WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams are in control of their own destiny. After securing two polar opposite wins in a four-day span, Los Angeles sits atop the NFC West and fourth in the NFC playoff picture at 8-6. Now, they must protect that division lead over the final three games of the season against Jets, Cardinals and Seahawks.
On Wednesday, head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford spoke with the media about the upcoming road game against the Jets and the team's path to the postseason.
Here are the top quotes and talking points from the press conferences, which can be viewed below:
"We get a cold machine out here? Go get a cold plunge or something like that?... Obviously the ball-handling is a little bit different just based on the temperature, but guys do a great job of being able to stay warm between series... I think you have to be mindful, if the footing actually affects your ability... The footing seems like it holds up pretty good, but if that is an issue then (senior director of equipment Brendan Burger) always has the seven studs available for the guys." - McVay
The weather forecast for Sunday's Rams versus Jets game will certainly be a factor. It's projected to be around 24 degrees at the time of kickoff with eight-to-10 mile per hour winds. L.A. is preparing to play through the cold at MetLife similar to how they did last year against the Giants in Week 17.
McVay said that this game is "unique" because they can approach it "a little bit differently because we had a little bit of a mini bye with our Thursday game." Typically, they might put some more emphasis above the neck on a Wednesday this late in the season. But, with 10 days between the 49ers and Jets, they are able to get some much-needed rest and will be "more intentional" with their reps. This week of practice will be one that's "typically reflective of early in the season."
In terms of the Rams controlling their own destiny, McVay said "every year is a new year, every week is a new week." McVay has learned to appreciate the truth in that throughout his time in Los Angeles, and while they do draw parallels from similar circumstances, they have to focus on the specific task at hand each week. He said "it doesn't remind me of any season, this is very unique in and of itself."
"Once you (go to the east coast) once, you kind of understand what it's about. I kind of like it. You wake up and go play. I'm an early riser anyways, I'm up early anyways, so our body clock time of 10 a.m. doesn't affect me too much... When they play the national anthem and the ball's kicked off, the juices better be going. I don't care what time of day it is." - Stafford
Not only are the Rams taking one of their furthest road trips of the season in Week 16, they are also playing at 1 p.m. ET for just the third time this year, and it'll feel like 10 a.m. on the west coast because of the time change. None of that makes a lick of difference for Stafford in his 16th season, and he added, "I know that our guys will be up for the challenge."
Stafford also referenced McVay's challenge to the group where he wrote the amount of guaranteed days left of football this season: 39. Now, it's around half that. Stafford said "that's something that'll get your attention real quick, you go, 'hey, I can commit for that long, no doubt,' and I think we've had great buy-in from our team since that point."
The Rams have won all three of their games since that speech and sit atop the NFC West. If they win out, they win the division, and McVay has emphasized the importance of their daily approach to reaching that goal.
