1 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to Between the Horns, brought to you by your 2 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Southern California and Toyota dealers. I'm Kirsten Watson alongside me 3 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: as DeMarco far jav Long and it is a victory Friday. 4 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: Last night, the Rams had a huge win over the Saints. 5 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,319 Speaker 1: It was primetime Thursday night football, but this was a 6 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: game that had a lot of playoff implications on the line. 7 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: The atmosphere was insane, the game was electric. So I 8 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: want to get your guys just immediate reactions to last 9 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: night's performance from the Rams. 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 2: We'll start with you, Toner. 11 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 3: It met everything this game. 12 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 4: I mean, it was the biggest game of the year, 13 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 4: biggest game we've had here in a long time outside 14 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 4: of the Super Bowl. 15 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 3: So both teams needed it. 16 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 4: You're fighting for your very playoff survival here and there's 17 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 4: only one football There can only be only one winner, 18 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 4: and the Rams came out and got it done. So 19 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 4: we said this all week. I hope the Rams play 20 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 4: up to their competition. I hope they treat New Orleans 21 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 4: like they treated Baltimore. Show them the ultimate respect and 22 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 4: go out there and play your best football game. I 23 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 4: thought they were close. Uh, they got it. 24 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 3: Done. 25 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 4: I thought the the final score wasn't really indicative of 26 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 4: how that game went. It should have been a blowout 27 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 4: victory for the Rams, but heck of a job. The 28 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 4: entertainment value and so far was through the roof and 29 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 4: you went home with a victory. 30 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 3: What could be better? 31 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 5: I mean, I thought show he was going to be 32 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 5: the coolest Dodg here that I got to hang out 33 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 5: with this week, and now not even twenty four hours later, 34 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 5: Kirsten's host him between the horns. 35 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 6: Wow, I'm so grateful that you understand that, because that 36 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 6: is amazing. Flight yesterday when it was like this Dodger's 37 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 6: Rams crossover and I was like, but what about me, Tony, 38 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:35,279 Speaker 6: So you know what. 39 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 2: I'm gonna let him be that. 40 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: But you know, it was amazing to see him at 41 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: SOFI Stadium and just and he was kind of like 42 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: the sprinkled to the show with the Rams put on 43 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: because it was so electric. 44 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 3: It was the seventeen for Puka or him, Pooka. 45 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 5: It was yeah, all the above, because that he was 46 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 5: still there in the winning locker room. It wasn't just 47 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 5: an appearance. He was part of it. And I left thinking, 48 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 5: thank you, and I have a couple well thank you 49 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 5: is that I'd like to dole out in this holiday season. 50 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 5: The first would be to the fans who invested their 51 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 5: time and their resources in the Rams this season, especially 52 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 5: at Sofi Stadium, where the Rams went five and three 53 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 5: this year. They closed this season winning their last four 54 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,399 Speaker 5: games in Englewood, and I want to leave the door open. 55 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 5: The possibility of the first six versus seven NFC championship 56 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 5: game in NFL history before this year is true, but 57 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 5: mostly as we continue to build a home field advantage, 58 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 5: I think those winning memories are super important, and so 59 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 5: thank you to those who contributed to last night's victory 60 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 5: in the last four when Cam Jordan gets a neutral 61 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 5: zone infraction to help you run out the clock like, 62 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 5: that's a really good sign I think in your home building. 63 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 5: And the other thank you is to the front office 64 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 5: and to the organization and the coaches, because they brought 65 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 5: a Lombardi Trophy to Los Angeles, and when it came 66 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 5: off the rails when they tried to run it back, 67 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 5: they would have had every justification to tear it down 68 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 5: and to start over and to use that equity they 69 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 5: had built to build the next championship run in just 70 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 5: one offseason, choosing to retool on the fly. What have 71 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 5: they given the Rams us as employees? They're fans. I mean, 72 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 5: how great is. 73 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 3: This open December? Man? That was awesome? How great is this? 74 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 4: La brought the heat, didn't they? It was loud in there. 75 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 4: It was absolutely loud. Yeah, I'd never thought of that. 76 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 4: The false start with Cam Jordan. That was awesome. What 77 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 4: a nod to the crowd. Let's keep building on that. 78 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 4: That was awesome. That place could be, like I said, 79 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 4: a pit of you know what for opposing teams if 80 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 4: everybody pitches in and just gets loud. 81 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 3: And it was loud in there. 82 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 5: And I'm not trying to sell tickets for next year, 83 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 5: but it is Christmas on money, right, Yeah. Next year's 84 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 5: home schedule Buffalo, Miami, Green Bay, Minnesota, maybe the Cowboys 85 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 5: of the Eagles, maybe the Raiders. It is a tremendous 86 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 5: home slate. But we know what those opposing audiences are 87 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 5: like and so and so year over year, the more 88 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 5: Rams fans we can have in that building, it impacts winning, 89 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 5: and those wins I think impact fandom. 90 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 3: So I'm super excited. New York Giants, New York Giants, 91 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 3: New York Giants. We got the next opponent. I'm sorry, 92 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 3: not there yet. 93 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 1: Nothing, But when you think about it, I want to 94 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: go back to last night, because you're right, the atmosphere 95 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: in the stadium it was electric. I even was talking 96 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: to Cameron Ruin, our co host, on the field, and 97 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: we were saying it honestly felt it was reminiscence of 98 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl or even the NFC Championship two years ago, 99 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: and so to have that feeling, but also to know 100 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: kind of what the stakes were on the field for 101 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: those guys. When you think about just the performance, the 102 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: big time defensive stopped early in the game to kind 103 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: of set the tone for the offense. What did you 104 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: What were your takeaways from the win yesterday? 105 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 4: Matthew Stafford is better than advertised, and I'm glad the 106 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 4: rest of the world is getting to see what we 107 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 4: see about him. Maybe you missed half of that or 108 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 4: most of his career in Detroit, but he is special. 109 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 4: When you talk about throwers of the football, just arm talent, 110 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 4: one of the best, if not one of the best 111 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 4: ever playing right now, knowing the game, knowing what's happening. 112 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 4: He did it twice two weeks in a row, where 113 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 4: He absolutely stymingto defense by getting you in and out 114 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 4: of bad plays, just looking to see what they're about 115 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 4: to do and checking in and out and getting the 116 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 4: ball out. He absolutely just tortured New Orleans that defense yesterday, 117 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 4: so many eye violations, great play calling by Sean McVay 118 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 4: and the offense. The defense continues to be I don't 119 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 4: know how to describe them, just intense and just refuse 120 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 4: to bend and break in certain situations. And they keep 121 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 4: making plays. So I still think their best game is 122 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 4: out there for them. But the way they're playing right 123 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 4: now and on both sides of the football, they're peaking 124 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 4: at the right time. When you talk about getting into 125 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,599 Speaker 4: the playoffs and beyond, this team is moving in the 126 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 4: right direction towards the playoffs. 127 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 5: I'll pick up the thought with the trenches. I think 128 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 5: on both sides of the line of scrimmage, the Rams 129 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 5: are winning consistently and routinely. When's the last time they 130 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 5: clearly definitively lost either side of the line of scrimmage. 131 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 3: It's been a while. Yeah. 132 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 5: I think that ties in directly to what they've done 133 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 5: and their success since the buy. DeMarcus Robinson, what a revelation. 134 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 5: Touchdowns and four straight games. I'm still trying to figure 135 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 5: out how Stafford found him underneath that goalpost and above 136 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 5: the defender. That was a key hole shot. Maybe my 137 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 5: favorite throw this season. I didn't appreciate because we were 138 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 5: so far away how good of a throw in to 139 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 5: play that was. But when you put Cooper, Nikua and 140 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 5: Kyron on the field at the same time. It's happened 141 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 5: seven times this year. In those games, the Rams are 142 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 5: averaging twenty nine points per game in over six yards 143 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 5: per play. 144 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 3: Wow. Wow, that'll win, young studs, that'll win. 145 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 5: And now they have this mini by now they have 146 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 5: a four day weekend, nine days off before their next game. 147 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 5: And I think Cooper more than anyone. He's been rehabbing 148 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 5: for like a year now. 149 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 3: Tomorrow, yeah, yeah, yeah, he's looking good. 150 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 5: It feels like his wheels are about to fall off. 151 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 5: And now you get him this long stretch of rest. 152 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 5: I can I cannot wait to see what it looks 153 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 5: like in New York if he's as good as health 154 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 5: wise as he's been all year. 155 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 4: The the old line, Kevin Dotson, Steve Avila, all these 156 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 4: guys coming together, and Kyen Williams running the football and 157 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 4: the way he's running it, the way he's glancing off contact. 158 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 4: I mean, he's changing perception. And I am so glad 159 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 4: DeMarcus Robinson is getting an opportunity. 160 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 3: I really am. 161 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 4: Think about his career from Florida start stop, start stop, 162 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 4: start stop. Other guys Kansas City went in a different direction. 163 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 4: Lamar gets hurt in Baltimore. Eh, he may get a 164 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 4: shot here. Now he's getting the rep. I know the 165 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,840 Speaker 4: throw is great, but the catch was unbelievable. He caught 166 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 4: the back end of the football. 167 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 5: I agree, how do. 168 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 3: You do that? 169 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 5: How did he even find the football? 170 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 3: That's what I'm saying, a bullet and caught it unreal. 171 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 4: So, yes, Matthew Stafford is raising the level of play 172 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 4: of everyone around him, and they're all feet. 173 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 5: I think it's I think it's his best stretch of 174 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 5: professional football. And I can I can argue that and 175 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 5: back that up. But I think part of the reason 176 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 5: why is this is irrefutably the best running game he's. 177 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 3: Ever worked with. Yes, yes, so if. 178 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 5: He's feeling right, his weapons are dynamic, and you got 179 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 5: this offensive line in Kyrin Williams. 180 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 3: Look out so much exactly. 181 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: It's been a fantastic about the December for Matthew Stafford, 182 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: but you hit on something just regarding the depth of 183 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,119 Speaker 1: the receivers group. So earlier, head coach On McVay actually 184 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: spoke to the media going into kind of with all 185 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: of these options, what that looks like from his standpoint 186 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: as the play caller. 187 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 7: Everything is open and ultimately it's it starts with Matthew, 188 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,040 Speaker 7: and Matthew does such a great job enabling us to 189 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 7: activate a lot of different things that maybe teams couldn't 190 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 7: do otherwise. I think the offensive lines protected really well. 191 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 7: Our backs are doing an excellent job, you know, Kayron 192 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 7: being able to allow us to stay on schedule. So 193 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 7: football is the greatest team sport that there is. They 194 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 7: go hand in hand, and I think it's a huge 195 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 7: credit to those guys getting it done. But when you can, 196 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 7: if you're going to be a good offense, you. 197 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 3: Better be able to do both. 198 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 7: And I think we've had that reflected over the last 199 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 7: you know, handful of games, and it's about how you 200 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 7: move forward, and we got to continue to do that 201 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 7: if we want to, you know, go where we're trying 202 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 7: to go. 203 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: Well, as we just heard from head coach on McVay 204 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: kind of he is in an a situation where he 205 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: has a lot of options and a lot of weapons 206 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: to continue to find success as a play color for 207 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: this team. 208 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 2: And every all. 209 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: We obviously know how impressive he is as a head coach, 210 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: what though, feels different potentially as you kind of reflect 211 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: on these last handful of weeks. The Rams have won 212 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: five of their last six games. They're in an incredible position, 213 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: putting themselves now at the sixth seed in a playoff push. Well, 214 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: what are you kind of your takeaways to what he's 215 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: been doing offensively and finding success for this I. 216 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 4: Just's he's doing the impossible. I mean, you just said 217 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 4: the Rams have a shot or they're in the sixth seed. 218 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 4: Think about going into the bye week, I mean seeding 219 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 4: in playoffs. You weren't even playoffs. You weren't even gonna 220 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 4: say it, But here you are. Now it's a it's 221 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 4: a real thing. And he seems like, you know, the 222 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 4: the rich kid with a bunch of toys. He's just 223 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 4: got anything he can do, and he's got any combination 224 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 4: he can throw out. I said this before when you 225 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 4: bring in DeMarcus Robinson and I'm not done with two 226 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 4: two out well with that speed, and then Cooper Cup 227 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 4: ranting in the form and Pooka Nakua doing what he 228 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 4: does out in the open field. He is so physical. 229 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 4: There's too many questions for a defense to answer. Who 230 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:39,839 Speaker 4: do we cover? Who do we match up on? Who 231 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 4: do we single up on? Who do we say, okay, 232 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 4: we're okay with this guy beating us. If we lock 233 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 4: down Cooper Cup, then Pooka goes nuts. If you lock 234 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 4: down Pooka Nakua, then Cooper Cup goes nuts. And oh, 235 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 4: by the way, tight ends start to make a big impact, 236 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 4: and then Kyraen Kyra Williams starts to run and chip 237 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 4: away at you. So uh, there's a lot of things 238 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 4: they can do. There's a lot of things they can 239 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 4: improve upon. But yeah, as a play caller, he's got 240 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 4: so many weapons at his disposal. And the little game 241 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,720 Speaker 4: between Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay is so funny to watch. 242 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 4: What game because it gets low in the play clock 243 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 4: and Sean McVay starts to run towards the referee to 244 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 4: make the timeout and Matthew Stafford's act he acts like 245 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 4: he can't see him. 246 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 3: I only get this off before he stops. 247 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 5: Almost stopped watching the play clock and just started watching Sean, Like, 248 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 5: if he starts thirty yards away, when he gets to twenty, 249 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 5: there's three seconds left. When he gets to ten, yes, 250 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 5: one second left, and as he flies by, the. 251 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 3: Official turns it starts to go. Yeah. 252 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 5: Look, you know me. I think he's a force in nature. 253 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 5: I think he's the best coach in the league. I 254 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 5: think he has done his best work since at least 255 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 5: twenty seventeen, if not period. 256 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 3: This season. 257 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 5: I think he deserves to be NFL Coach of the Year, 258 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 5: though there are certainly some other deserving candidates. Right now, 259 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 5: the only thing that's stopping Sean McVay in the offense 260 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 5: is Sean McVay when he takes his offense off the field. 261 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,320 Speaker 5: And I think that's another thing he said today. We'll 262 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 5: get to the kicking game and the possibility that it 263 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 5: could cost the Rams a chance to get to where 264 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 5: they want to go. But he's got one of, if 265 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 5: not the best quarterbacks on the planet right now. He's 266 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 5: got one of the most efficient offenses is in the 267 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 5: NFL right now. I think in these final two games, 268 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 5: you'll see those fourth and twos become go forward and 269 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 5: plus territory, and I think the results will justify those 270 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 5: decisions for Sean McVay. And and when I say McVay, 271 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 5: it's not just him, it's the coaching staff that he's 272 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 5: hired and the way they've elevated this entire program. 273 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 3: Can we just skip the special teams bort it's victory Friday? 274 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 5: Yeah, we can out My bad I lost the prop 275 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 5: to DeMarco. He playing a game of chicken. Who would 276 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 5: go there? 277 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: Okay, Yeah, we're gonna so happy because not only is 278 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 1: it the holiday season, but like this is the time 279 00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: of the year where you get to be really really 280 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: excited because look, there's two games left the regular season 281 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: and then it's going to be the playoffs. And with 282 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 1: this Rams team, as we talked about earlier, you know, 283 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: going up into their bye week, things were it didn't 284 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: feel like their record was representative as to who they 285 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: actually are, and there were some games that you know, 286 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: probably they should have had but they just didn't. Since 287 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: the bye week, things have been right on track. They 288 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 1: currently say, well, going into last night, I'll start with this, 289 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: they were seven and seven, they were seventh seed, taking 290 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: that final wild card spot. The Saints were also a 291 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:05,319 Speaker 1: seven and seven team, so there was a lot of 292 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 1: playoff implications as to what that game could mean for 293 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: both of the teams. The Rams, of course get the win. 294 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: They now moved to the sixth seeds, so we have 295 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: the Eagles at five, Rams at six. The Vikings are 296 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: now with the seventh seed, so things are looking very 297 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: very good. There was a small list of inactive yesterday. 298 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: We have a lot of healthy guys that are back. 299 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: It's kind of best case scenario for this team right now. 300 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: But as you kind of prepare ust for not only 301 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 1: the Giants and then the forty nine ers. As much 302 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:32,439 Speaker 1: as it does feel like, you know, you want to 303 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: win out the rest of this regular season, but to 304 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: be in a situation now where you're above five hundred, 305 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: you're the sixth seed in the playoffs, feels like everything 306 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: is going right right now. I guess my first question 307 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 1: is are the Rams the scariest team in the NFC 308 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: at because it does feel like things are right on 309 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: their side. 310 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, it feels like they fix the leaky window in 311 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 3: the house. 312 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 2: Ah, just messing with you, No, thank you. 313 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 3: It's awesome though, He's got to you know what I thought, 314 00:12:58,920 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 3: I like what you said. 315 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,880 Speaker 4: The selliot point about that is the playoffs are going 316 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 4: to start in a couple of weeks, right. I hope 317 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 4: the Rams are going to be a part of it, 318 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 4: because they're gonna play the playoffs anyway, so I hope 319 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 4: you qualify for that. And something you said about the 320 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 4: totality of the coaching status is not just McVeigh. I 321 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 4: was talking to Eric Henderson about Kobe Turner and I said, wow, 322 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 4: ninety one has really come a long way. And he 323 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 4: starts and goes. He gets better every week. He works 324 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 4: so hard he does this and I said, coach, it's 325 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 4: not like he has a choice, and he stops and smiles. 326 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 4: He's like, he's right. These guys that have been really 327 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 4: coaching their butt off getting these young guys ready to play. 328 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 4: Think about this, young starters in the National Football League. 329 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 4: You're still trying to figure out what's what. But all 330 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 4: these guys have become veterans inside of ten weeks, and 331 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 4: now they might be a playoff team because of some 332 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 4: of those guys. Some of the biggest plays on defense 333 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 4: were made by youngsters yesterday, not the stars we were 334 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 4: talking about. So that's how you draft, develop and get 335 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 4: guys ready to go and get them to the top 336 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 4: of their abilities in one season. 337 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 3: Great job by the coaching stuy. 338 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 5: I want to follow up on that, but I think 339 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 5: we've gone too far without given like the disclaimer, none 340 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,439 Speaker 5: of us think this is mission accomplished. 341 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 2: No, no, no, no, taking. 342 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 5: Nothing for granted, we're talking about optimistic things, but stumbling 343 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 5: to zero and two at the finish line entirely possible, 344 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 5: missing out on the playoffs at nine and eight because 345 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 5: of what Seattle or Minnesota could do, entirely possible. We're 346 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 5: not blind to those realities. But what we are saying is, 347 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 5: let's capitalize on these good things that are happening. And 348 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 5: I'm going to go as far to say stop setting 349 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 5: sites so low. I've been guilty of saying, hey, nine 350 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 5: to eight, winning record, that should get you into the playoffs. No, no, no, 351 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 5: Ten's the number. Ten is the number to Marco, and 352 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 5: it's not just to get into the playoffs. But I'm 353 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 5: going to talk about what's after that. But some of 354 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 5: us have hoped that San Francisco might be resting starters 355 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 5: in week eighteen. Not for me anymore, Not for me anymore. Yeah, 356 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 5: what if Baltimore gets them on Monday night, and that 357 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 5: could happen. Niners have ravens Monday at Washington than the Rams. 358 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 5: They could lose two out of three, and if Dallas 359 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 5: or Philadelphia run the table, the Rams could have the 360 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 5: honor of robbing San Francisco of that one seed they 361 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 5: feel like they've been entitled to since training camp. When 362 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 5: we talk about how you measure success in twenty twenty three, 363 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 5: going back to our training camp, one of the things 364 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 5: that I've been saying is beat San Francisco. No matter 365 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 5: what else happens. If you beat San Francisco this year, 366 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 5: a lot of RAMS fans would consider that success. That 367 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 5: opportunity is still in front of you. The other thing 368 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 5: I'll say is, in terms of elevating your expectations, it's 369 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 5: not just getting in but staying in. Because Aaron is 370 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 5: thirty two, Matthew's about to turn thirty six, Cooper's thirty. 371 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 5: This does not last forever, right, and it's going to 372 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 5: be over before any of us want it to be over. 373 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 5: And it would be naive of us to think that 374 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 5: in December of twenty twenty four, a year from now, 375 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 5: the odds are in the favor of the Rams being 376 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 5: above five hundred or clinching a playoff spot, or being 377 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 5: as healthy as they are right now. They got a 378 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 5: ton of resources ahead. I'm excited about their future. Don't 379 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 5: get me wrong. But if you're telling me I can 380 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 5: get in this dance with Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford 381 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 5: and Cooper Cup and Aaron Donald healthy, I'll take my 382 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 5: check answers anywhere in the NFC. 383 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 4: I really will thank you for resetting my brain. See 384 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 4: that's why I love him right there. 385 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 2: But I also it's it feels like the time is now. 386 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 2: I don't know. 387 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: I don't know if you guys felt this in yesterday's game, 388 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: but it just felt like as a collective and I 389 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: don't know what the conversation was amongst the guys ahead 390 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: of the game, but it felt like they have a 391 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: fire within them and they also. 392 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 2: Understand what's at stake right now. 393 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: And I don't say that to say I didn't feel 394 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: that before, because I think these are the ultimate competitors 395 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: and I think that they you know, these are professional athletes. 396 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: There is a culture and there is an understanding within 397 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: this organization as to what it means to win. A 398 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: lot of these guys have experienced winning a World Series 399 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: championship very recently. And while there are new players on 400 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: this team, you know they come here for a reason, 401 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: and for me being at so far yesterday, it felt 402 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 1: like I was getting a taste of that team two 403 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: years ago. 404 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 2: And yes it's different faces. 405 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: But it's I didn't feel like I had felt that 406 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: this year to be And I mentioned to kind of 407 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: get your guys' thoughts on this because you spend a 408 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: lot more time around the team, But does it feel 409 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: like they kind there's this now feeling of we know 410 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 1: where we're at right now, we know how good we are, 411 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: and we know what we can do and the damage 412 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: we can do in this league if we kind of 413 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: just keep this going forward, what. 414 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 4: You can do and how you can how you can 415 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 4: get it done. Football is not easy, man. I mean 416 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 4: you got to get everybody on the same page, and 417 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 4: not just offense defense, The entire team has to go 418 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 4: in one direction. 419 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 3: That is hard to do. 420 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 4: It's a lot of egos, that's a lot of ability 421 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 4: that you have to figure out what are we good at, 422 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 4: what should we stay away from, and how do we 423 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 4: beat the other team. So that's been great. I did 424 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,199 Speaker 4: have this conversation about you know that football team a 425 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 4: couple of years ago that was a loaded squad and 426 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 4: you were expected to win every week. That's a different 427 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:46,680 Speaker 4: sort of pressure, not easy, but different. This year has 428 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 4: been completely different. You were starting for almost ground zero 429 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 4: with some stars and a bunch of youngsters, and let's 430 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 4: go see what we can do, and you slowly start 431 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 4: to figure out who you are as this year goes on. 432 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 4: Even in some of the law when you fought your 433 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 4: butt off and lost at the end, you're still learning 434 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 4: how to win. Once you start checking off all those boxes. 435 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 4: We know this, we know how to do this. Now, 436 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 4: we know how to win these football games. And you 437 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 4: take those lessons and you build them all up and 438 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 4: you start playing your best football. In December, you said it, 439 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 4: this is a tough football team for anybody to see 440 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 4: right now, regular season and the postseason when they're playing 441 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 4: like this. 442 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 5: Andrew Worth being on the sideline yesterday was poignant. I 443 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 5: will never compare any group to that one for a 444 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 5: lot of very specific reasons, including I don't think I've 445 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 5: ever covered any sports entity, forget just football team that 446 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 5: had that sense of identity and purpose and just this 447 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 5: sense that they were going places and that no one 448 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 5: could deter them from that goal. I think you hit 449 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 5: on a lot of the key elements too, But the 450 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 5: only comparison for me is, don't take anything away in 451 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 5: terms of possibilities from the twenty twenty three Rams either, 452 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 5: because there's all sorts of different paths to the finish line. Yeah, 453 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 5: and they don't have to win the Super Bowl for 454 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 5: this season to be success. Some could argue it's a 455 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 5: success already. I'm just saying now that they're at eight 456 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 5: and seven with nine days to prepare for trip to 457 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 5: New York, don't take anything off the table. 458 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:05,959 Speaker 3: For the Rams. 459 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:06,479 Speaker 2: I love it. 460 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: Well, Look, there is a lot that can still happen 461 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,159 Speaker 1: with the playoff picture or two more weeks of the 462 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 1: regular season and some very challenging games on the schedule 463 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:16,880 Speaker 1: for a lot of different teams. So we'll see how 464 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: things continue to shape out. But we do know that 465 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: the Rams have a big matchup on New Year's Eve 466 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 1: against the Giants at MetLife Stadium, so we will see 467 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,479 Speaker 1: just how that shakes out. Now, we talked about how 468 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: the Rams have won the last five of their six 469 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: games excuse me, five of their last six games since 470 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 1: the bye week, this team has been lights out. What 471 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: has been the biggest difference I'll start with you, JBS, 472 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: just between when you look before the bye week and 473 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: now from what you see from this group. 474 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 5: Well, first of all, I got to appreciate just how 475 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 5: razor thin the margin is, because I remember the feeling 476 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 5: of my heart sinking in Dallas when I asked Sean 477 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 5: McVay how bad is it with Matthew Stafford's thumb and 478 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 5: it didn't look good then, and then you get to 479 00:19:58,040 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 5: Monday and you realize, oh, it's not as bad as 480 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,440 Speaker 5: we thought, doesn't require surgery, but it was that close 481 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 5: to being over. Jason Myers hits a fifty five yard 482 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,439 Speaker 5: field goal at SOFI Stadium coming out of the buy 483 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 5: for the Seahawks, which he does more times than not. 484 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 5: We're not having any of these conversations. Okay, So a 485 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 5: lot of what's changed since the buye is purely about 486 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 5: health opponent, but also the way that your group has 487 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,720 Speaker 5: coalesced and put its best foot forward. And yet I 488 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 5: don't think they played their best game. I really don't. 489 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 5: But a lot of those things had to come around 490 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,360 Speaker 5: and the breaks had to start going your way. I'm 491 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:32,720 Speaker 5: not sure the officiating breaks have gone their way yet, 492 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 5: but stopped me there, DeMarco, Before I go too. 493 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 4: Far, What did I say during the game. We're even 494 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 4: New Orleans, We're even okay. 495 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 3: Before the end. 496 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 5: But yeah, I think that's part of what's changed, and 497 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 5: a whole lot more. 498 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 4: I'd say Kyen Kyrien Williams has been the biggest difference 499 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 4: in that offensive line and just being able to seize 500 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 4: control of football games. You know, I think we started 501 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 4: the season, you and Maurice talking about running Kyra running 502 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,679 Speaker 4: in the light boxes. Seven men boxes, right, it's easier 503 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:05,359 Speaker 4: for a running back, and Maurice would say, dang, I 504 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:06,719 Speaker 4: wish I had seven men boxes. 505 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 3: And then that switched. 506 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 4: Now you're running into situations where they know you're gonna 507 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,760 Speaker 4: run it. The rams still run it, and you still 508 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,119 Speaker 4: have success. That's how you break a defense. When you 509 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 4: break the huddle and the safety never leaves the line 510 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 4: of scrimmage. We are telling the world we are stopping 511 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 4: the run. You're not gonna run it on us. We're 512 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 4: even gonna line up and bear, We're gonna cover your 513 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 4: center both guards. You can't run it, and you still 514 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,639 Speaker 4: hand it off and get plus five or more, or 515 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 4: he bounces off and just makes something happen that demoralizes 516 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 4: the defense. We are calling something to stop the run, 517 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,479 Speaker 4: and it still works. That's when you have a defense 518 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:43,919 Speaker 4: look to the sideline like, now what coach, what do 519 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 4: we do? We can't stop them, so you start having 520 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:49,360 Speaker 4: to pull out pressures and you start having to take chances. 521 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 4: Remember who else is standing back there, Matthew Stafford. All 522 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:55,479 Speaker 4: he's doing is take an inventory of your defense. All 523 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 4: you want to do this, check this out, you want 524 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 4: to do that, check this out. So when you have 525 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 4: a running game that is that consistent and a line 526 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 4: that's that dominant or is moving towards that dominant, man, 527 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 4: it's almost sky's a limit. You can almost call whatever 528 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:10,440 Speaker 4: you want and you're going to have his success offensively. 529 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 4: So that to me, has been the biggest change since 530 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 4: the buye. 531 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: I love it, and they're going to keep it going because, hey, 532 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 1: the time is now, the playoffs are around the corner. 533 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: But Christmas is on Monday, so I want to get 534 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: into a little fun holiday bit. 535 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 2: Yes, I'm a Christmas baby. Yeah, so I love presently. Yes. 536 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 1: December twenty fifth, December twenty eighth, Okay, I believe if 537 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: you're born the week of Christmas, you are deemed a 538 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,920 Speaker 1: Christmas baby because you just it is what it is. 539 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 3: Present. Two. Yeah, you're not supposed. 540 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,760 Speaker 6: To, but that is exactly how it happens. 541 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: So my thing is the Rams have given us the 542 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: gift of being here with them in this organization. But 543 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: is there a Christmas present from the Rams that you 544 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: would say has been your favorite from this season? So 545 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: ultimately a moment this year that stands out to you 546 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:56,919 Speaker 1: that you'd say has been a present for you. 547 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,879 Speaker 4: Oh man, okay, I'll be a little kid again. So 548 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 4: I got this big box under the tree and rip 549 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 4: it open and there is a pooka. The coua under the. 550 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 2: Tree actual sounds present. 551 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 3: It runs through everything you know, It catches everything you know. 552 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,120 Speaker 4: You throw it against the wall, looks like it's dead, 553 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 4: It gets up and plays again at Christmas present to 554 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,919 Speaker 4: have a under every tree, come on, that's awesome. 555 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 5: I think the Rams got their Christmas present way back 556 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 5: at the start of this year, when Sean McVay took 557 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 5: that week to think after just a demoralizing finish to 558 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 5: last season and that loss in Seattle, and said I'm 559 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 5: not done yet. Not with this franchise by any means. 560 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 5: I think it all started with that choice, which led 561 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 5: to the Rams saying, well, then we're not done with 562 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:51,639 Speaker 5: this nucleus, these load bearing walls, which then became modeled 563 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,479 Speaker 5: the Way, which then became the best draft of Lesnie's tenure. 564 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 5: I mean, how's that for a Christmas gift, and then 565 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 5: became subtly on the back of that. Okay, now that 566 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 5: we've been through OTA's and we know what's possible, what 567 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 5: we think we can do, what do we need to 568 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 5: add to make sure that we're not just in the 569 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 5: next but contending. That leads to DeMarcus Robinson. That leads 570 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 5: to Akela Witherspoon, that leads to Kevin Dotson and next 571 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 5: thing you know, they've assembled, in just one season, a 572 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:21,159 Speaker 5: group that looks light years beyond where last year's group was, thankfully, 573 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 5: and puts them ahead of schedule for Project twenty twenty four, 574 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,120 Speaker 5: which starts on New Year's Even New York. I guess yes, 575 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 5: with their next contest, I love it. 576 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:33,480 Speaker 1: We've got an amazing list of Christmas presents. We're going 577 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: to have an incredible New Year's Eve, hopefully with a 578 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 1: win over the Giants. And we're going to set the 579 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:40,640 Speaker 1: tone for twenty twenty four and I think a really 580 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: special playoff push. 581 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 5: So happy birthday as well. 582 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 583 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 2: I'm honored. 584 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 3: Well. 585 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:49,880 Speaker 2: From JB. 586 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 1: Long to Marco far Kirsten Watson, Happy holidays from all 587 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,119 Speaker 1: of us here at the RAMS. We thank you for 588 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 1: your constant support all season long, and we look forward 589 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,640 Speaker 1: to what's to come next year. This has been between 590 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,119 Speaker 1: the Horns, brought to you by your Southern California Toyota dealers, 591 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 1: So we will catch you next week. 592 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 3: M