NFL Week 6 review
Steelers, Rams, Cowboys, Browns & 32 things
LOS ANGELES – It’s not a crisis just yet. But keep that panic button within arm’s reach.
After being physically dominated by undefeated San Francisco on Sunday, the Rams (3-3) are mired in their first three-game losing streak under head coach Sean McVay.
“Was it a humbling day for us?” McVay asked. “Absolutely. But it’s something that we’re going to learn from. We’re not going to let it demoralize us.”
More important, they sit in third place in a division the Rams have dominated since McVay was plucked from Washington to replace Jeff Fisher. Los Angeles went wire-to-wire to win the NFC West in McVay’s first two seasons as coach. The first time it looked up in the division standings under McVay was after the wild Week 4 loss to Tampa Bay, 36 games into his tenure. Now, the Rams are starting to lose touch with the 5-0 49ers and 5-1 Seattle, who both own valuable head-to-head wins.
“It’s a gut check,” quarterback Jared Goff said after San Francisco held him to a career-low 78 yards passing. “Are you who you say you are? I know who this team is. I know who these players are. I know who our coaches are. We have so much faith and belief in Sean and everyone else. We’re going to get right back on track.”
After driving the length of the field on seven running plays on the opening possession, taking a 7-0 lead on Robert Woods’ 8-yard end around, the Rams managed 101 yards of total offense over the final 51 minutes. San Francisco tied the score on Tevin Coleman’s 2-yard run in the first quarter and took control after a fumble by Rams rookie running back Darrell Henderson on the first play of the second half.
The Rams were left to kick themselves for missed opportunities, like running back Malcolm Brown being stopped on 4th-and-goal from the San Francisco 2 in the second quarter and two turnover-on-downs in the fourth.
“The reality is NFL football games come down to little, tiny plays here or there throughout game,” veteran tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “In the year before or even in 2017, we found a way to execute those little moments and get the momentum back, or make a big play that got us in the game or to take a lead and get control of the game. Right now, we’re just missing those plays. And when you do, it all kind of piles on you.”
That has started up front, where the Rams have been unable to solve an offseason transition on the offensive line. The Rams entered Week 5 ranked No. 31 in both pass blocking and run blocking, according to Pro Football Focus.
One of the healthiest teams in the league the past two seasons, the Rams have also been hit with a spate of injuries. They were without running back Todd Gurley (quadriceps), linebacker Clay Matthews III (broken jaw) and cornerback Aqib Talib (ribs) on Sunday.
“The reality is, in the NFL … the healthiest teams are usually the best ones,” Whitworth said. “We’re dealing with that a little bit. You know what, there’s no excuses. You find a way to help each other out ... go to the drawing board and find a way to win.”