After a disappointing and deflating loss, the Los Angeles Rams have little to show for their performance this week.
Season Slipping Away? Los Angeles Rams Suffer Another Frustrating Defeat
The Rams’ 18-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals should serve as a much-needed wake-up call to turn the season around. Now at 2-4 and tied with the Cardinals in the NFC West division, the Rams have no other option but to start playing their best football going forward.
Rams’ Major Mistakes
Head coach Sean McVay attributed the loss to the Rams beating themselves.
“A lot of different guys are taking their turn. I’ve continued to talk about it and harp on it. We’ve got to be able to figure it out and I don’t have those answers right now otherwise it would have been fixed by now,” McVay told reporters postgame. “We’ve had some really critical errors at some really unfortunate times but that’s what our narrative has been for this year.”
While the defense did its job limiting Arizona to six field goals, the offense was stagnant. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 25 for 33 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, but it was the critical errors that cost the Rams.
“We just didn’t execute well enough and obviously didn’t stay ahead of the chains. They did a good job executing their plans and just did at a better clip early,” Stafford told reporters postgame.
Rams stars were quiet throughout the whole game. Puka Nacua finished with six catches for 80 yards and Davante Adams finished with three catches for 39 yards.
McVay, known for his offensive prowess, made several questionable play-calling decisions. Despite his offensive brilliance, McVay has a tendency to be overly conservative on crucial downs. Throughout the game he ran the ball on third and fourth down rather than throwing it. With no creativity in the clutch, the Rams looked one dimensional and easy to read.
While the Cardinals head coach’s familiarity with the Rams may have played a role in the loss, Los Angeles’ overall performance was pitiful. Cardinals head coach, Mike LaFleur served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Even so, the Rams should have won, especially with the better roster.
The Rams’ special teams, which was the reason they lost last week, got even worse. Blake Grupe, who signed with the Rams off the New York Jets’ practice squad earlier this week, injured himself trying to make a tackle on a kickoff. The kicker lowered his shoulder with no success and was later replaced by the punter, Ethan Evans.
The Rams were also without their starting left tackle, Alaric Jackson, who was suspended for throwing a punch at Bradley Chubb following their Week 5 game. Although Stafford seemed unaffected by Jackson’s absence, it is worth noting that the Rams are now 0-5 when he doesn’t play. Jackson is a crucial piece in protecting Stafford’s blind spot, and his absence only amplifies this unfortunate statistic.
The Last Word
At 2-4 the Rams have their backs against the wall. After a loss in Week 5 to the Buffalo Bills, the Cardinals were supposed to be the perfect game to get back in the win column.
The Rams weren’t focused. They didn’t execute and underestimated the Cardinals. McVay pointed to critical errors and self-inflicted wounds as the primary reason for the loss, issues that have been a part of the Rams seasons since Week 1.
The Rams usually start slow, but this game marked the beginning of a favorable part of the schedule. However, the loss makes that even more difficult. The Rams must take advantage of the easier games on the schedule to keep their playoff hopes alive each week.
Next week presents a tougher matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, who have shown promise through six weeks. Once again, the Rams must remain focus and execute effectively to come away with a win.