The Rams went from practically left for lifeless to media darlings, the workforce that no person would need to play heading into the second half of the season.
A 3-game profitable streak aided that transformation. So did Matthew Stafford’s six landing passes within the earlier two video games.
Higher hit the pause button.
The Rams would possibly certainly discover consistency on offense and turn into a contender for the NFC title.
Nonetheless, their efficiency on Monday evening in a 23-15 defeat by the Miami Dolphins offered extra questions than solutions.
Equivalent to: Why couldn’t the Rams rating a landing?
That has occurred solely as soon as — in a 2022 defeat by the San Francisco 49ers — in video games Stafford has performed in because the Rams traded for him 2021.
“Just negative plays at the wrong time,” Stafford mentioned.
Coach Sean McVay watched his gamers quit sacks and commit turnovers and penalties that killed drives and compelled the Rams to accept 5 Joshua Karty discipline objectives.
McVay apparently shared related emotions as Rams followers as he watched the errors and the offensive inefficiency.
“Frustration,” he mentioned, “just like everybody else.”
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is sacked by Rams linebacker Jared Verse.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Instances)
The loss dropped the Rams’ document to 4-5 going into Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
The defeat was a buzzkill for a Rams workforce that had rebounded from a 1-4 begin to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks.
On an evening when former Rams star lineman Aaron Donald watched from a luxurious field, the Rams pressured Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Rams recorded three sacks, together with one by rookie edge rusher Jared Verse that pressured a fumble.
However the protection additionally gave up performs on key third downs.
“We executed well,” linebacker Michael Hoecht mentioned, “but not quite enough.”
That was expensive on an evening when McVay, Stafford and the Rams offense couldn’t clear up a Dolphins protection that featured former Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Kyren Williams tries to help Matthew Stafford after the Rams quarterback was sacked by the Dolphins within the third quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Instances)
With the return of middle Jonah Jackson and left guard Steve Avila, and Joe Noteboom beginning at proper deal with rather than injured Rob Havenstein, the Rams offensive line was near full energy.
Stafford, nonetheless, was sacked 4 occasions, a number of on third downs that led to punts or field-goal makes an attempt.
“There were a lot of things that were not in alignment with what we’re looking for,” McVay mentioned, including, “Too many things that, it just seemed like we were off, and never gave ourselves a chance.”
Stafford accomplished 32 of 46 passes for 293 yards, with an interception. Puka Nacua had 9 receptions for 98 yards, and Cooper Kupp caught seven passes for 80 yards. However the Rams transformed solely three of 12 third downs.
“Tonight it was a little bit of this, a little bit of that,” Stafford mentioned.
McVay was requested if the Rams have been sloppy.
“Sloppy? Yeah,” he mentioned. “There was some execution that has to be better.”
Together with a greater mixture of efficient offense and protection.
“There wasn’t any sort of semblance of complementary football,” McVay mentioned.
Rams linebacker Braden Fisk tries to strain Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa within the second quarter Monday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Instances)
In opposition to a Dolphins offense that featured Tagovailoa, the speedy Hill and extra weapons, the protection gave the offense loads of alternatives.
With eight video games remaining, nonetheless, the Rams offense wants extra work.
“When we’re flowing and we’re all on the same page I feel like we’re unstoppable,” Nacua mentioned. “We’ve got to be on a better page together as a unit, and then being on the same page,” as Stafford.
On Monday, the Rams trailed from begin to end, falling behind 10-6 within the first half.
They blew a chance to chop the result in one level on the primary drive of the third quarter when Karty kicked an obvious 52-yard discipline objective however the play was nullified due to an unlawful process penalty, and Karty’s 57-yard try was huge proper.
The Dolphins took benefit, scoring on Tagovailoa’s one-yard landing move to Tyreek Hill.
The Rams couldn’t reply.
They don’t have a lot time to seek out options to their bigger points. They depart for New England on Saturday.
“Fortunately, it is a short week,” McVay mentioned. “Sometimes these bad tastes you have in your mouth after a game like this, you say let’s go back to work.”
That’s the message his gamers preached.
“We can’t dwell on this and be like, ‘Oh, no. Woe is me,’” Verse mentioned. “Nah. We’ve got to move on.”
