The 11-5 Rams once sitting in the pole position in the playoff hunt are now suddenly in critical condition entering the NFL playoffs like lambs to the slaughter. How did they get there and can they have a miraculously recovery and save their season?
Rams began the season 2-0 and then blew a 19-7 halftime lead in Philadelphia to lose to the Eagles 33-26 on a blocked FG attempt in the closing seconds.
After an impressive win over the undefeated Colts the Rams came out flat to begin the game vs the Niners trailing 17-7 at halftime. A furious Rams comeback that was hampered by a huge Kyren Williams fumble and more FG issues tied the game in regulation but a failed 4th and 1 in FG range to tie the game without any confidence in their kicker led to a 3 point loss at home.
Rams went on a tear with six straight wins and took control of the division heading into a road game against Carolina who had looked like a junior varsity team just one week earlier vs the Niners. Rams overcame an early Stafford pick six and took the lead 21-17 but their defense gave up big plays and with the Rams in FG position late in the game Stafford was sacked and fumbled game over.
After two offensively impressive wins where the defense looked very vulnerable the Rams raced to a commanding 16 point lead over Seattle with 8 minutes remaining only to surrender a TD on another special teams blunder and a subsequent drive to force overtime. Rams opened the overtime with a touchdown but their defense surrendered a touchdown and 2 point conversion to lose the game 38-37.
With hopes of a division title out of reach this Rams failed to show up in Atlanta and the Falcons survived a Rams rally by controlling the ball and driving for a game winning FG to send the Rams to a second consecutive defeat.
Every game the Rams lost they had an opportunity to win in the final possession but they either came up short on offense, defense and special teams in the most critical times in the game.
I can’t remember a string of more excruciating losses in one season in my 60+ years of being a Rams fan.
Can they turn it around? The Rams have shown the ability to beat ANYONE in the NFL but they have also shown their ability to beat themselves with critical breakdowns in all three phases of the game. The Atlanta game was clearly the Rams worst effort all season. Injuries on the offensive line were a huge factor but if you didn’t know the teams records watching that game you would swear that the 7 win Falcons were the better team. They showed more poise, more speed, more discipline and more effort. Rams looked like they slept in for the entire first half.
I still believe that this Rams team if completely healthy ( Dotson, Lake, Adams, Jackson, Corum can beat any team any where in the playoffs but they have to put together their best football from here through the Super Bowl because while they have proven that they can beat any team capable of beating anyone this team still has flaws that could be their undoing.
Rams special teams had an improved showing but one would have to wonder why the Rams didn’t make an offseason move and try to improve this facet because Chase Blackburn’s special teams had already cost the Rams 3 games ( Philadelphia, SF and Seattle) by the time he was fired.
Rams didn’t address any needs other than maybe a backup CB at the trading deadline despite having plenty of draft capital in what could be both Matthew Stafford’s finest and final season in the NFL. Seahawks were buyers and their acquisition of Shaheed for a 4th and 5th round picks gave them a third WR to stretch the field and he was dynamic on returns of punts and kickoffs. Shaheed’s punt return TD against the Rams was a GAME CHANGER. Les Snead went from F them picks to sitting on his hands when his team was on the cusp with an aging QB playing his best football.
I’m glad McVay finally dumped the special teams coordinator. I wish that Les Sneed had been more aggressive at the trading deadline!
I still believe in this Rams team. I can’t remember a season where there was a mixture of dominance and excruciating failure's. This past two weeks have rocked this team’s playoff chances and their confidence. Hopefully they will respond properly. I believe that the Rams 2025 team will go down as either the most impressive comeback or the most disappointing failure in Rams history. Got to win out from here on or there will be a lot of soul searching for the Rams organization going forward.
SUPERBOWL OR BUST! GO RAMS!
Rams began the season 2-0 and then blew a 19-7 halftime lead in Philadelphia to lose to the Eagles 33-26 on a blocked FG attempt in the closing seconds.
After an impressive win over the undefeated Colts the Rams came out flat to begin the game vs the Niners trailing 17-7 at halftime. A furious Rams comeback that was hampered by a huge Kyren Williams fumble and more FG issues tied the game in regulation but a failed 4th and 1 in FG range to tie the game without any confidence in their kicker led to a 3 point loss at home.
Rams went on a tear with six straight wins and took control of the division heading into a road game against Carolina who had looked like a junior varsity team just one week earlier vs the Niners. Rams overcame an early Stafford pick six and took the lead 21-17 but their defense gave up big plays and with the Rams in FG position late in the game Stafford was sacked and fumbled game over.
After two offensively impressive wins where the defense looked very vulnerable the Rams raced to a commanding 16 point lead over Seattle with 8 minutes remaining only to surrender a TD on another special teams blunder and a subsequent drive to force overtime. Rams opened the overtime with a touchdown but their defense surrendered a touchdown and 2 point conversion to lose the game 38-37.
With hopes of a division title out of reach this Rams failed to show up in Atlanta and the Falcons survived a Rams rally by controlling the ball and driving for a game winning FG to send the Rams to a second consecutive defeat.
Every game the Rams lost they had an opportunity to win in the final possession but they either came up short on offense, defense and special teams in the most critical times in the game.
I can’t remember a string of more excruciating losses in one season in my 60+ years of being a Rams fan.
Can they turn it around? The Rams have shown the ability to beat ANYONE in the NFL but they have also shown their ability to beat themselves with critical breakdowns in all three phases of the game. The Atlanta game was clearly the Rams worst effort all season. Injuries on the offensive line were a huge factor but if you didn’t know the teams records watching that game you would swear that the 7 win Falcons were the better team. They showed more poise, more speed, more discipline and more effort. Rams looked like they slept in for the entire first half.
I still believe that this Rams team if completely healthy ( Dotson, Lake, Adams, Jackson, Corum can beat any team any where in the playoffs but they have to put together their best football from here through the Super Bowl because while they have proven that they can beat any team capable of beating anyone this team still has flaws that could be their undoing.
Rams special teams had an improved showing but one would have to wonder why the Rams didn’t make an offseason move and try to improve this facet because Chase Blackburn’s special teams had already cost the Rams 3 games ( Philadelphia, SF and Seattle) by the time he was fired.
Rams didn’t address any needs other than maybe a backup CB at the trading deadline despite having plenty of draft capital in what could be both Matthew Stafford’s finest and final season in the NFL. Seahawks were buyers and their acquisition of Shaheed for a 4th and 5th round picks gave them a third WR to stretch the field and he was dynamic on returns of punts and kickoffs. Shaheed’s punt return TD against the Rams was a GAME CHANGER. Les Snead went from F them picks to sitting on his hands when his team was on the cusp with an aging QB playing his best football.
I’m glad McVay finally dumped the special teams coordinator. I wish that Les Sneed had been more aggressive at the trading deadline!
I still believe in this Rams team. I can’t remember a season where there was a mixture of dominance and excruciating failure's. This past two weeks have rocked this team’s playoff chances and their confidence. Hopefully they will respond properly. I believe that the Rams 2025 team will go down as either the most impressive comeback or the most disappointing failure in Rams history. Got to win out from here on or there will be a lot of soul searching for the Rams organization going forward.
SUPERBOWL OR BUST! GO RAMS!
