1. There's a lot to unpack here, but the key to tonight's loss could not be more clear: Red Zone failures.
2. Three golden opportunities to get into the End Zone... three failures.
3. From there, the chain reaction starts...
4. Instead of the Bengals playing from behind, forcing Joe Burrow to do much, the Bengals were able to chip away and, ultimately, wear down a defense that, overall, did a good job.
5. Instead of the Rams being able to play to protect a lead, they had to play from behind.
6. Playing from behind on the road against a desperate team would be bad enough... if it were not for a key injury.
7. WTF is a former Dolphins MLB doing playing LT?????
8. Yes, I know it wasn't that Zach Thomas, but it may as well have been.
9. I have to give a lot of blame to Sean McVay. His play calling was poor. The word I'd use is "impatient." Instead of using the running game in the Red Zone (which he didn't do until his ill-timed running play on the final drive), he had Stafford drop back, leaving him vulnerable to the pass rush.
10. Why, in a game that was close throughout, do you call 12 running plays and 40 passing plays (again, particularly with the protection issues that became particularly pronounced after Jackson left the game)? The Rams averaged 5.8 ypc on those runs, so its not like we abandoned the run because it wasn't working. McVay gets a very bad grade tonight.
11. Stafford also gets a sub-par grade. Yes, he was under duress way too much (6 sacks, 10 QB hits). But there were some plays in which he held the ball too long, and he had some poor throws.
12. Third down play... abysmal. Again, the inability to protect Stafford was the key here, but the failure to play methodically to avoid 3rd and long was a big key here.
13. Its hard to blame the defense. Yes, I'd like to see more than 1 turnover forced in three games, but they're not getting enough chances to pin their ears back and really pressure.
14. My defensive MVP is Aaron Donald. 7 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 2 QB hits.
15. My offensive MVP (somewhat by default) is Tutu Atwell. He contributed two big plays and the Rams' only TD (missing a second TD by a half inch).
16. Hopefully, Jackson's injury is minor, but it will be a short week for him to heal. If he can't go, I'd put Noteboom at LT and Anchrum at RG. Thomas doesn't belong out there.
17. We really missed Cooper Kupp tonight. As amazing as Puka Nacua has been, Kupp is unique. No way do we fail to convert 10 straight 3rd downs with him on the field.
18. If anyone has an impulse to blame the defense, here's a stat for you... The defense allowed only 4.7 yards per play, despite having to be on the field for 36 minutes.
19. Byron Young is a keeper.
20. Off to Indy. First game against a non-playoff team from last year. A win would bring us back to .500, with Kupp (hopefully) coming back for a three game home stand (Eagles, Cardinals, Steelers). There are opportunities ahead but, if tonight showed us anything, if you fail to grab those opportunities, it will come back to bite you.
2. Three golden opportunities to get into the End Zone... three failures.
3. From there, the chain reaction starts...
4. Instead of the Bengals playing from behind, forcing Joe Burrow to do much, the Bengals were able to chip away and, ultimately, wear down a defense that, overall, did a good job.
5. Instead of the Rams being able to play to protect a lead, they had to play from behind.
6. Playing from behind on the road against a desperate team would be bad enough... if it were not for a key injury.
7. WTF is a former Dolphins MLB doing playing LT?????
8. Yes, I know it wasn't that Zach Thomas, but it may as well have been.
9. I have to give a lot of blame to Sean McVay. His play calling was poor. The word I'd use is "impatient." Instead of using the running game in the Red Zone (which he didn't do until his ill-timed running play on the final drive), he had Stafford drop back, leaving him vulnerable to the pass rush.
10. Why, in a game that was close throughout, do you call 12 running plays and 40 passing plays (again, particularly with the protection issues that became particularly pronounced after Jackson left the game)? The Rams averaged 5.8 ypc on those runs, so its not like we abandoned the run because it wasn't working. McVay gets a very bad grade tonight.
11. Stafford also gets a sub-par grade. Yes, he was under duress way too much (6 sacks, 10 QB hits). But there were some plays in which he held the ball too long, and he had some poor throws.
12. Third down play... abysmal. Again, the inability to protect Stafford was the key here, but the failure to play methodically to avoid 3rd and long was a big key here.
13. Its hard to blame the defense. Yes, I'd like to see more than 1 turnover forced in three games, but they're not getting enough chances to pin their ears back and really pressure.
14. My defensive MVP is Aaron Donald. 7 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 2 QB hits.
15. My offensive MVP (somewhat by default) is Tutu Atwell. He contributed two big plays and the Rams' only TD (missing a second TD by a half inch).
16. Hopefully, Jackson's injury is minor, but it will be a short week for him to heal. If he can't go, I'd put Noteboom at LT and Anchrum at RG. Thomas doesn't belong out there.
17. We really missed Cooper Kupp tonight. As amazing as Puka Nacua has been, Kupp is unique. No way do we fail to convert 10 straight 3rd downs with him on the field.
18. If anyone has an impulse to blame the defense, here's a stat for you... The defense allowed only 4.7 yards per play, despite having to be on the field for 36 minutes.
19. Byron Young is a keeper.
20. Off to Indy. First game against a non-playoff team from last year. A win would bring us back to .500, with Kupp (hopefully) coming back for a three game home stand (Eagles, Cardinals, Steelers). There are opportunities ahead but, if tonight showed us anything, if you fail to grab those opportunities, it will come back to bite you.
