solute best for now.For Bulldogs fans old enough to remember the tea

LOS ANGELES -- When Jared Goff was preparing to become the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft earlier this year, many scouts and observers compared him to Matt Ryan, the veteran quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons.The struggling Los Angeles Rams (4-8) get a chance to compare Goff against the genuine article on Sunday when the Falcons (7-5) attempt to bolster their faltering playoff push at the Coliseum.Goff is expected to make his fourth NFL start after losing his first three despite playing solidly for the NFLs worst offense.The 22-year-old rookies big arm and quick decision-making in college reminded many of Ryan, but Atlanta coach Dan Quinn sees another similarity.Both of them are very good competitors, and I think thats one of the things (about) Matt that people talk about a lot, Quinn said.He is tough. Hes going to let it rip and take the shot as a competitor. And Goff, I know, has a lot of those same qualities. He singlehandedly got hot in some games through college, and I saw that reason alone why people want to say, `This is the dude to build it around. And you see that in the play now, to say that theyve really got something there.Ryan has the Falcons tied for the top spot in the NFC South with a standout season, leading them to an NFL-best 32.2 points per game by throwing 27 touchdown passes against just seven interceptions.He hasnt been perfect, as evidenced by two game-deciding interceptions last week in a narrow loss to Kansas City.But the nine-year pro has the Falcons in position for their first playoff berth since 2012 with a strong finish despite two losses in their past three games.Ryan is just the latest elite quarterback faced by the Rams this season after Drew Brees and Tom Brady shredded their once-vaunted defense in the previous two weeks.Los Angeles has lost three straight and seven of eight, reducing its playoff chances to a whisper heading into the final month.Were struggling on offense, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said after they went 1 for 12 on third downs in a blowout loss to New England last week. I cant blame Jared. I thought Jared did some really good things.Here are more things to watch when these former divisional rivals get back together:POINT BREAK: The Rams have scored 180 points this season -- a whopping 206 fewer than the Falcons. That yawning disparity could mean trouble for the Rams, but they also see an opportunity: Atlanta has the NFLs 32nd-ranked pass defense in the absence of injured cornerback Desmond Trufant, and it should provide ample opportunities for Goff to make plays downfield and to turn this into a high-scoring affair.The Rams awful running game gives them little reason to hold back in the passing game, and theyre hoping to have top receiver Tavon Austin back in uniform after he missed last weeks game.JULIOS TOE: Julio Jones, the Falcons superstar receiver, could miss the game or be limited after struggling with turf toe this week.The Rams have fared decently against elite receivers this season, and highly paid cornerback Trumaine Johnson realizes he could be isolated in coverage on Jones this week.Los Angeles defense is eager for a redemptive game after blowing a 10-point lead on the final two drives against Miami in the Rams previous home game three weeks ago, followed by two straight humiliations on the road.AVOIDING COLLAPSE: The Falcons have been caught atop the NFC South by Tampa Bay, which lost to the Rams earlier this season. Atlanta started 6-1 last season before collapsing, but this trip to Los Angeles begins a slate of very winnable games for Ryan and the Falcons against four NFC teams with losing records.FINALLY HOME: The Rams brutal schedule in their homecoming season kept them away from Los Angeles for eight of their first 12 games.Now that the season is all but lost, the Rams have three of their final four games at home, including games on Christmas Eve and New Years Day.Los Angeles is just 1/3 at home, losing three straight since its official homecoming game way back on Sept. 18.WRAP IT UP: With their 13th consecutive non-winning regular season already locked up, the Rams are one loss away from clinching their fifth straight losing season under Fisher, who might not be back next season despite his contract extension.Fisher is likely to get a chilly reception from Coliseum fans tired of the Rams losing ways and inept offense, but a victory would boost his chances of getting to fulfill that new contract.---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCustom Nike Baseball Jerseys . 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"Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery.Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge marvels at how far his side has come.The group that threatened to fall apart in 2014, when captain Ryan Griffen and coach Brendan McCartney walked out the door, adopted a team-first mentality under Beveridge that has carried them all the way to their first AFL grand final in 55 years.Midfielder Caleb Daniel described the side as 22 players who would run through a brick wall if asked, and it showed in the Bulldogs finals wins over last years grand finalists - West Coast and Hawthorn - and young powerhouse Greater Western Sydney.Plenty of the credit will go to Beveridge, who was on Tuesday evening named by his peers as coach of the season for a second consecutive year.But the former Hawthorn assistant says it has taken something remarkable from his players to get to where they are.Once you teach a system, you can bring different personnel through that and they can adapt and they can roll with the punches, he said at the AFL Coaches Association awards.You can take them all the way if theyre willing to learn (but) theyy have to buy in.ddddddddddddThat was the rare thing.Im thanking everyone whos supported my role but the most important people at the football club are the players and what theyve been able to do, for a pretty young group ... theyve saved some of their absolute best for now.For Bulldogs fans old enough to remember the teams only flag won back in 1954 - and those who have dreamed of themselves witnessing a grand final win - Saturdays grand final against Sydney couldnt be a bigger occasion.But Beveridge is not planning any grand speeches to motivate his troops before they run out onto the MCG.This group have provided their own source of inspiration for a period of time now, he said.Therell be some messaging around different things but its important that we dont go too obscure.There wont be anything that makes them think what the hell are you talking about or Bevo is actually anxious and has half-lost it. Well be pretty level. ' ' '