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. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, defensive coordinator Chris Shula and wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua spoke with the media on Thursday.
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.
"(Having a lot of tight ends is) a good problem to have, right? We have four tight ends that have proven they belong in this league and play at a high level in both phases. So, again, good problem, we'll work through (the rotation) all the way until Sunday and a lot of time that rotation just naturally happens throughout the game." - LaFleur
The Rams are expecting the long-awaited return of veteran tight end Tyler Higbee on Sunday, but they aren't just going to throw him back into the deep end. This would be Higbee's first time back on the field since tearing his ACL and MCL in last season's Wild Card game against the Lions. LaFleur said his presence is always welcome on the field because he "has a zest for life" and "a big reason why you love coaching" is getting to coach players like Higbee who have infectious personalities.
On the other side, the Rams' pass catchers will have to deal with All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. LaFleur said "he's got that Detroit toughness to him," being from Michigan, and he enjoyed him as a human being during his time coaching for the Jets.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is "playing at a really high clip," LaFleur said, and he's heard Rodgers is feeling a lot healthier: "Like our guy (Stafford), they're just two guys that you just never take for granted watching them on Sundays."
"Oh man, (Rodgers is) obviously one the best that's ever played. Obviously, the accuracy and the rapport that he has with Davante Adams and now they got Garrett Wilson going, so it's just a really tough offense to prepare for... You're not really going to be able to trick him. He's kind of seen everything... They might be covered, but really, they're never covered." - Shula
Shula said Rodgers has looked like "his old self" over the past three weeks since the Jets' bye week. During that span, Rodgers has averaged 254 passing yards and New York has averaged 26 points per game. Shula added that hasn't had to do with a shift in offensive philosophy as much as an uptick in execution from that unit.
The Rams' young front will have a tough task getting after the still-mobile, 41-year-old quarterback, but they have shown their strength as a unit this season, as L.A. ranks fifth in the NFL in pressure rate, per Next Gen Stats. Shula said "the number one thing is affecting the passer in this league, and having a front that can do that is huge."
With the front made up almost entirely of first and second-year players, Shula gave credit to the position coaches for helping them work together to rush the quarterback as the season's progressed. They each have unique personalities, but they love playing for each other on the game days. Going against a Jets offense that allows the lowest pressure rate in football (25%), according to Next Gen Stats, that group's success will be vital for Los Angeles.
"(Gardner is) a really good football player from a corner perspective, (good) technique, I think also his understanding of who he is as a corner. You see he plays to his own strengths. I think they obviously have a lot of trust in him." - Kupp
Gardner is widely considered one of the league's best corners, and Kupp knows how dangerous he can be at 6-foot-3. That's why succeeding in the run game is "a big deal. That alleviates a lot of pressure offensively," Kupp said. The Jets are one of the better run defenses in the NFL, averaging 4.1 yards per carry allowed, so that will be significant on Sunday.
After touching the ball zero times on Thursday night against the 49ers, Kupp said he was "frustrated" looking over the tape, "but at the same time, the way that game played out, that's not what I was asked to do." And Kupp has been doing what's asked of him on the football field for his entire career, so "whatever it's going to take to win, that's what we got to do," and he has no problem with that.
"Before there was ever a pass play, everybody lined up, you had three guys in the backfield, and you were trying to confuse the defense, to figure out who had the ball. And it's just, I feel like (that involves) the big brother mentality as being the little brother in my family." - Nacua
After the Rams rushed for 142 yards against the 49ers while giving up just 63, running back Kyren Williams said it felt like the Rams were the "big brothers now." Something about an aggressive and successful rushing attack asserts a team's dominance in ways that few other things can. Nacua, being the younger brother in his family, loves to run block, especially on duo runs, because it brings out that "big brother mentality." Nacua said helping a Williams into the end zone is "just as exciting as when you see a one handed grab."
Nacua said that he got to see Gardner at the Pro Bowl last season, noting that, although it was seven-on-seven, "you get to gage how they move and man, (you) see the size and length that he has."
