I really hope that the Rams player and coach took to heart the lesson that the Bucs gave them this weekend (which was a repeat of what the whiners did). Do not let your foot off the gas in the second. Unless you are up 30+, NFL teams can come back. Do not play prevent and off man defense to protect from the "big" plays. The small ones all add up to the redzone the same.
I was beside myself watching the Rams self destruct but it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for several reasons.
The Rams are 3-0 against Brady since he went to Tampa Bay. Brady was on the verge of pulling off a miracle comeback only to have his hopes dashed by Stafford and Cooper Kupp. And Matt Gay got to boot his old team out of the playoffs.
And McVay and Morris know that no lead is safe. After Miller stripped the ball from Brady and we had it in FG range, I told myself, run the damn ball, maybe get a first down or two but no way give up a chance for a FG and make the game a 3 score lead with under 10 minutes in the 4th quarter. 5 seconds later the ball gets snapped over Stafford's head and my blood pressure is going thru the roof.
I hope that McVay now realizes you can't just run up the middle to protect the lead. Stafford was on so a safe play action short passing game attack would have been okay with Stafford eating a short sack if needed to keep the clock going.
I won't feel safe unless we're up 37-3 in the 4th quarter with less than 10 minutes left. Even then I might feel stress after this last game.
"end of rant"
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