’ Johnson has done some really good things for us. I also think [Outside Linebackers Coach] Joe Coniglio establishing and helping those guys on the edge really continue to develop. I look at the front as kind of a whole, even though you have your interior defensive linemen. And what you’ve seen from Byron Young, what you’ve seen from Jared Verse and Michael Hoecht has been really impressive. I think it’s an ongoing deal, but it was about how can we maximize this group and figure out how do they play together? I think they’re coming together at the right time.”</p><p>You know, while the plan had no guarantee of working, and the Rams’ defensive ceiling is still up in the air, considering the ages of their front seven players, it’s hard not to be incredibly encouraged by how things turned out in 2024. If everyone can take a step or two forward in the future, at their own paces, sure, LA might once again have one of the most feared rushers in the NFL, only with more versatility and variability than they had with Donald and his Rams friends.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rams’ Sean McVay reveals how LA has replaced Aaron Donald after retirement

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rams-news-matthew-stafford-reveals-excited-face-aaron-rodgers-in-week-16');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rams’ Matthew Stafford reveals why he’s excited to face Aaron Rodgers in Week 16');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Matthew-Stafford-reveals-why-hes-excited-to-face-Aaron-Rodgers-in-Week-16.jpg"></figure><h1>Rams’ Matthew Stafford reveals why he’s excited to face Aaron Rodgers in Week 16</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T03:00:19-08:00">December 19th, 3:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T03:00:19-08:00">December 19th, 3:00am</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a multifaceted writer who specializes in NFL and WWE content at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Rams</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/los-angeles-rams-bold-predictions-for-week-16-vs-jets">first time since 2020</a>, Matthew Stafford will go head-to-head against Aaron Rodgers when the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-vs-jets-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-16-2024" rel="noopener"> Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Jets in Week 16</a>.</p><p>That’s right, soon, NFC North lifers will get to see two of their stalwarts of a decade past duke it out at MetLife Stadium, recalling a simpler time since passed as the Rams push hard for a spot in the playoffs. And the best part? The players involved are <a href="https://rams.1rmg.com/quotes/rams-transcripts-wednesday-december-18-mcvay-stafford/" rel="noopener">excited about it too</a>, as Stafford told reporters during his Week 16 media session.</p><p>“I’m just excited to go up there and play. Obviously, meaningful football in the month of December is an awesome thing to be a part of,” Stafford told reporters. “We’ve earned that, and we’ve got to continue to earn that opportunity to play games that matter. This just happens to be the next one on the list. I have a ton of respect for Aaron and have competed against him a bunch of times in my career. He’s a h*ll of a player and does a great job. He’s still doing a really good job for them. He played fantastic in the last couple of weeks. He looks to be healthy, moving around and doing his thing.”</p><p>Though the Rams and the Jets are playing for two very different motivations in Week 16, with the former in first place in the NFC West where as the latter is playing for an early January vacation, any time two quarterbacks as experienced as Stafford and Rodgers get a chance to face off is going to be special, especially if this is the last time the two quarterbacks face off in the NFL.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Matthew-Stafford-and-Aaron-Rodgers.jpg"><figcaption>Tim Fuller-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Sean McVay celebrates Matthew Stafford vs. Aaron Rodgers</b></h2><p>Evaluating the friendly rivalry between Stafford and Rodgers during his own midweek media session, McVay celebrated the experience of watching the two players shoot it out over the year, as they helped to define an era of football.</p><p>“It’s two great players. Two guys that have done it at a really high level. I think the essence of playing quarterback involves so many different things. You talk about changing arm slots, creating off-schedule, understanding what are the defensive structures and how you move and manipulate defenders? Both of those guys have been doing those types of things at a really high clip,” McVay told reporters.</p><p>“The ability to be able to make all types of throws, but then also have incredible understanding above the neck of all the things that involve this game. It’s not just the eleven [players] on offense, it’s all twenty-two. When you’re looking at defense, what are the intents? What are the problems I need to solve? It’s two greats and two guys that I look at as Hall of Famers.”</p><p>Whoa, is Stafford a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback? That’s a conversation for another time, but it’s safe to say when he does eventually hang up his cleats for good, the Rams QB’s career will age very well as he transitions into the next stage of his life.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rams’ Matthew Stafford reveals why he’s excited to face Aaron Rodgers in Week 16

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/los-angeles-rams-bold-predictions-for-week-16-vs-jets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Los Angeles Rams bold predictions for Week 16 vs. Jets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Los-Angeles-Rams-bold-predictions-for-Week-16-vs.-Jets.jpg"></figure><h1>Los Angeles Rams bold predictions for Week 16 vs. Jets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T18:22:26-08:00">December 18th, 6:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T18:22:26-08:00">December 18th, 6:22pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a multifaceted writer who specializes in NFL and WWE content at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With three games left to play in the 2024 NFL regular season, the Los Angeles Rams possess something they haven’t since Week 1: <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-news-why-rams-ravens-buccaneers-are-viewed-as-dangerous-playoff-threats" rel="noopener">control of their destiny</a>.</p><p>That’s right, currently sitting pretty with the best record in their division, a feat they, again, haven’t accomplished this season since <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/2024.htm" rel="noopener">every team was perfect at 0-0</a>; if the Rams win their final three games, they are guaranteed a playoff spot as the winners of the NFC West, going to bat against either the fifth or sixth seed, depending on how the rest of the year shakes out.</p><p>Now granted, there is still a path to the playoffs if the Rams lose a game or even down moving forward, as it looks like both the Rams and the Seahawks will represent the division in the playoffs come January, but if they can win out, including a pivotal Week 18 showdown against Seattle, Los Angeles will finish out the season with an 11-6 record and will be facing some team with a worse record at home in the Wildcard round.</p><p>But for that to happen, the Rams have to first take care of the New York Jets, a team they haven’t played since all the way back in December of 2020.</p><p>Could the Rams’ bi-costal foes, representing the two premier cities the United States of America have to offer, take their Erewhon-loving foes by surprise, slatting down a W like American on a chopped cheese? Potentially so, as the game does feature a six-hour plane ride out of the Meadowlands.</p><p>But considering the Jets are down bad in 2024, officially being eliminated from the playoffs despite getting a full season out of California boy Aaron Rodgers, there’s a pretty good chance for the Rams to really separate themselves from the pack and add a crucial game lead against the field heading into Christmas. Considering the Seahawks have a date with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, this feels like the perfect chance for LA to really get where they want to be heading into the final push for the playoffs.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Breece-Hall-on-Nov.-17-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>1. The Rams’ defense makes the Jets one-dimensional</b></h2><p>There’s no two ways about it: the Jets are a <i>bad</i> rushing team.</p><p>I know, crazy, right? You’d think a team with Breece Hall starting 13 of their 14 games would have a pretty good ground game almost by default, especially with Rodgers lighting the box with his impressive passing prowess, but so far, that really hasn’t been the case almost by design.</p><p>You see, the Jets actually like to run the ball even less than the Rams, with the team <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyj/2024.htm" rel="noopener">ranked 32nd in rushing attempts</a> at 300 and 31st in rushing yards at 1,256. While they aren’t technically bad at running the ball when they choose to, as their 4.2 yards per attempt ranks 19th in the NFL, they just don’t seem committed to using that aspect of the game to the same degree that they throw the ball.</p><p>Could that change in Week 16? Sure, anything is possible, as fans in LA still have nightmares about Saquon Barkley’s 255-yard game to this day from SNF, but for that to happen, the Jets would actually want to attack the run with Hall leading the way.</p><p>Unless the team seriously decides to change their offensive identity and take the pressure off their quarterback in Week 16, which is probably going to be Rodgers but could end up being Tyrod Taylor at some point in the game, chances are the Jets will keep throwing the ball against LA. Is that a wise call? No, probably not, as the Rams are almost as bad against the run as the Jets are, but as LA fans will attest all season long, coaches rarely change their core principles even with the season on the line, which could lead to a big weekend by Rodgers but another quiet showing by Hall.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Matthew-Stafford-and-Aaron-Rodgers.jpg"><figcaption>Tim Fuller-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>2. Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford duke it out through the air</b></h2><p>Heading into Week 16, fans in LA get to see a matchup the NFC North became spoiled by over the last decade: Aaron Rodgers vs. Matthew Staford.</p><p>That’s right, after spending their primes as the starting quarterbacks of the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions respectively, the two elder statesmen signal callers have moved on to bigger markets to really make the most of their final NFL runs, with Stafford winning a Super Bowl for his efforts and Rodgers, well, doing everything Rodgers is up to in 2024.</p><p>Asked about the game by Pat McAfee on his namesake ESPN show, Rodgers noted that he’s excited to duke it out with Stafford, as they’ve <a href="https://athlonsports.com/nfl/new-york-jets/jets-aaron-rodgers-praises-rams-matthew-stafford-week-16" rel="noopener">formed a friendship</a> through their years of on-field battle.</p><p>“It’s fun. Matt’s one of my all-time favorite competitors to go against,” Rodgers told Pat McAfee via Athlon Sports. “(We’ve had) a lot of fun battles over the years… He plays the game in a way that I totally respect. He’s savvy, he’s smart, he’s gritty, he’s competitive. I’ve always been a big Matt Stafford fan, so I’m excited to see him.”</p><p>One of the most prolific rivalries in the NFL right now, it’s safe to assume that both Stafford and Rodgers will air it out a ton in Week 16, as both of their teams have a pension for passing in 2024, and the duo actually have remarkably similar stat lines in 2024, with the former amassing <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StafMa00.htm" rel="noopener">3,463 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions</a>, while the latter has<a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RodgAa00.htm" rel="noopener"> 3,255 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions</a>.</p><p>So, if the passing game is more or less equal, with the Jets having a better secondary, considering Cobie Durant may not play, what will decide the game? Enter Kyren Williams, LA’s battering <i>ram</i> who has really come on over the past few weeks as an offensive focal point.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kyren-Williams-on-the-field-for-the-Rams.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>3. Kyren Williams holds the key to a Rams Week 16 victory</b></h2><p>After really breaking out in 2023, it looks like the Rams, for some reason, just didn’t want to give Williams the ball early in the season.</p><p>Maybe it was because of the team’s unsettled offensive line situation, cycling through double-digit players before they settled on their current starting five, or maybe Sean McVay simply preferred to dial up passing plays even down his top two receivers. But Williams was rarely getting much play for the Rams early on, leading to some fans wondering if he would get cycled out entirely in favor of rookie Blake Corum, who admittedly also seldom saw the field early on.</p><p>Since Week 11, and especially over the past two weeks, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-news-kyren-williams-earns-massive-shout-out-expansive-december-workload" rel="noopener">things have really turned around for Williams</a>, with the Notre Dame rusher <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillKy02.htm" rel="noopener">averaging 4.76 yards per attempt</a> on the way to 457 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Now over 1,000 yards on the year, it looks like the Rams are finally embracing their rushing game, with Stafford also benefitting from a more-balanced workload.</p><p>Now granted, it won’t be easy, as LA is facing off against a Jets defense that ranks 16th against the run despite being ran against the fourth-most times of any NFL team, but if the Rams commit to the run, it will open up the downfield game and thus allow them to attack New York’s defense from anywhere. Factor in McVay’s willingness to move his star players around in the pursuit of avoiding Sauce Gardner, and this has the potential to be another nice win for the Rams.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Los Angeles Rams bold predictions for Week 16 vs. Jets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rams-vs-jets-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-16-2024');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rams vs. Jets predictions, pick, odds, spread for NFL Week 16 2024');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rams-vs.-Jets-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-NFL-Week-16-2024.jpg"></figure><h1>Rams vs. Jets predictions, pick, odds, spread for NFL Week 16 2024</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T10:45:40-08:00">December 18th, 10:45am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T10:28:35-08:00">December 18th, 10:28am</time><address><a>Cameron Zunkel</a>Cameron Zunkel is a former college athlete for the University of Illinois, Springfield. During that time, he earned his masters degree in Communication. After graduating in 2022, Cameron signed to play independent professional baseball with the Joliet Slammers, but his time was cut short due to injury. Nonetheless, his love for baseball and all sports never faded.Cameron loves the sports media and sports journalism side of things and does some light writing for a Chicago Cubs blog, as well. To go along with that, he loves sports betting and fantasy sports. He also loves digging on the research and creating content for both sports betting and fantasy sports!</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Betting</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Rams head across the country to take on the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon. It is time to continue our NFL odds <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/betting" rel="noopener">series</a> with a Rams-Jets prediction and pick. We will also let you know how to watch the game.</p><figure><img src="https://a.impactradius-go.com/display-ad/3065-2113640"></figure><figure><img src="https://paramountplus.qflm.net/i/492408/2113640/3065"></figure><h2><b>Rams-Jets Last Game – Matchup History</b></h2><p>These teams last met in 2020 when the Jets beat the Rams 23-20.</p><p>Overall Series: The Rams lead the all-time series 10-5.</p><p><i><b>Here are the Rams-Jets <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nfl" rel="noopener">NFL odds</a>, courtesy of FanDuel. </b></i></p><h2><b>NFL Odds: Rams-Jets Odds</b></h2><p>Los Angeles Rams: -3 (-120)</p><p>Moneyline: -178</p><p>New York Jets: +3 (-102)</p><p>Moneyline: +150</p><p>Over: 46.5 (-110)</p><p>Under: 46.5 (-110)</p><h2><b>How to Watch Rams vs. Jets</b></h2><p>Time: 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT</p><p>TV: CBS</p><p><i><b>*Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/football/?irad=356362&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(Get Access | Save $30)</a>*</b></i></p><h2><b>Why The Rams Could Cover The Spread/Win</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfc-playoff-picture-after-rams-take-control-of-nfc-west-in-week-15">The Rams have won four of their last five games</a>, and that has put them at the top of the NFC West. They have beaten the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers in the last two weeks, which are pretty good wins. The game against the 49ers was very low scoring, but the other games have been for for Los Angeles. Even with that game, the Rams are still scoring 25.0 points per game in their last five games. If the Rams can continue to score the ball well, they will be able to win this game.</p><p>Puka Nacua is one player to really keep an eye on. On the season, Nacua has been one of the best in the NFL. In nine games this season, he has racked up 61 receptions on 83 targets for 805 yards. He has had over 100 yards in six of his nine games, and he averages 13.2 yards per catch. He is going to be the key for the Rams on Sunday if they want to win on the road.</p><p>The Jets are not having a good season, and their defense is a big reason why. On the season, the Jets have allowed 23.2 points per game. In their last five games, the Jets have allowed 28.4 points per game. They only have one win in their last five games, as well. Along with that, the Jets have allowed 358.6 yards per game in that span, which would be the sixth-most in the NFL. New York is giving up yards and points at the moment, and the Rams should be able to take advantage of that.</p><h2><b>Why The Jets Could Cover The Spread/Win</b></h2><p>New York has not been great, but they finally snapped their long losing streak last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/jets-news-davante-adams-hits-major-milestone-win-jaguars">Davante Adams had his best game</a> of the season in the win. He finished with nine receptions, 198  yards, and two touchdowns. In fact, Adams has had 18 receptions, 307 yards, and three touchdowns in his last two games. He has been a big reason for the success of Aaron Rodgers, and he was the main reason for the win last week. If Adams can continue to play well, the Jets will win this game.</p><p>New York has not been great on defense lately, as mentioned. However, their season-long numbers are pretty good. New York is allowing 315.0 yards per game this season, which is the seventh-lowest in the NFL. Along with that, New York allows the fifth-fewest passing yards on the season. Their 13 passing touchdowns allowed is the lowest in the NFL. Los Angeles has a very good passing attack, so the Jets need to be at their best in that part of the game. If they can slow down the Rams’ passing game, they will be able to win.</p><h2><b>Final Rams-Jets Prediction &amp; Pick</b></h2><p>The Rams seem to be the better team this season, especially lately. With the Rams playing as well as they are, I am going to take them to wins straight up.</p><p><b>Final Rams-Jets Prediction &amp; Pick: Rams ML (-178)</b></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rams vs. Jets predictions, pick, odds, spread for NFL Week 16 2024

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl-news-why-rams-ravens-buccaneers-are-viewed-as-dangerous-playoff-threats');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Rams, Ravens, Buccaneers are viewed as dangerous playoff threats');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Why-Rams-Ravens-Buccaneers-are-viewed-as-dangerous-playoff-threats.jpg"></figure><h1>Why Rams, Ravens, Buccaneers are viewed as dangerous playoff threats</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T09:40:04-08:00">December 18th, 9:40am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T09:40:04-08:00">December 18th, 9:40am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Baltimore Ravens</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfc-playoff-picture-after-rams-take-control-of-nfc-west-in-week-15">Los Angeles Rams have taken control of the NFC West</a>, they mark as a team that possibly no one wants to see when it comes to the postseason. Add the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/steelers-vs-ravens-predictions-pick-odds-spread-for-nfl-week-16-2024">Baltimore Ravens to the list as the latter faces the Pittsburgh Steelers</a> this Sunday as some ESPN insiders have insight into why these three teams could be viable threats.</p><p>Starting with Los Angeles, the season started disappointingly as they lost four of their first five games, but now are 7-2 in their last nine, standing at the top of a vulnerable division. With the offense led by Matthew Stafford with dangerous weapons in Kyren Williams, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua, Jeremy Fowler speaks on the Rams <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/43022769/nfl-week-16-buzz-news-updates-fantasy-tips-predictions-questions" rel="noopener">winning another Super Bowl</a> in the latest column.</p><p>“That the Rams can win it all again,” Fowler wrote. “Which I did not have on my bingo card in October. But Matthew Stafford is thriving again, and he’s 12-5 when Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams are on the field together, averaging 27 points together before last week’s rain-soaked slog in Santa Clara. But Los Angeles is officially the team that favorites don’t want to see in the playoffs — as long as the secondary can hold up. That’s a big “if,” given the lack of high-level personnel on that side. But the defensive line is impressive, and the offensive line is healthy. Sean McVay is, by some accounts, the game’s best play-caller, too.”</p><h2><b>Besides Rams, the Ravens seen as a team that others are concerned about</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lamar-Jackson-on-Dec.-15-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Another team that is deemed as a dangerous one that the ESPN insiders talk about is Baltimore, which could be unsurprising for people as some had them as favorites coming out of the AFC. Still, the team is second in the division to the Steelers, whom the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ravens-news-marlon-humphrey-drops-fiery-revelation-ahead-of-steelers-rematch">Ravens have had trouble against in the past.</a></p><p>“I also think folks are concerned about the Ravens,” Graziano wrote. “Especially if they win Saturday against the Steelers and can chase them down for the division title. He might be trailing Josh Allen in the MVP race, but Lamar Jackson is playing the best football of his career this season, and some of the people I talk to think the Baltimore defense has the ability to play better than it has shown. I don’t think anyone’s going to want to play Baltimore, even if they don’t look as dominant as they did this time last year.”</p><h2><b>The Buccaneers have been “getting attention”</b></h2><p>Another team that could be seen as <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/why-buccaneers-are-a-clear-super-bowl-contender-after-blowout-win-over-chargers">Super Bowl contenders are the Buccaneers,</a> who possibly are on their way to another NFC South crown amid a four-game winning streak. Some of them this season have been against such powerhouses as the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.</p><p>“I have to say, Tampa Bay is getting people’s attention around the league,” Fowler wrote. “The Chargers’ defense is well-regarded, but that didn’t stop the Bucs from putting 506 yards and 40 points on it. Tampa Bay has wins over Detroit and Philadelphia, and it has averaged 23 points in its six losses. That last bit tells me the Bucs are built to win shootouts if the maligned secondary can hold up.”</p><p>There are three games left in the season for these three teams to show how much of a threat they are.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Rams, Ravens, Buccaneers are viewed as dangerous playoff threats

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rams-news-sean-mcvay-reveals-why-ex-first-round-pick-passed-week-15');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rams’ Sean McVay reveals why ex-first round pick was passed over in Week 15');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sean-McVay-reveals-why-ex-first-round-pick-was-passed-over-in-Week-15.jpg"></figure><h1>Rams’ Sean McVay reveals why ex-first round pick was passed over in Week 15</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-17T17:37:23-08:00">December 17th, 5:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-17T17:37:23-08:00">December 17th, 5:37pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a multifaceted writer who specializes in NFL and WWE content at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Rams</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When news broke that ascending cornerback Cobie Durant wasn’t going to play in Week 15 after suffering a lung contusion against the Buffalo Bills in Week 14 in the Los Angeles Rams 44-42 win, fans were eager to see if <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-news-will-emmanuel-forbes-make-la-debut-week-14-sean-mcvay-weighs">Emmanuel Forbes, the former Washington Commanders first-round pick</a> Les Snead <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-news-emmanuel-forbes-breaks-silence-commanders-release">claimed off of waiver</a> earlier in the month, was finally going to see the field.</p><p>Would he start the game opposite Darious Williams at perimeter cornerback, or even just rotate in for one reason or another, depending on the flow of the game? Well, as it turns out, the answer was a resounding no, as long-time Rams reserve Ahkello Witherspoon ended up <a href="https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202412120sfo.htm" rel="noopener">playing 100 percent of the team’s defensive snaps</a>, and Forbes was held out of action entirely for the second week in a row.</p><p>But why? Well, McVay was asked that question on Monday and <a href="https://rams.1rmg.com/quotes/rams-transcripts-monday-december-16-mcvay/" rel="noopener">explained the decision to reporters</a>.</p><p>“I think Ahkello has done a great job for our team each of the last couple years. I thought he played great the other night. He has answered the bell. It is great to be able to have Emmanuel continuously get up to speed behind the scenes with [Pass Game Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach] Aubrey [Pleasant], but we like the depth that we have at corner,” McVay told reporters.</p><p>“Cobie Durant has had a good year. Darious Williams, we know what he’s capable of. I thought both Darious and Ahkello played as well from the corner position as we’ve had the other night, slowing down a really good offense that can beat you in a variety of ways. I thought really our secondary as a whole was sticky in coverage, had as many pass breakups and then obviously, Darious’ interception was the turning point in the game. Offensively, those guys were able to convert that into a field goal and run the rest of the game out with 20 seconds left there.”</p><p>So, what is the plan for Forbes moving forward? Well, McVay commented on that, too, and his answer is interesting indeed.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ahkello-Witherspoon.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>The Rams are playing the long game with Emmanuel Forbes</b></h2><p>So, where is Forbes on the depth chart? Well, McVay didn’t really say, noting that the Rams are more focused on getting the Mississippi State product up to speed than getting him on the field.</p><p>“I think you just get him up to speed as quickly as possible. I think we’ve been fortunately and relatively healthy, with the exception of Cobie being out last week. The goal is for him to just continuously improve and continuously get up to speed,” McVay told reporters. “If his number is called, then he’ll be ready to go. I like what we’ve seen from that group of guys that we’ve talked about. I do like the way that Emmanuel goes about his business. It’s challenging too because even last week, you had the Buffalo week of preparation, but then really you’re not practicing as it leads into that Thursday game. There were some limited opportunities to continuously get the physical evaluation, if you will, that you’re normally accustomed to when you have your normal allotted time of preparation not leading into a Thursday game.”</p><p>With two more years left on his contract, plus the potential to pick up his <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/82293/emmanuel-forbes" rel="noopener">fifth-year option in 2027</a> if everything shakes out right, the Rams really don’t have to get Forbes on the field right away. If a few extra weeks of practice make him a better long-term player, then so be it.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rams’ Sean McVay reveals why ex-first round pick was passed over in Week 15

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfc-playoff-picture-after-rams-take-control-of-nfc-west-in-week-15');   ga('set', 'title', 'NFC playoff picture after Rams take control of NFC West in Week 15');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NFC-playoff-picture-after-Rams-take-control-of-NFC-West-in-Week-15.jpg"></figure><h1>NFC playoff picture after Rams take control of NFC West in Week 15</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-16T20:49:50-08:00">December 16th, 8:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-16T20:49:50-08:00">December 16th, 8:49pm</time><address><a>Shane Shoemaker</a>Shane Shoemaker is an Associate Editor and Editorial writer for ClutchPoints, covering a wide range of sports and entertainment topics. Shane is a lifelong Tennessean yet refuses allegiance to any Tennessee-based teams. He's a graduate from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga with a BA in Communications/Journalism. There's a good chance he'll never let you forget the Atlanta Braves won the 2021 World Series.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The NFC playoff picture is <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/standings/_/view/playoff" rel="noopener">becoming much clearer</a> with Week 15 now in the books. One of the biggest surprises is the Los Angeles Rams, a team once thought to be out of contention, now taking over the NFC West division, after their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/49ers-news-rams-pillow-fight-low-not-seen-since-1922-dayton-triangles">low-scoring win over the San Francisco 49ers</a>. Their resurgence has vaulted them into the No. 4 seed.</p><p>The Rams are just one piece of the puzzle, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers further solidified their hold on the NFC South in Week 15, securing the No. 3 seed for now, after manhandling the Los Angeles Chargers.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Deebo-Samuel_a4bd6f.jpg"><figcaption>Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>At the top of the NFC, the Detroit Lions suffered their first loss since Week 2, falling to the Buffalo Bills at home. Despite the setback, the Lions remain the conference’s top seed. Behind them, the often turbulent, yet extremely talented, Philadelphia Eagles, who took care of the Pittsburgh Steelers at home.</p><p>That’s just a glimpse of how the NFC playoff race is shaping up. Let’s dive into the top 10 teams in the hunt.</p><h2><b>1. Detroit Lions (12-2, 1st in NFC North)</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lions-news-dan-campbell-shoulders-blame-brutal-loss-bills">Dan Campbell’s questionable onside kick call</a> was the defining moment of the Lions’ first loss since Week 2 against the Bills. However, the bigger concern for Detroit might be the toll injuries have taken on the team as the season progresses. The Lions are losing key defensive pieces at an alarming rate, and now running back <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/lions-news-david-montgomery-potentially-done-season-knee-injury">David Montgomery is sidelined indefinitely with an MCL</a> tear.</p><h2><b>2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2, 1st in NFC East)</b></h2><p>The battle for Pennsylvania hadn’t been this intense since election season, but the Eagles emerged victorious, holding onto the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture. Jalen Hurts delivered a standout performance, silencing critics, with three touchdowns, leading Philadelphia to their 10th straight win.</p><h2><b>3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6, 1st in NFC South)</b></h2><p>The Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield–who set a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/buccaneers-news-baker-mayfield-new-career-high-with-td-explosion-vs-chargers">career-high passing touchdowns</a> in a single season with 29–are hitting their stride, winning four straight and creating some separation from the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. Tampa Bay delivered a dominant performance against the Chargers, cruising to a convincing 40-17 victory. The Bucs have caught fire at just the right time.</p><h2><b>4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6, 1st in NFC West)</b></h2><p>The Rams have quietly climbed their way back to the top of the NFC West, winning three straight and seven of their last nine games. In Week 15, it was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-news-matthew-stafford-instant-reaction-gritty-win-49ers">against the 49ers on Thursday Night Football</a>, essentially booting them from the NFC playoff picture. Just weeks ago, Los Angeles sat as far back as the 10th seed. Now, they’re in control but face a challenging finish. After a road trip to face the Jets next weekend, the Rams will close the season with two division matchups against the Cardinals and Seahawks.</p><h2><b>5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2, 2nd in NFC North)</b></h2><p>The Vikings have now clinched a postseason berth after throttling the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, winning seven straight. Minnesota is also now in a tie with the Lions for the NFC North title.</p><h2><b>6. Green Bay Packers (10-4, 3rd in NFC North)</b></h2><p>Outside of their loss to the Lions last week, the Packers have been on a roll, winning four of their last five games. Green Bay’s offense has been firing on all cylinders, scoring at least 30 points in each of their last four outings, including in their win over the Seahawks in Week 15. Now holding the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture, the Packers could be a dangerous team come postseason.</p><h2><b>7. Washington Commanders (9-5, 2nd in NFC East)</b></h2><p>The Commanders went into New Orleans and narrowly avoided an upset against the Saints. If not for the Saints’ decision to go for a two-point conversion and the win, Washington could have taken a significant hit in the NFC playoff race. For now, the Commanders hold onto the No. 7 seed.</p><h2><b>8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6, 2nd in NFC West)</b></h2><p>The Seahawks appeared poised to take a commanding lead in the NFC West after winning four straight. However, with the Rams surging and a Week 15 loss to the Packers, Seattle has gone from potentially hosting a playoff game last week to being the first team out in this week’s seeding.</p><h2><b>9. Atlanta Falcons (7-7, 2nd in NFC South)</b></h2><p>In an absolutely ugly win, the Falcons survived against the lowly Las Vegas Raiders on the road. Kirk Cousins once again looked shaky, at best, throwing yet another interception, meaning the offense once again suffered. Atlanta is still on the outside looking, though they hold a tiebreaker advantage over the Cardinals.</p><h2><b>10. Arizona Cardinals (7-7, 3rd in NFC West)</b></h2><p>The Cardinals aren’t out of the NFC playoff picture just yet. After losing three straight, they desperately needed a win in Week 15, and a trip to New England provided just that. Arizona convincingly beat the Patriots 30-17. The Cardinals now face a wide range of possibilities: they could win the division, secure a Wild Card spot, or miss the playoffs entirely.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NFC playoff picture after Rams take control of NFC West in Week 15

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rams-news-sean-mcvay-weighs-aaron-donald-odell-beckham-playoff-reunions');   ga('set', 'title', 'Rams’ Sean McVay weighs in on Aaron Donald, Odell Beckham Jr. playoff reunions');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rams-news-Sean-McVay-shuts-down-Aaron-Donald-Odell-Beckham-additions-amid-playoff-chase.jpg"></figure><h1>Rams’ Sean McVay weighs in on Aaron Donald, Odell Beckham Jr. playoff reunions</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-16T14:32:19-08:00">December 16th, 2:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-16T14:32:19-08:00">December 16th, 2:32pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a multifaceted writer who specializes in NFL and WWE content at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Rams</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After having to sit through a weekend’s worth of football to see where they ultimately fell in the division following a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-news-sean-mcvay-reveals-unlikely-ways-cooper-kupp-contributed-to-la-win-vs-49ers" rel="noopener">gritty win over the San Francisco 49ers</a> on Thursday Night Football, the Los Angeles Rams are in first place in the NFC West with just three games left to play.</p><p>That’s right, after starting off the season at 1-4, the Rams have won seven of their last nine games since the bye and now look like they’ve gotten hot at the right time to do some damage in the postseason. Discussing LA’s big win and their newfound status as division favorites, McVay let it be known that he doesn’t plan to change anything about the team’s preparation moving forward, as that’s what got them <a href="https://x.com/StuJRams/status/1868756743712563668" rel="noopener">to where they are today</a>.</p><p>“It doesn’t change anything that we have talked about for the last handful of weeks,” McVay told reporters via Gary Klein. “Unless the season ended today, it’s all just temporary. We’ve got to continue to be one day at a time, one moment at a time, and one game at a time.”</p><p>And yet, even if the Rams’ plans don’t change, could their personnel? Aaron Donald did recently share a picture of his old jersey on social media, and his return would be a major addition to the Rams in 2024, should they make it to the playoffs. Well, McVay was asked that question, too, and let it be known that he doesn’t want to speculate on his decisions, <a href="https://x.com/LATimesklein/status/1868756273094959505" rel="noopener">as that’s not really his place</a>.</p><p>Would it be cool to see Donald return to the Rams just when they need him, placing the future Hall of Famer on the field for the first time ever next to rookies Braden Fiske and Jared Verse amid a very serious playoff push? Well, if they do retain the NFC West’s top spot moving forward, then who knows? Maybe number 99 could suit up for the yellow and blue once more, even if it’s just for one last dance.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Retired-Rams-star-Aaron-Donald-gets-Stone-Cold-request-amid-LA-practice-appearance.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Sean McVay discussed a reunion with Odell Beckham Jr. too</b></h2><p>While the Rams probably won’t be reuniting with Donald before the end of the 2024 NFL season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-news-sean-mcvay-weighs-in-on-possible-rams-reunion-with-odell-beckham">what about Odell Beckham Jr.</a>, who was released by the Miami Dolphins earlier in the season? Well, McVay was asked about him on Monday, too, and had some<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/sean-mcvay-signing-odell-beckham-jr-not-something-weve-talked-about-yet" rel="noopener"> interesting things to say on the subject</a>.</p><p>“That’s not something we’ve talked about yet,” McVay said via Gary Klein of the <i>Los Angeles Times</i>.</p><p>Yet huh? Well, goodness, that’s certainly interesting when you consider that McVay had <a href="https://media.rams.1rmg.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/13122734/Rams-Transcripts-Friday-December-13-McVay-.pdf" rel="noopener">some very nice things to say</a> about OBJ last week, right after he was officially released by the Dolphins.</p><p>“I don’t know. The love I have for Odell, you know that,” McVay told reporters. “Just waking up, kind of getting ready for what’s next for us, and focusing on this. I’m not really sure about him. I’ve had a lot of other things that we’re kind of focused on right now.”</p><p>Could Beckham return to the Rams before the season comes to an end? Well, it certainly feels more likely than bringing back Donald, but in the end, it’s really tough to say. If all remains equal, then no, probably not, as Beckham really didn’t do much of anything in Miami this year. But if someone gets hurt, then having that option on the open market is reassuring, to say the least.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Rams’ Sean McVay weighs in on Aaron Donald, Odell Beckham Jr. playoff reunions

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/rams-news-sean-mcvay-reveals-2-la-players-have-unlocked-screen-game');   ga('set', 'title', 'Sean McVay reveals 2 Rams players who have unlocked the screen game');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rams-news-Sean-McVay-reveals-2-LA-players-who-have-unlocked-the-screen-game.jpg"></figure><h1>Sean McVay reveals 2 Rams players who have unlocked the screen game</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-13T22:40:13-08:00">December 13th, 10:40pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-13T22:40:13-08:00">December 13th, 10:40pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a multifaceted writer who specializes in NFL and WWE content at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Rams</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Over the past few weeks, one of the more interesting developments to the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive identity has been the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-news-puka-nacuas-historic-game-draws-rare-sean-mcvay-igniter-compliment" rel="noopener">emergence of a strong screen game</a> set up by pulling interior offensive linemen.</p><p>Now granted, the Rams have called screens in the past, as have pretty much every team in the NFL, but after watching his team execute the play exceptionally over the past few weeks, Sean McVay has seemingly been calling the play more often, with the results working very well for LA’s finest.</p><p>Asked about the decision to use the play more often and if the play of<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rams-news-sean-mcvay-reveals-reason-for-controversial-offensive-line-shakeup" rel="noopener"> Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson</a> has led to the decision during his Friday media call, McVay said yes, noting that their efforts in the open field have helped to<a href="https://rams.1rmg.com/quotes/rams-transcripts-friday-december-13-mcvay/" rel="noopener"> influence his play calling in December</a>.</p><p>“It’s being able to have an open mind. You’re right because you don’t want to pigeonhole people into just being able to do one thing. I think that’s the benefit of having really functional, athletic guards that have an incredible ability to be able to move and accelerate in space and be able to have close quarters contact with people,” McVay told reporters.</p><p>“When you do have guys like that, that’s a real benefit where you’re saying, ‘What can’t they do?’ I think you’ve seen it and you’ve mentioned it a little bit. We’ve been able to get some of our outside zone hitting run plays going. You can’t get those plays going if you don’t have guys that have the ability to be able to reach, cut off, and then be able to finish on second-level angles of departure. Both ‘K-Dot’ and Steve can do that in the run game with different ways of being fully functional. In the screen game, I think you’ve seen their athleticism displayed. ‘K-Dot’ had two, but Steve had a key block on that play as well that went viral for Puka on the screen.”</p><p>McVay is correct; <a href="https://x.com/BellinoZee/status/1867414959220789363" rel="noopener">Dotson’s block did go viral</a> for his impressive play down the field both for how easily he moved players down the field and for how it set up a big play for Nacua. If the Rams can add that to their weekly efforts moving forward, it’s safe to say fans will be very happy with the decision.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Puka-Nacua.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Sean McVay believes the Rams will call more screens moving forward</b></h2><p>Discussing the screen game further, McVay noted that he considers it part of the running game and plans to use it more often.</p><p>“I think because there’s some relief on the offensive line and in some instances, you don’t take for granted how difficult some of the arm slot changes are for the quarterback. There’s not as much mental toll. I think it has a lot of benefits to be able to slow the rush. You can make it look like a lot of different things depending upon what type of screen you’re talking about,” McVay told reporters. “The ones that we had yesterday with Puka [Nacua], I thought were critical plays to be able to get good, efficient ones. Some of them are on early downs. The one that we’re talking about was kind of in a second down and 10 plus situation. They’re really important to be able to get that off. I think fully functional offenses have different parts of their pass game and run game that they can efficiently activate based on what is needed within that game. I thought that was reflected yesterday with some good execution on a couple of those screens in particular.”</p><p>If screens can make Matthew Stafford and Kyren Williams’ lives easier while taking advantage of the athleticism of the likes of Nacua, it’s safe to say the late-season addition has been a wise one indeed.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">An example of an athlete 👟 at Guard.  Kevin Dotson (UL) …one of the best run blocking and movement guards in the NFL. 👀<a href="https://t.co/ElsylnaU70">pic.twitter.com/ElsylnaU70</a></p><p>— ZeeBee (@BellinoZee) <a href="https://twitter.com/BellinoZee/status/1867414959220789363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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