The main reason we lost.

[kurtfaulk]

.

The rams overcame cooper's bloopers.

What they couldn't overcome was ogletree whiffing on a tackle on 3rd down 1st drive after the half, completely wiping out the momentum they had pulled back from the falcons. Then higbee dropping a simple catch in the endzone. And finally Sammy dropping another simple catch in the endzone and later the long bomb that would have been the game winning td if he and higbee could catch.

.

 

[SAK11]

Rams - 3 & out, lasting 1:34
Falcons - 3 & out, lasting 1:04
Rams - 3 & out, lasting 1:27
Falcons - 3 plays, 4 yards, lasting 2:15, punt @ 8:56
Rams - Cooper/Countess miscue
Falcons - 4 plays, 6 yards, lasting 1:27, FG @ 7:17
Rams - 4 plays, 8 yards, lasting 1:32, punt
Falcons - 9 plays, 57 yards, lasting 4:12, FG @ 1:28
Rams - Cooper kickoff fumble
Falcons - 8 plays, 32 yards, lasting 4:41, TD @ 11:40

I said "nah" because it's not like the turnovers were the sole reason as to why the time of possession favored the Falcons early. ("[the turnovers] kept Atlanta's offense on the field for something like 12 minutes in around a 14 minute span.") The Rams offenses couldn't sustain a drive. They had three opportunities that resulted in 10 plays, 17 yards and only took around 4 minutes off the clock. If the offense has two 4-5 minute drives, that also limits Atlanta's number of possessions in the first quarter. But by half time, all of that was irrelevant.

The two special teams miscues definitely didn't help, but they were a thing of the past by the time half time rolled around and the score was 13-10. Defense gets 15 minutes off, comes out and lets Atlanta run the clock for 16 plays, 8 minutes. And then the offense fails to produce on multiple occasions. Yet people still single out Cooper.

The special teams messed up twice, but the offense failed to sustain drives for a number of reasons. And even when fresh, the defense couldn't stop the Falcons, who kept the clock ticking by running the ball and utilizing a very efficient passing game.

It was a complete team loss. It's amazing that some fans don't understand this simple concept.

What's with the use of italics in your last sentence? Comes across rather crotchety and probably targeting the wrong person. You'll notice in my very first post on this topic, I wrote that it wasn't a one player loss.

Undoubtedly, though, Cooper hurt us in a big way. Two huge miscues that helped lead to 10 Atlanta points and a dominance in possession during that time frame [yes, the Rams one short drive in the middle of these Cooper gaffs hurt our defense, too].

Since the beginning of time the team that wins the turnover battle is far more likely to win the game. Part 1 of this is that the Rams were unable to create a turnover. Part 2 is that Cooper played a role in giving the ball away twice, allowing them to win the turnover battle, helping them win the time of possession battle, and aiding them in winning the game.

As far as the Rams D not being able to stop the Falcons even when fresh, I'll disagree on that. They held them to 16 yards on their first 3 drives. In the 1st half, they gave up just 119 yards. Unfortunately, in large part due to the Cooper turnovers, that led to 16 points against.

Regardless, we're pretty well on the same page- Cooper's turnovers hurt [maybe we disagree on how much], but a team loss nonetheless.

 

[SAK11]

The rams overcame cooper's bloopers.

What they couldn't overcome was ogletree whiffing on a tackle on 3rd down 1st drive after the half, completely wiping out the momentum they had pulled back from the falcons. Then higbee dropping a simple catch in the endzone. And finally Sammy dropping another simple catch in the endzone and later the long bomb that would have been the game winning td if he and higbee could catch.

This just goes to show that people view the game much differently. Perhaps it wasn't your intention but it comes across as though you're willing to brush aside the turnovers by Cooper, and instead focus on what you deem as the real reasons for the loss.

Two turnovers that helped lead to 10 points against should not be brushed aside. That's 10 points on the board that would've been much harder to come by had Cooper not giving them such short fields to work with. It also was a big reason for the D being on the field for way too long in the 1st half, which could explain why they looked more worn down in the 2nd half.

I've seen a lot of reasons for why LA lost. Some people downplay some or focus more on others. In reality, I think it's obvious that there were indeed a variety of reasons for the loss.

Also keep in mind that if Higbee or Watkins catches the touchdown to make it a one score game, it would've changed how the rest of the game played out. LA would've kicked off instead of Atlanta starting from their own 5. Who knows how Atlanta would've approached that drive if only up 6 points. And in likelihood, we don't get to start at mid field on our last drive, which means that bomb to Watkins might have never been thrown.

 

[TexasRam]

.

The rams overcame cooper's bloopers.

What they couldn't overcome was ogletree whiffing on a tackle on 3rd down 1st drive after the half, completely wiping out the momentum they had pulled back from the falcons. Then higbee dropping a simple catch in the endzone. And finally Sammy dropping another simple catch in the endzone and later the long bomb that would have been the game winning td if he and higbee could catch.

.

Your on a roll Kurtfaulk. We saw the same game. Losing the Turnover battle is very very hard to overcome especially when its a 2 turnover difference (on your side of the field) and its a playoff game vs the defending NFC champs. The margin of error to overcome it is so small. But Ogletree failed. Then Goff put on his cape and answered the call in legend fashion only to have Higbee and Watkins wet the bed and spoil the party, as they did all season.

 

[Karate61]

It was a team loss. Those two turnovers hurt, definitely, but we were still in it after the fact. It's never as cut and dry as one player, one play, whatever, losing a game.

I hear you and agree one player, in this case Cooper, doesn't lose the game. But, these were significant plays and both involved Cooper. We can't put sole blame on Cooper, but I think it should be a significant blame. Cooper fumbled once and failed to yell "poison" on the other (I blame nerves for not yelling it). These turnovers were devastatingly bad. The first one shook me up and I'm just a fan; the second one really rocked me. They, in my opinion, shook up the team and affected everyone's play, including the coaches the rest of the game. So yeah, can't put the sole blame on Cooper, but you should be able to put significant blame on him...my opinion.

BTW, I love me some Cooper. Unfortunate he had an uncharacteristically bad night. I'm ready to forget it and am psyched for him next year and stoked he made the pro bowl.

 

[Zodi]

What's with the use of italics in your last sentence?

Used it to insert a quote from you in the middle of my point to show as a reference.

As far as the Rams D not being able to stop the Falcons even when fresh, I'll disagree on that. They held them to 16 yards on their first 3 drives. In the 1st half, they gave up just 119 yards. Unfortunately, in large part due to the Cooper turnovers, that led to 16 points against.

So the defense wasn't fresh after halftime? You're blaming that 16 play, 8 minute drive in the third quarter on something that happened in the first quarter? Really?

And the two special teams turnovers led to 10 points, not 16. It was 13-10 at halftime.

 

[SAK11]

Used it to insert a quote from you in the middle of my point to show as a reference.

What quote are you referring to from me? I never wrote anything close to what you wrote in italics. Again, appears that you're targeting the wrong person.

So the defense wasn't fresh after halftime? You're blaming that 16 play, 8 minute drive in the third quarter on something that happened in the first quarter? Really?

And the two special teams turnovers led to 10 points, not 16. It was 13-10 at halftime.

My mistake, I wrote 16 instead of 13. Just above that I correctly wrote that the Cooper's gaffes led to 10 points against. Point being, the Cooper turnovers hurt the team in a big way.

I think one could argue that the defense wasn't fresh after halftime having been on the field for way too long in that first half. Good on Atlanta for taking advantage of that and controlling the clock as they did in the 2nd half. Brockers' injury had a negative impact on the defense as well.

Anyway, this is from McVay:
"I really think, the first half, those turnovers ended up really being the difference in the game...certainly the way that the defense was playing, I thought it was impressive to hold them to a field goal but then to be able to give them those short fields against a good team, that's always going to make it really difficult. We talk about turnovers all the time and when you lose the turnover battle 2-0, it's going to be really tough to win in this league."

 

[wolfdogg]

I love cooper but man did he have a nightmare game. Will probably be his worst as a pro. Those 2 plays changed everything. Took 2 ram possessions away, and at least 1 was going to give rams good field position. Led to 10 falcon points and more wear and tear on the defense. But its also a huge confidence issue. The confidence was taken from the rams and given to Atlanta, twice, in a short period. The Rams should have been up at halftime creating a we got this halftime attitude instead of a were back in it feeling.

The halftime lead would have let the rams better absorb the long opening scoring drive by the falcons to open the 2nd half. Keep on mind however, had the falcons been down, play calling probably would have been different so there's that.

And sure the d gave up critical 3rd downs and the offense failed to convert them but you're talking about whole possessions, drives, that have a much lower percentage of failure than the odds of a fumbled return. Returns are supposed to be automatic and if you give up one the odds of turning it over twice in the same half are what, less then 1%? Game killers. Not drive killers. At least you can have Hekker pin them inside the 15.

The Sammy pass in the end zone was a blatant pass interference and even Collingsworth said he didn't see how that wasn't a foul, so that wasn't mostly on him. What I didn't like was when Sammy was one on one for a big bomb and tried to catch it basically flatfooted. Didnt jump for the ball at all. Incomplete. I do hope Sammy stays but that needs to never happen again.

 

[LesBaker]

in large part due to the Cooper turnovers, that led to 16 points against.

Two turnovers that helped lead to 10 points against should not be brushed aside.

My mistake, I wrote 16 instead of 13.

So that's 42 points total.

Fuck, no wonder the Rams lost.

 

[RedRam]

The main reason we lost is because we got out played.....

...and they scored more points!

 

[Zodi]

What quote are you referring to from me? I never wrote anything close to what you wrote in italics. Again, appears that you're targeting the wrong person.

Um what? Yes you did. That was a direct quote from you. In response to this post:

well, yeah he kinda did those two turnovers gave the ball right back to Atlanta to eat up more clock

... you wrote:

Yeah, kept Atlanta's offense on the field for something like 12 minutes in around a 14 minute span.

That's the reason why I put "the turnovers" in brackets, because that's what your sentence was referencing in agreement. Are there two people on your account, do you not remember writing that or are you saying you didn't say "the turnovers", and therefore the inclusion of those two words makes that entire quote "nothing close" to what you wrote? Okay.

Anyway, this is from McVay:
"I really think, the first half, those turnovers ended up really being the difference in the game...certainly the way that the defense was playing, I thought it was impressive to hold them to a field goal but then to be able to give them those short fields against a good team, that's always going to make it really difficult. We talk about turnovers all the time and when you lose the turnover battle 2-0, it's going to be really tough to win in this league."

They led to 10 points, and we lost by 13 points. But, like I said, those turnovers had nothing to do with our offense's inability to sustain drives the entire game, dropped passes, stupid penalties, etc. If you look at how the game was going after half time, we had momentum. But then Atlanta came out and held the ball for a half, then our offense failed to produce again. And soon after that, Atlanta made it a two score game. One could argue that if our offense could've produced more in the first or third quarter, those two turnovers would've been nullified.

I'm not disagreeing that those turnovers were significant, but to put the entire loss on Cooper, I don't agree with. That's all. And I think we agree pretty much on that, like you said earlier. They were huge, but our team had plenty of opportunities to come back from those, and they also failed.

 

[BriansRams]

.

Then higbee dropping a simple catch in the endzone.

.

Higbee doesn't look like he'll ever be dominant or scary towards defenses. His hands are extremely questionable.

 

[SAK11]

Um what? Yes you did.
That's the reason why I put "the turnovers" in brackets, because that's what your sentence was referencing in agreement. Are there two people on your account, do you not remember writing that or are you saying you didn't say "the turnovers", and therefore the inclusion of those two words makes that entire quote "nothing close" to what you wrote? Okay.

You've been confused from the start I guess, and the question I asked you was why you put your last sentence in italics, as in this one: It's amazing that some fans don't understand this simple concept.
I never wrote anything close to that so I wasn't sure why you'd direct that towards me.

Anyway we both agree that the Cooper mistakes were huge and had a negative impact on that Rams but weren't the only problems. Cool.

 

[MTRamsFan]

The falcons scored more points than we did.

 

[SteveBrown]

Many years ago the Magic led Lakers lost to the Celtics the first time they met in the finals because they were not prepared for the physical nature of the Celtics game, y.

Big Celtics fan...yes, the Lakers were always the better athletes, but not the better team in that first series, because you have to factor in the change in atmosphere in the playoffs...the Rams didn't have it....except Donald and Woods and maybe Joyner Barron...the rest of the team didn't amp up their game. I expected Sammy to do something, but hmmmm, I don't know what he did.

 

[goosekilla]

The main reason we lost is because the falcons scored more points than us.

 

[PhillyRam]

Many years ago the Magic led Lakers lost to the Celtics the first time they met in the finals because they were not prepared for the physical nature of the Celtics game, the willingness to do what ever it takes to win bar nothing, their ability to raise their level of competition and the fact that the refs let it go. I believe this is what happened to our team. Especially most of our receivers. The Lakers learned from that series and never again did they loose for those reasons. Our Rams just got their first lesson in play off football, NFL style. I hope they learn from it. We should be very happy that in just one season our team was able to get to this point and experience this.
Now I know some of us thought they saw similarities to the 99 Rams and thought this might have the same outcome. The fact is the 99 Rams had home field advantage because they were the best in the regular season and a passing system no NFL defense had really seen run like that before and this team, well if we are honest, this team had some holes, plus our timing on some teams we played was advantages. I am not down on anything that happened last night. I am of course disappointed, but I am happy for the experience our team got this year. I had a great time all season, all the way up to the end of the game last night. And this off season will be different than so many before it. So do not disparage my Rams in your disappointment. Look back on this year with fondness and look forward to more seasons where the Rams will give you excitement and hope for the Super Bowl because this is just the first step of many. Enjoy the journey.

Umm... yeah..maybe, but when you fumble two 1st half returns, essentially putting your D right back on the field with no rest, while burying your offense on the sidelines for long stretches, it's tough to overcome.

It eventually led to a defense getting worn down in the 2nd half, and putting more pressure on a young offense to get points on fewer possessions while down 13-0.

In other words reverse what happened and have Atlanta cough up 2 returns and I would bet the score would not even be that close... like maybe would have ended up 31-7 Rams.

Young teams thrive on momentum and they gave that up early and were fighting from behind all game.