(East Los Angeles, CA) December 13, 2021 [From The Editor’s Desk]: The NFL’s Week #14 features a great NFC divisional match-up between the top two teams, the Arizona Cardinals (10-2) and the Los Angeles Rams (8-4), on this Monday Night Football presentation.

The stakes are very high for both teams, more so for the Rams, as they are facing some serious stretch drives from other divisional teams such as San Francisco, and Seattle.

Coach Sean McVay was pleased with the Rams winning effort against the Jaguars, but is exhorting his team to focus on the next game, one opponent at a time.

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But prior to that much anticipated Clash of the Titans in Arizona, we returned for our third visit to the Rams practice facility at Cal Lutheran University for a Friday afternoon practice session, on 12/11.

Please take a good look at our photo gallery as well. We’re trying to show our viewers as much of a practice and bring you selected player interviews during the post-practice media availabilities.

At this session we also produced a special YouTube video for our viewers, which happens to be a follow-up and Exclusive “1-on-1” interview with Andrew Whitworth, the Rams All-Pro Offensive Tackle, and just as important, their Nominee for the NFL’s Annual Walter Payton “Man of the Year” Award.

We encourage all of our Rams fans and those of you who are new followers to East L.A. Sports Scene, to check out what he has to say about accepting his nomination, coupled with how he views the widely viewed Monday Night Football match-up against the Cardinals.

In focusing on the Rams preparation for the game, several key areas of concern for Coach McVay are the injuries that have plagued them thus far into the season. (On that topic), Head Coach Sean McVay had this to say…“The guys that will not be participants, even though we’re kind of having an above the neck emphasis today, (are OL) Brian Allen will be out with his knee, (DB) Robert Rochell with his chest injury, (OLB) Terrell Lewis with a back (injury). Then, limited will be (OL) David Edwards with his foot (and WR) Cooper Kupp with a toe (injury) and (RB) with a thigh (injury).”

(On how well the wide receivers, tight ends and running backs are working together)…
“I think they’re doing a good job. I think (QB) Matthew (Stafford) does a great job of being able to get all of our eligibles involved. Cooper has done a great job. He’s played outstanding this year, but I think you’re seeing the emergence of (WR) Van Jefferson – (he’s) really getting more and more comfortable. It was great to be able to get (TE) Tyler Higbee involved last week. (I) think (RB) Sony (Michel) and Darrell, when they’ve been asked to contribute in the pass game, they’ve shown that they’re more than capable of it. And then I love what I’ve seen from (WR) Odell (Beckham Jr.) in the few weeks that he’s been with us.”

(On what he’s hoping to see from QB Matthew Stafford and the passing game against a tough pass-defense and if there’s a difference amongst quarterbacks in their ability to diagnose what happened in the first meeting of a division series and apply it the second time)…
“I think so. I think there’s an element of the game planning. I think (Cardinals Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Vance) Joseph does an excellent job of being able to mix it up. There’s a variety of looks and personnel groupings and coverage contours and pressures that these guys present defensively. I think – very similar to what we’ve talked about – we put ourselves behind the eight ball with two early turnovers against them and they did a great job being able to kind of turn those into points offensively. We had some missed opportunities where guys are capable of making those plays. But I think what I want to be able to see is not only for Matthew, but our whole offense, just sharp, clean execution and an operation where you stay on track. And what does that look like? It might be in the run game, it might be in the pass game, but there’s a lot of different things that are going to be imperative. And I think the margin for error is very slim against a team like this. But we’re excited about the challenge for sure.”

(Game Day Media Facts): Kick-off is set for 5:15 PM. To watch on local TV, go to ABC Network, Ch. 7.  For local radio coverage: ESPN LA 710 AM and 93.1 JACK FM. For Spanish Radio coverage: Tu Liga Radio 1330 AM. For SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE, go to Instagram: @rams; Facebook: /rams; Twitter: @RamsNFL; TikTok: @rams