The majority of experts are picking the Rams to win on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals will play their season finales on Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum, which will be the last Rams game at the historic stadium. They opened as the favorites in the game and despite losing two in a row, they’ve been the better team throughout the season.
The last time they met, the Rams crushed Arizona 34-7 in Week 13. In fact, it’s their fifth straight win over the Cardinals by at least 16 points, continuing their dominance of Arizona.
Experts across the league view the Rams as the favorites in this matchup with an overwhelming number of them picking Los Angeles to win on Sunday. According to NFL Pick Watch, 86% of experts are taking the Rams to win straight-up in Week 17.
There are only six games this weekend with a team that’s a bigger favorite in terms of expert picks.
Troy Hill is the only concern for Sunday’s season finale.
The week started with a lengthy injury report for the Los Angeles Rams, but it turns out the majority of those ailments were minor. On the final injury report of the week, only three players carry designations into Sunday’s season finale.
Darrell Henderson Jr. and Jalen Ramsey have both been ruled out, as expected, while Troy Hill is listed as doubtful to play. Andrew Whitworth, Michael Brockers, Eric Weddle and Bobby Evans are all good to go for Sunday after being full participants Friday.
Todd Gurley got his usual day off, but he’s expected to play against the Cardinals.
Sean McVay is going to play it safe with players who are banged up, keeping them from unnecessary wear and tear in a game that doesn’t carry any playoff implications.
Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday at the Coliseum.
Kyler Murray may not play against the Rams on Sunday.
The Rams did a great job holding Kyler Murray in check in their first meeting four weeks ago, but they may not have to try to do that again on Sunday. According to Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury, Murray will be a game-time decision in Week 17 due to a hamstring injury.
If Murray can’t play, it’ll be Brett Hundley at quarterback for Arizona.
Murray tweaked his hamstring last week against the Seahawks, which prevented him from finishing the game. Hundley relieved Murray and helped lead the Cardinals to the win, completing 4-of-9 passes for 49 yards.
Todd Gurley is disappointed about missing the playoffs, but he’s happy to see Marshawn Lynch back in the NFL.
After having their running back room decimated by injury in the last month or so, the Seattle Seahawks brought back a familiar face this week. They signed Marshawn Lynch, who previously spent six years in Seattle with four Pro Bowl appearances during his time there.
Though he hasn’t played an NFL game since last October, the Seahawks are hoping he provides a spark on offense with his physicality in the running game. Fans across the country are excited to see Beast Mode back in action, as is Todd Gurley.
Though the Rams won’t be participating in the postseason, Gurley is happy he gets to watch Lynch run it back with the Seahawks.
“It was cool. It just shows you the type of guy he is and what they think of him. Even if they had whatever their differences and he ended up leaving and going to the Raiders. They still believed in him as a player and as a man,” Gurley said. “I’m excited to see him play, as well in the playoffs. It’s always good to see a guy like ‘Beast Mode’ back. Just having him on the field people are just going to be scared. They don’t even know how he’s going to run, but he just brings that type of energy and confidence that just helps the team out.”
Lynch last played for the Raiders in 2018, rushing for 376 yards on 90 carries in six games before suffering a groin injury and landing on IR. In 2017 with the Raiders, he rushed for 891 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games after taking the year off in 2016.
His final season with the Seahawks was in 2015 when he only averaged 3.8 yards per carry in seven games. From 2011-2014, though, he was a four-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in 2012.
Lynch isn’t the only player Gurley is excited to watch in the playoffs. As disappointing as it is that the Rams won’t be playing in the postseason, he’s looking forward to watching DeAndre Hopkins and Deshaun Watson of the Texans.
“It’s just kind of weird because it’s like you’re not really prepared for the offseason and now it’s like it’s here,” he said. “Like I said, we won’t be the only team at the house and we’ll still get the chance to watch some good playoff football and root for your brothers that are still in the playoffs. All the good relationships that I have with players. Players from the Houston Texans – get to watch DeAndre Hopkins and Deshaun Watson in the playoffs. I just kind of just look forward to that – supporting my brothers. Just going out to the Super Bowl and I guess doing events there and being able to go to the game and still support whoever is playing in it.”
“If you don’t get what you want, sometimes you have to go to another place and branch out somewhere else.”
The Los Angeles Rams will have numerous decisions to make this offseason, few of which will be bigger than the one looming with Cory Littleton. The former undrafted linebacker is set to hit free agency for the first time in 2020 and after putting together an impressive season, he’s expected to cash in with a lucrative new contract.
The Rams aren’t flush with cap space next year and keeping Littleton around could prove difficult. With Dante Fowler Jr., Andrew Whitworth and Michael Brockers also hitting free agency, the front office has a lot to think about.
Littleton has never been in this position before, as this will be his first chance to test the market; he was a restricted free agent in 2019 and signed a one-year tender for $3.1 million. While he’d like to be back with the Rams, he knows the business side of the NFL.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be a Ram next year; I would more than love to be, because this is the place I’ve been for the past four years,” Littleton told the San Diego Tribune. “Everybody here, I can honestly say, is like family.
“At the same time, there’s a whole business aspect to it, where, if you don’t get what you want, sometimes you have to go to another place and branch out somewhere else. And, that’s perfectly fine. Being able to continue to play football is the most important thing.”
This is a similar approach taken by Fowler, who also said he would love to be back with the Rams but understands they “have their hands full” and may not be able to keep him. When it’s all said and done, the Rams will probably have to choose between Littleton and Fowler, both of whom are having career-best seasons.
Both are valuable to the defense, with Littleton shoring up the middle and Fowler providing consistent pressure off the edge. Pass rushers are typically viewed as more valuable assets, but they also cost more money.
Regardless of which way the Rams lean, one thing’s for sure: Both Fowler and Littleton are going to cash in somewhere, whether it’s in Los Angeles or elsewhere – and they know it, too.
The Rams are banged up heading into the season finale.
The Rams saved their longest for last.
With only one week left in the regular season, the Rams’ injury report is longer than it has been all year. Six starters are listed with injuries with only two of them being full participants in practice.
Nine players in total are on the report, which is concerning for the season finale against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. On Thursday’s release, Michael Brockers (knee), Troy Hill (thumb) and Andrew Whitworth (quad) all remained sidelined by their respective injuries, while Jalen Ramsey (knee) and Darrell Henderson Jr. (ankle) have already been ruled out for Week 17.
Eric Weddle (groin) returned as a full participant Thursday, which is a good sign after being listed as limited on Wednesday’s estimated report. Bobby Evans (hip) looks to be OK for the finale, while Mike Thomas popped up with an illness.
With regards to Brockers’ status, Sean McVay seemed fairly confident he’ll be OK to play on Sunday as the Rams are just playing it safe by not pushing him in practice.
“We’ll limit him in practice, but we will be smart. He’s a veteran player, he was able to take part in the walk-thru. If we do have to limit him physically, that’s something that we’re OK with, just because of his understanding and his ability,” McVay said. “He’s one of the rare guys that you do feel like, ‘All right, if you want to be smart and have him physically as healthy as possible for Sunday, take a little bit of that load off of him and his ability to get the above-the-neck reps, will be OK for us.”
The Rams are going to play it safe with their injured players, not putting anyone at unnecessary risk of further injury in a meaningless game.
Two games stand out in Sean McVay’s mind as the most memorable at the Coliseum.
The last three years have been quite memorable for the Rams after more than a decade of missing the playoffs and struggling to finish above .500. Sean McVay has played a big role in the resurgence of the Rams, leading them to two playoff appearances (including one Super Bowl) in three years.
Sunday’s game against the Cardinals will mark the final time McVay runs out of the tunnel at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum with the Rams, with the team moving into SoFi Stadium next season.
Reflecting on his time with the Rams and the games played at the Coliseum, McVay picked two of his most memorable games at the historic stadium.
“I would have to say the one that stands out was probably the Cowboys game because it represented a chance to advance in the playoffs and get to a conference championship,” McVay said. “That was our first win in the playoffs since we’ve all been here. That atmosphere, that environment, but there’s a bunch of special times. That was a special night when we played Kansas City for all the other things outside of football that represented things that are a lot bigger than the game and what that kind of offered in terms of a reprieve for the community. Those are some games that definitely stand out.”
The two games McVay is referring to, of course, are the Rams’ 30-22 win over the Cowboys in the divisional round last season, and their epic Monday night shootout with the Chiefs, which was moved from Mexico City to Los Angeles because of field conditions.
The Rams won that game 54-51, but it carried more meaning than just the final score represented. It came not long after the tragic shooting in Thousand Oaks shook the local community, and after wildfires spread throughout Southern California and displaced residents in the area – including some members of the Rams.
It’s easy to see why those games would stand out in McVay’s mind, as they’re surely two of the most memorable moments in the minds of Rams fans, too.
After creating several positive memories at the Coliseum and learning about the history there, McVay hopes to close the book on a high note with a win on Sunday.
“I knew just the history of the venue and all the different great things that had taken place there. But, probably couldn’t appreciate it fully until you get there and get an opportunity to compete there,” he said. “Then you even start to even get educated on all the things that have occurred. It’s been a special place, there’s been a lot of good memories there. We’ll see if we can have our last one as a positive one.”
Wade Phillips and Sean McVay were both asked about the report that Phillips may not be back in 2020.
Wade Phillips and Sean McVay may seem like an unlikely match, being separated by 39 years in age. Phillips is one of the oldest coaches in the league, while McVay remains the youngest head coach around.
Phillips, 72, is in the final year of his contract and his time with the Rams may be coming to an end. With only one game left in 2019, Phillips could be coaching his final game as a member of the Rams coaching staff.
One report from Alex Marvez earlier this week suggested the Rams will consider moving on from Phillips in the offseason. Phillips has heard the rumors of his demise in L.A. but he’s not buying into them much.
“I’ve had a lot of rumors out there,” he said laughing. “I don’t pay any attention to rumors. Wherever I’ve been, I’m going to do the best I can do and if that’s not good enough for somebody, then it isn’t. But we want to finish with a winning season.”
Phillips was asked if he wants to continue coaching into next season, and he didn’t leave much doubt.
“I love coaching. That’s what I do and that’s what I enjoy doing,” Phillips said. “We did a lot of good things this year. Obviously not enough to be in the playoffs, but I thought we did a lot of good things as a team and defensively. I enjoy working with players, I think we’ve got a really good group and like I said last week, they were fighters. Didn’t end up winning that ball game, but I thought we showed a lot of fight as a defense and a team. I enjoy coaching and I want to continue.”
Since Phillips took over in 2017, the Rams have ranked 19th in total defense twice and they are currently 13th this season. They’ve never finished inside the top 10 of points or yards allowed as a defense under Phillips, which is somewhat disappointing when you look at the talent they have on that side of the ball.
When asked if he thinks he’s done a good enough job, he left it up to those in charge.
“That’s up to somebody else,” he said. “We lost two years in a row to Pittsburgh when I first started in the AFC championship game and they won the Super Bowl. Then we lost to Oakland and they won the Super Bowl and we got fired, so those things happen. Like I said, it’s up to somebody else to judge those things. You never know what’s going to happen in football, but I know one thing: I’m going to do the best I can do and I’m going to be the best assistant coach I can be.”
McVay is one of the people who will decide Phillips’ fate in 2020 and beyond, being the head coach. He was also asked about the report that Phillips could be gone next season, and while he didn’t shoot down the rumor, he did acknowledge that everyone on the staff will be evaluated.
“When those things come out, Wade and I discuss those things so that we make sure there’s clear understanding of what goes on and we keep those things behind closed doors,” McVay said. “But like anything else, after the season, it’ll be good for us to all take a step back. Our focus right now is on, let’s see if we can play a really good football game against a tough opponent. Finish off the season, cap it off the right way. But like anything else, we’ll take some time to really be able to reflect back on the year, look at what some of the things we need to do moving forward and part of that is talking to each one of the staff members, talking to your players and then being able to have a direction as we progress into the season.”
The Rams not only missed the playoffs, but they also don’t have a first-round pick in 2020.
For the first time since 2016, the Los Angeles Rams won’t be one of the 12 teams in the postseason dance. Sean McVay had led them to two straight playoff appearances, but the team came up short this year and was eliminated from postseason contention last week.
With as much parity as there is in the NFL, and as difficult as it is to repeat as division champions, the Rams were never a lock to make the playoffs. They were, however, among the favorites to win it all.
Missing the playoffs is a tough pill to swallow, but it’s even worse when you don’t have a first-round pick in either of the next two years. The Rams traded their first-rounders in 2020 and 2021 to the Jaguars for Jalen Ramsey, who played well in his nine games with Los Angeles before injuring his knee in Week 16.
Had the Rams secured a postseason berth, they would’ve guaranteed that the pick heading to Jacksonville would’ve been no better than 21st overall. When trading first-round picks in-season, the hope is to go on a deep postseason run to make that selection worse for the team receiving it.
Now that the Rams have missed the playoffs, their first-round pick heading to Jacksonville will be no worse the 20th overall. At 8-7, they have the best record of any team not currently holding a playoff berth. The Steelers are also 8-7, and their pick is owned by Miami from the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, so the Dolphins have the 19th overall pick.
After that, it’s a cluster of 7-8 teams. As of now, the Raiders would pick 14th, followed by the Cowboys, Raiders again (via Bears), Colts and Bucs. So if the Rams lose on Sunday and all of those teams win, the Jaguars’ pick from Los Angeles could move as high as 14th – depending on tie-breakers.
That’s not a bad deal for Jacksonville, which will also get the Rams’ first-rounder in 2021.
It hurts for the Rams to miss the playoffs, but it’s even worse when you consider the fact that they could have potentially held the 14th overall pick at the end of the season had they not made the trade with Jacksonville. Instead, they’ll have to wait about 50 picks before making their first selection in 2020, pending any trades made and how the final order finishes.
Here are all the stats and historic numbers you should know for the Rams’ final game at the Coliseum.
For one last time, the Rams will take the field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. It’s their final game at the historic venue that they’ve called home since 2016, also spending 1946-1979 there, too.
The team will wear commemorative patches on their jerseys for the last game at the Coliseum, while fans will be allowed to go on the field after the final whistle for a post-game fireworks show.
It’s going to be a special day at the Coliseum, closing out the Rams’ tenure there against the Arizona Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET. Next year, they’ll play their home games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which is nearing completion.
But before they move out of the Coliseum, here’s a list of stats and numbers to know from their 38 years of calling it home.
163: Rams went 163-97-8 at Coliseum (including playoffs)
12: Rams playoff games played at Coliseum (6-6 record)
843: Touchdowns scored by Rams
639: Touchdowns allowed by Rams
14: Number of division titles won by Rams while playing at Coliseum
202: Number of Rams Pro Bowlers during days at Coliseum
6,825: Points scored by the Rams
400: Touchdown passes thrown by Rams players
400: Interceptions thrown by Rams players
53,434: Passing yards by Rams
73.8: Combined passer rating of Rams players
(Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)(Set Number: X12892 )
360: Rams rushing TDs
39,214: Rams rushing yards
311: Field goals made by Rams kickers
365: Field goals attempted by Rams
83: Total returned touchdowns
171,385: Yards combined by both teams in Rams games
1,413: Total turnovers by Rams and opponents
171: Number of players that threw a TD pass
11,843: Passing yards by Roman Gabriel (most of any player)
89: Touchdown passes by Gabriel (most)
4,371: Yards rushing by Marcus Allen (most of any player)
48: Rushing touchdowns by Allen (most)
3,074: Yards rushing by Lawrence McCutcheon (most by Rams player)
26: Rushing touchdowns by Dan Towler (most by Rams player)
3,527: Yards receiving by Jack Snow (most of any player)
31: Touchdown catches by Snow (most)
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
21: Interceptions by Eddie Meador (most of any player)
65.5: Sacks by Greg Townsend (most of any player)
21.5: Sacks by Aaron Donald (most by Rams player)
554: Most passing yards in a single game (Norm Van Brocklin, 1951)
6: Most touchdown passes in a game (Patrick Mahomes, 2018)
247: Most rushing yards in a game (Willie Ellison, 1971)
238: Most yards receiving in a game (Harold Jackson, 1973)
12: Most solo tackles in a game (Mark Barron, 2017)
