Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Are the Rams similar to the 2011 New York Giants? Every once in a while there is a team that comes out of seemingly nowhere and wins the Super Bowl. While the 2024 Los Angeles Rams didn’t come out of nowhere, many of the analytics wouldn’t consider them your typical Super Bowl winner. The Rams came into the playoffs ranking 17th in total team DVOA. Offensively, they rank only 14th in EPA per play while ranking 26th in EPA per play defensively. Most Super Bowl teams have at least one elite unit, but that hasn’t been the case for the Rams this season. Still, it’s not unheard of for a team like that to go to the Super Bowl. The 2011 New York Giants were exactly like this and this Rams team isn’t too much different. Both teams had a prior championship pedigree, but neither were seen as serious threats. The Giants snuck into the playoffs at 9-7 in a bad NFC East while the Rams snuck in at 10-7 on a tiebreaker in a weak NFC West. Despite their history, they were two teams that were written off as they were far from dominant at any point during the regular season. At one point, the Giants lost four consecutive games to fall to 6-6. They finished the year with a -6 point differential. They were the first team in NFL history to make the Super Bowl with a negative point differential. Meanwhile, the Rams started 1-4 before clawing back and also finished with a -19 point differential. Again, neither side was seen as a typical playoff contender. The Giants finished 2011 with a 5.9 percent total team DVOA with a defense that ranked 22nd. They at least had a top-10 offense in DVOA at 10.9 percent. The Rams have a 5.1 percent total team DVOA with an offense that ranks 10th and defense that ranks 26th. These are two similarly built teams. When the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007, it was the last hoorah for Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan. When the Giants returned to the Super Bowl in 2011, Aaron Ross was the only defensive starter in both games. Osi Umenyiora played in both games, but didn’t start in 2011. The current Rams defense doesn’t have a single starter from the group that won the Super Bowl three years ago. Aaron Donald retired following the 2023 season and after 2022, the Rams had to rebuild the defense. The Giants had a new, young defensive star in the making in Jason Pierre-Paul while the Rams found Jared Verse. Late in the year, it was the defensive lines that took over. Over the last four weeks of the regular season, Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck each ranked in the top-25 in pressures. That’s been Verse and Kobie Turner for the Rams. The playoffs is where the Giants defense really took over. They held the Atlanta Falcons to under 10 points in the wild card round just like the Rams held the Vikings to nine. In the divisional round, the Giants beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field after losing to them in Week 13. The Rams are set to play the Eagles, a team they lost to in Week 12 at home. We’ll have to see if the Rams can continue their similarly unlikely playoff run with a win over the Eagles. However, some of the similarities between the two teams are hard to look past. These are two teams with good offenses and defenses that weren’t seen as a strong unit heading into the postseason. They both went through a difficult stretch in which it looked like they may not make the playoffs at all. However, they got hot at the right time and in the NFL, sometimes that’s all it takes.
Are 2024 Rams similar to this past Super Bowl winner?
Bears complete interview with Ravens OC Todd Monken for vacant HC job
Bears complete interview with Ravens OC Todd Monken for vacant HC job glenn erby If any coach can get the best out of Caleb Williams, it’s Todd Monken, and hours after the final Ravens practice of the week, Baltimore’s offensive coordinator interviewed for the Bears head coaching job. The Ravens are engulfed in the AFC playoff race, but NFL franchises are interviewing coaching candidates, and Monken is at the top of several teams’ lists. Baltimore’s offensive coordinator was scheduled to interview with the Jacksonville and Chicago before Sunday’s AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Monken spent three years in Athens as offensive coordinator, leading the Georgia Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. In his first season with the Ravens, Jackson had one of his best seasons, leading the team to an AFC-best 13-4 record. Every offense Monken has commanded since 2021 has finished in the top 10 in total offense, with his title-winning team in 2022 and his first-year Lamar Jackson ranking in the top five. Lamar Jackson could win another MVP this season after accounting for 45 touchdowns and the NFL’s No. 1 ranked offense.
Three and Out Podcast: Potential money-saving cuts for the Bengals
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images What are your thoughts on these potential cap casualties? The season is over for the Cincinnati Bengals, and I’ll be darned if I’ll talk about the Chiefs on Three and Out, so this week, we decided to highlight eight potential players, all of whom are under contract in 2025, that could be good cap-saving cuts. Kevin and I began with three obvious ones: Sheldon Rankins, Alex Cappa, and, unfortunately, Sam Hubbard. We did, however, discuss the possibility of the Bengals bringing Hubbard back, depending on his health of course, on a much cheaper contract. After that, we got into five players who may be on the bubble. In the end, I predicted four of the eight would get cut, while Kevin thought more of them would go. We also calculated the cap savings of each cut. All in all, if the Bengals were to cut all of them, they would save a little over $43.6 million. Remember to check us out on YouTube at the Orange and Black Insider and on the Bleav Network at Bleav in Cincy. Thanks, and Who Dey! Be sure to follow our Twitter page and ‘like’ our Facebook page to get more Cincinnati Bengals news and views. Who Dey!
Vikings Happy Hour: Who’s to Blame for Vikings’ Playoff Loss to the Rams?
Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images Matt is back! The Vikings Happy Hour crew is back after a long hiatus, just in time to commiserate over a Minnesota Vikings playoff loss. Join them as they discuss who’s to blame for the loss to the Rams, what’s next for the Vikings, and whether Sam Darnold should return. All that and more! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment!
Phinsider Victory Of The Week Open Thread Vol. 617
Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images It’s Friday, so it’s time for us to welcome you to another VOTW post. Today’s open conversation prompt is just that: what is your victory for this week? Did something extraordinary happen this week? Is it a small thing worth celebrating? Was it Miami Dolphins-related? Was it in your professional life? Your personal life? We all had something, big or small, that was a victory, and we want to know what yours was. This post is yours, the site member, aka one of our family here at the Phinsider. This post is your chance to share your victory from the last week. Your victory can be huge, like the birth of a new child or grandchild or finally getting that job or promotion you worked your rear off for. It can be a small thing, like winning $100 on your lottery scratch-off ticket, or maybe it was a great overall week for you for another reason you wish to share. It’s your post and victory, so please feel free to share it with the rest of the site in the comment section below.
NFL Divisional Round: Anytime touchdown bets
Three anytime touchdown bets ahead of Sunday’s divisional-round games. Premium Content Sign Up NFL Divisional Round: Anytime touchdown bets 2YK6KKD Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) hands off to running back Kyren Williams during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) By Judah Fortgang Posted Jan 17, 2025 3:16 pm EST Anytime touchdown bets allow you to wager on a player to score a touchdown at any point during a game, giving you action until the final whistle. PFF’s picks for these bets are grounded in comprehensive analysis, factoring in player trends and usage, team performance, strength of opponent and other key data points to give you an edge. Much like last week’s Josh Jacobs bet, this is another spot featuring a premier running back with a dominant role at the goal line facing a tough defense. As a result, Williams is priced at even money despite his significant workload. Only Derrick Henry has more touches inside the 5-yard line this season, but Williams leads the NFL with 11 touchdowns from that range. Additionally, as we saw last week, Williams is a threat in the passing game near the goal line, giving him even more opportunities to find the end zone. With the season on the line for the Rams, expect them to lean on their reliable weapon in Williams when they get in close. At even odds, his role makes this bet too good to pass up.
Derrick Henry on teammates copying his signature move: ‘I am not the stiff arm coordinator’
Derrick Henry on teammates copying his signature move: ‘I am not the stiff arm coordinator’ glenn erby Derrick Henry is the King of delivering stiff arms, but since joining Baltimore, his Ravens teammates have started utilizing his signature move for their own delight. Lamar Jackson constantly stiff-armed defenders, while Isaiah Likely escaped the violence against Pittsburgh in the wild card game. Henry was asked about his teammates copying his move. Back in September, Henry rushed for a season-high 199 yards and totaled 209 yards from scrimmage in a 35-10 home victory over the Bills. He’ll look for a repeat performance on Sunday.
Talks between Hamilton County and the Bengals on stadium lease are already getting ugly
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images This doesn’t look great for Cincinnati. It appears as if things between the Cincinnati Bengals and Hamilton County are getting heated regarding a new stadium lease. According to The Cincinnati Business Courier, the team has accused Hamilton County of being in default of their 1997 lease agreement. According to the same report, the county responded, claiming the Bengals have been disingenuous. “The county has leveled its own default allegation against the Bengals and said the team dragged its feet on providing details of the renovations it sought to pursue,” wrote Chris Wetterich. “Including how it planned to comply with the government bidding requirements for the county-owned stadium.” He also wrote the Bengals revoked all lease extension offers in July of 2024 and have cut off all talks, saying they “have proven useless.” If you remember, things didn’t really go the county’s way the last time the two sides made a deal. Hamilton County approved a half-percent sales tax hike to fund Paul Brown Paycor Paychex(?) Stadium and Great American Ballpark in 1996, and then it came to light that deal was unusually lopsided in the team’s favor compared to others around the country. The lease is up in 2026, and renovations need to be made to the stadium to keep up with newer stadiums around the league. The fact things are possibly getting ugly isn’t a good sign that this will get done before time starts to run out. Check out Chris Wetterich’s report here, and stay tuned as this story develops.
Colts fans: Team Ballard or team anybody else?
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images Do you like the move to retain Ballard for another year? Chris Ballard may be the most polarizing figure associated with the Indianapolis Colts; more than the head coach and more than the second year quarterback who produced his own set opinions among fans this year. Maybe it comes down to tenure. Ballard has been with the Colts double those two men combined, so there is plenty of data and points of pain and praise for the GM. With so many opportunities to do right or wrong by fans, it only makes sense that a clear opinion would be had by all. The question is, what is your opinion? Are you team Ballard or team anyone else? Team Ballard points to the draft and his overall ability to find diamonds in the rough. Zaire Franklin, Josh Downs, Shaquille Leonard, Grover Stewart, Kenny Moore (I know he wasn’t drafted by the Colts), and E.J. Speed are among players who certainly were not well known but have come in and made a positive impact on this franchise. His ability to assess talent and shrewdly move through free agency while keeping the Colts financially flexible can be viewed as a positive. There are quite a few NFL teams that find themselves in a cap crunch which limits their ability to make moves when needed or desired. Ballard has positioned the Colts to be able to strike when the time comes. Fans on the other side of the coin feel that time never comes. Ballard is cautious to a fault. When players are on the free agent market and appear they could help move the needle, Ballard seemingly sits idle. Sitting on cap space as if spending is a no-no, frustrates these fans to no end. Additionally, for each player he hits on, there seem to be four misses. That is the nature of the draft and the reason why Ballard loves to collect picks. For fans that are done with Ballard, that also causes pain as he continues to slide back in the draft seemingly forgoing top talent available at that particular moment. The blue-chip players he and his staff target with the sky high RAS don’t seem to pan out. Team Ballard gets another year to gloat while team anybody else gets another year to sulk. What is done, is done. Chris Ballard will be back next year and leading the charge. Nothing is going to change that. Even those on team anybody else should be rooting for his success because it means the Colts are doing well and found some solid pieces to help bring this franchise back to greatness. Ideally, everyone would be team Ballard, but unfortunately, unless something drastic happens, there will remain two camps.
Raiders coaching search: Who do you want if it’s not Ben Johnson?
Mark Davis | Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images Is there a 2nd choice for fans? The Las Vegas Raiders have started to request interviews for the coaching opening left by the firing of Antonio Pierce. They have requested to talk to five candidates so far: Aaron Glenn, Ben Johnson, Steve Spagnuolo, Todd Monken, Robert Saleh, Pete Carroll, Vance Joseph and Ron Rivera. It’s been widely speculated by multiple media members that Johnson, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator is the heavy favorite of the Raiders. However, ESPN speculated Friday that Johnson is not a sure thing to decide to coach the Raiders and that he is also in the mix for jobs with the Chicago Bears and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pro Football Talk chimed in that it believes Johnson will decide between going to the Raiders and staying with the Lions for another season. So, what if Johnson isn’t on board with the Raiders? Then what? Would one of the other seven candidates appeal to you? All of them other than Monken are defensive coaches of that group all but Glenn have head-coaching experience. There may be more candidates interviewed. But, as of now, which these coaches is on your radar if Johnson doesn’t pan out for the Raiders?
