[max]

I don't think the "on paper as good" thing is the issue. Patricia had an extra three days (because of Thursday game) to prepare a defense set up to throw the Rams off-track. Given his pedigree, he could do that. And in fact that's half of what (a very good Spielman) talked about all game--the extent to which Detroit, unlike pretty much anyone else, was reading Rams plays as they happened, something which the entire Rams offense is built around avoiding (which is why they run so many different kinds of plays out of the same formations).

There are three games where Goff was not his normal self. At Seattle, Denver, and Detroit. In each case it's a defense on the road which may not rank high but which threw things at the Rams and Goff they (and he) had not seen.

Spielman for example went overboard explaining how it is Lions defenders sniffed out those 2 screens for 2 near-pick 6s.

Those three games all have several things in common, and weather was a factor in only one of them.

Not saying weather won't be a factor in Chicago, but they also have a defense capable of pulling off the kinds of things Denver, Seattle (in Seattle) and Detroit did.

In contrast, Goff against top defenses at home (Chargers, Seattle) did very well.

I think of those 3 games where he did not do as well and try to come up with things they have in common. That way all 3 of Goff's lesser games come into the equation.

....

I’m not sure I buy the 3 extra days buys you all that much. McVay had 6 extra days to prepare for Detroit.

Anyways, Chicago doesn’t have any extra time to prepare for Rams and they don’t have that Belichick pedigree do they? They also just gave up 30 points in a loss to the Giants.

They’re a good D, not great IMO.

If Goff is ever going to be a legit top 10 QB, he’s gonna have to play at least decently on the road against a good D. My guess is that he’s not there yet and the cold weather is an added issue for him.

[AvengerRam]

Remember he was nearly as off in Detroit where weather was not a factor.

Remember the time Bobby Boucher showed up at halftime and the Mud Dogs won the Bourbon Bowl?

[/zn/]

I’m not sure I buy the 3 extra days buys you all that much. McVay had 6 extra days to prepare for Detroit.

First of all the issue was not "3 days," it was 3 defenses that gave the Rams trouble. I listed the advantages each had. That just means the Lions advantage was Patricia. That does not mean anyone is saying all teams need 3 extra days to play the Rams. That's not what I was talking about.

And McVay having extra time to prepare for Detroit did not mean as much if the Lions were throwing things at them they had not seen. Which, they did. The Rams offense was dependably itself while the Lions defense was not reproducing old ways of attacking opponents, they were tailored for the Rams and well schooled at it too.

And Goff is not a seasoned vet yet of the kind where you say "well he's seen everything."

So if you ask what Goff's 3 worst games have in common, it's not weather. It's a good defense on the road which threw things at the Rams (in smart ways) which they had not seen.

[Ramsdude]

If Goff is ever going to be a legit top 10 QB, he’s gonna have to play at least decently on the road against a good D. My guess is that he’s not there yet and the cold weather is an added issue for him.

Wow...so you don't think Goff is a legit top 10 QB??? He might not be a top 3 or 4 but IMO he is absolutely in the top 10! After reading your other posts about Goff, I can see you are not impressed by him and repeatedly posted about it. You might have a "Goff agenda". lol

Goff is just a kid compared to some of the "old men" who are in the top 5 QB list and has taken his team to a 11-1 record this year while playing some very good teams. He is not perfect by any means but "not top 10"??? C'mon man.

[max]

First of all the issue was not "3 days," it was 3 defenses that gave the Rams trouble. I listed the advantages each had. That just means the Lions advantage was Patricia. That does not mean anyone is saying all teams need 3 extra days to play the Rams. That's not what I was talking about.

And McVay having extra time to prepare for Detroit did not mean as much if the Lions were throwing things at them they had not seen. Which, they did. The Rams offense was dependably itself while the Lions defense was not reproducing old ways of attacking opponents, they were tailored for the Rams and well schooled at it too.

And Goff is not a seasoned vet yet of the kind where you say "well he's seen everything."

So if you ask what Goff's 3 worst games have in common, it's not weather. It's a good defense on the road which threw things at the Rams (in smart ways) which they had not seen.

You can't ignore the fact that Goff said the cold was an issue in Denver. He was cold it bothered him and he said so.

It will be cold again in Chicago. I expect it to bother him again. If you want to believe it doesn't and if he has a bad game its all because of a good D on the road, that's your prerogative. I respectfully disagree.

[/zn/]

You can't ignore the fact that Goff said the cold was an issue in Denver. He was cold it bothered him and he said so.

It will be cold again in Chicago. I expect it to bother him again. If you want to believe it doesn't and if he has a bad game its all because of a good D on the road, that's your prerogative. I respectfully disagree.

Oh I don't ignore that and in fact I mention it.

So I never said cold didn't affect him. In fact I said this early on: Not saying weather won't be a factor in Chicago

But I am not convinced it's the major or central thing because he wasn't that different in Detroit than he was in Denver (in fact the numbers are kind of eerily similar) and he also had subpar numbers (though better than Detroit/Denver) in the at-Seattle game.

So I am just thinking out loud to see what they have in common. In the 3 games we're looking at so far, weather was a factor in only 1.

...

[max]

Oh I don't ignore that and in fact I mention it.

So I never said cold didn't affect him. In fact I said this early on: Not saying weather won't be a factor in Chicago

But I am not convinced it's the major or central thing because he wasn't that different in Detroit than he was in Denver (in fact the numbers are kind of eerily similar) and he also had subpar numbers (though better than Detroit/Denver) in the at-Seattle game.

So I am just thinking out loud to see what they have in common. In the 3 games we're looking at so far, weather was a factor in only 1.

...

Oh, then I'm ok with that.

Carry on.

[Hacksaw]

2 games ago, Goff was dropping dimes. Against Detroit a bunch of wooden nickles. His eye or touch was just off.
I dont expect to see that become the norm.

Cold is one thing. Altitude and humidity another. The weather will make a huge difference.

Almost 2 seasons of film on McV. Some personell and schemes might challenge us more frequently.
Or not.

Who knows?

[/zn/]

2 games ago, Goff was dropping dimes. Against Detroit a bunch of wooden nickles. His eye or touch was just off.
I dont expect to see that become the norm.

He had a couple of mini-slumps last year, too. My theory is that he is still too young (we forget that sometimes) to have reached the "seen it all" plateau, and this is all a matter of seasoning.

All qbs have "off" games for whatever reason, but I expect JG to become more consistent, and for the down moments if/when they come to be not that far down and for them to be fewer and further between.

Last year: week, game, qb rating

week 5, Seattle, rating 48.9...loss
week 6, @Jax, rating 86.2...win
week 7, ARZ, rating 75.8...win
week 10, @ Minn, rating 79.2...loss

In those 4 games: 2 TDs, 3 INTs

2018

week 5, @ Seattle, rating 88.2 ... win
week 6, @ Denver, rating 58.8...win
week 12, @ Detroit, rating 68.6...win

In those 3 games: 2 TDs, 4 INTs

So in those games in 2017 they went 2-2. In 2018, they went 3-0. As slumps go that's pretty damm good!

I like it that Goff never stays in those mini-valleys long and comes out of them shootin. I also like it that the Rams can win even when he's in a mini-valley. That's 5-2 in 2 years. Not bad.

...

[SWAdude]

All what I can see is it is fun for fans to try and read the tea leaves.

There will always be someone that is right and one that is wrong.

11-1

My money is on the Rams this week.

GO RAMS!!!