THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Most NFL teams with a head coaching vacancy this winter seem to be looking for the next Sean McVay.
The original is still hard at work for the Los Angeles Rams, hoping to justify his enormous influence on the football world with a big postseason run.
"I'm too young to have a coaching tree," the 32-year-old McVay said with a laugh Tuesday.
Maybe so, but McVay has put down impressive roots in just two seasons, and his Rams could blossom this month.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Even after everything the Los Angeles Rams have accomplished this season, they still knew they probably needed to beat rival San Francisco in the finale for a first-round playoff bye.
Although their high-powered offense did its part as usual, a four-takeaway effort by the defense was even more exciting while the Rams secured a well-deserved week off.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although the Los Angeles Rams already wrapped up their second straight NFC West title four weeks ago, they're embracing the chance to rub it in.
The Rams (12-3) will go for a six-game sweep of their three divisional opponents Sunday when they host the San Francisco 49ers (4-11). A win also clinches the No. 2 playoff seed and a first-round bye, leaving Los Angeles with no shortage of motivation heading into the Coliseum.
NEW YORK (AP) — The road to the Super Bowl in the NFC will go through the Big Easy.
Though the Saints' path to get to Atlanta could be challenging: The top three teams in the latest AP Pro32 poll are all from the NFC.
The Saints received all 12 first-place votes for 384 points in balloting Wednesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — As if the San Francisco 49ers needed any reminder about how Seattle has dominated this once fierce NFC West rivalry of late, Kyle Shanahan and his coaching staff spent the night before the game reminding the players with highlights from the Seahawks' 27-point blowout just two weeks ago.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles' recent struggles aren't providing any comfort to the Los Angeles Rams.
The NFC West champions have a few problems of their own for perhaps the first time this season.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jordan Howard picked the perfect time to break through for the Chicago Bears.
The running back was at his best on a night when quarterback Mitchell Trubisky struggled, running for a season-high 101 yards to help the NFC North leaders beat the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams 15-6 last week.
Yes, the defense dominated, stopping Jared Goff and a high-powered offense.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears were in trouble, leading by nine with the Rams in prime position following a big interception return by Joe Johnson III on an overthrown ball by Mitchell Trubisky.
On the next play, with Los Angeles at the 27, Kyle Fuller picked off a wobbly pass by Jared Goff. In a flash, the threat was over and the Bears could breathe a little easier.
That sequence late in the third quarter pretty much summed up the game.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears harassed Jared Goff and squashed the Los Angeles Rams' high-powered offense while shuffling their way to a surprising victory over the team that came in with the NFL's best record.
In a season of huge strides, this might be their biggest one yet.
Eddie Goldman led a dominant effort by the defense and the NFC North-leading Bears beat the NFC West champion Rams 15-6 on Sunday night.
"Our play on defense — all I can say is wow," coach Matt Nagy said.
SEATTLE (AP) — With where both the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks sit in the NFC standings, Monday night's matchup might as well carry a playoff title.
NFC play-in game? NFC elimination game?
"I think going on the road with that crowd and the type of football team that they are, I think yeah, a little bit. These next four games will determine what we do and where we go and how we perform in the clutch. Yeah, I guess you could say that," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said.
With a second straight division title in hand, Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams would love to grab a few more prizes.
Another one is there for the taking.
The NFC West champion Rams look to clinch a first-round playoff bye when they visit the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears in a prime-time matchup Sunday.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Mitchell Trubisky is just about ready to return to the Chicago Bears' lineup.
Trubisky said he is "really close to 100 percent" and expects to play against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night after missing the past two games because of a right shoulder injury.
He went through a full practice on Wednesday. Assuming no setbacks, he figures to start when the NFC North leaders host the NFC West champions.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams are back in a familiar place: the top spot in the NFL.
The Rams reclaimed the No. 1 position in the latest AP Pro32 poll . They received all 12 first-place votes and 384 points in balloting Tuesday by media members who regularly cover the NFL.
The Rams (11-1), the NFC West champions, have the league's best record and are a strong contender to make a run at the Super Bowl.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams seemed to come out of nowhere last season to win their first NFC West championship in 14 years.
When the Rams clinched their second straight division title Sunday, everybody in the NFL had seen it coming all year long.
The league-leading Rams (11-1) haven't surprised anybody this season, not after their remarkable 2017 transformation under rookie head coach Sean McVay.
DETROIT (AP) — Todd Gurley ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns to help the Los Angeles Rams overcome a sputtering start to beat the Detroit Lions 30-16 Sunday and clinch the NFC West title for a second straight season.
The Rams (11-1) also moved a step closer to earning home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, taking a one-game lead over New Orleans after it lost to Dallas on Thursday night. It is a cushion Los Angeles needs because its only loss was against the Saints last month.
SEATTLE (AP) — It was pointed out this week by San Francisco's Richard Sherman that he was witness to watching Seattle's Russell Wilson throw five interceptions in one game.
He didn't see Wilson throw any interceptions on Sunday. Instead, he watched Wilson throw four touchdowns and the Seahawks stay in the middle of the NFC playoff race with a 43-16 blowout win over the 49ers.
DETROIT (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams returned to their lockers in the Motor City, where NFC West championship shirts and hats were waiting to be worn.
The victors, though, refuse to be spoiled by this accomplishment.
Todd Gurley ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns to help the Rams overcome a sputtering start to beat the Detroit Lions 30-16 Sunday and clinch the division title for a second straight season.
Sorry, Yogi. Maybe it is over before it's over.
Just look at most of the NFL division races.
The NFC West will be over if Seattle loses at Carolina on Sunday. The AFC West looks done in favor of Kansas City.
Both South divisions are runaways for the Saints in the NFC, the Texans — yes, the formerly 0-3 Texans — in the AFC.
Pittsburgh appears to be more in a race for the top overall AFC seed than any challenge in the North. Chicago has a choke hold on the NFC North.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The good news for the Carolina Panthers is they return home Sunday to face the Seattle Seahawks where they've won 10 straight games.
The bad news is it's highly unlikely the Panthers will play a playoff game in Charlotte, North Carolina, if they reach the postseason.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although the Los Angeles Rams hadn't lost a game until last week, their spectacular season has featured several close calls.
Not many were closer than their 33-31 victory just five weeks ago in Seattle, where the Seahawks racked up 190 yards rushing, intercepted two passes by Jared Goff and came agonizingly close to a huge NFC West win.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams are the NFL's only unbeaten team at 8-0. They're off to the franchise's best start since 1969, and they have a 3½-game lead in the NFC West with stellar play on both sides of the ball.
Now imagine them with another pass rusher.
That's what Sean McVay and the Rams' front office are doing while they attempt to bolster their spectacular start with even more talent before the trade deadline Tuesday.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — C.J. Beathard lined up in the shotgun with 7 seconds left, hoping to get one more completion to set up a potential tying field goal.
He and the 49ers never got the chance.
The snap sailed over Beathard's head and San Francisco's chances went with it, punctuating a disheartening 18-15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — One thing for certain about Sunday's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals: No team in the NFL will have a worse record than the team that loses this one.
The 49ers and Cardinals stagger into the game at 1-6. San Francisco has lost five in a row since its lone win of the season, a victory over Detroit on Sept. 16, back before quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a season-ending knee injury.
Arizona's lone win came at San Francisco on Oct. 7.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan arrived as head coaches in the NFC West together last year as longtime friends and colleagues tasked with revitalizing struggling franchises.
LONDON (AP) — Lethargic losses to start the season were enough to believe the Seattle Seahawks might not compete in the NFC West, especially after they failed to reach the playoffs last season.
But after a 27-3 dismantling of the Oakland Raiders on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, quarterback Russell Wilson believes the Seahawks are back on track.
SEATTLE (AP) — The scenario was all lined up for Russell Wilson to lead the Seattle Seahawks to a 25th career fourth-quarter comeback and end the unbeaten run of a division rival.
Needing just a field goal to take the lead, the Seahawks were already in range for Sebastian Janikowski. A few more yards, milk some time off the clock and Seattle would have had a chance at a field goal to knock off the Los Angeles Rams.
SEATTLE (AP) — The last time the Los Angeles Rams visited Seattle, they were announcing themselves as the new powerhouse in the NFC West by handing the Seahawks a drubbing unlike any they had experienced in Pete Carroll's tenure.
As much as the Seahawks would like to forget that day last December, a 42-7 loss to a division rival lingers.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six years before the Rams chose Jared Goff with the No. 1 overall pick to be the savior of a struggling franchise, they tried the same thing with Sam Bradford.
And if Bradford had been running an offense created by the likes of Sean McVay, he might still have that job instead of being on the other sideline Sunday with the Arizona Cardinals.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — All-Pro kick returner Pharoh Cooper will be placed on the Los Angeles Rams' injured reserve list after he severely sprained his ankle in the season opener at Oakland.
Cooper will need surgery to repair his ankle, coach Sean McVay said Wednesday.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams have gone from one of the NFL's biggest surprises to one of the top Super Bowl favorites in just one year.
The Rams didn't rest after an impressive turnaround campaign in coach Sean McVay's first season, bringing in an impressive offseason haul led by three former All-Pros on defense in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, along with big-play receiver Brandin Cooks.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams have gone from one of the NFL's biggest surprises to one of the top Super Bowl favorites in just one year.
The Rams didn't rest after an impressive turnaround campaign in coach Sean McVay's first season, bringing in an impressive offseason haul led by three former All-Pros on defense in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, along with big-play receiver Brandin Cooks.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The way first-year coach Steve Wilks sees it, that deluge of turnovers by Arizona opponents — 16 in three games — this preseason is no happenstance.
It's the result, he said, of heavy emphasis in practice.
"I think it's really the standard that we've set," Wilks said Monday. "It's what we emphasize and what we teach and what we preach as coaches, taking the ball away."
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams continue to finalize contract extensions for players other than standout defensive tackle Aaron Donald, as right tackle Rob Havenstein on Monday agreed to terms of a four-year deal through the 2022 season worth $32.5 million.
Chuck Knox, the former NFL coach who took the Los Angeles Rams to three straight NFC championship games and also led the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills, has died. He was 86.
The Rams and Seahawks said Sunday that Knox died Saturday night.
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — General manager Les Snead already made most of his big offseason moves well before this draft.
That's one reason why the Los Angeles Rams don't have a pick in the first two rounds.
Even though they probably won't get started in the draft until Friday night, Snead and his front office are still doing plenty of work to identify more depth and youth to surround those new veteran stars already acquired by the Rams this year.