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[douche]

Turns out that sometimes simply kicking the field goal is the right thing to do. But who knows? Even if the Rams had kicked the game-tying field goal, they may have still ended up losing. Then again, if they hadn't missed the earlier field goal and extra point, it's a different game. Side note: nice to See McVay take full responsibility for it.

Despite making enough errors to torpedo their chances of winning, Sean McVay's Rams had one more opportunity to emerge victorious Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.

In that moment, McVay said afterward, their coach failed them.

"It's a bad call," McVay admitted quickly after the Rams' 26-23 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers. "It's a bad call by me."

The call in question came on fourth-and-1 from San Francisco's 11-yard line with less than four minutes to play in overtime. It was a situation in which McVay knew he wanted to go for the first down in an attempt to win the game outright instead of trying a game-tying field goal and giving the 49ers one more possession to earn the victory.

In the end, McVay's high-pressure decision -- a short-yardage handoff to Kyren Williams that was promptly stuffed at the line of scrimmage -- fell flat, turning it over on downs and giving the 49ers their fourth win in five weeks.

[auroraave]

I watched this - good game. I like the call to go for it - it was just the wrong play call. I hate a bunch formation in that scenario unless it's the tush push. If not, spread it out, create gaps, have options. Running into the teeth of the defense - just not the best strategy sometimes. Also a stark reminder the 9ers own this division until further notice. That was an absolute gut check they pulled off. A team that depleted did not miss a beat. They made plays when it absolutely mattered. It was impressive. Seattle is not in their league yet, but they are closing the gap. That was big boy football.
Also: FTN & FTR. AT least it was a win/win for Seattle fans because no matter what - one of them lost.

[D-train]

We are one play away from being undefeated and alone in first place. I would say we're definitely in their league

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I watched this - good game. I like the call to go for it - it was just the wrong play call. I hate a bunch formation in that scenario unless it's the tush push. If not, spread it out, create gaps, have options. Running into the teeth of the defense - just not the best strategy sometimes. Also a stark reminder the 9ers own this division until further notice. That was an absolute gut check they pulled off. A team that depleted did not miss a beat. They made plays when it absolutely mattered. It was impressive. Seattle is not in their league yet, but they are closing the gap. That was big boy football.
Also: FTN & FTR. AT least it was a win/win for Seattle fans because no matter what - one of them lost.

The Rams averaged 7.1 yards per play to the 49ers' 4.9. They didn't seem to be focused early in the game, perhaps because they thought they could just show up and shut down an offense with Mac Jones at QB. And then they added several mistakes like the blocked extra point and goal line fumble. It was a game they should have won easily but if don't take your opponent seriously any team can beat you in the NFL and that's what happened yesterday. LAR was clearly the better team the majority of that game.

[Donn Beach]

truly an epic battle unfolding on Sunday

Tampa Bay will travel to the west coast to battle some fiesty northwestern birds and they’ll be bringing their wildy popular, adored by all 1976 throwback uniforms. In what may be one of the greatest uniforms battles of all time, Seattle will also be donning their throwback uniforms.

[Donn Beach]

the anticipation continues to grow, this could be the Super Bowl of jersey matchups
CBS sports

"The NFL should be allowed to flex one game per year based on the uniform matchup and for 2025, that should be this game," Breech wrote. "Both of these teams entered the NFL in 1976, so they've both decided to wear a 50th anniversary uniform on Sunday. What that means is that we're getting the greatest road uniform of all-time (Tampa Bay's white creamsicle) vs. one of the greatest home uniforms of all-time (Seattle's royal blue jersey)."

[D-train]

truly an epic battle unfolding on Sunday

Tampa Bay will travel to the west coast to battle some fiesty northwestern birds and they’ll be bringing their wildy popular, adored by all 1976 throwback uniforms. In what may be one of the greatest uniforms battles of all time, Seattle will also be donning their throwback uniforms.

Yes, I just wonder which uniform shows up. The 0-14 Bucs or the 2-12 Seahawks!?!??!

[Donn Beach]

PFF writers gushing over Darnald

"He looks fantastic," Wasserman said. "Seattle Sam, I guess is what we have to call him now, right? I mean, I'm sure there's plenty of nicknames we could come up with, but no, he's been fantastic so far. You know, we were optimistic around here about the chemistry he could have with the new offensive coordinator in Seattle, Klint Kubiak, having worked with him before in San Francisco, but again, it still takes some time to gel.

"They've got a relatively new offensive line, especially in the interior, that's coming together, they've played decent football. Then you've got new weapons, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, AJ Barner, Elijah Arroyo, Tory Horton, the rookie wide receiver as well. There's a lot to overcome but what we've seen from Darnold so far has just been fantastic through the first four games."

The pair pointed out how Darnold ranks near the top of the league in several advanced stats. Those include his 90.1 passing grade (fourth), 9.1 passing yards per attempt (first), 0.9 percentage of turnover-worthy plays (second) and 2.56-second average time to throw (fifth).

[Donn Beach]

truly an epic battle unfolding on Sunday

Tampa Bay will travel to the west coast to battle some fiesty northwestern birds and they’ll be bringing their wildy popular, adored by all 1976 throwback uniforms. In what may be one of the greatest uniforms battles of all time, Seattle will also be donning their throwback uniforms.

Yes, I just wonder which uniform shows up. The 0-14 Bucs or the 2-12 Seahawks!?!??!

what it is really is an interesting qb matchup. Darnold and Mayfield really have had lockstep NFL careers. It hadn't occurred to me that both their turnarounds could be traced to playing for the Rams and 49ers respectively. Busts for the Browns and Jets, talk about a couple of organizations that can't seem to develop a qb to save their lives

In year eight, we’ll finally see the developed versions of 2018’s top quarterback prospects go head-to-head. Four years ago, both were fighting to hang on to backup jobs and seemed to be ‘busts’. But good organizations, good coaching and playing in the NFC West were all they needed to prove the doubters wrong.

The top two QB’s in the 2018 NFL Draft, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, meet on Sunday, seven years after being the 1st and 3rd overall picks. They both failed to secure a second contract with the dysfunctional New York Jets and Cleveland Browns teams that drafted them, and moved to Carolina in their fourth- and fifth-years, respectively- sharing a brief stint as teammates on the Panthers in 2022.

After posting poor records with the Panthers, both were relatively written off among the league. Mayfield was cut on December 5, 2022, and Darnold became a free agent after the season. But both signed with stable NFC West franchises and found their first steps towards revival.

[Donn Beach]

now that's pretty wild. Had read he was stabbed, now arrested geez

New details have emerged after it was reported Saturday that FOX Sports analyst Mark Sanchez was arrested for his involvement in an altercation that led to him being stabbed. According to Angela Ganote of FOX 59 in Indianapolis, Sanchez was “not cooperative” when police arrived on the scene early Saturday morning.

Ganote reported that, according to the police narrative, another man told officers he was delivering food when Sanchez told him he needed to move his car from where it was parked. The man told police that Sanchez began threatening him and followed him, eventually attacking him.

The man said he used pepper spray on Sanchez at first, but after that didn’t work, he defended himself with a knife. Police noted that the man had a significant injury on his face.

Sanchez was taken to a hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery. He was arrested Saturday and charged with battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication, all of which are misdemeanors.

battery with injury has to be a felony