(“The TEN” is not a top ten but ten items worth being included in “The TEN”
- K.C. Jones, who was a twelve-time NBA champion as a player and coach with the Boston Celtics, passed away at the age of 88 the team announced Friday.
- Former boxer Frankie Randall, a three time world champion and the first man to defeat Julio Cesar Chavez, passed away at the age of 59.
- The Duke Women’s basketball team has decided to end its season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with six rushing touchdowns to lead the New Orleans Saints to a 52-33 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day.
- “The lights will soon come back on and we will get to work in preparation for a season like none other…we are eager for the opportunity! Official practice begins January 4.” – Azusa Pacific Men’s Basketball on Twitter.
- Utah running back Ty Jordan, who was recently named the Pac 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, has died due to an apparent accidental self inflicted gunshot wound.
- With a 62-59 loss to Louisville on Saturday, Kentucky, now 1-6, is off to its worst start since 1911.
- The Rams fell to the Seattle Seahawks 20-9 Sunday to fall to 9-6 on the year. If the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals next week at SoFi Stadium they can clinch a playoff berth.
- The New York Jets picked up their second win of the year with a 23-16 upset of the Cleveland Browns Sunday.
- Phil Niekro, a Hall of Famer who won 318 games as a knuckleball pitcher in 24 major league seasons, passed away Saturday at the age of 81.
Well, the Rams saved their season and made the playoffs by beating the Arizona Cardinals, 18-7. They did it with their typically stellar defense and a solid performance by rookie quarterback John Wolford, who made his first appearance in an NFL regular-season game.
The young man deserves a lot of credit. He might stick around in the league for a while.
Kaepernick, Bortles, or Wolford? Whom would you rather start?
I believe Kaepernick is still being quietly blacklisted, despite the public posturing by some NFL types during the protests several months ago. He could’ve helped a bunch of teams by now.
At least Kaepernick can run the ball the way Russell Wilson or a healthy Dak Prescott can when they’re unable to find any open receivers.
We will agree to disagree about kaeperdicks ability to be any ones solution at QB. He hasn’t played in years, has done nothing to stay in playing shape and if he was serious about playing he wouldn’t have played cat & mouse with the scouts who were invited to his private workout when he suddenly at the last minute changed the location. Guy’s a scammer. His playing days are over. The CFL wasn’t even interested in him. Let him stay at home on Nike’s payroll.
@ Question Mark: I’m surprised that the 49ers didn’t re-sign Colin Kaepernick after Jimmy Garoppolo went down earlier this season.
I believe that a QB with Kaepernick’s aggressive style is exactly what the Rams’ offense needs. Jared Goff has the physical tools, but he often looks passive out there, and, as you implied, seems to dislike running with the ball.
Expanding on your point about how frustrated the members of the Rams’ defensive unit must be, they’ve allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL (289), but the offense has lagged behind for weeks. L.A. has lost two games in a row and is now in danger of missing the playoffs.
The Rams have wasted good defensive performances too many times.
In contrast, the Miami Dolphins, who lead the NFL with only 282 points allowed, have improved to 10-5 in overcoming a slow start, and they’re on the cusp of making a playoff appearance. The Dolphins’ “No-Name Defense ” (Version 2.0) has been a key factor in the team’s resurgence.
Then there are the 12-3 Pittsburgh Steelers, who have clinched the AFC North behind “Big Ben” Roethlisberger and their current “Steel Curtain” defense. Pittsburgh has allowed its opponents just
288 points, which is the second-lowest total in the NFL so far this season.
I enjoy watching teams that play good defense and make it count.
Bortles? Bortles? Isn’t there a veteran QB in great shape that is known to extend plays and runs hard when he sees wide open green. Oh man Whats his name??…I think it starts with a K and ends with a K.
This news just in: The Rams have signed Blake Bortles to augment their corps of backup QB’s. We’ll see what impact that will have on Sunday’s game.
Good analysis, Question Mark. Thanks.
The one good thing the Rams have going for them is that the Packers can’t just sit their starters for the Bears game. They need to win in order to get the first round bye. That’s a huge deal for an aging team like GB. Bears lose Ram’s are in somewhere. The Ram’s defense must be tearing their hair out in frustration. They are playing great only to have Goff and McVay be totally inept and turn the ball over or punt. Suggestion, put Aaron Donald at QB and Jalen Ramsey at wide out. Couldn’t be any worse than Goff. Who is Woffard? Rams don’t even have a veteran backup?
@ Question Mark: Or he loves the weather in the San Francisco Bay area, which isn’t bad if you don’t mind the heavy fog in August.
@ Question Mark again: The Rams’ playoff hopes are now hanging by a thread.
According to the L.A. Times, Jared Goff just had surgery for a right-thumb fracture and will miss Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. John Wolford will be starting at quarterback for the Rams.
They could’ve avoided a lot of this drama by simply winning at home a week ago against the Jets…
How McVay could watch Goff lay one egg after another and not sit him down for at least a series is nuts. He could have run for 100 yards without being touched in this game. Seattle was daring him to run but he would rather throw ints. The two times he tried to run he slid 10 yards before he had to and on the sneak all he had to do was extend the ball 6 inches with his 6’4″ frame but no he ducked and covered. Now he trying to blame his sore thumb. That should put him on the DL for two years. Chris Everett Jr.
San Jose St.-Ball St. Fun game to watch. SJS head coach turned down offers from Pac 10 and Big 10 huge programs and probably huge money to stay for 3 years at SJS. I guess he likes the home cooking.
The Rams may have been reduced to hoping that Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray won’t be in tip-top shape for next Sunday’s big game in L.A.
As far as I’m concerned, the home-field advantage for the Rams will be minimal at best because: 1) No fans will be allowed into SoFi Stadium; and 2) They lost to the New York Jets at home just a week ago, giving the now 2-13 Jets their first win of the season.