Atlanta Falcons vs. Los Angeles Rams
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, December 11, 2016
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Falcons -6.5. O/U: 45
PREDICTION: Falcons 27, Rams 16

Oddsmakers currently have the Falcons listed as 6.5-point favorites versus the Rams, while the game’s total is sitting at 45.

ABOUT THE FALCONS (7-5): Atlanta has the league’s top scoring offense, as quarterback Matt Ryan and receiver Julio Jones are having huge years. Ryan ranks second in the league in passing (3,813 yards) and third in touchdown tosses (27) while Jones leads the league in receiving yards (1,253). The Falcons also have the league’s worst pass defense, though, and have been terrible in the red zone – allowing touchdowns on 76.2 percent of drives inside the 20.

Atlanta Stats:
Team record: 7-5 SU,7-5 ATS
Atlanta is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta’s last 7 games
Atlanta is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road

ABOUT THE RAMS (4-8): Los Angeles’ offense ranks last in the league, and things have not improved since No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff took over at quarterback. After putting up respectable numbers in a loss to New Orleans two weeks ago, Goff went 14-of-32 for just 161 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions against the Patriots. The defense that carried the Rams early in the season has been exposed in the last two games, allowing a season-high 555 yards versus the Saints before giving up 402 last week.

Los Angeles Stats:
Team record: 4-8 SU,4-7-1 ATS
Current Streak: lost 3 straight games.
Los Angeles is 1-6-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Los Angeles is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles’s last 6 games

EXTRA POINTS
1. Ryan has averaged 308.2 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions in his last six road games.
2. Los Angeles DE Robert Quinn has recorded a sack in five straight home contests.
3. Atlanta LB Vic Beasley leads the NFC and ranks second in the league with 10 1/2 sacks while Los Angeles has allowed 31 – including seven in its last two games.

The post Atlanta vs. LA Rams Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints
When: 11/27/2016 1:00 PM
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Saints -7. O/U: 45.5.
PREDICTION: Saints 30, Rams 13

Oddsmakers currently have the Saints listed as 8-point favorites versus the Rams, while the game’s total is sitting at 45½.

NEW ORLEANS — During the New Orleans Saints’ magical run to the Super Bowl XLIV title in February 2010, Drew Brees saw every day what a Gregg Williams defense could do to an offense. It was a Saints’ defense Brees faced daily in practice.

The stakes on Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome will be a bit different as the 4-6 Saints attempt to make yet another climb toward .500 against the 4-6 Los Angeles Rams.

After climbing to 4-4 and putting themselves back in the NFC playoff picture following an 0-3 start, the Saints have dropped their last two games in large part because of atrocious special teams play.

New Orleans lost 25-23 to the Denver Broncos two weeks ago when Wil Lutz’s potential game-winning PAT was blocked and returned 84 yards for the winning two points. Then, last week against Carolina, a Lutz field goal was blocked, leading to a late first-half touchdown — and a 10-point turnaround — in a 23-20 loss to the Panthers.

So when Brees faces Williams’ defense on Sunday, he knows he will be in for a challenge. Williams, after all, was the architect of a ball-hawking Super Bowl defense in New Orleans that forced 39 turnovers in 2009.

It was also the defense that, because of Bountygate, got head coach Sean Payton and Williams suspended for a year. The NFL ruled the Saints’ defense operated a cash-for-big-hits scheme, which led to Payton’s 2012 suspension.

Brees knows that the Rams, led by defensive tackle Aaron Donald and inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, are relentless in their pursuit.

“I know what I see on film,” Brees said of the Rams defense that is allowing just 18.7 point per game. “I know that the things he has done in the past are part of his scheme. I know that he’s a very good defensive coach, and I know he’s going to have some things for us that we haven’t seen. My philosophy going into every game is always to expect the unexpected.”

Payton called Donald a rare talent. In 10 games, Donald has 31 tackles, five sacks, three passes defended and a forced fumble. Donald has collected 20 sacks since 2014.

“He might be one of the most talented interior guys there is,” Payton said. “(It’s) just his energy, his motor and his ability, both in the run game and the pass game to be extremely disruptive. (He’s) a guy you have to plan for in both phases. You know he’s going to make some plays. You hope to contain him as much as you can.”

The Saints are averaging 28.5 points per game, and their defense has played more solidly in the last month. But special teams gaffes have been so bad — the Saints have had three kicks blocked and two others deflected — that Payton took the unusual step of hiring Kevin O’Dea, formerly of the Tampa Bay Bucs, as a special teams coaching assistant, working especially with the snapper, holder and kicker.

“We’re looking to fortify the troops, not change them right now,” Payton said. (O’Dea) comes with expertise in developing and training kickers.”

Rams rookie Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, will make his second NFL start. In the Rams’ 14-10 loss to Miami last week, Goff completed 17 of 31 passes for 134 yards and ran four times for 11 yards. It will be his first road start.

“It will be loud, that’s about it,” Goff said. “I think (last week’s start) helped. There were a lot of things I learned, good and bad stuff. … We still have a chance to make a run here, and it’s not too late. We can do some special things if we put it together.”

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he realizes his defense will have to continue its stellar play to give Los Angeles a chance.

“We play hard, we’re physical, and if you look at the points allowed and things like that, we’ve been doing a respectable job,” Fisher said. “But when we have an offense that’s struggling, the defense has to do better. And when you lose a 14-10 game and get one turnover and have hands on three balls, you have to catch one of them.”

Mark Ingram was listed as questionable after going through the NFL concussion protocol last week, but he is likely to play.

“I think it’s encouraging with him, and I think I’ve said that all along,” Payton said.

Saints left tackle Terron Armstead is questionable with a knee injury.

The post Los Angeles vs. New Orleans Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

Los Angeles at Detroit
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, October 16, 2016
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Oddsmakers currently have the Lions listed as 2½-point favorites versus the Rams, while the game’s total is sitting at 43½.

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions have failed to find any consistency on offense. Their opponent this week has been even worse.

Both teams will be seeking better results when the Los Angeles Rams visit Detroit on Sunday.

The Lions snapped a three-game losing streak by defeating the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles 24-23 last Sunday despite gaining just 45 yards in the second half. Detroit’s offense failed to produce a touchdown the previous week against Chicago’s injury-riddled defense.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford did throw three first-half touchdown passes against the Eagles but is mindful that the Rams held Detroit’s offense to two scores in a 21-14 Lions loss last season in St. Louis.

“We played a team that was undefeated and was playing really well on defense. But each week presents a new challenge,” he said. “This week against the Rams is no different. They have a really talented defense and a smart defensive coordinator (Gregg Williams) who gives you a bunch of looks. It will be on us to adjust and move forward.”

Stafford was sacked four times by the Rams last season and that’s a big concern for coach Jim Caldwell.

“They can rush the passer,” he said. “They’ve got guys that can get up the field. Everybody knows about (defensive tackle Aaron) Donald. He’s an inside rusher that can give you a lot of problems. But out on the edge you can just go on and on about those guys. There’s a lot of guys that can get up the field and they give you a lot of problems in terms of the looks they have.”

The Lions fortified their backfield by signing veteran Justin Forsett this week. It’s uncertain how much he’ll play behind current starter Theo Riddick.

Detroit (2-3) is hopeful of getting its top pass rusher, Ziggy Ansah, back in action after he missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain. It’s likely to be without defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who has a shoulder injury.

The Rams (3-2) had a three-game winning streak snapped by the Buffalo Bills, 30-19. Quarterback Case Keenum threw for a season-high 271 yards but tossed two interceptions, including a pivotal pick-six with the score tied in the third quarter.

Los Angeles also failed to convert a fake punt at its 25-yard-line while trailing by four late in the game, allowing Buffalo to score a clinching touchdown.

“They created turnovers and made big plays in two situations,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “We didn’t get any turnovers and we gave up too many rushing yards.”

The Rams outgained the Bills 365-305, which Fisher saw as a sign of progress for an offense ranked last in average total yards (284.2) and tied for last with Houston in points (16.4 per game).

“We’re getting better on third down,” he said. “We made some plays on third down, we had nine explosive plays against a really good defense and had 23 first downs. You can take the 32nd in the league and write all you want about it, but this offense is improving.”

Perhaps so, but the centerpiece to the attack can’t find much room. Second-year back Todd Gurley is averaging 2.7 yards per carry and is still seeking his first 100-yard game this season.

Gurley had 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Detroit last year.

“Don’t be fooled by (his stats),” Caldwell said. “I’m going to tell you something — that guy is dangerous.”

The most consistent element of the offense has been kicker Greg Zuerlein, who has made all nine of his field-goal attempts and his seven extra-point tries.

“Greg is kicking really well right now,” Fisher said. “I’d like for Greg to kick off and kick extra points. He’s hitting his field goals, but our touchdown-to-field goal ratio is not where it should be. We need touchdowns.”

Los Angeles’ defense took a big hit against Buffalo when top cornerback Trumaine Johnson suffered an ankle injury that will sideline him for this week’s game. Johnson returned an interception for a touchdown against Stafford and the Lions last season.

He’ll be replaced by second-year corner Troy Hill. The team added some depth by claiming Dwayne Gratz off waivers from Jacksonville.

Los Angeles:
Team record: 3-2 SU,3-2 ATS
Los Angeles is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games
Los Angeles is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Los Angeles’s last 17 games

Detroit:
Team record: 2-3 SU,2-3 ATS
Detroit is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Detroit is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit’s last 5 games at home

The post NFL Matchup: LA RAMS vs. DETROIT Odds & Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

The Tennessee Titans running back, coming off a 1,243-yard season in 2012, was asked on ESPN’s “NFL Live” on Wednesday if he or the Minnesota Vikings’ Peterson, who threatened the all-time rushing record with his 2,097 yards, would have more rushing yards next season.

“Of course, ‘2K,” Johnson said, referring to his nickname — CJ2K — which he received after rushing for 2,006 yards in 2009.

When asked how confident he felt about his answer, he said he was “very confident.”

“I’ve always been a confident guy … if you want something to happen you have to speak on it, you have to believe in it. You just got to pray and God will lead you there. I know the type of guy that I am, the type of back that I am and if the situation is right I know I can do it,” he said.

Later, in an interview with the NFL Network, he took his goals to another level, saying he believes he can break Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards, which he set with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.

“Every running back’s goal is to break that record,” Johnson said. “You want to break the 2,105. I believe I can do it.”

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