It is a Football Friday Week seventeen edition, a beat La edition. Welcome Birg Gang. On today's show, Zach Gershman joins me beat the Rams on Saturday. And not only do you sweep the season series, which would be nice, but you put a dents in their playoff hopes and hey, if the Cardinals can't make the playoffs, then neither should the Rams.

It is a Football Friday Week seventeen edition, a beat La edition. Welcome Birg Gang. On today's show, Zach Gershman joins me beat the Rams on Saturday. And not only do you sweep the season series, which would be nice, but you put a dents in their playoff hopes and hey, if the Cardinals can't make the playoffs, then neither should the Rams.

Right.

Right.

Also, we head an enemy territory catch up once again with Jordan Rodrigue. She covers the Rams for the athletic at Cardinals Cover two, episode eight thirty six, and it starts now.

Also, we head an enemy territory catch up once again with Jordan Rodrigue. She covers the Rams for the athletic at Cardinals Cover two, episode eight thirty six, and it starts now.

Welcome to Cardinals Cover two.

Welcome to Cardinals Cover two.

Bud to Baker, What Heart? What rent? This guy's unbelievable.

Bud to Baker, What Heart? What rent? This guy's unbelievable.

Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals dot Com slash podcast.

Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals dot Com slash podcast.

He's ad a ten half of five.

He's ad a ten half of five.

He's it again, are Hurry Magic?

He's it again, are Hurry Magic?

Whow Here's Craigler.

Whow Here's Craigler.

So I'm not gonna make the same mistake as I did last Friday. And actually there were several mistakes made when talking about Zach's in season travels with the team. But I can't say this. I think this is accurate. This is the first time you are going on back to back road trips in consecutive weeks.

So I'm not gonna make the same mistake as I did last Friday. And actually there were several mistakes made when talking about Zach's in season travels with the team. But I can't say this. I think this is accurate. This is the first time you are going on back to back road trips in consecutive weeks.

Correct, That is correct? All right, good, so that we got one. All right, this is where we do the round of applause. Appreciate that and I did it in a round. So all right, Well, speaking of browns and coming full circle, is the washing machine fixed? The washing machine has been fixed enough. I haven't tried. Yeah, I don't know. I haven't tried to do another little laundry since it's only been a week enough.

Correct, That is correct? All right, good, so that we got one. All right, this is where we do the round of applause. Appreciate that and I did it in a round. So all right, Well, speaking of browns and coming full circle, is the washing machine fixed? The washing machine has been fixed enough. I haven't tried. Yeah, I don't know. I haven't tried to do another little laundry since it's only been a week enough.

That's interesting. I'm trying to think what that mean. I let the dude in. He fixed it.

That's interesting. I'm trying to think what that mean. I let the dude in. He fixed it.

I hope hopefully he doesn't have to come back to all right, there you to fix it, but I just haven't tried it yet. So stay tuned for next week.

I hope hopefully he doesn't have to come back to all right, there you to fix it, but I just haven't tried it yet. So stay tuned for next week.

This could be an ongoing thing. Zach Kershman and his ever evolving washing machine issues. Okay, all right, there's no easy transition, so I'm just gonna jump right into it. Cardinals at the Rams on Saturday night. Yes, Zach will be there kickoff six ' ten. Pregame coverage begins at one thirty. A little bit later on we'll be joined once again by Jordan Rodrigg. We talked to her before the week two matchup against the Rams. We'll do it again before here in week seventeen, she covers the Rams for the Athletic and again this is This was a game that many people had been looking forward to late this season, especially given the schedule as it was, and even losing at home and on the road to the Seattle Seahawks. If you had only taken care of business against the Panthers as you did against the Patriots in the previous week, then this matchup in La not quite for the division title, but certainly would go a long way and determining who wins the NFC West. And now that's not the case.

This could be an ongoing thing. Zach Kershman and his ever evolving washing machine issues. Okay, all right, there's no easy transition, so I'm just gonna jump right into it. Cardinals at the Rams on Saturday night. Yes, Zach will be there kickoff six ' ten. Pregame coverage begins at one thirty. A little bit later on we'll be joined once again by Jordan Rodrigg. We talked to her before the week two matchup against the Rams. We'll do it again before here in week seventeen, she covers the Rams for the Athletic and again this is This was a game that many people had been looking forward to late this season, especially given the schedule as it was, and even losing at home and on the road to the Seattle Seahawks. If you had only taken care of business against the Panthers as you did against the Patriots in the previous week, then this matchup in La not quite for the division title, but certainly would go a long way and determining who wins the NFC West. And now that's not the case.

Of course, And to do it underneath the Saturday night lights would have been all that much better and that would have made the flight back to the Valley a lot much more enjoyable. But look, there's a lot of things that went wrong in the game against the Carolina Panthers. Since we haven't had the opportunity to talk about it, at least with microphones in front of us, I think at the end of the day, the self afflicted wounds that truly hurt the Arizona Cardinals, going down twenty to three, the eight penalties in the first quarter, all the different things that the Cardinals had to face. It was just a little, it was a little, just too late for the Arizona Cardinals, who made a valiant come back. Don't get me wrong, being down by seventeen, going down the field, having chid Ryland nailed through a fifty eight yard field goal with Zeros on the clock to send the Cardinals to overtime. It just Chewba Hubbard. Chewba Hubbard showed why he was one of the NFL's one of the NFL's lead backs and potentially a Pro Bowl handed it because of how well he's played, and the Cardinals saw that firsthand.

Of course, And to do it underneath the Saturday night lights would have been all that much better and that would have made the flight back to the Valley a lot much more enjoyable. But look, there's a lot of things that went wrong in the game against the Carolina Panthers. Since we haven't had the opportunity to talk about it, at least with microphones in front of us, I think at the end of the day, the self afflicted wounds that truly hurt the Arizona Cardinals, going down twenty to three, the eight penalties in the first quarter, all the different things that the Cardinals had to face. It was just a little, it was a little, just too late for the Arizona Cardinals, who made a valiant come back. Don't get me wrong, being down by seventeen, going down the field, having chid Ryland nailed through a fifty eight yard field goal with Zeros on the clock to send the Cardinals to overtime. It just Chewba Hubbard. Chewba Hubbard showed why he was one of the NFL's one of the NFL's lead backs and potentially a Pro Bowl handed it because of how well he's played, and the Cardinals saw that firsthand.

Sloppy play on offense, sloppy play on defense, and this Cardinals team is seven and eight, officially eliminated from the playoff picture. The Rams, meanwhile, come in with a record of nine and six. Once upon a time they were one and four, Yet they have won four in a row eight of ten since their bye week. Before we dive into our conversation with Jordan, quick check of the injury reports as far as who's playing who's not playing. As far as the good news, Mac Wilson Senior, no designation on the injury reports. In fact, he was a full participants in Thursday's practice, which is great to see, not only read, but great to see as we saw him out there during the open portion of practice, but missed last week with the concussion. But Mac is as Jonathan Gannon said, good to go.

Sloppy play on offense, sloppy play on defense, and this Cardinals team is seven and eight, officially eliminated from the playoff picture. The Rams, meanwhile, come in with a record of nine and six. Once upon a time they were one and four, Yet they have won four in a row eight of ten since their bye week. Before we dive into our conversation with Jordan, quick check of the injury reports as far as who's playing who's not playing. As far as the good news, Mac Wilson Senior, no designation on the injury reports. In fact, he was a full participants in Thursday's practice, which is great to see, not only read, but great to see as we saw him out there during the open portion of practice, but missed last week with the concussion. But Mac is as Jonathan Gannon said, good to go.

Mac is back, and he posted on social media back in motion and he wrote, let's finish. And I think that that's something that this Cardinals team has talked a lot about in the locker room when we've spoken to them throughout the week, is let's finish on a high note. Clearly this game against the Rams that the preparation for it, it does not have the same at stake. I mean, you'll obviously want to come out with the win, but we're not playing anymore. With the playoff scenarios, what the Cardinals need to do, what the Rams need to do, where the Seahawks need to do for the Cardinals to be playing in through mid January, the significance of the matchup definitely has drastically has changed. But let's finish has been a motto that I've heard plenty of times through speaking with the guys, because we saw last year what finishing strong towards the end of the season can truly do for a team as an important offseason is on the horizon. This pass offseason was important. This upcoming offseason is certainly going to be important as well, and you need wins like this, a division win on the road, to continue to stack those to give you that momentum into the offseason.

Mac is back, and he posted on social media back in motion and he wrote, let's finish. And I think that that's something that this Cardinals team has talked a lot about in the locker room when we've spoken to them throughout the week, is let's finish on a high note. Clearly this game against the Rams that the preparation for it, it does not have the same at stake. I mean, you'll obviously want to come out with the win, but we're not playing anymore. With the playoff scenarios, what the Cardinals need to do, what the Rams need to do, where the Seahawks need to do for the Cardinals to be playing in through mid January, the significance of the matchup definitely has drastically has changed. But let's finish has been a motto that I've heard plenty of times through speaking with the guys, because we saw last year what finishing strong towards the end of the season can truly do for a team as an important offseason is on the horizon. This pass offseason was important. This upcoming offseason is certainly going to be important as well, and you need wins like this, a division win on the road, to continue to stack those to give you that momentum into the offseason.

This is what's still at stake if you will for the Hoars on the Cardinals, and whether you believe it or not, or we'll get on board or not, that's up to you. But hey, finish with a winning record, that's a big deal. Finish four and two within the division, that's a big deal. No, momentum does not carry over from one season to the next, but the confidence certainly does. And if you can finish strong going into the offseason and feeling good about where this team is headed in the process, because the process is only as good as the results at the end of the process. But if you go eight to nine or nine and eight and all of a sudden, Okay, what we're hearing, what is being coached? What is being taught, it is manufactured into wins, and now all of a sudden going into year three, yeah, the expectations will get larger. But bottom line is you've got to be able to finish the job this season.

This is what's still at stake if you will for the Hoars on the Cardinals, and whether you believe it or not, or we'll get on board or not, that's up to you. But hey, finish with a winning record, that's a big deal. Finish four and two within the division, that's a big deal. No, momentum does not carry over from one season to the next, but the confidence certainly does. And if you can finish strong going into the offseason and feeling good about where this team is headed in the process, because the process is only as good as the results at the end of the process. But if you go eight to nine or nine and eight and all of a sudden, Okay, what we're hearing, what is being coached? What is being taught, it is manufactured into wins, and now all of a sudden going into year three, yeah, the expectations will get larger. But bottom line is you've got to be able to finish the job this season.

You had four wins in the last two seasons, and you have a chance, and with a win this weekend, which is the expectation against the Los Angeles Rams or the following weekend, you have the chance to double your win total from the previous two seasons. And I know you mentioned whether the fans want to be on board with it or not, the season still is going whether you were eliminated in week ten or you're eliminated in week sixteen like the Arizona Cardinals are. The season is still going to be going on whether whether fans like it or not. But I recognize the frustration that people might be feeling. But I will say to people that are listening to Cardinals cover two here, as frustrated as you might be, the players are equally as frustrated. And that's something that Johnathangan has talked about. They're disappointed in that locker room, in that meeting room after they came back from Carolina, that flight back Buddha Baker spoke about it was definitely a rough one. They definitely felt a little bit sorry for themselves. Now, as Nakwon Jones says to me, we have a job to do, and that job is to beat the Los Angeles Rams.

You had four wins in the last two seasons, and you have a chance, and with a win this weekend, which is the expectation against the Los Angeles Rams or the following weekend, you have the chance to double your win total from the previous two seasons. And I know you mentioned whether the fans want to be on board with it or not, the season still is going whether you were eliminated in week ten or you're eliminated in week sixteen like the Arizona Cardinals are. The season is still going to be going on whether whether fans like it or not. But I recognize the frustration that people might be feeling. But I will say to people that are listening to Cardinals cover two here, as frustrated as you might be, the players are equally as frustrated. And that's something that Johnathangan has talked about. They're disappointed in that locker room, in that meeting room after they came back from Carolina, that flight back Buddha Baker spoke about it was definitely a rough one. They definitely felt a little bit sorry for themselves. Now, as Nakwon Jones says to me, we have a job to do, and that job is to beat the Los Angeles Rams.

And that's what we've heard consistently because you bring up the role of spoiler or how do you overcome what happened? And maybe you shut guys down because they're hurt, they're banged up. What's left to play for? And you get weird looks, raised eyebrows and like, what are you even talking about? I was brought here for a job, whether you're a coach or a player. This is my job and I'm not gonna all of a sudden stop doing my job just because there's no playoffs in sight. The season, as you keep talking about, Zach, it's an ongoing season. It doesn't season just stand and end after Week sixteen because the Cardinals were eliminated.

And that's what we've heard consistently because you bring up the role of spoiler or how do you overcome what happened? And maybe you shut guys down because they're hurt, they're banged up. What's left to play for? And you get weird looks, raised eyebrows and like, what are you even talking about? I was brought here for a job, whether you're a coach or a player. This is my job and I'm not gonna all of a sudden stop doing my job just because there's no playoffs in sight. The season, as you keep talking about, Zach, it's an ongoing season. It doesn't season just stand and end after Week sixteen because the Cardinals were eliminated.

The playoff hopes might have ended, but the chase to improve weekend and week out to go one and oh for that week, it doesn't stop. And that chase and that hunger to want to go one to no, not just on your win loss column. But in the offseason, what are the Cardinals going to be able to do to go one and oh during strength and conditioning programs, during the different phases, during training camps, all of these things that the season ends.

The playoff hopes might have ended, but the chase to improve weekend and week out to go one and oh for that week, it doesn't stop. And that chase and that hunger to want to go one to no, not just on your win loss column. But in the offseason, what are the Cardinals going to be able to do to go one and oh during strength and conditioning programs, during the different phases, during training camps, all of these things that the season ends.

And the.

And the.

Hitting on the football field, the going between the white lines, that might end after the Cardinals after the clockhead zero against the San Francisco forty nine Ers in Week eighteen at State Farm Stadium. I get that. But that's why these wins and these games against the Los Angeles against the San Francisco forty nine ers are that much more important. Because we've talked about the win in Philadelphia from last season and how much that meant to the culture. That was a culture win. The win against the Pittsburgh Steelers with all the different weather delays that they had, those are culture wins. This season, the Cardinals have a lot of culture wins. They won on Monday Night Football. They were able to go to San Francisco and put together a game winning drive. I think they've had culture moments. Chad Ryland, namely through a fifty eight yard field goal against the Carolina Panthers to tie the game with Zeros on the clock that's a culture building moment for this team, and you could have a monumental culture building moment with a win over the Los Angeles Rams on primetime football on Saturday Night. Cardinals have won two of their last three visits to sofar stadium against six ' ten is the kickoff if they are to get a win on Saturday nights. Yes, Mac Wilson Senior is available. Joey Blunt will not be available, So you're losing a special team's ace. As far as players that you hope to see on the field and on my guess is right now you will see on the field.

Hitting on the football field, the going between the white lines, that might end after the Cardinals after the clockhead zero against the San Francisco forty nine Ers in Week eighteen at State Farm Stadium. I get that. But that's why these wins and these games against the Los Angeles against the San Francisco forty nine ers are that much more important. Because we've talked about the win in Philadelphia from last season and how much that meant to the culture. That was a culture win. The win against the Pittsburgh Steelers with all the different weather delays that they had, those are culture wins. This season, the Cardinals have a lot of culture wins. They won on Monday Night Football. They were able to go to San Francisco and put together a game winning drive. I think they've had culture moments. Chad Ryland, namely through a fifty eight yard field goal against the Carolina Panthers to tie the game with Zeros on the clock that's a culture building moment for this team, and you could have a monumental culture building moment with a win over the Los Angeles Rams on primetime football on Saturday Night. Cardinals have won two of their last three visits to sofar stadium against six ' ten is the kickoff if they are to get a win on Saturday nights. Yes, Mac Wilson Senior is available. Joey Blunt will not be available, So you're losing a special team's ace. As far as players that you hope to see on the field and on my guess is right now you will see on the field.

But you got four players listed as questionable running backs James Connor, Trey Benson, offensive lineman Evan Brown, and outside linebacker Baron Browning. Now James Connor with a knee issue, seeing him walk around the facility with a sleeve over that entire Basically it's a sleeve over the entire leg to help protect that knee. But again, we had a chance to hear from running backs coach Autry Denson on Thursday, and it did not sound like this is an indication of Okay, well, James Connors, he's banged up, He's going into the offseason. He's already under contract. We can shut him down. Yeah. If James is healthy enough to go, he is going to go.

But you got four players listed as questionable running backs James Connor, Trey Benson, offensive lineman Evan Brown, and outside linebacker Baron Browning. Now James Connor with a knee issue, seeing him walk around the facility with a sleeve over that entire Basically it's a sleeve over the entire leg to help protect that knee. But again, we had a chance to hear from running backs coach Autry Denson on Thursday, and it did not sound like this is an indication of Okay, well, James Connors, he's banged up, He's going into the offseason. He's already under contract. We can shut him down. Yeah. If James is healthy enough to go, he is going to go.

And you could tell he wanted to get back on the field against the Carolina Panthers. If he was healthy to go against the Carolina Panthers, he would have been right back out on the field. And I believe if he was out on the field with the momentum that they had constantly giving him the rock, over one hundred and ten rushing guards in that game and a hand full of receiving yards as well. With that being said, I'm pretty sure that the Cardinals probably would have come away with the win against the Carolina Panthers. And that's a tough pill to swallow. But with that being said, the amount that James Connor loves football is what propels him to want to get back on the field despite this knee injury. And as a Cardinals team that currently has a pretty banged up offensive line as well without having Paris Johnson Junior or Jonah Williams for the season. Now Kelvin Beacham starting at the left side of the line, and then Jackson Barran being your other bookend tackle. You want to be able to have that reassurance with Kyler Murray. There's some confidence that you have when you look to your right, you look to your left and James Connor is there, and you hope for k One's sake that James Connor will be there on Saturday.

And you could tell he wanted to get back on the field against the Carolina Panthers. If he was healthy to go against the Carolina Panthers, he would have been right back out on the field. And I believe if he was out on the field with the momentum that they had constantly giving him the rock, over one hundred and ten rushing guards in that game and a hand full of receiving yards as well. With that being said, I'm pretty sure that the Cardinals probably would have come away with the win against the Carolina Panthers. And that's a tough pill to swallow. But with that being said, the amount that James Connor loves football is what propels him to want to get back on the field despite this knee injury. And as a Cardinals team that currently has a pretty banged up offensive line as well without having Paris Johnson Junior or Jonah Williams for the season. Now Kelvin Beacham starting at the left side of the line, and then Jackson Barran being your other bookend tackle. You want to be able to have that reassurance with Kyler Murray. There's some confidence that you have when you look to your right, you look to your left and James Connor is there, and you hope for k One's sake that James Connor will be there on Saturday.

Top ten. As far as rushing yards this season, James Connor one thy ninety. On the season, you brought up the offensive line issues or the players that are not going to go, and I mentioned Evan Brown dealing with a nick issue. He, as you mentioned on Easy Cardinals dot Com on the injury report, had the same designation a week ago. Get played. I think he played the entire game despite being listed as questionable going into the game in Carolina. Yeah, I think he did. I can double check real fast because I think he started the game. And I don't know if he was one of those players that here we go Evan Brown. Yeah, Evan Brown did play the entire game.

Top ten. As far as rushing yards this season, James Connor one thy ninety. On the season, you brought up the offensive line issues or the players that are not going to go, and I mentioned Evan Brown dealing with a nick issue. He, as you mentioned on Easy Cardinals dot Com on the injury report, had the same designation a week ago. Get played. I think he played the entire game despite being listed as questionable going into the game in Carolina. Yeah, I think he did. I can double check real fast because I think he started the game. And I don't know if he was one of those players that here we go Evan Brown. Yeah, Evan Brown did play the entire game.

And then Yeldo Rohole popped up on the injury report as well with an illness and shout out to yell Defroholder Trooper because standing on the sidelines and you could tell, you know, he definitely was feeling a little bit under the leather. That illness bug definitely got to him. But I think the continuity among the along the offensive line is certainly going to be important in this one, especially once again, while you hope to have James Connor back there and you hope to have Trey Benson back there, if that offensive line is going to look very different already with Kelvin Beacham and Jackson Barton being there, you want to at least know that your core interior pieces are going to be present, all.

And then Yeldo Rohole popped up on the injury report as well with an illness and shout out to yell Defroholder Trooper because standing on the sidelines and you could tell, you know, he definitely was feeling a little bit under the leather. That illness bug definitely got to him. But I think the continuity among the along the offensive line is certainly going to be important in this one, especially once again, while you hope to have James Connor back there and you hope to have Trey Benson back there, if that offensive line is going to look very different already with Kelvin Beacham and Jackson Barton being there, you want to at least know that your core interior pieces are going to be present, all.

Right, So let's dive into this matchup again. The Cardinals beat the Rams in Week two forty one to ten. This is a much different Rams team, much better Rams team in this rematch and for more on the game. As I mentioned, we had a chance to catch up with Jordan rod Rig. She covers the Rams for the Athletic. So, Jordan, it's been a little while since we last saw the Rams and Cardinals on the field together. So how different are the Rams since Week two?

Right, So let's dive into this matchup again. The Cardinals beat the Rams in Week two forty one to ten. This is a much different Rams team, much better Rams team in this rematch and for more on the game. As I mentioned, we had a chance to catch up with Jordan rod Rig. She covers the Rams for the Athletic. So, Jordan, it's been a little while since we last saw the Rams and Cardinals on the field together. So how different are the Rams since Week two?

Well? Very very different. I mean much of the offensive line that got hurt in that Week one game at Detroit or in the middle of the Cardinals game in Week two, they're back, you know. Rob Hagnstein. They're starting right tackle. He is questionable this week with the shoulder issue that came up and practiced this week, and if he can't play, then it'll be Joe oap Boom the backup at right tackle. But otherwise, you know, this offensive line is about as healthy and intact as they've been all season. Phuk and Akup is on the fields. I know you guys are very aware of his presence and what potentially he can bring when he is all systems go. Cooper Cup who was healthy in that Week two game, if my memory serves correctly, but then got hurt shortly after. You know, all of these guys, this is basically the most complete and healthiest RAMS team we've seen all season, to the point where earlier this week there was no nobody even on the injury report. It was just blank. So very very different group. Tyler Higbee returned last week. It's a tale of two teams really this season with the Rams from when they started the year.

Well? Very very different. I mean much of the offensive line that got hurt in that Week one game at Detroit or in the middle of the Cardinals game in Week two, they're back, you know. Rob Hagnstein. They're starting right tackle. He is questionable this week with the shoulder issue that came up and practiced this week, and if he can't play, then it'll be Joe oap Boom the backup at right tackle. But otherwise, you know, this offensive line is about as healthy and intact as they've been all season. Phuk and Akup is on the fields. I know you guys are very aware of his presence and what potentially he can bring when he is all systems go. Cooper Cup who was healthy in that Week two game, if my memory serves correctly, but then got hurt shortly after. You know, all of these guys, this is basically the most complete and healthiest RAMS team we've seen all season, to the point where earlier this week there was no nobody even on the injury report. It was just blank. So very very different group. Tyler Higbee returned last week. It's a tale of two teams really this season with the Rams from when they started the year.

I have to admit, looking at that injury report as I put it together, I did a double take. I mean, at this point of the season, Week seventeen, so many teams are banged up. The Cardinals are you know, are suffering with that as well. How has it been the case that the Rams have been able to stay so healthy this way into the season.

I have to admit, looking at that injury report as I put it together, I did a double take. I mean, at this point of the season, Week seventeen, so many teams are banged up. The Cardinals are you know, are suffering with that as well. How has it been the case that the Rams have been able to stay so healthy this way into the season.

Well, it's it's really because they started out the season one of the unhealthiest teams in the NA. I mean, they lost Cooper Cup and Poka Nakua both at various points in training camp, and then immediately lost Cooper Cup into the season. Puka Akua was not available really to open the season for them. Both of those guys, you know, had to eventually return, you know. The offensive line three weeks ago was the first time that this offensive line in its intended iteration, actually played on the field together for the first time. Really was a timing thing, and not getting a couple things helped them, you know, not getting too far weighted down by their one and four start, really putting things together, especially after the Week six by Matthew Stafford. Staying healthy has been huge for them, even though he had a pretty banged up offensive line was getting hit at a league leading rate early. It's sort of in the middle point of the year and then also it's been like the NFC West in general being as messy as it's been this late in the year has really been an advantage and a help for the Rams because they haven't been buried under maybe a couple of other teams really pulling away. With such significant gaps between, you know, the winning teams and the not winning teams. This has really been such a messy, tight division for much of the year, for most of the year, if not all of it, that the Rams could really kind of afford to bide their time and get healthy, whereas if they were perhaps in another division around the league or even another conference, they would not have been so lucky. So a few factors combined, but yeah, it was wild. Man. I've never seen an injury report like that in Week seventeen.

Well, it's it's really because they started out the season one of the unhealthiest teams in the NA. I mean, they lost Cooper Cup and Poka Nakua both at various points in training camp, and then immediately lost Cooper Cup into the season. Puka Akua was not available really to open the season for them. Both of those guys, you know, had to eventually return, you know. The offensive line three weeks ago was the first time that this offensive line in its intended iteration, actually played on the field together for the first time. Really was a timing thing, and not getting a couple things helped them, you know, not getting too far weighted down by their one and four start, really putting things together, especially after the Week six by Matthew Stafford. Staying healthy has been huge for them, even though he had a pretty banged up offensive line was getting hit at a league leading rate early. It's sort of in the middle point of the year and then also it's been like the NFC West in general being as messy as it's been this late in the year has really been an advantage and a help for the Rams because they haven't been buried under maybe a couple of other teams really pulling away. With such significant gaps between, you know, the winning teams and the not winning teams. This has really been such a messy, tight division for much of the year, for most of the year, if not all of it, that the Rams could really kind of afford to bide their time and get healthy, whereas if they were perhaps in another division around the league or even another conference, they would not have been so lucky. So a few factors combined, but yeah, it was wild. Man. I've never seen an injury report like that in Week seventeen.

Okay, I'm glad I'm not the only one then, because I was looking at that in amazement. And I know that obviously this is a division that it really seems up for grabs in some cases between the Seahawks and the Rams, now that the Cardinals are no longer in contention. But you mentioned that one four start, and I think at some point some fans and national media pundits were already saying that the Rams season was over at their Week six by in what ways have they been able to showcase that perseverance that that you had a front row to see, because for them to now be in this position, it's quite remarkable.

Okay, I'm glad I'm not the only one then, because I was looking at that in amazement. And I know that obviously this is a division that it really seems up for grabs in some cases between the Seahawks and the Rams, now that the Cardinals are no longer in contention. But you mentioned that one four start, and I think at some point some fans and national media pundits were already saying that the Rams season was over at their Week six by in what ways have they been able to showcase that perseverance that that you had a front row to see, because for them to now be in this position, it's quite remarkable.

Yeah, And I think it's only I mean, I think it's only one other team in the modern era, or at least the last twenty years that's been able to come back from a start like that and even make the postseason. And the Rams are in position to potentially make a little history in that way. And it really was it wasn't just about getting healthy, but it was about them just kind of chipping away. I think there's a lot of coaching cliches that we sort of roll our eyes at sometimes because, especially if you're in this building, like you hear them a lot, but they actually work, you know. Work works is something that Sean McVay really likes to say that Aaron Donald said to him once that kind of helped bring Sean McVay out of a funk he was in a couple of years ago. And it's just showing up and controlling what you can for that day and then that week and then that month, and this team really stayed present. It's it's a fantastic locker room full of like genuinely awesome young people that they just kind of weren't super phased. I mean, they could be in pain there, but I think that's part of the benefit of the youth movement, for the for the Rams the last two years really is they could be hurting, they're banged up, their their record isn't what they wanted to be, but like, you really wouldn't know it by talking to a lot of these guys because they're so all about football and they all like each other. It's it's a locker room that is about as jovial and friendly with one another as I've seen in my career ten years covering the league, and it's it's a lot of it's the youth, and a lot of it starts at the top with Sean McVay. I can't really say enough with how great of a job he's done coaching this year. And you know, I'm pretty hard on him. I've covered a lot of ups and downs of his coaching career, and especially the crash and sort of the burnout season that was really bad, and I've been critical of him at times in that and when he was sort of like figuring out how to navigate that, but he really has done an absolutely outstanding job keeping this group together and continuing to coach and to really go inward into the locker room with his assistants and coach and teach on a daily basis versus trying to patch all these leaking holes all at one time. What area can they focus on and this particular day and max out that area and then focus your attention on something else instead of trying to accomplish all of it at once. I think that's really been a difference here.

Yeah, And I think it's only I mean, I think it's only one other team in the modern era, or at least the last twenty years that's been able to come back from a start like that and even make the postseason. And the Rams are in position to potentially make a little history in that way. And it really was it wasn't just about getting healthy, but it was about them just kind of chipping away. I think there's a lot of coaching cliches that we sort of roll our eyes at sometimes because, especially if you're in this building, like you hear them a lot, but they actually work, you know. Work works is something that Sean McVay really likes to say that Aaron Donald said to him once that kind of helped bring Sean McVay out of a funk he was in a couple of years ago. And it's just showing up and controlling what you can for that day and then that week and then that month, and this team really stayed present. It's it's a fantastic locker room full of like genuinely awesome young people that they just kind of weren't super phased. I mean, they could be in pain there, but I think that's part of the benefit of the youth movement, for the for the Rams the last two years really is they could be hurting, they're banged up, their their record isn't what they wanted to be, but like, you really wouldn't know it by talking to a lot of these guys because they're so all about football and they all like each other. It's it's a locker room that is about as jovial and friendly with one another as I've seen in my career ten years covering the league, and it's it's a lot of it's the youth, and a lot of it starts at the top with Sean McVay. I can't really say enough with how great of a job he's done coaching this year. And you know, I'm pretty hard on him. I've covered a lot of ups and downs of his coaching career, and especially the crash and sort of the burnout season that was really bad, and I've been critical of him at times in that and when he was sort of like figuring out how to navigate that, but he really has done an absolutely outstanding job keeping this group together and continuing to coach and to really go inward into the locker room with his assistants and coach and teach on a daily basis versus trying to patch all these leaking holes all at one time. What area can they focus on and this particular day and max out that area and then focus your attention on something else instead of trying to accomplish all of it at once. I think that's really been a difference here.

Yeah, from one to four to nine and six and in control of the NSC West. I liked how you refer to the division as messy because I think the Cardinals would love to mess things up a little bit for the Rams coming up this weekend. And look, the coaches that we've talked to Jordan and the players you mentioned play the role as spoiler. They're like, yeah, no, we're not even focused on that. But what has been the talk around the Rams as far as looking at a Cardinals team that this game was moved from Sunday to Saturday or scheduled for Saturday night because of what was potentially on the line for both teams. Now it's just the Rams who have something on the line.

Yeah, from one to four to nine and six and in control of the NSC West. I liked how you refer to the division as messy because I think the Cardinals would love to mess things up a little bit for the Rams coming up this weekend. And look, the coaches that we've talked to Jordan and the players you mentioned play the role as spoiler. They're like, yeah, no, we're not even focused on that. But what has been the talk around the Rams as far as looking at a Cardinals team that this game was moved from Sunday to Saturday or scheduled for Saturday night because of what was potentially on the line for both teams. Now it's just the Rams who have something on the line.

Yeah, well, I can't emphasize this, and that they were really embarrassed after that loss. I mean, there was a couple of guys that were pretty open, you know. Not only were they really embarrassed by how that went down, by their own individual performances, particularly on defense, they were embarrassed by some of the posts that they saw coming out of the game about how easy it was for the Cardinals two crews pass them that week, because it looked at it looked every bit the butt kicking that it was. And they were sort of dumbfounded there on defense, especially early so early on in that game, and they couldn't quite ever recover. And so I think that's been not just a point of emphasis for their season, you know, patching up some of the leaks and the holes that they've had that defensive line, really putting an effort to go inside itself a little bit more and be a lot more accountable for responsibilities, for their own gaps, for playing as a team versus individual trying to like stat Pad. And then you know in the secondary too, it's a very different secondary. He asked me the top about this team being different. Well, Trey White is not here anymore. He drew some really tough matchups against Marvin Harrison in that game that the explosive plays that got away early. You know, Imay has gone back to veterans. He knows very well. Darius Williams, who is now healthy, and Akela Withersoon. They both have played really well the last couple of weeks, and they know kind of what it takes to sort of quiet the embarrassment that they felt from that first game, and certainly the Cardinals will remember how good that felt, probably, you know, try to come out swinging in similar fashion.

Yeah, well, I can't emphasize this, and that they were really embarrassed after that loss. I mean, there was a couple of guys that were pretty open, you know. Not only were they really embarrassed by how that went down, by their own individual performances, particularly on defense, they were embarrassed by some of the posts that they saw coming out of the game about how easy it was for the Cardinals two crews pass them that week, because it looked at it looked every bit the butt kicking that it was. And they were sort of dumbfounded there on defense, especially early so early on in that game, and they couldn't quite ever recover. And so I think that's been not just a point of emphasis for their season, you know, patching up some of the leaks and the holes that they've had that defensive line, really putting an effort to go inside itself a little bit more and be a lot more accountable for responsibilities, for their own gaps, for playing as a team versus individual trying to like stat Pad. And then you know in the secondary too, it's a very different secondary. He asked me the top about this team being different. Well, Trey White is not here anymore. He drew some really tough matchups against Marvin Harrison in that game that the explosive plays that got away early. You know, Imay has gone back to veterans. He knows very well. Darius Williams, who is now healthy, and Akela Withersoon. They both have played really well the last couple of weeks, and they know kind of what it takes to sort of quiet the embarrassment that they felt from that first game, and certainly the Cardinals will remember how good that felt, probably, you know, try to come out swinging in similar fashion.

Yeah. The postgame comment from Sean McVay that we've all talked about or brought up immediately after that game was the quote, it was an incredibly humbling three hour window because for the first time since twenty eleven, the Rams opened up zero and two. But here they are once again leading the NFC West, but offensively and recently the run game. I know, Matthew Stafford and you brought up put Ka Nakua being back healthy, Tyler Higbee being back healthy, but this seems to be more of a run first offense. Are we looking that correctly?

Yeah. The postgame comment from Sean McVay that we've all talked about or brought up immediately after that game was the quote, it was an incredibly humbling three hour window because for the first time since twenty eleven, the Rams opened up zero and two. But here they are once again leading the NFC West, but offensively and recently the run game. I know, Matthew Stafford and you brought up put Ka Nakua being back healthy, Tyler Higbee being back healthy, but this seems to be more of a run first offense. Are we looking that correctly?

Yeah, And it's interesting because a couple of years ago, when the Rams made their playoff run, they were very much a pass first, the pass first offense, and there wasn't a lot of substance underneath that passing game that, to be fair, was leading the league at that time, but they didn't have much of a run game to speak of and nothing really to lean on in December and January. And so I think that this is sort of the mark of this new era that the Rams have tried to and spent the last two years trying to push their way into, and that is getting a lot bigger and more physical upfront, starting with those two guards, Steve Avula and Kevin Dotson, finding bou Limmer making the right call to not play the guy that they paid in free agency, Jonah Jackson, to play center, instead leaning on the rookie who was just out playing his draft position. Like a lot of these kids that they've brought in have, Kyron Williams just kind of staying the course. Now. Someone who I think Sean McVay leaned on a lot for steadiness during the rougher parts of the season was Kyen Williams. Because Kyron's personality is much that he is unphased by adversity. You can see it when he runs. He wants to hurt you when he runs, and he talks the whole time, and I think that really lifts people up in the run game. It makes these guys really want to block for them, and they also have a multiplicity to their run game that they were lacking a few seasons ago. It's a two year work in progress, adding a lot of inside runs, man blocking, gap block duo running out of a pistol, which gives them their play action menu without having to sacrifice the shotgun. Looks that Matthew Stafford likes. Inside zone, outside zone, you name it. Their screen game now coming alive because Steve Avula is back in the lineup. These all are things that they have at their disposal at this point, and Sean mcsay is feeling more confident as a play caller, I think in actually sticking to those things after that first half shutout in New Orleans in Week thirteen, and this is something that they're going to absolutely have to leave. And I think some of the most dominant wins we've seen over the last two years, and some of them were against the Arizona Cardinal were. When this team ran the football, they all know it to a t to a person inside that locker room, and they know they're going to want to lean on it moving forward into this what they hope is a postseason run.

Yeah, And it's interesting because a couple of years ago, when the Rams made their playoff run, they were very much a pass first, the pass first offense, and there wasn't a lot of substance underneath that passing game that, to be fair, was leading the league at that time, but they didn't have much of a run game to speak of and nothing really to lean on in December and January. And so I think that this is sort of the mark of this new era that the Rams have tried to and spent the last two years trying to push their way into, and that is getting a lot bigger and more physical upfront, starting with those two guards, Steve Avula and Kevin Dotson, finding bou Limmer making the right call to not play the guy that they paid in free agency, Jonah Jackson, to play center, instead leaning on the rookie who was just out playing his draft position. Like a lot of these kids that they've brought in have, Kyron Williams just kind of staying the course. Now. Someone who I think Sean McVay leaned on a lot for steadiness during the rougher parts of the season was Kyen Williams. Because Kyron's personality is much that he is unphased by adversity. You can see it when he runs. He wants to hurt you when he runs, and he talks the whole time, and I think that really lifts people up in the run game. It makes these guys really want to block for them, and they also have a multiplicity to their run game that they were lacking a few seasons ago. It's a two year work in progress, adding a lot of inside runs, man blocking, gap block duo running out of a pistol, which gives them their play action menu without having to sacrifice the shotgun. Looks that Matthew Stafford likes. Inside zone, outside zone, you name it. Their screen game now coming alive because Steve Avula is back in the lineup. These all are things that they have at their disposal at this point, and Sean mcsay is feeling more confident as a play caller, I think in actually sticking to those things after that first half shutout in New Orleans in Week thirteen, and this is something that they're going to absolutely have to leave. And I think some of the most dominant wins we've seen over the last two years, and some of them were against the Arizona Cardinal were. When this team ran the football, they all know it to a t to a person inside that locker room, and they know they're going to want to lean on it moving forward into this what they hope is a postseason run.

I think both sides are very well aware of what the run game could do because I remember when we spoke on the cover two during Week two and we talked about Kien Williams impact. I don't think any of us had on a bingo card that he would have twenty five rushing yards on twelve attempts and that the Cardinals would, you know, go away with the blowout win, the forty one to ten victory in Week two. And I want to kind of continue on with the Kien Williams theme here because in what ways have you seen him kind of keep his head down to now continue to be one of the top performers. I know he runs very angry, as you kind of talked about there, but how when you have a rushing performance like that, was he able to keep his head down and keep on moving.

I think both sides are very well aware of what the run game could do because I remember when we spoke on the cover two during Week two and we talked about Kien Williams impact. I don't think any of us had on a bingo card that he would have twenty five rushing yards on twelve attempts and that the Cardinals would, you know, go away with the blowout win, the forty one to ten victory in Week two. And I want to kind of continue on with the Kien Williams theme here because in what ways have you seen him kind of keep his head down to now continue to be one of the top performers. I know he runs very angry, as you kind of talked about there, but how when you have a rushing performance like that, was he able to keep his head down and keep on moving.

I think he kind of understands like who he is and what he's not going to be, and I think some of it is you know, this guy is going to hit doubles and triples all day long, and if you are confident and you're not trying to press in a way where you're trying to maybe be outside yourself, you're trying to be that splash guy who is gonna have the explosive runs. You know, their personality wise, he reminds me a lot of what I've read and heard about James Connor really in Arizona, because it's it's a heartbeat mentality, but it's also somebody he understands that he as long as he hits triples and doubles, well, all of a sudden, those triples and doubles start really really stacking up and start lifting the entire offense around him. And it's it's cool because even when you know the line was basically they were their success rate was like top ten in the NFL with their yards per carry was way down, and people were wondering, Okay, well, what does that mean. He's only he's only getting what's blocked for him, right, And it's like, yeah, a little bit. But also there's no second and third level blocking because Pukua Akua and Cooper Cup are not in the lineup, the tight ends that they relied on in Tyler higbyy to kind of clear some of that second level stuff also not in the lineup. But Kyron Williams didn't really let that affect him. It was all anyone could talk about was the yards for carry, the yards for carry, right, And he didn't really let it affect him. He just kept putting his head down literally and hitting those devils and triples. And now that those guys are back in the lineup, they're leading to more explosive runs, more chunk plays, And I think that's pretty much an indicator or a signal of what he's kind of all about. It's not really about, you know, having his name in the lights. It's more so about, Okay, how can I do the best thing and the right thing for what this team needs, even if it's tanking my stat line for a few weeks.

I think he kind of understands like who he is and what he's not going to be, and I think some of it is you know, this guy is going to hit doubles and triples all day long, and if you are confident and you're not trying to press in a way where you're trying to maybe be outside yourself, you're trying to be that splash guy who is gonna have the explosive runs. You know, their personality wise, he reminds me a lot of what I've read and heard about James Connor really in Arizona, because it's it's a heartbeat mentality, but it's also somebody he understands that he as long as he hits triples and doubles, well, all of a sudden, those triples and doubles start really really stacking up and start lifting the entire offense around him. And it's it's cool because even when you know the line was basically they were their success rate was like top ten in the NFL with their yards per carry was way down, and people were wondering, Okay, well, what does that mean. He's only he's only getting what's blocked for him, right, And it's like, yeah, a little bit. But also there's no second and third level blocking because Pukua Akua and Cooper Cup are not in the lineup, the tight ends that they relied on in Tyler higbyy to kind of clear some of that second level stuff also not in the lineup. But Kyron Williams didn't really let that affect him. It was all anyone could talk about was the yards for carry, the yards for carry, right, And he didn't really let it affect him. He just kept putting his head down literally and hitting those devils and triples. And now that those guys are back in the lineup, they're leading to more explosive runs, more chunk plays, And I think that's pretty much an indicator or a signal of what he's kind of all about. It's not really about, you know, having his name in the lights. It's more so about, Okay, how can I do the best thing and the right thing for what this team needs, even if it's tanking my stat line for a few weeks.

Well, here's hoping there are some more singles headed Karen Williams's way. Strikeouts, Yeah, strikeouts, that'd be great, that'd be wonderful. We can't let you go without asking about the defense and fifteen total points allowed in the past two games, and just the youth movement on all three levels as far as what that defense has seen as far as sacks and passes defense. But what has changed or what has gotten better defensively for this Rams team, Well.

Well, here's hoping there are some more singles headed Karen Williams's way. Strikeouts, Yeah, strikeouts, that'd be great, that'd be wonderful. We can't let you go without asking about the defense and fifteen total points allowed in the past two games, and just the youth movement on all three levels as far as what that defense has seen as far as sacks and passes defense. But what has changed or what has gotten better defensively for this Rams team, Well.

They've stopped the run better than when they started out the season, and a lot of that is Gift Smith, who's a defensive line coach, and he takes them after they have, you know, when they have a tough game where sometimes they're out of their gaps or maybe one or two guys are trying to play hero ball, make a play that is not necessarily theirs to make and then allowing something open to open up on the backside. That's happened to them a lot this year, whether they're going for taking down the quarterback or whether they're going to stop a run and he will get out. It's you just know, it's kind of like that if you know, you know type of thing. You'll walk into the facility, you know, on a Wednesday, and you'll just see this big stack of overturned trash cans, and you just know that they're going to set them up very fundamental, very rudimentary. They're going to set them up as if they were setting up sort of like drawing on a piece of paper where all the gaps are going to be, and they're literally walking through all of their calls, all of their assignments. It is. It is going back to high school and early college football days of this is your assignment, this is where you go, this is where you'll be, and but it's none of them really like take a shot in the ego or a pride to it. I think they know that it's making them better. So you've seen those small coaching mechanisms take place that have really I think brought this group from being very young and unknown and putting them a little bit more on the radar. Brid And Fisk is having an excellent rookie season, Jared versus having an excellent rookie season. When those two are rushing off of each other and when they're run stopping off of each other, you can really feel that defensive line come to life. Their linebackers are playing better than when they started the season. Omar Spates is starting to really emerge as a playmaker in the middle of the defense, and Christian Rosmum's probably having the best season of his career. You know, he's a career special teamer and he's playing significant minutes for them, and then, like I mentioned before, they reshuffled areas of the secondary that they badly needed to this. This was a group that was just getting torched with the explosive pass plays. But especially over the last two weeks, Darius Williams and Akello Witherspoon have made plays on the ball, crucial plays when it counted, whether it's takeaways or fourth down pass breakups like last week on the road, and they really come up and stayed steady as this group has kind of started to emerge around them, And I think that's significant this time of year. You guys know it. I think veterans in some crucial area of the roster makes so much of a difference. Whether it's tangible you know on our broadcast screens on Saturday and Sundays, or whether it's more of an intangible that you feel in the locker room. It just goes such a long way when you have the right veterans around.

They've stopped the run better than when they started out the season, and a lot of that is Gift Smith, who's a defensive line coach, and he takes them after they have, you know, when they have a tough game where sometimes they're out of their gaps or maybe one or two guys are trying to play hero ball, make a play that is not necessarily theirs to make and then allowing something open to open up on the backside. That's happened to them a lot this year, whether they're going for taking down the quarterback or whether they're going to stop a run and he will get out. It's you just know, it's kind of like that if you know, you know type of thing. You'll walk into the facility, you know, on a Wednesday, and you'll just see this big stack of overturned trash cans, and you just know that they're going to set them up very fundamental, very rudimentary. They're going to set them up as if they were setting up sort of like drawing on a piece of paper where all the gaps are going to be, and they're literally walking through all of their calls, all of their assignments. It is. It is going back to high school and early college football days of this is your assignment, this is where you go, this is where you'll be, and but it's none of them really like take a shot in the ego or a pride to it. I think they know that it's making them better. So you've seen those small coaching mechanisms take place that have really I think brought this group from being very young and unknown and putting them a little bit more on the radar. Brid And Fisk is having an excellent rookie season, Jared versus having an excellent rookie season. When those two are rushing off of each other and when they're run stopping off of each other, you can really feel that defensive line come to life. Their linebackers are playing better than when they started the season. Omar Spates is starting to really emerge as a playmaker in the middle of the defense, and Christian Rosmum's probably having the best season of his career. You know, he's a career special teamer and he's playing significant minutes for them, and then, like I mentioned before, they reshuffled areas of the secondary that they badly needed to this. This was a group that was just getting torched with the explosive pass plays. But especially over the last two weeks, Darius Williams and Akello Witherspoon have made plays on the ball, crucial plays when it counted, whether it's takeaways or fourth down pass breakups like last week on the road, and they really come up and stayed steady as this group has kind of started to emerge around them, And I think that's significant this time of year. You guys know it. I think veterans in some crucial area of the roster makes so much of a difference. Whether it's tangible you know on our broadcast screens on Saturday and Sundays, or whether it's more of an intangible that you feel in the locker room. It just goes such a long way when you have the right veterans around.

So certainly sounds like Jordan A. Lota is going right for the Rams at this moment. We'll see what happens on Saturday. Always a pleasure, enjoy it, and I can't say good luck. It's just not I can't do it. Good writing, I'll say good writing, but I can't say good luck to the Rams.

So certainly sounds like Jordan A. Lota is going right for the Rams at this moment. We'll see what happens on Saturday. Always a pleasure, enjoy it, and I can't say good luck. It's just not I can't do it. Good writing, I'll say good writing, but I can't say good luck to the Rams.

Hey man, I'll take it. I'll take an easy column and nice storyline on Saturday. I'd love it.

Hey man, I'll take it. I'll take an easy column and nice storyline on Saturday. I'd love it.

One way or another. The story could come, so it works.

One way or another. The story could come, so it works.

Appreciate it, Jordan, appreciate it.

Appreciate it, Jordan, appreciate it.

Happy New Year, always a great conversation with Jordan, and happy New Year to her as well. And again, just can't say good luck to the Rams ever, despite what we think of Jordan as the person. But the last part of that conversation was the Rams defense, because I think that's that's the side of the wall that kind of gets overshadowed a little bit, especially when you have a perennial all Pro quarterback, pro bowler, maybe borderline Hall of Fame or Matthew Stafford and in all the different weapons that he has. But this Rams defense, saw this earlier or read this earlier on Next Gen stats as young of a defense as you'll find in the league. But this defense ranks first in tackles, sacks, quarterback hits, force, fumbles and seconds and interceptions when you talk about the defensive rookies, and then when you add in first or second year players twenty four sacks by first or second year players for the Los Angeles Rams.

Happy New Year, always a great conversation with Jordan, and happy New Year to her as well. And again, just can't say good luck to the Rams ever, despite what we think of Jordan as the person. But the last part of that conversation was the Rams defense, because I think that's that's the side of the wall that kind of gets overshadowed a little bit, especially when you have a perennial all Pro quarterback, pro bowler, maybe borderline Hall of Fame or Matthew Stafford and in all the different weapons that he has. But this Rams defense, saw this earlier or read this earlier on Next Gen stats as young of a defense as you'll find in the league. But this defense ranks first in tackles, sacks, quarterback hits, force, fumbles and seconds and interceptions when you talk about the defensive rookies, and then when you add in first or second year players twenty four sacks by first or second year players for the Los Angeles Rams.

That's incredible And if we would have had this conversation looking into a crystal ball after Week two, I doubt either of us would have expected for that to be the case because of just how the Cardinals were able to break so many tackles in that game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. They truly had their way. And I just I go back to listening to Jared versus media scrum after the game in Week two and he was talking about how difficult it was to bring down Kyler Murray and then for you to read off those stats, it truly shows how a bye week. It's a tale of two tapes here with the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams the bye week, I think Kurt, the Arizona Cardinals they were six and four going into it, now they're one and four. The Rams they were one and four going into the buy and then they come out in this.

That's incredible And if we would have had this conversation looking into a crystal ball after Week two, I doubt either of us would have expected for that to be the case because of just how the Cardinals were able to break so many tackles in that game against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. They truly had their way. And I just I go back to listening to Jared versus media scrum after the game in Week two and he was talking about how difficult it was to bring down Kyler Murray and then for you to read off those stats, it truly shows how a bye week. It's a tale of two tapes here with the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams the bye week, I think Kurt, the Arizona Cardinals they were six and four going into it, now they're one and four. The Rams they were one and four going into the buy and then they come out in this.

Sort of way.

Sort of way.

It's remarkable.

It's remarkable.

It also tells you on if you expect a lot at the beginning of the season, especially for a young team, and sometimes it takes a little while two two and a half months, maybe three months before, especially for a young player, to get your foot under you figure out what it takes to be a pro as far as the process between Monday and Saturday to be successful on a Sunday, and the Rams are heating up at the right time, and unfortunately for the Cardinals they're not. However, not that it's going to change how you feel perhaps about this season, but you go in and beat the Rams, whether by fifteen or whether by two, all of a sudden, now that road to the playoffs could be a little bit more difficult for the Rams, and you feel a heck of a lot better about where you are as a Cardinals team because you will have swept a Rams team that, since Sean McVeigh had has arrived, really had your number for most of those seasons.

It also tells you on if you expect a lot at the beginning of the season, especially for a young team, and sometimes it takes a little while two two and a half months, maybe three months before, especially for a young player, to get your foot under you figure out what it takes to be a pro as far as the process between Monday and Saturday to be successful on a Sunday, and the Rams are heating up at the right time, and unfortunately for the Cardinals they're not. However, not that it's going to change how you feel perhaps about this season, but you go in and beat the Rams, whether by fifteen or whether by two, all of a sudden, now that road to the playoffs could be a little bit more difficult for the Rams, and you feel a heck of a lot better about where you are as a Cardinals team because you will have swept a Rams team that, since Sean McVeigh had has arrived, really had your number for most of those seasons.

Well, I will caution you, craiglu because last week you said it doesn't matter how the Cardinals come away with the wind, as long as they come away with the win.

Well, I will caution you, craiglu because last week you said it doesn't matter how the Cardinals come away with the wind, as long as they come away with the win.

I stand to that because at one point I even got a text from our boss, I guess hee, it's our boss, Darren Irvan about that, and at that point it didn't look good because I think it was twenty to three, but then force overtime, Hey, winning overtime by a field goal by touch, survive in advance, and then you deal with how it looked in the days after that, but obviously it's not. And then when you don't lose, you're figuring out why things didn't work out or what needs to change, at least from our perspective from the outside looking in, and you can point to a number of different things, whether it's the tackling or the downfield passing game. So yeah, there's a there's a lot for this Cardinals team on both sides of the ball in order to improve upon if they want to get where they want to get to next season.

I stand to that because at one point I even got a text from our boss, I guess hee, it's our boss, Darren Irvan about that, and at that point it didn't look good because I think it was twenty to three, but then force overtime, Hey, winning overtime by a field goal by touch, survive in advance, and then you deal with how it looked in the days after that, but obviously it's not. And then when you don't lose, you're figuring out why things didn't work out or what needs to change, at least from our perspective from the outside looking in, and you can point to a number of different things, whether it's the tackling or the downfield passing game. So yeah, there's a there's a lot for this Cardinals team on both sides of the ball in order to improve upon if they want to get where they want to get to next season.

And that's exactly what John again and said earlier on in the week when I asked him, is there a thrill of playing that spoiler role, that spoiler role and I wrote about on Ezycardinals dot com, and John again and said no, I wouldn't necessarily say it's a I wouldn't necessarily say that we're playing the spoiler role. We're getting ready for a divisional matchup on the road in a tough environment, and if we want to get to where we want to get to. We have to go into it with the expectation and the standard that we're going to go in the road and we're gonna beat a good divisional opponent that is vying for a playoff spot, and that's something that the Cardinals need to do. And I still agree. While I didn't in the moment, and I was definitely scratching my head saying, oh boy, Craig's gonna hear a handful about this when when when we come back to the Valley, regardless if the Cardinals come away with the winner or loss, by saying that they need to beat By, they need to beat him by one point, I still agree with you going into this game because of the fact of these culture building moments, these culture defining, you know, building blocks that I think are going to be super important for this team as to go into the twenty twenty five season. And if you go into it with the mindset of, okay, we also messed up another NFC West teams playoff hopes. While you never want to see any of the other three teams in the playoff race, if knowing that the Cardinals were able to make an impact on the Rams not playing in the postseason. That's something you could you know, tip your cap to December. Football is hard. It's hard to win in the National Football League period, hard to win division games, even harder to do it on the road. Cardinals this season away from State Farm Stadium, just two and five on the season. So yeah, little things matter, and yes you do not get the chance to play playoff football this season. But again I keep going back to that record within the division four and two with wins over the Rams and forty nine Ers coming up over these last two weeks, four and two typically is a recipe for a playoff spot, because four and two should be enough some time to win your division. Cardinals could go four and two and still not win their division. They're not going to win their division, but they might have the best division record of any team among the four. Yet again, your overall win total and all of a sudden means a little bit more, and the Cardinals didn't do enough outside of their division to get into the postseason, which we've talked about a few weeks ago. Earlier in the season, I asked John Togan and what did he learned about the NFC West during his time during his first season and he said to me, there are three other teams that are better than us. And while on the surface, there are going to be at least two other teams that are better than the Arizona Cardinals because they either of them could potentially be in the playoffs, being the Rams or the Seahawks, I don't think you can necessarily say that one or the other is better than the Arizona Cardinals because you go back to that division record, and if that is the case, that is something that you have to give you. You have to give your flowers to Johnathangannon a company for going winless in the divisional last year to then come out and put up really strong numbers against division opponents.

And that's exactly what John again and said earlier on in the week when I asked him, is there a thrill of playing that spoiler role, that spoiler role and I wrote about on Ezycardinals dot com, and John again and said no, I wouldn't necessarily say it's a I wouldn't necessarily say that we're playing the spoiler role. We're getting ready for a divisional matchup on the road in a tough environment, and if we want to get to where we want to get to. We have to go into it with the expectation and the standard that we're going to go in the road and we're gonna beat a good divisional opponent that is vying for a playoff spot, and that's something that the Cardinals need to do. And I still agree. While I didn't in the moment, and I was definitely scratching my head saying, oh boy, Craig's gonna hear a handful about this when when when we come back to the Valley, regardless if the Cardinals come away with the winner or loss, by saying that they need to beat By, they need to beat him by one point, I still agree with you going into this game because of the fact of these culture building moments, these culture defining, you know, building blocks that I think are going to be super important for this team as to go into the twenty twenty five season. And if you go into it with the mindset of, okay, we also messed up another NFC West teams playoff hopes. While you never want to see any of the other three teams in the playoff race, if knowing that the Cardinals were able to make an impact on the Rams not playing in the postseason. That's something you could you know, tip your cap to December. Football is hard. It's hard to win in the National Football League period, hard to win division games, even harder to do it on the road. Cardinals this season away from State Farm Stadium, just two and five on the season. So yeah, little things matter, and yes you do not get the chance to play playoff football this season. But again I keep going back to that record within the division four and two with wins over the Rams and forty nine Ers coming up over these last two weeks, four and two typically is a recipe for a playoff spot, because four and two should be enough some time to win your division. Cardinals could go four and two and still not win their division. They're not going to win their division, but they might have the best division record of any team among the four. Yet again, your overall win total and all of a sudden means a little bit more, and the Cardinals didn't do enough outside of their division to get into the postseason, which we've talked about a few weeks ago. Earlier in the season, I asked John Togan and what did he learned about the NFC West during his time during his first season and he said to me, there are three other teams that are better than us. And while on the surface, there are going to be at least two other teams that are better than the Arizona Cardinals because they either of them could potentially be in the playoffs, being the Rams or the Seahawks, I don't think you can necessarily say that one or the other is better than the Arizona Cardinals because you go back to that division record, and if that is the case, that is something that you have to give you. You have to give your flowers to Johnathangannon a company for going winless in the divisional last year to then come out and put up really strong numbers against division opponents.

And these are teams you see twice.

And these are teams you see twice.

The intensity is always a little bit higher in this case is and while you would have loved to not have the two losses, especially to the Seattle Seahawks, at least trying to split that stories because then this whole week seventeen conversation is vastly different. With that being said, though, the Cardinals have made steps in the division and they're gonna continue making these steps. But as I keep mentioning, it's making sure that you come away with a win on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams. That gives you that momentum and that belief that, no, we think we're a playoff team, but at least if we win this, we at least go into the offseason with we should be a playoff team.