The Los Angeles Rams are cruising, with Matthew Stafford winning five straight games while coming off an impressive win over the division rival Seattle Seahawks, resulting in Sean McVay’s squad sitting in first place in the NFC West with a record of 8-2. Although the Rams are red hot at the moment, the competition won’t get any easier heading into Week 12. Los Angeles will have to play host to Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at SoFi Stadium in yet another battle of NFC heavyweights. Baker Mayfield Better Watch Out for Rams Star Jared Verse The primary focus for the Rams’ defense and star linebacker Jared Verse will be containing Mayfield on Sunday, who has resurrected his career with the Buccaneers over the last few seasons, ever since leaving Los Angeles in NFL free agency. Apparently, Verse has been wanting to face Mayfield for quite some time. “I’ve been wanting to play Baker for a very long time,” Verse said during Thursday’s media availability. “I’ve been admiring him ever since he was in college. Looking at him like, ‘Damn, I want to go up against him.’ I finally get that opportunity. I’m excited for it.” Even though he’s looking forward to facing the former Heisman Trophy winner, Verse knows he’ll have his hands full with Mayfield in Week 12, as he had high praise for his former Rams quarterback. “I think it’s just the ability that he has, the mindset of a defensive player,” stated Verse. “He’s like, ‘No matter what it takes, I’m going to make a play,’ which could be detrimental at times, but for him it’s not that. It doesn’t put him in a bad spot. Other quarterbacks, they’re doing a bunch of stuff. They’re throwing picks off that, doing all sorts of crazy things. He’s really in control when he has that ball in his hand.” Verse believes that Mayfield is the kind of quarterback who can “do it all” on the football field. “He’s a quarterback that can do it all,” Verse said. “He can run the ball. He can escape the pocket. He’s a quarterback where he’s not one of the quarterbacks who wants to run every play. He just wants to make a play, get the ball downfield and do something that can help his team. That adds its own set of problems in itself.” Even though Mayfield will likely make an impact in his game on Sunday in Los Angeles, something has to give, as it will be a potent offense going up against a stout defense. Either Verse will be celebrating his team’s ninth win of the season, or the Bucs star will have snapped a two-game skid while showing the league Tampa Bay is still hanging around. Are the Rams the Best Team in the NFC? With only two losses on the season to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the division rival San Francisco 49ers, the Rams have proven to be one of the league’s elite teams, with NFL MVP candidate Stafford having arguably the best season of his career. Suppose the Rams can secure a sixth straight win on Sunday by getting the best of the visiting Bucs. In that case, Los Angeles may solidify itself as the best team in the NFC, with the Eagles potentially being the only team that might be able to challenge them once the NFL playoffs begin.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/los-angeles-rams/jared-verse-baker-mayfield-message/
Tag Archives: quarterbacks
Browns will stick with Dillon Gabriel as their starting QB
The Browns will not change quarterbacks for their Week 11 game against the Ravens.
In a press conference following Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Jets, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked if Dillon Gabriel will remain the team’s starter. The coach confirmed that he plans to give the rookie his sixth straight start.
“We’re gonna stick with Dillon,” Stefanski said. “Obviously this is a young player, you’re always trying to get one game better and those types of things. We have to play better as an offense, we have to coach better, all of the above.”
Gabriel completed 17-of-32 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns while being sacked six times in Sunday’s loss. Although a number of his incompletions were major misses, Stefanski is not yet ready to see what Shedeur Sanders might bring to the helm of the offense in Cleveland.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/browns-will-stick-with-dillon-gabriel-as-their-starting-qb
Bill Belichick commends Drake Maye for an ‘outstanding’ start with Patriots
“They’ve won a couple of close games, and that’s really changed their record.”
UNC head coach Bill Belichick has largely remained mum this season when it comes to talking about his former team, the Patriots, and in particular, Tar Heels alum Drake Maye. But the future Hall-of-Fame head coach did give New England’s QB some props this week while making an appearance on the “Let’s Go!” podcast with Jim Gray.
In particular, Belichick highlighted the dangers that come with the dreaded sophomore slump for young quarterbacks and how a team on the rise could seemingly splinter in short order. In this exercise, Belichick pointed to how the Washington Commanders and QB Jayden Daniels have largely regressed this season, while Maye’s ascension as one of the league’s top young quarterbacks has allowed New England to jump up to a 7-2 record.
“I think competitively, most everyone who’s been in strong competition will tell you that it’s a little bit easier to get to the top than just stay on top,” Belichick said. “Certainly, an organization like Washington could see that this year. They had a great year last year. Things fell right for them. And this year, everybody’s gunning for them. And it’s a lot tougher.
“Certainly, Drake Maye has had an outstanding year for the Patriots,” Belichick added. “They’ve won a couple of close games, and that’s really changed their record. I’d say.”
Maye has put himself in the conversation for league MVP in his first full season as New England’s starting QB, with DraftKings tabbing Maye with the third-best MVP odds (+425), behind only Josh Allen (+180) and Patrick Mahomes (+350).
Even with an uneven performance on Sunday against the Falcons, Maye is still completing 74.1 percent of his passes this season, throwing for 2,285 yards (fifth in the NFL) to go along with 17 touchdowns (tied for 3rd) and just four interceptions. He has also rushed for 270 yards and two touchdowns on the year, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
Of course, Maye and the Patriots might need to heed Belichick’s warning for next season when it comes to teams being more prepared to account for Maye’s playmaking and a New England team that has surprised many so far this season.
New England will need to both keep its franchise QB healthy and avoid regression across several other areas of their depth chart moving forward—two keys that the Commanders have failed to execute in what is looking to be a lost year for a franchise that made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season.
https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2025/11/05/bill-belichick-drake-maye-nfl-football-new-england-patriots-unc-north-carolina/
Strong scores 3 TDs and McNeese snaps 5-game losing streak with 27-0 win over Houston Christian
LAKE CHARLES, La. — Quarterback Jake Strong led McNeese State to a commanding victory over Houston Christian with a final score of 27-0.
Strong showcased his versatility on the field by rushing for three touchdowns, helping to secure the win for his team. The defense also played a crucial role, keeping Houston Christian off the scoreboard throughout the game.
This impressive performance highlights McNeese State’s strength as they continue their season. Fans will be eager to see how the team builds on this momentum in upcoming matchups.
https://wtop.com/ncaa-football/2025/10/strong-scores-3-tds-and-mcneese-snaps-5-game-losing-streak-with-27-0-win-over-houston-christian/