Congratulations to Steven Jackson

Jackson was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time yesterday. He's second in the NFC this season in yards from scrimmage and this season became the Rams' all-time rushing leader and first six-time 1,000-yard rusher.

Even though the Rams improved from 1-15 last season to the verge of a playoff spot this year, Jackson is the only Ram on the NFC's Pro Bowl roster. (Same as last year.) Punter Donnie Jones is an alternate.

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Rams report, 12/28

* Michael Hoomanawanui may be the only Ram on this week's injury report. He's on the verge of coming back from a high ankle sprain and will try to return to practice Thursday.

* Game injuries from Sunday: Jerome Murphy, broken finger; Eugene Sims, bruised knee. Neither expected to miss any time.

* Seattle injuries from Sunday:
- WR Brandon Stokley sustained a concussion but head coach Pete Carroll believes he will be practicing by the end of the week.
- LT Russell Okung, who has had ankle problems all season, twisted his ankle during the game but finished it out.
- QB Matt Hasselbeck is "determined to play" against the Rams despite a strained hip. An MRI was negative. Seattle is preparing as though Charlie Whitehurst is going to start but haven't ruled Hasselbeck out.

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Spotlight dance: Rams and Seahawks

Courtesy of their 25-17 win over the Whiners Sunday, the Rams will play at Seattle for the NFC West title on national TV January 2nd. In another achievement I would have never expected the Rams to earn before this season, their game has been flexed to NBC's Sunday Night Football in prime time. Kickoff will be 7:20 CST.

The Rams have opened in Vegas as 1-point favorites.

Initial word from Seattle is that Charlie Whitehurst will start against the Rams at QB as a result of Matt Hasselbeck's aggravated hip injury Sunday in Tampa. If you're counting, this is the third straight week the Rams have little to no idea what starting QB to prepare for. At least they're used to it.

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Rams report, 12/23

* Smith in, Smiths out. Jason Smith missed most of yesterday's practice after turning his left ankle. X-rays were negative. Renardo Foster stepped in at RT.

Chris Long and Kenneth Darby returned to practice. Both were limited.

Michael Hoomanawanui was slated to practice but the condition of his ankle wasn't as good as hoped. He remains out.

Mike Singletary's big secret about Sunday's starting 49ers QB made it the whole way to Wednesday before NFL Network's Jason La Canfora flushed it out. It'll be Troy Smith, though Singletary continues to say he won't hesitate to make a change in-game. I'd make the same move in Singletary's position. Troy threw for 356 yards in the first meeting, and if their o-line is as bad off as it was last month, they'll need their most mobile guy back there.

* Sold-out season. Sunday's game qualified for sell-out status yesterday and will be on local TV, making the Rams 8-for-8 this season. Six games better than I thought they'd do.

* Transactions. LB Curtis Johnson was called up from the practice squad to fill Britt Miller's spot on the main roster. Joe West gets the opening on the practice squad. Not to be confused for the "Cowboy Umpire", West is a WR out of UTEP originally signed by the Cowboys in 2008. He has two seasons under his belt in the UFL: 16-193 with 5 starts in 2009 for the California Redwoods, and 17-262 with 3 starts this year for the Sacramento Mountain Lions.

* Updates on players I think are former Rams:
- Dominic Douglas: signed to Broncos practice squad.
- Louis Leonard: cut by New England.
- Brett Johnson: added to Bills practice squad.
- Terrail Lambert: added to Dolphins practice squad.
- Donovan Raiola: cut by Tampa Bay.

Merry Christmas.

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Singletary not naming starting QB

Who's going to QB the 49ers Sunday, Alex Smith or Troy Smith? Only Mike Singletary knows, and he isn't telling. He claims he has already made up his mind who'll play against the Rams but also says it might be both. Both QBs will get their share of reps during the week in practice.

Personally, I think Singletary's just recognizing he has a pretty classic Giant Douche vs. Turd Sandwich dilemma here, and doesn't want to admit he actually has to start either guy.

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Rams report, 12/21

* Besides local pride, the injury report coming out of Sunday's loss to the Chiefs:
- Chris Long, bruised left thigh, not considered serious.
- Britt Miller, torn right ACL, done for season. Mike Karney will return to the game-day active roster at fullback. No news yet on who'll join the main roster.
- Kenneth Darby and, surprise, surprise, Michael Hoomanawanui, should be on the field at practice tomorrow.

The Rams may catch an injury break from the 49ers, who had to place LB Travis LaBoy on the IR Saturday. He's a pretty decent pass rusher and ended 2010 with 5 sacks.

* Sam Bradford passed 3,000 yards for the season against the Chiefs, making him only the third rookie QB in NFL history to surpass that mark. He joins Matt Ryan and Peyton Manning.

* Playoff scenarios: The Rams pretty much have to win their last two games to win the NFC West and make the playoffs. Beating San Francisco this week eliminates the 49ers and makes the final game in Seattle a division title game, no matter what Seattle does this week in Tampa. If the Rams lose to the 49ers, they'd have to beat Seattle and have Arizona beat the 49ers the final week of the season. So the playoffs start this week then.

* Looking ahead to next year's free agent market, Vincent Jackson could get the franchise tag from the Chargers. They're considering it, labor agreement pending, naturally.

* Errata: RamView this week should have said the 49ers would be going for their sixth, not fifth, straight win in the series. All the more reason to bring the sucker to an end next Sunday. The Rams opened as 1-point favorites and are favored now by 1.5 to 2.5 by various lines. I am not making a pick this week as I feel extremely unlucky.

* Ex-Rams news: Hall Davis, remember him? was called up from the practice squad by the Titans. NFL.com says he played Sunday against Houston but did not credit him with any tackles.
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Rams report, 12/17

* Injury updates: The Rams almost don't have any injury concerns this week. Jacob Bell (bruised knee) is probable for the Chiefs game. Ron Bartell (shoulder) has been limited in practice but is determined to play Sunday and is also listed as probable. Justin King is full-go and is off the injury report altogether. Kenneth Darby has a cracked rib and is listed as questionable; I'd guess game-day inactive for him. David Nixon (broken hand) is also questionable, while Michael Hoomanawanui (high ankle sprain) remains out and reportedly isn't anywhere close to being ready.

Chiefs head coach Todd Haley says the decision to start Matt Cassel or Brodie Croyle at QB won't be made until right before the game.

* Roll the dice. The Rams are apparently 1-point underdogs this week; I guess I'll have to take them. You can't not take them, in case Croyle starts. But I guess I'm going to have to leave Dwayne Bowe in my fantasy lineup. He's had ZERO fantasy points the last two weeks, and you can bet he'd be a good bet to do it again with Croyle in. It's stupid from a fantasy standpoint to start him. But if I bench him, you can bet Cassel starts, plays like Tom Brady and hits Bowe for about a buck-sixty and 2 or 3 TDs. Guess I'll have to bite the bullet so I don't screw the Rams.

Yes, I do actually make fantasy football decisions like that.

* Set your DVR. TV blackout is officially lifted for the game. Noon Sunday on KMOV.

* Frisco melt. The weekend got off to a good start with San Diego burying the Whiners last night, 34-7. The preseason favorite to win the NFC West is now 5-9.

* Ex-Ram update: Kevin Curtis has signed a 1-year contract with the Dolphins. He was cut by the Eagles this spring and has missed the 2010 season to date due to surgery for testicular cancer. Best of luck to White Lightning.

-$-

* Fine time: Oshiomogho Atogwe was fined $5,000 for his facemask penalty on Reggie Bush in last Sunday's game.

* And I can't believe I forgot this, but judging that Governor Jay Nixon's vital business on behalf of the people of Missouri today was hanging out at Rams Park... the hell with the playoffs, THE GOVERNOR'S CUP IS ON THE LINE SUNDAY!!!!!

Now that I know the Cup is on the line, I'm shocked, shocked, I say, that the Chiefs are even thinking of keeping Cassel sidelined. You don't get that many chances to win the Governor's Cup, you know!

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