Tag: RAMS

NFL: Pass interference is now reviewable

Categories NFLLeave a Comment on NFL: Pass interference is now reviewable

After what we saw in last season’s NFC Championship Game, you knew what happened today was inevitable. The NFL has now made pass interference a reviewable play.

According to the NFL, any pass interference (offensive or defensive), called or not called, can be reviewed by replay. Coaches will still be allowed two challenges, and just like in previous years, if both challenges are successful, teams will get a third challenge.

Last season, in the NFC Championship Game, the Saints’ Drew Brees tried to connect with Tommylee Lewis, but before Lewis could make the reception, he was hit by the Rams’ Nickell Robey-Coleman, which appeared to be a blatant pass interference call, but no flags were thrown. This no-call caused a huge uproar and is the main reason pass interference is now a reviewable play.

Here are the following plays that can be reviewed:

ARTICLE 5. REVIEWABLE PLAYS. The Replay System will cover the following play situations:

      (a) Plays involving possession.

      (b) Plays involving touching of either the ball or the ground.

      (c) Plays governed by the goal line.

      (d) Plays governed by the boundary lines.

      (e) Plays governed by the line of scrimmage.

      (f) Plays governed by the line to gain.

      (g) Number of players on the field at the snap, even when a foul is not called.

      (h) Game administration:

            (1) Penalty enforcement.

            (2) Proper down.

            (3) Spot of a foul.

            (4) Status of the game clock.

      (i) Disqualification of a player.

      (j) Pass interference, called or not called (offensive or defensive) (See Rule 8, Section 5, Articles 1-4).

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NFL announces matchups for the five international regular-season games in 2019

Categories NFL

The National Football League today announced the matchups for its five 2019 international regular-season games – four in the UK and one in Mexico.

The quality of the 2019 international offering is apparent in three division games and five playoff participants, including the NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams.  Two of the four London Games will feature teams playing in the UK for the first time, while Mexico City will host a meeting of long-time AFC West division rivals.

​​The 2019 international games:

​Country Visiting Team Home Team
Mexico Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Chargers
UK Carolina Panthers Tampa Bay Buccaneers
UK Chicago Bears Oakland Raiders
UK Cincinnati Bengals Los Angeles Rams
UK Houston Texans Jacksonville Jaguars​​

Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium will host a matchup between the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. Both teams, who finished the 2018 regular season with identical 12-4 records, will be playing in Mexico City for the first time.

The AFC South champion Houston Texans – who face the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars – and the Carolina Panthers – who face their NFC South foes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – will both make their London debuts. It will bring the total number of NFL teams to have played in the UK to 31 in 28 regular-season games by the end of the 2019 season. The Jaguars will be playing a home game in London for the seventh consecutive season.

The Rams, who will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, will host a London game for the fourth time when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals, while the Oakland Raiders will return to London for the second straight year, facing the NFC North division champion Chicago Bears.

The NFL will play two games at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium, with two at Wembley Stadium.

Dates, kickoff times and venues for all international games will be announced in conjunction with the release of the full NFL schedule this spring.

Payton: League officials confirm missed pass interference call(VIDEO)

Categories NFL

The New Orleans Saints will remember this NFC title game against the Rams for a long time. With the game tied at 20 late in the fourth quarter, the Saints had the ball deep in Rams’ territory. In maybe the biggest play of the game, Brees would try to connect with Tommylee Lewis, but before Lewis could make the reception, he was hit by the Rams’ Nickell Robey-Coleman, which appeared to be an obvious pass interference call, but no flags were thrown.

Ultimately, the Saints would lose to the Rams in OT 26-23. With the victory, the Rams advance to Super Bowl 53 in Atlanta.

After the game, Payton confirmed that he talked to the league office, who confirmed that pass interference should have been called.

Take a listen:

Preview of Week 17 in the NFL

Categories NFL

                                   IT’S ALL ON THE LINE IN WEEK 17

— 13 of the 16 games in Week 17 feature at least one team in contention for a trip to Super Bowl LIII —

It’s the final push for NFL teams as the regular season ends on Sunday, December 30. All 16 games are division contests and with one week to go, there are still 15 teams in contention for a trip to Super Bowl LIII.

WEEK 17: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30

GAME TIME (ET) TV
Atlanta at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM FOX
Carolina at New Orleans 1:00 PM FOX
Dallas at New York Giants 1:00 PM FOX
Detroit at Green Bay 1:00 PM FOX
Jacksonville at Houston 1:00 PM CBS
Miami at Buffalo 1:00 PM CBS
New York Jets at New England 1:00 PM CBS
Arizona at Seattle 4:25 PM FOX
Chicago at Minnesota 4:25 PM FOX
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh 4:25 PM CBS
Cleveland at Baltimore 4:25 PM CBS
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver 4:25 PM CBS
Oakland at Kansas City 4:25 PM CBS
Philadelphia at Washington 4:25 PM FOX
San Francisco at Los Angeles Rams 4:25 PM FOX
Indianapolis at Tennessee 8:20 PM NBC

Nine of the 12 playoff teams have been determined. Five of the eight divisions have been clinched. And there’s still plenty to play for in Week 17. For the full Week 17 playoff scenarios, click here.

In the AFC, four teams have already punched their ticket to the postseason: New England (10-5, AFC East), Houston (10-5, playoff berth), Kansas City (11-4, playoff berth) and the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4, playoff berth).

Baltimore (9-6) and Pittsburgh (8-6-1) are vying for the AFC North title. Indianapolis (9-6) and Tennessee (9-6) face off on NBC’s Sunday Night Football at 8:20 PM ET in a win-and-you’re-in battle. Houston can clinch the AFC South title with a win this week, but the winner of the Indianapolis-Tennessee game would take the division crown with a Houston loss.

In the NFC, five teams have locked up playoff spots, including all four division winners: Dallas (9-6, NFC East), Chicago (11-4, NFC North), New Orleans (13-2, NFC South), the Los Angeles Rams (12-3, NFC West) and Seattle (9-6, playoff berth).

Minnesota (8-6-1) and Philadelphia (8-7) are in contention for the final Wild Card spot in the NFC. The Vikings are in position to clinch a playoff berth with a win, while the Eagles need a win and a Minnesota loss to secure their postseason entry.

The Bears, who have clinched the NFC North division title for the first time since 2010, have completed a “worst-to-first” turnaround and at least one team has won its division the season after finishing in or tied for last place in 15 of the past 16 seasons. If Houston clinches the AFC South on Sunday, it would mark the second consecutive season that two teams go from worst to first (Jacksonville and Philadelphia in 2017) – something that has never happened before in any other major US sport.

Since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 1990 – a streak of 29 consecutive seasons – at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.

With one week remaining, five teams have already qualified for the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2017 – the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks.  That number could swell to as many as seven if both the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts qualify for the postseason on Sunday.

A look at some of the key games in Week 17:

CAROLINA PANTHERS (6-9) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (13-2) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)                

  • The Saints have clinched the NFC South, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

DALLAS COWBOYS (9-6) at NEW YORK GIANTS (5-10) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)                

  • The Cowboys have clinched the NFC East and will enter the NFC playoffs as the No. 4 seed.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-10) at HOUSTON TEXANS (10-5) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)                

  • The Texans, who have clinched a playoff berth, can claim the AFC South with a win. They can also clinch a first-round bye with a win and a New England loss, and can clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win combined with losses by New England, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers.

NEW YORK JETS (4-11) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-5) (Sunday, CBS, 1:00 PM ET)                

  • The Patriots, who have won the AFC East, can earn a first-round bye with a win or if Baltimore, Houston and Tennessee all lose.

ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-12) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-6) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)                

  • The Seahawks have clinched a playoff berth and will enter the NFC playoffs as the No. 5 or 6 seed.

CHICAGO BEARS (11-4) at MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8-6-1) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)                

  • The Bears, who have clinched the NFC North, can secure a first-round bye with a win and a Los Angeles Rams loss.
  • The Vikings can clinch a playoff berth with a win or a Philadelphia loss.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-9) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-6-1) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)

  • The Steelers can claim the AFC North with a win and a Baltimore loss.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (7-7-1) at BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-6) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)

  • The Ravens can win the AFC North with a win or a Pittsburgh loss.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-4) at DENVER BRONCOS (7-8) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)                

  • The Chargers, who have clinched a playoff berth, can claim the AFC West division title, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win combined with a Kansas City loss.

OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-11) at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-4) (Sunday, CBS, 4:25 PM ET)

  • The Chiefs, who have clinched a playoff berth, can claim the AFC West division title, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win. A Los Angeles Chargers loss would also give the Chiefs the AFC West crown.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-7) at WASHINGTON REDSKINS (7-8) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)                

  • ​The Eagles can secure a playoff berth with a win combined with a Minnesota loss.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-11) at LOS ANGELES RAMS (12-3) (Sunday, FOX, 4:25 PM ET)                

  • The Rams have won the NFC West and can clinch a first-round bye with a win or a Chicago loss.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-6) at TENNESSEE TITANS (9-6) (Sunday, NBC, 8:20 PM ET)

  • ​The winner of this game locks up a playoff spot.
  • The Colts can clinch the AFC South division title with a win combined with a Houston loss.
  • The Titans can clinch the AFC South division title with a win combined with a Houston loss. With a win and losses by Houston, New England and Baltimore, the Titans would secure a first-round bye. ​

NFL Playoff scenarios for Week 17

Categories NFL

It all comes down to this. Fifteen games in the books and it all comes down to one.

Here are the playoff scenarios for Week 17:

NFC

CLINCHED: New Orleans Saints – NFC South division title and home-field advantage

Los Angeles Rams – NFC West division title

                     Chicago Bears – NFC North division title

                     Dallas Cowboys – NFC East division title

                     Seattle Seahawks – playoff berth

LOS ANGELES RAMS (12-3) (vs. San Francisco (4-11), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)

Los Angeles clinches a first-round bye with:

  1. LAR win or tie OR
  2. CHI loss or tie

CHICAGO BEARS (11-4) (at Minnesota (8-6-1), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)

Chicago clinches a first-round bye with:

  1. CHI win + LAR loss

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8-6-1) (vs. Chicago (11-4), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)

Minnesota clinches a playoff berth with:

  1. MIN win or tie OR
  2. PHI loss or tie

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-7) (at Washington (7-8), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)

Philadelphia clinches a playoff berth with:

  1. PHI win + MIN loss

AFC

CLINCHED: Kansas City Chiefs – Playoff berth

                     Los Angeles Chargers – Playoff berth

                     New England Patriots – AFC East division title

                     Houston Texans – Playoff berth​

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-4) (vs. Oakland (4-11), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)

Kansas City clinches AFC West division title and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

  1. KC win OR
  2. KC tie + LAC loss or tie OR
  3. LAC loss + NE loss or tie + HOU loss or tie OR
  4. LAC loss + NE loss or tie + KC clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over HOU

Kansas City clinches AFC West division title and a first-round bye with:

  1. LAC loss + NE loss or tie OR
  2. LAC loss + HOU loss or tie
  3. LAC loss + KC clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over HOU

Kansas City clinches AFC West division title with:

  1. LAC loss OR
  2. KC tie + LAC tie

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-5) (vs. New York Jets (4-11), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)

New England clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

  1. NE win + KC loss + LAC loss

New England clinches a first-round bye with:

  1. NE win OR
  2. NE tie + HOU loss or tie OR
  3. BAL loss or tie + HOU loss + TEN loss or tie

HOUSTON TEXANS (10-5) (vs. Jacksonville (5-10), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)

Houston clinches AFC South division title and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

  1. HOU win + NE loss or tie + KC loss + LAC loss + HOU clinches a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over KC

Houston clinches AFC South division title and a first-round bye with:

  1. HOU win + NE loss or tie OR
  2. HOU win + KC loss + LAC loss + HOU clinches a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over KC OR
  3. HOU tie + NE loss OR
  4. IND-TEN tie + NE loss + BAL win + HOU clinches a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over BAL

Houston clinches AFC South division title with:

  1. HOU win or tie OR
  2. IND-TEN tie

BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-6) (vs. Cleveland (7-7-1), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)

Baltimore clinches AFC North division title and a first-round bye with:

  1. BAL win + NE loss + HOU loss + IND-TEN does not end in a tie OR
  2. BAL win + NE loss + HOU loss + BAL clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over HOU

Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with:

  1. BAL win OR
  2. PIT loss OR
  3. BAL tie + PIT tie

Baltimore clinches a playoff berth with:

  1. BAL tie + IND-TEN tie

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (11-4) (at Denver (6-9), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)

Los Angeles clinches AFC West division title and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

  1. LAC win + KC loss or tie OR
  2. LAC tie + KC loss

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-6) (at Tennessee (9-6), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)

Indianapolis clinches AFC South division title with:

  1. IND win + HOU loss

Indianapolis clinches a playoff berth with:

  1. IND win OR
  2. IND tie + PIT loss or tie OR
  3. IND tie + BAL loss

TENNESSEE TITANS (9-6) (vs. Indianapolis (9-6), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)

Tennessee clinches AFC South division title and first-round bye with:

  1. TEN win + HOU loss + NE loss + BAL loss or tie

Tennessee clinches AFC South division title with:

  1. TEN win + HOU loss

Tennessee clinches a playoff berth with:

  1. TEN win

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-6-1) (vs. Cincinnati (6-9), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North division title with:

  1. PIT win + BAL loss or tie OR
  2. PIT tie + BAL loss

Pittsburgh clinches a playoff berth with:

  1. PIT win + IND-TEN tie

2018 NFL Playoff Scenarios for Week 15

Categories NFL

With the NFL season winding down, some teams are fighting for their playoff lives, while others are fighting for seeding.

Here are some playoffs scenarios for Week 15 in the NFL:

NFC

CLINCHED: Los Angeles Rams – NFC West division title

                     New Orleans Saints – NFC South division title

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (11-2) (at Carolina (6-7), Monday night, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN)

New Orleans clinches a first-round bye with:

1)    NO win + CHI loss or tie OR

2)    NO tie + CHI loss

LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-2) (vs. Philadelphia (6-7), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)​​

Los Angeles clinches a first-round bye with:

1)    LAR win + CHI loss or tie OR

2)    LAR tie + CHI loss

CHICAGO BEARS (9-4) (vs. Green Bay (5-7-1), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

Chicago clinches NFC North division title with:

1)    CHI win OR

2)    MIN loss OR

3)    CHI tie + MIN tie

Chicago clinches a playoff berth with:

1)    CHI tie OR

2)    WAS loss or tie

DALLAS COWBOYS (8-5) (at Indianapolis (7-6), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

Dallas clinches NFC East division title with:

1)    DAL win OR

2)    DAL tie + PHI loss or tie + WAS loss or tie OR

3)    PHI loss + WAS loss

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-5) (at San Francisco (3-10), Sunday, 4:05 PM ET, FOX)

Seattle clinches a playoff berth with:

1)    SEA win OR

2)    SEA tie + MIN loss + CAR loss or tie OR

3)    SEA tie + MIN loss + PHI loss or tie + WAS loss or tie OR

4)    SEA tie + CAR loss or tie + PHI loss or tie + WAS loss or tie

AFC

CLINCHED: Kansas City Chiefs – Playoff berth

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-2) (vs. Los Angeles Chargers (10-3), Thursday night, 8:20 PM ET, FOX/NFL Network/Amazon)

Kansas City clinches AFC West division title and a first-round bye with:

1)    KC win

Kansas City clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

1)    KC win + NE loss or tie

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-4) (at Pittsburgh (7-5-1), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)

New England clinches AFC East division title with:

1)    NE win + MIA loss or tie OR

2)    NE tie + MIA loss

New England clinches a playoff berth with:

1)    NE win + TEN loss or tie OR

2)    NE tie + BAL loss + TEN loss + IND loss or tie

HOUSTON TEXANS (9-4) (at New York Jets (4-9), Saturday, 4:30 PM ET, NFL Network)

Houston clinches AFC South division title with:

1)    HOU win + IND loss or tie + TEN loss or tie OR

2)    HOU tie + IND loss + TEN loss

Houston clinches a playoff berth with:

1)    HOU win + MIA loss or tie + PIT loss OR

2)    HOU win + MIA loss or tie + BAL loss or tie OR

3)    HOU tie + IND loss or tie + BAL loss + MIA loss OR

4)    HOU tie + IND loss or tie + PIT loss + BAL loss + MIA tie OR

5)    HOU tie + IND loss or tie + PIT loss + BAL win + MIA loss OR

6)    HOU tie + TEN loss or tie + BAL loss + MIA loss OR

7)    HOU tie + TEN loss or tie + PIT loss + BAL loss + MIA tie OR

8)    HOU tie + TEN loss or tie + PIT loss + BAL win + MIA loss

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (10-3) (at Kansas City (11-2), Thursday night, 8:20 PM ET, FOX/NFL Network/Amazon)

Los Angeles clinches a playoff berth with:

1)    LAC win or tie OR

2)    MIA loss or tie + PIT loss OR

3)    MIA loss or tie + BAL loss or tie OR

4)    MIA loss or tie + IND loss or tie + TEN loss or tie OR

5)    PIT loss + IND loss or tie + TEN loss or tie OR

6)    BAL loss or tie + IND loss or tie + TEN loss or tie​

NFL playoff scenarios for Week 13

Categories NFLLeave a Comment on NFL playoff scenarios for Week 13

It’s that time of the year in the NFL when teams start to make that push for the playoffs, and after Sunday, we could have three teams in the playoffs.

Here are the teams that can clinch playoff berths in Week 13:

NFC

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-1) (at Dallas (6-5), Thursday night, 8:20 PM ET)

New Orleans clinches NFC South division title with:

1)    NO win + CAR loss or tie OR

2)    NO tie + CAR loss


New Orleans clinches a playoff berth with:

1)    NO win OR

2)    NO tie + WAS loss + SEA loss OR

3)    NO tie + WAS loss + MIN loss OR

4)    NO tie + WAS loss + SEA tie + MIN tie


LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-1) (at Detroit (4-7), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET)

Los Angeles clinches NFC West division title with:

1)    LAR win OR

2)    SEA loss OR

3)    LAR tie + SEA tie

Los Angeles clinches a playoff berth with:

1)    LAR tie + WAS loss + MIN loss or tie OR

2)    LAR tie + WAS loss + CAR loss OR

3)    LAR tie + DAL loss + MIN loss or tie OR

4)    LAR tie + DAL loss + CAR loss OR

5)    LAR tie + MIN loss or tie + CAR loss

AFC

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (9-2) (at Oakland (2-9), Sunday, 4:05 PM ET)

Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with:

1)    KC win + MIA loss or tie + IND loss + HOU loss + TEN loss or tie OR

2)    KC win + MIA loss or tie + IND loss + HOU loss or tie + BAL loss or tie + CIN loss or tie OR

3)    KC win + MIA loss or tie + IND loss + HOU loss or tie + BAL loss + LAC loss

Chiefs-Rams moved to Los Angeles

Categories NFLLeave a Comment on Chiefs-Rams moved to Los Angeles

The NFL announced today that it will move the Monday, November 19, Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Rams game originally scheduled for Estadio Azteca in Mexico City to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.

The decision is based on the determination – in consultation with the NFLPA and following a meeting and field inspection this afternoon by NFL and club field experts as well as local and independent outside experts – that the playing field at Estadio Azteca does not meet NFL standards for playability and consistency and will not meet those standards by next Monday.

“We have worked extensively with our partners at Estadio Azteca for months in preparation for this game,” said NFL Executive Vice President of International Mark Waller.  “Until very recently, we had no major concerns. But, the combination of a difficult rainy season and a heavy multi-event calendar of events at the stadium, have resulted in significant damage to the field that presents unnecessary risks to player safety and makes it unsuitable to host an NFL game. As a result, we have determined that moving the game is the right decision, and one that we needed to announce now in order to allow our teams and fans to make alternate arrangements.”

Details on ticket reimbursement procedures will be announced in the days ahead.

All NFL teams that forgo a home game to play internationally are required to keep their home stadium available as a contingency, and the Rams will be announcing ticket information and other logistical details for Monday night’s game at the LA Coliseum as soon as possible.