Hi everyone, sorry for the loss, but I don't feel so bad. We had a great year and the future of our team looks even better. Goff and McVay just need more experience.
Were we out-coached? Yes, a little, but we also held Brady to 0 TD, 1 INT, 1 Strip Sack and a QBR of 71, which I think was his worst performance of his 9 SBs. We held them to 3 points until the 4th quarter. The game was tied until about 7 minutes left. Does that sound like we were out-coached?
How many of you saw the PHANTOM HOLDING PENALTY on Gurley's nice run to about the Pats 25 yard-line, which would have given us a 1st down in the 4th Q? The score was 3-3 at that time, and we were going to take the lead. The replay showed NO HOLDING - a bogus call by the refs (We need the new rules to take effect so we can stop the cheating). To me that was the turning point of the game. We were building momentum there and would have taken the lead, but we went backwards, never used Gurley again, and the Pats scored a TD on the next drive because we were deflated by that call.
Early in the game Coleman was called for hitting a defenseless receiver. That beautiful play pinned the Pats to 3rd and 20 on about the 15 yard line, but that call gave them a first down. It's possible they would have punted and we get the ball in great field position. If you watch that play over, the receiver turns completely around first, and Roby made an ethical wrap-up tackle IMO. Maybe I'm blinded by my Rams' goggles.
Those penalties hurt because this was a tie game after 3.5 quarters, but I think we ultimately lost because we did not run enough. McVay got pass happy again for no reason - like in the Bears' game. If Gurley's last 15 yard run was not called back by a fictitious hold, he would have been 11 for 50 yards on the day; that's 4.5 yards per rush. Rams were able to run the ball, but they chose not to for whatever reason. Pats won because they ran like 32 times to the Rams' 18.
Goff takes too long to pass the ball. The O-Line was decent, but he held the ball too long most of the game, which he always does. His release will become quicker with more experience. If I were him, that would be my focus.
Robert Woods made an amazing catch. If you watch that play in slow-mo, it looks like his left foot was still touching when he caught it, and he got his right foot down. The ball never moved.
Cooks would have caught that TD pass on the right side of the end-zone if his left arm was not grabbed. He's got good hands, so I think that is what happened there. I watched the other one in slow-mo (middle-back of end zone) and 1. Goff was late with his throw 2. He caught it but the defender made a good play to pull his right arm down after he caught it. It's too bad Goff did not see him earlier. We missed an easy TD. Were we out-coached? A little, but we missed some key plays.
I wonder if Gurley is still hurt. He would have killed it today if they played him. I think he wanted to be in there more today. McVay needs to realize how powerful a weapon Gurley is.
Great season. I can see this team here again next year and winning. McVay is very competitive, and he will study this film a lot. He won't let this happen again. These losses are excellent tools to propel us to higher levels. Just think. We were about the worst team in football for over a decade, and in McVay's first 2 years, we have been one of the best. McVay is never satisfied. He was a great player too. I know our future is bright.
Our D! Great job team! Wayde Phillips deserves a lot of credit for getting us to the SB this year. He designed great game-plans for all 3 post-season games. We could have taken this game over at any time. The Pats had the same problem as we did; they could not score either. They punted 6 times, but they were given 4 first-downs by penalties. We punted 9 times today. The game would have been super close, if not another overtime game, if the officiating was better.
It took us almost 20 years to make it back. It sucks we now have back to back losses in the SB against the Pats. Is that a record to go along with Hecker's punt?
Well, here's to next year! I have a feeling we'll be back in the Super Bowl much faster this time. Go Rams and Congrats on an amazing season!
