Sunday, November 23, 2025
As if we had not had enough football after attending the Bellflower-Santa Paula C.I.F.-Southern Section DXII playoff game on Friday night and the Washington-UCLA Big-10 Conference game at the Rose Bowl on Saturday evening, we decided to attend another game today.
It was an NFL game with a
special giveaway attraction
The first 60,000 fans to enter
SoFi Stadium would receive an
Aaron Donald bobblehead doll
We had been planning on attending this game since the announcement about the giveaway was made last Summer.
As you may recall, Aaron Donald is grandson Jacob's favorite player, the reason he has worn #99 on his Pop Warner team the past four seasons.
It turned out that the giveaway
promotion was happening during
an interesting game . . .
. . . as both clubs were leading
their respective divisions
Thus we started our Gameday
routine when I picked up Michael
and Jacob at their home at 1:00 p.m.
Where to enjoy our ritual pre-game meal?
Jacob made the choice and it was a good one as usual.
El Tepeyac Cafe in Boyle Heights
What to order?
Jacob loves his Taco plate that he
describes as " . . . a mountain of
cheese with a side of two tacos."
Not sure what Michael ordered but it looked good.
I went with a delicious chile relleno burrito which also had a ton of artery clogging cheese folded into it.
Yet another fine meal in a great SoCal hole-in-the-wall dining spot.
Time to review the seasons of tonight's two teams . . .
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
6 Wins - 4 Losses
First Place in the NFC South
2025 Results
at Atlanta Falcons (3-7) – Won 23-20
at Houston Texans (5-5) – Won 20-19
vs. New York Jets (2-8) – Won 29-7
vs. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) – Lost 31-25
at Seattle Seahawks (7-3) – Won 38-35
vs. San Francisco 49ers (7-4) – Won 30-19
at Detroit Lions (6-4) – Lost 24-9
at New Orleans Saints (2-8) – Won 23-3
vs. New England Patriots (9-2) – Lost 28-23
at Buffalo Bills (7-3) – Lost 44-32
at
LOS ANGELES RAMS
8 Wins – 2 Losses
First Place in the NFC West
2025 Results
vs. Houston Texans (5-5) – Won 14-9
at Tennessee Titans (1-9) – Won 33-19
at Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) – Lost 33-26
vs. Indianapolis Colts (8-2) – Won 27-20
vs. San Francisco 49ers (7-4) – Lost 26-23
at Baltimore Ravens (5-5) – Won 17-3
at Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) – Won 35-7 *
vs. New Orleans Saints (2-8) – Won 34-10
at San Francisco 49ers (7-4) – Won 42-26
vs. Seattle Seahawks (7-3) – Won 21-19
* Game Played in London, United Kingdom
On paper, this looked to be a dandy match-up, so good that it was . . .
. . . going to be nationally televised as
the stand alone Sunday Night game
After parking the Blueberry II in the Hollywood Park Casino parking structure near SoFi Stadium we strolled through the SoFi Stadium's parking lots.
Tailgating on SoFi's paved parking
lots did not seem as attractive as
on the Rose Bowl grass yesterday
Who would have ever guessed?
Los Rams in Da House, INDEED!
Only in Los Angeles . . .
We had seen this same fellow before the 2019 Washington-Ohio State Rose Bowl game in the exact same get-up.
How could we ever forget him?
Go with your best look . . .
The futuristic façade of SoFi Stadium
Jacob with his prized Aaron Donald
bobblehead doll
Each of us was given one as we entered the stadium.
Later tonight, on the drive home, the Rams post-game radio coverage announced that these same bobbleheads were already selling for $125 apiece!
Sorry, but no sales from this family at anytime soon.
Where are the other two
championship banners?
The then Cleveland Rams (10-1) won the 1945 NFL Championship Game by beating the Washington Redskins (8-3), 15-14.
After moving to Los Angeles, the Rams (9-4) won the NFL title again in 1951 by edging the Cleveland Browns (11-2), 24-17.
I know that both of these championships came in the pre-Super Bowl era, but I firmly believe that they were important milestones in Rams' history that should both be celebrated inside SoFi Stadium with banners as well.
Part of the 75,545 patrons pouring
into SoFi Stadium today
The official seating capacity of the stadium for football games is stated as only 70,240.
Thus, we were at nearly 108% capacity thanks to the thousands of Standing Room Only tickets that were sold at about $80 each on the secondary market.
Lots of interesting views walking
around the 400 level
Our tickets were in the 500 level located near the dark side of Pluto.
Shade from the setting Sun was
nice thanks to this ornamentation
The Fabulous Forum in the distance
The view from our seats in
Section 551
Row 15
Seats 8, 9 and 10
We got ourselves a good look at the
stadium's intricate roof structure
The Sun sinking in the West
meant only one thing . . .
. . . it was almost GAME TIME!
I liked this "flag" that was used during the singing of the National Anthem.
HERE COME THE RAMS!
Introducing the Defensive starters
for the Rams today
Prophetic, given the way the stifling Defense that they played today.
Yes, we were in the famed
"NOSE BLEED SEATS"
The only fear that we had with our seats was that if any of us did get a nose bleed, would blood coagulate at this altitude?
None of bled, so we'll never know.
The Opening Kickoff was happening
way down there
The Rams struck early
A one yard TD pass from Matthew Stafford to Davante Adams and a 50 yards Pick-Six by CB Cobie Durant did the trick.
The Rams were hitting on all
cylinders in the First Quarter!
Check the Defense . . .
. . . drop back . . .
. . . and hit Puka Nacua for a
nice gain!
This Screen Pass didn't work
quite as well
By Halftime, Los Angeles was
in cruise control mode
The first 30 minutes was simply a DOMINANT performance by the Rams!
Halftime was an all out tribute to
retired Ram Aaron Donald perhaps the
greatest Defensive Tackle of all-time
The Third Quarter was both scoreless
and almost picture-less
At the End of the Third Quarter
the Rams were in no danger but
the excitement level in SoFi
was definitely waning
As I had stopped taking photos in the Second Half, I now defer to and thank the Los Angeles Rams' Facebook page for some close up photos.
Davante Adams TD catch
Cobie Durant's interception . . .
. . . and return for a TD!
With Jacob, watching the action
late in the game from one of the
Standing Room Only spots
I did get several compliments today on my shirt based on the cover of the 1960 Los Angeles Rams Yearbook.
I still have a copy of that yearbook that I purchased in 1960.
Back on October 10th, Michael and I attended the Del Sol H.S. at Channel Islands H.S. game. As a fundraiser, they were selling 50-50 raffle tickets. When it was time to pick and announce the winning ticket number, the stadium announcer whipped the crowd into a frenzy when he told us that the winner's half of the pot would net him or her a whopping $62!
The Rams were selling 50-50 raffle tickets today too.
The winner's half today would
be slightly more than $62
Speaking of hitting the jackpot, the Rams kicked a Fourth Quarter Field Goal to take home . . .
A solid victory
The Rams (9-2) not only retained their lead in the NFC West but, coupled with the Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1), are now the current #1 Seed in the NFC playoffs.
The Rams will be on the road next Sunday to take on the Carolina Panthers (6-5).
The Buccaneers (6-5) are now tied for First Place in the NFC South with the Carolina Panthers.
Tampa Bay will try to stop their now three game losing streak at home next Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals (3-8).
Rams' QB Matthew Stafford had
another MVP level game today
Just a SMOTHERING effort
by the Rams' Defense today
One last photo outside SoFi
before we headed to our go-to
celebration spot in the area
You got it . . .
RANDY'S DONUTS
an Inglewood Institution!
We were not the only Rams' fans
celebrating . . .
. . . with one of these
FABULOUS donuts
Because we are health conscious, Michael and I each got one of Randy's dietetic Bacon Maple Long John bars advertised as having but 690 calories.
Young Jacob opted for . . .
. . . Randy's Texas Glaze purported
to contain 1,080 calories of goodness
We all drove home to Camarillo happy on ever so many levels.
Once at home, I took a closer look at my two souvenirs from the game.
Aaron looks good but I really
should take him out of the box
This Game Day pin was nice too
So, another football weekend was over. For me games 63, 64 and 65 of the 2025 Calendar year coaching and seeing games in Spain, California and South Carolina.
Of the three, only the Bellflower at Santa Paula game was competitive, both the Washington at UCLA and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams games were routs.
Next weekend we will continue our year long football odyssey, having two C.I.F.-Southern Section Championship games to attend.
The DXII game on Friday between Santa Paula (8-5) and Grace (10-3) at California Lutheran University and the DVI title match that sees Ventura (11-2) at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (7-6) on Saturday will both see our trio in attendance I'm sure.
LIFE IS REALLY GOOD!
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