1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, Welcome to the Monday, January seventh edition of 2 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: Between the Horns Miles Simmons here as the Rams begin 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: the week of the Divisional Round, where they will face 4 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: the Dallas Cowboys at the Coliseum on Saturday, January twelfth. 5 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: And what a thrilling finish it was to Wildcard weekend, 6 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: with Bears kicker Cody Parkey getting a double doink and 7 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: missing a potential game winning forty three yard field goal 8 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: on Sunday Evening. That was really the deciding factor in 9 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: Dallas taking on Los Angeles in Los Angeles next Saturday, 10 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: since well, if Parkey hit that field goal, then the 11 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: Rams would have had a rematch with the Bears. So 12 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: on a conference called Sunday Evening, Rams head coach Sean 13 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: McVay said that watching the end of that Eagles Bears game, 14 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: and even just as an observer, that was probably a 15 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: little bit stressful. Yeah, I mean really, just I feel 16 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: like I'm more nervous watching games as a fan that 17 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: I am when we're involved in them, you know. I 18 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 1: just I could appreciate just the high caliber of ball 19 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: back and forth. A lot of good situations that came up. 20 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: I thought Chicago did some really good things, and then 21 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: I thought, Billy, you know, continue to feel an unbelievable 22 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: amount of resilience and and you know they have, you know, 23 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: making enough plays to get it done. But you know 24 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: the same being last night watching the Dallas Seattle game, 25 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: you know, you've just seen a lot of eye caliber 26 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 1: football and we're excited to be able to play next week. 27 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,839 Speaker 1: But once the end of that game hit, the Rams 28 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: were really ready to take on the Cowboys instead of 29 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: just looking at themselves critically as they had been for 30 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: the last week. Once you have some finality to that game, 31 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: then you immediately really started to dive into Dallas. And 32 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: our coaches have done a great job kind of getting 33 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: some ground war played where obviously after yesterday's game, we 34 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: knew it was going to be either Dallas or Chicago, 35 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:51,279 Speaker 1: So there was the cutuffs and a lot of different 36 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: things from a preparation standpoint, ready to go. And now 37 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: we'll kind of, you know, start the early phases to that. 38 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: But there were some things that we were going to 39 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: do regardless of the opponent, you know, on both sides, 40 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: and now we can really start to finalize our early 41 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: down and distance game plan and really dive into its 42 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: wall as well. Sean mcface said he even heard from 43 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: some players who were watching that game, and then we're 44 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: fired up to get going on a good week of 45 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: preparation for what was now a known opponent. Yeah, I mean, 46 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: as a bunch of the guys text, you know, just 47 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: because of you know what kind of back and forth 48 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: game it was, and I know we were all, you know, 49 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: excited to just figure out who we're playing. I don't 50 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: think anybody, I think we've all had a lot of 51 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: respect for both Affairs and the Cowboys, but I think 52 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: just getting the finality on no one who we're going 53 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: to be playing on Saturday at five fifteen, guys are 54 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: excited about that. We know it's going to be a 55 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: great galance. But yeah, there was a bunch of guys 56 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: that Tex did, let's go, let's get this thing rolling, 57 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 1: and they're excited about the opportunity to compete. So the 58 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: Cowboys are the only team in the NFC playoff picture 59 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: that the Rams did not face during the regular season 60 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: this year. But if you look at it, the two 61 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: teams did square off in Week four of that twenty 62 00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: seventeen season, with the Rams beating the Cowboys in Dallas 63 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: thirty five to thirty and in that game, Los Angeles 64 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 1: had to overcome a twenty four to thirteen second quarter 65 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: deficit in order to win. So the defense seemed to 66 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 1: turn a corner in that game, if you remember it, 67 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: allowing just second points in the second half to give 68 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: the offense the opportunity to win. Longtime Rams defensive lineman 69 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: Michael Brockers played a key role in that game, bringing 70 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: down Dak Prescott for a sack, and then he also 71 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: had two total quarterback hits and two passes defense. But 72 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: speaking early Sunday afternoon, this is before the Rams opponent 73 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: was locked in for the division round, Brockers made it 74 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: clear that twenty seventeen success might not have much to 75 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: do with twenty eighteen. Yeah, that was last year, old 76 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: new team. I mean, we'll see, we'll see. It's not 77 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: a team week phase before. So many they look good, 78 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: they look you know, awesome from last night. So we'll see. 79 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: As for the twenty eighteen Cowboys, outside linebacker Dante Fowler 80 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: actually played Dallas back in Week six as amber of 81 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: the Jaguars, though that was a game where Dallas really 82 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: manhandled Jacksonville to the tune of a forty to seven victory. 83 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: Fowler said that one of his lasting impressions of that 84 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: game was Dallas's physicality. I played against them, so I 85 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: just know, you know, their physical team might a running 86 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 1: ball of the lot. I got a very great running back, 87 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: very great Offerson arm and Mary Cooper Dad. In addition, 88 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 1: I know how good ever player he is. So they 89 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: got a great defense, So it'd be a pretty good 90 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,799 Speaker 1: match up. I know you're looking forward to it. Talking 91 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,919 Speaker 1: about this year's Cowboys squad on Sunday, Sean McVay had 92 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 1: high praise for both quarterback Dak Prescott and running back 93 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: Ezekiel Elliott. First ball, when you look at it at Seku, 94 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: I think he's, uh, you know, similar to Todd, one 95 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 1: of the most complete backs in the league, extremely productive. 96 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 1: I think he's got the ability to go through you 97 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: or go around you with speed. Uh you know, he's 98 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: gotten a lot more involved in the past game this year. 99 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: I think he's truly a complete back and you could 100 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: see that, uh you know, a lot of what they 101 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: do is predicated on just him getting a bunch of touches. 102 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: And then I think Dak Prescott is an incredible competitor. 103 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: I mean when he talked about the QB drawing the 104 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: third and long, what had got the effort. Even going 105 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: back to when we played Billy, I was just really 106 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: impressed with his ability to you know, really this with 107 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: the game on his back, and he through for you know, 108 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: a bunch of yards and had an unbelievable amount of completion. 109 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: So I think you're talking about two elade competitors that 110 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: are at their best in those crunch time moments. Their 111 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: production speaks for itself, and you can see their teammates 112 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: believe in them. We'll talk plenty more this week about 113 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: why Zeke Elliott, who was the NFL's twenty eighteen rushing leader, 114 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: and then quarterback Dak Prescott have been so successful for 115 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: Dallas and the challenges that they present in the lead 116 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: up to Saturday's game. But for now, let's get to 117 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 1: some Rams injury news, which was actually good news from 118 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 1: Sean McVay on Sunday. The head coach noted that both 119 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 1: running back Todd Gurley and safety LaMarcus Joiner should be 120 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:55,840 Speaker 1: good to go for the start of the practice week 121 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: on Tuesday, and in fact, Todd Gurley was on the 122 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: field for the rams light pre actice on Sunday afternoon. 123 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: I think, you know, both those guys haven't had that 124 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: last week off to give themselves another extra week to 125 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: to really get themselves, you know, feeling healthy and really 126 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 1: the bye week as well, so we intsipate those guys 127 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: being full participants, you know, as we when we get 128 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: back on Tuesday tomorrow, we'll represent like a normal indeed, 129 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 1: and Tuesday the players will be off and then uh, 130 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: you know, we'll move everything up a day, you know, 131 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: for what you guys are accustomed to do on a 132 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: normal Sunday game, considering we're playing on Saturday. Really, the 133 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: bye week is an important time for all players to 134 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,280 Speaker 1: get fresh and healthy in preparation for the postseason. Safety 135 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: John Johnson mentioned how helpful it's been for him, even 136 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: in terms of hydration and getting out any little aches 137 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: and pains towards the end of last week. An outside 138 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: linebacker Dante Fowler shared a similar view on Sunday rest uneath. 139 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: You know, just being able to maintain my body and 140 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: we'll take care of it and you know, make sure 141 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: that's you know, that's good going into this week. Supporting 142 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: thing I've been saying, like guys being gay, nick dupping 143 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: things like that in these games. So he just made 144 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: me realize that you gotta take care of your body 145 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: around this time because playing like eighteen nineteen twenty games now, 146 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: so m you know, you just gotta be a pro 147 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, cheat your body like a temple 148 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: and uh, they take care of you. Back on coaches, 149 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 1: it's also worth noting that there has not been too 150 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: much reporting about it, but Sean McVeigh confirmed the pass 151 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: game coordinator Shane Waldron and quarterbacks coach Zach Taylor both 152 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: completed their interviews with teams with a head coaching vacancy 153 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: over the weekend. Both those guys, you know, Zach ad 154 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: three and Jane had one, and those guys, you know, 155 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: I think they did a great job preparing. Um I'm 156 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: not you know, I wasn't there, but I know they 157 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: both felt good about the report, the dialogue that they 158 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: were able to have in those interviews, and I know 159 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: it was a great experience form And I would be 160 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: shocked if they didn't come off really well and do 161 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: an outstanding job just based on you know, my knowledge 162 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: of these guys and what I would have anticipated. But um, 163 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: you know they're ready to go, and they're fully focused 164 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: on getting us ready for the Cowboys this way. So 165 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: if Waldron or Taylor are to interview for a second 166 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: time with any one of those teams, it wouldn't be 167 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: until after the Rams are eliminated from the playoffs, or 168 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: until the week between the conference championship games and the 169 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: Super Bowl. So we will see what happens there. But 170 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: let's get you out of here for this podcast. On 171 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: actually a little historical fact between LA and Dallas matchups 172 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: in the postseason. So the Rams are actually four and 173 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: four all time against the Cowboys in postseason play. But 174 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: the last time these two teams faced one another in 175 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:36,959 Speaker 1: a playoff game was way back in nineteen eighty six, 176 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: when Los Angeles shut out Dallas twenty to zero behind 177 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: two hundred and forty eight yards rushing and two touchdowns 178 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:46,719 Speaker 1: from Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson. Now, I thought it 179 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: was kind of crazy to look at the box score 180 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: from that game. Now, but if you look at a quarterback. 181 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: Dieter Brock was the Rams starter in that game, and 182 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: he had just fifty yards passing five zero. So well, 183 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: I guess that's all you need if you get nearly 184 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: two hundred fifty yards from your running back. That'll do 185 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: it for the Monday, January seventh edition of Between the 186 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: Horns Miles Simmons, everybody's saying thanks so much for listening. 187 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: You can remember to please subscribe to the podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, 188 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: or Apple Podcasts, where you can also rate and review 189 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: the podcast there as well. We'll be bringing you continuous 190 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 1: coverage of the team on the Rams dot com all week, 191 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: so it can also be sure to download that RAMS 192 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: mobile app. Have a great one, everybody. Rabbit