PREGAME Beating the Bucs

[Merlin]

We lost 5 games this year and all 5 losses were to teams in the playoffs.

We avenged one loss last night, but the other 4 losses all belong to teams left in the divisional round.

When I watch this team I feel like they're good enough to rectify that shit. Way they're playing right now, let's gooooo.

 

[Dodgersrf]

Brady plays like shit when he gets hit. We need to hit him early and often.


Evans is the best at NOT getting OPI calls. He's a very grabby wr. Keep Ramsey on him.

 

[LouisvilleRam]

I'm pretty sure we match up better going into this divisional playoff game than we did last year. I don't anyone was surprised we lost that one. This time we seem to be better suited for the opponent. The one thing they have to expect is Brady will want to get the ball out quicker. They have to be ready for quick slants and stuff over the middle to Gronk.

Plus that one guy #10 is healthy this year

 

[snackdaddy]

Brady plays like shit when he gets hit. We need to hit him early and often.


Evans is the best at NOT getting OPI calls. He's a very grabby wr. Keep Ramsey on him.

The problem with hitting Brady after he releases the ball is the refs seem to baby him. Whenever I see another quarterback get whacked after a pass and no flag, the first thought that comes to my head is "That would be a penalty if he was Tom Brady".

 

[12intheBox]

If both teams play their best ball, I think we win.

 

[jrry32]

Execute like we did the last time we played them. Brady is Brady, but his big weakness is pressure, particularly interior pressure. If we get after him, we can rattle him. If the offense can play a clean game, we can put Brady in a tough spot. Just gotta execute.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

We have the matchup that a lot wanted in the second round, except we're on the road and not at home. If the secondary doesn't give up easy throws like last game, we should win.

 

[Loyal]

Ok boys, I know I talk a lot of trash, but I am more confident about the Rams winning this game and winning it all! As for the Bucs, the additions to the team through midseason signings and the return of Cam Akers, are game changers. Tampa now has a small amount of tape on Sean McVay's original offense that he planned before Cam's injury, but it's not enough for them to get a bead on it. Cam looks like a stallion that is ready to roll through the playoffs. Kupp provides a decoy that allows OBJ to be covered one-on-one, and Higbee is ready to clean up their secondary. Von provides veteran leadership and ability on the DLine and I think Weddle provides leadership to the young guys in the back end, whether he plays or not. The Rams flipped a switch this game. I think if the 49ers game had come week later than it did, there's no way we would have lost. I sure hope the Niners can beat the Packers and then we beat the Bucs.

We'll party like it's 1989, with a happier outcome at SoFi!

 

[payote75]

We know we need to get Brady off his spot that's key having said that I hope the rams watch all the game film of the Saints vs BUCS especially the 9-0 saints win. Brady was so frustrated and pretty much always is against the saints.

 

[“Turbo set!”]

A shootout may be the only way to win. I would take our chances doing that. I am not sure our O-Line can protect well enough to win that type of game though. Although the Bucs D-Line is not the 49ers.

 

[thirteen28]

I was listening to the Downtown Rams podcast earlier this evening, and they noted that, while Tampa Bay had been good against the run most of the season, they have given up over 5 yards a carry in their last three games. I haven't checked to verify, but if that's true, they are going to be in trouble against now that Cam is back in the lineup and Sony has been running well.

On the other side, if their OL is undermanned and dealing with injuries, our DL should be able to get after Brady.

 

[Loyal]

I was listening to the Downtown Rams podcast earlier this evening, and they noted that, while Tampa Bay had been good against the run most of the season, they have given up over 5 yards a carry in their last three games. I haven't checked to verify, but if that's true, they are going to be in trouble against now that Cam is back in the lineup and Sony has been running well.

On the other side, if their OL is undermanned and dealing with injuries, our DL should be able to get after Brady.

WE-WILL-WIN

 

[PhillyRam]

The threat with Tampa is their lines. If their OL can handle our rush Brady will riddle our secondary all day long. And if their DL can get our OL to disintegrate they probably win the game.

This is always true in the playoffs IMO but for the Rams it is more true because their OL needs run game balance on the offensive side, and their DL is masking a weak secondary on the defensive side. We're relying on the big dogs here boys.

Whichever team can run the ball will win. Its that simple.

 

[Merlin]

WE-WILL-WIN

 

[CGI_Ram]

Preparing for Tom Brady on short week? Rams coach not worried

The Rams defeated Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 26 but are left with a short week to prepare for an NFL playoff rematch on Sunday.

www.latimes.com

Preparing for Tom Brady on short week? Rams coach not worried​

A day after his team discombobulated a third-year quarterback playing in his first playoff game, Rams coach Sean McVay and his staff turned their attention to neutralizing the most successful quarterback in NFL history.

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is not as mobile as the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray, but the 22nd-year pro presents myriad problems because of his talent, savvy and playoff experience.

All of those will be factors when the Rams play the defending Super Bowl-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC divisional-round game on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

“He recognizes exactly what’s going on,” McVay said of Brady during a videoconference with reporters on Tuesday, “and so I think the best way is try and influence and affect, move him off his spot, be able to win with your rushes.

“Easier said than done. It’s why he’s the most successful quarterback of all time.”

Brady, 44, finished the season ranked first in the NFL in passing yardage and touchdown passes. He completed nearly 68% of his attempts for 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns, with 12 interceptions.

After their 34-11 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night, several Rams said they respect Brady, who is 35-11 in postseason starts, but they are ready for the challenge.

“Tom sees the whole field, and we all know about Tom in the playoffs,” outside linebacker Von Miller said. “He’s incredible, man. We have to play our best ball to have a chance.”

McVay has faced Brady three times. In Super Bowl LIII at the end of the 2018 season, Brady completed 21 of 35 passes for 262 yards, with an interception, in the New England Patriots’ 13-3 victory over the Rams that gave Brady his sixth Super Bowl title.

But the Rams have not lost to Brady since he signed with the Buccaneers last season. In a 27-24 loss to the Rams in November 2020, Brady completed 26 of 48 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. On Sept. 26 at SoFi Stadium, Brady completed 41 of 55 passes for 432 yards and a touchdown in a 34-24 defeat. He was sacked three times.

But Brady is at his best in the playoffs. Last season he helped the Buccaneers become the first team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium.

The star-studded Rams want to repeat the feat.

Brady opened this season’s playoffs Sunday by completing 29 of 37 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-15 wild-card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He was sacked four times.

The Rams entered the playoffs with 50 sacks, which ranked third in the NFL, and then sacked Murray twice on Sunday. Lineman Aaron Donald has a team-best 13 sacks. Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd has 9½, Miller six.

Since they played Monday night, the Rams have a short week to prepare for the Buccaneers. Players were off Tuesday. The Rams will have a walk-through on Wednesday and practice Thursday and Friday before departing for Tampa on Saturday.

For a team that endured a coronavirus outbreak and played a game against the Seattle Seahawks that was moved from Sunday to Tuesday, a short week is nothing to be concerned about, McVay said.

“Normal is unnormal this year,” he said. “We really haven’t had much normalcy over the last six, seven weeks.”

Etc.

Left tackle Andrew Whitworth will continue to be evaluated for knee and ankle injuries while cornerback David Long Jr., who returned an interception for a touchdown Monday, is being evaluated for a knee injury, McVay said. Linebacker Ernest Jones and running back Darrell Henderson, who have been on injured reserve, could return to practice this week, opening a 21-day window for their possible return to the roster, McVay said. ... The Minnesota Vikings requested permission to speak with defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to interview for their head coach position, a person with knowledge of the situation said. Offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell received requests from the Vikings, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, and running backs coach Thomas Brown from the Miami Dolphins, the person said.

 

[CGI_Ram]

They will have some backups filling in on their O-Line. Local sports talk was very concerned about the injuries they had against Philly on the O-Line.

This is a big deal.

The one thing they have to expect is Brady will want to get the ball out quicker.

We need to expect this, and be ready.

 

[RamUK]

The Rams WILL win I have a good feeling about it.

I have had this feeling since we lost to the 9ers that we'd meet them again.

I'm reminded of John Madden saying during the OT win against the Giants in 89 that John Robinson had fired everybody up by saying one more game, just one more game and you get to play these guys (meaning the 9ers) again.

I'm getting hard for the first time in a decade just thinking about making the Super Bowl by beating the 9ers.

 

[rdw]

Ok boys, I know I talk a lot of trash, but I am more confident about the Rams winning this game and winning it all! As for the Bucs, the additions to the team through midseason signings and the return of Cam Akers, are game changers. Tampa now has a small amount of tape on Sean McVay's original offense that he planned before Cam's injury, but it's not enough for them to get a bead on it. Cam looks like a stallion that is ready to roll through the playoffs. Kupp provides a decoy that allows OBJ to be covered one-on-one, and Higbee is ready to clean up their secondary. Von provides veteran leadership and ability on the DLine and I think Weddle provides leadership to the young guys in the back end, whether he plays or not. The Rams flipped a switch this game. I think if the 49ers game had come week later than it did, there's no way we would have lost. I sure hope the Niners can beat the Packers and then we beat the Bucs.

We'll party like it's 1989, with a happier outcome at SoFi!

I want revenge for '89 so bad. The NFC championship crushed young rdw.

 

[Psycho_X]

Plus that one guy #10 is healthy this year

This is such an understated fact this go around. Having no Kupp in 2018 and a very limited Kupp AND AD against Green Bay last year due to Kupp's knee getting de-gloved and AD getting flopped on by that fat ass in Seattle really hampered us the last two playoff runs. Yes, we have some injuries that will definitely be issues in the playoffs but for the first time we aren't missing any critical super stars. I guess no Robert Woods is a huge loss but not as big as Kupp or AD being out like previously.

 

[RamWoodie]

The Rams have been the more physical of the two teams in their last two meetings which are Ram wins.

Where my concern is...is Evans and Gronk with Brady. Brady is definitely going to get rid of the ball fast to those two guys against a somewhat small Ram secondary.

I think Tampa will want to keep the ball from the Ram offense and keep Donald & Co on the field.

We'll see...