ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Praises NFL-Best Rams; Calls Out Disappointing Ravens | The Rich Eisen Show

the best team in the National Football League in your opinion entering the final four weeks of the season is it’s tough one. I’m going to go with the Los Angeles Rams. I just think that Matthew Stafford is playing out of his mind. Puka Nakua is big time. Vonte Adams with what he’s doing is a reliable weapon in the in the red zone obviously in you know getting touchdowns, closing the deal for you. And that defense um is is is special enough to make that kind of noise. And I think that Shawn McVey is arguably the best coach in all of football. I think uh you know right now coach of the year is between Vrabel and Ben Johnson in my estimation because of what’s been going on in New England and Chicago what the expectations were what they’ve done to exceed them. Uh but Shawn McVey is just a steady hand and I found myself actually fantasizing just like you had Brandon Graham come out of retirement to play for the Philadelphia. What if Aaron Donald had decided to do that for the Los Angeles Rams? I mean it ain’t going to happen in all likelihood but you you watching the Rams play this year seeing how formidable they are. I actually found myself fantasizing about Aaron Donald returning to the Los Angeles Rams because I think they’re a big- time team and I think they have a big- time coach. Well, I mean, I can pretty much say with certainty that the Rams have called Aaron Donald about that more times than the Colts have called Philip Rivers. You know, I just don’t think Aaron wants to do it. But it is it it would obviously put the Rams even on a on a different plane. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you’ve got a uh two 15- win teams from last year. Chiefs a and the Lions on the outside looking in. The Lions have a much better shot to make it than the Chiefs who really need a lot uh to get some help. You’ve got the Vikings, 14 wins from last year, definitely not making the playoffs. Commanders, 12 wins from last year. Same thing. It seems to be completely turned upside down. If you had to name the team that’s disappointed you the most this season, I gave you a little bit of I would say bladder there. I would say it’s the Baltimore Ravens. I mean, I expected a hell of a lot more from the Baltimore Ravens. I can’t believe what I’m seeing from them. I mean, you’ve got Lamar Jackson, you’ve got Derrick Henry, you’ve got Zay Flowers and Baitman and these boys, you’ve got Andrews as a tight end, you’ve got likely, you’re looking at these guys like, what the hell is going on? Where’s the signature defense? Where’s the signature toughness? You always knew it was going to be a war with the Baltimore Ravens and they’d win more than they’d lose. And now you don’t see that. seeing an offensive coordinator that’s forgetting half the time that Derrick Henry’s his running back. Uh you’re looking at Lamar Jackson has been playing with injuries, but even as he’s come back and looked a bit healthier, his game hasn’t been indicative of that because it’s been a bit sluggish compared to what we’re accustomed to seeing from him. They’re not finding ways to win. And then I think about where I think about Baltimore and Buffalo. Baltimore. Buffalo’s not in that category in related relation to your question, of course. But I I think about them in this way. I think the window of opportunity is rapidly closing. Once upon a time, it was Patrick Mahomes. And then we looked at Josh Allen with Lamar Jackson. Who’s going to knock him off his pedestal? Which one of y’all are going to get it done? Because you got to get it done. It was a three-h horse race. New England saying, “Nah, it’s a new day.” Denver saying, “Nah, it’s a new Denver’s won 10 straight. They haven’t won. They haven’t lost a home game in 14 months. They’re like, “No, it’s a new day.” The Chargers are like, “No, it’s a new day. The Texans are coming.” I believe that the Texans are the sleeper to come out of the AFC with their defense, which is ferocious as it gets. I’m just looking at this and I’m saying, “How could Baltimore have fallen like this?” I mean, they still got a chance, but they don’t look good. They just don’t. Next time we see you potentially the Super Bowl will be there in Santa Clara watching who are you Rams and else or what? I started the season thinking Philly and Baltimore. Let me let me put myself on front street about that. Um I don’t think that’s going to be the case now. I honestly believe that the Los Angeles Rams are probably going to the Super Bowl. I really really do. I believe as long as they don’t you can beat Seattle but you don’t want to have to go to Seattle to do it. You want them to have to come to Sofa. going to Seattle is a different monster altogether. But I’m still picking the Rams to likely come out of the NFC. The AFC is a bit tougher because Denver and New England seem to be the two best teams. I don’t think it’ll be one of them though. Okay. Um I’m high on the Texans. I just think their defense is something to behold with Hunter and Anderson and those boys getting after you. Demo Ryan’s got them boys on another level. But offensively, do they have enough? That’s the question mark. And that’s why it’s tough right now. But I would tell you, if I had to pick anybody, it would probably be the Houston Texans. Texans versus Rams. What a what a Super Bowl that would be with Stafford and Puka and Devonte in that run game. Hey, you made it all the way to the end. Thanks for that. Check us out every single day streaming live on Disney Plus and the ESPN app 12 to 3 Eastern.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith joins Rich Eisen in-studio where he explains why the Los Angeles Rams are the best team in the NFL, and why the Baltimore Ravens are the league’s most disappointing team.

Tune in to the Emmy-nominated Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from Noon to 3PM ET on Disney+, ESPN+, ESPN Radio, and streaming on SiriusXM channel 80.

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5 comments

  4. Where's the Baltimore defense? With the Seahawks.

    Remember, Seahawks got their amazing defensive coordinator as their head coach/defense play caller. That's why they're the number 2 defense in the league right now.

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