The Browns are moving into their second round of interviews with head coaching candidates and the list is up to six names.
According to multiple reports, the Browns are set to interview former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, and Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski a second time. Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken are also on the list.
Scheelhaase’s second interview will have to wait at least a week if the Rams beat the Bears on Sunday as coaches for teams in the conference title game are not eligible to interview until after that game has been played. He interviewed with several teams this weekend.
McDaniel is set to interview with the Raiders on Monday and he’s also in the mix for offensive coordinator opportunities. Minter has interviewed with most of the teams that made head coaching changes while Udinski’s only interview thus far has been with Cleveland.
The betting public isn’t thinking the L.A. Rams will be bothered by the elements in Chicago.
The line has made a move, with the Rams shifting from 3.5-point favorites to 4.5-point favorites on DraftKings for Sunday night’s game against the Bears at Soldier Field. (The Rams remain 3.5-point favorites at FanDuel, and 4-point favorites at BetMGM, as of this posting.)
That matches the biggest spread for a road team in the divisional round of the playoff since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
And it could still move some more between now and Sunday night’s kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
The Rams will be playing in very cold conditions on Sunday in Chicago. The Rams have tried their damnedest this week to act as if it won’t bother them.
On Friday, coach Sean McVay was asked whether he’ll be wearing layers during the game.
“I’m going shirtless,” McVay said with a laugh. “No, you know what, I will say this, [quarterback] Matthew [Stafford] since he got here, he introduced me to the wetsuit stuff. I’ll wear that. Maybe I’ll have a heated vest. I’ve had some guys that have had that. Here’s what I do know, I can’t think about too many things. I trust whatever [senior director of equipment] Brendan Burger’s got ready for me. I’m going to actually get with him after we get done with practice today. He’ll show me everything that he’s got. Usually it’s a thumbs up. I don’t give a crap about me being warm or cold. That shit doesn’t matter at all. It’s about our players, but ‘Burg’ takes good care of me.”
The next question was an important one — will whatever McVay is wearing will keep him from running down the sideline.
“I’m an athlete,” McVay said, laughing again. “I’ll be in good shape, man. Don’t you worry about me. We’ll be good. Don’t worry. What do you think, I’m going to dress up like the Michelin man or something? No, we’ll be good. All kidding aside, ‘Burg’ has always done a really good job of outfitting me and it hasn’t been an issue. Now that I’m not being too stubborn to throw a beanie on after my mom and my wife ripped me, we’ll be in good shape there, too.”
It’s one thing to act like the cold won’t be an issue. It’s another thing to be out in the cold, for multiple hours. It takes a toll. It can be exhausting. It can overcome the desire to do whatever needs to be done, all in the name of getting the hell out of it.
At one level, it’s mind over matter. At another level, the human body reacts to it. The challenge for the brain is to ignore it.
Will it be a factor in the game? On Sunday night, we’ll all find out.
The Rams list backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as questionable for Sunday’s divisional round game against the Bears.
Garoppolo popped up on the injury report Thursday when he didn’t practice. He remained out of practice on Friday.
Nate Atkins of TheAthletic.com reports that Garoppolo’s back flared up earlier in the week.
Garoppolo has played 18 snaps in three games this season but has not thrown a pass.
Stetson Bennett will back up Matthew Stafford if Garoppolo can’t play.
Defensive end Desjuan Johnson (illness) is also questionable after being added to the report on Friday as a non-participant.
Offensive guard Kevin Dotson (ankle) will return after a full practice on Friday. He was injured in the loss to the Seahawks.
The Bears have handed in their final injury report for Sunday’s game against the Rams.
Wide receiver Rome Odunze is listed as questionable to play due to the foot issue that kept him out for the last month of the regular season. Odunze played last weekend and was up to full practice participation on Friday, which should bode well for his chance of playing this weekend.
Odunze’s fellow wideout DJ Moore was limited in practice with a knee injury on Wednesday and Thursday, but has no injury designation.
Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (back) joins Odunze in the questionable category while cornerback Nick McCloud (groin) has been ruled out.
