1. McVay I believe was right with his game plan. The Panthers are 19thish against the pass and the run. The difference was that the were missing half their secondary. The Rams marched right down the field (all 35 yards) 4 passes and 1 run for 4 yards. So his idea to attack a weakened secondary was working. He was also avoiding Brown and Robinson a pair of 320 lb DTs in the run game. Next drive was 5 passes and 2 runs. The big chunk was on a pass. Ball hits helmet, crap happens. Pick 6, horrid throw. Tie up the game, again the chunk play was in the passing game. Next dive was run, run, 51 yard pass, then 4 runs to take the lead.
Where McVay should have kept running was the pick 6 drive. 7 yard run, followed by a 6 yard run, then pass, pass. Its tied at 7, 2 good runs, keep pounding the rock IMO. Rams still ad the lead at halftime. Then Carolina comes out scores on a long drive and the Rams went 3 and out with a run and 2 passes. He didn't abandon the run. They simply never had the ball in the 3rd quarter.
4th quarter drive: 3 runs for 52 yards to start out. Again, not abandoning the run. 2 passes including a 31 yard ho hum catch from Puka that he almost somehow dropped. Then finished it with a rushing TD. Final drive, 5 passes for 33 yards. Then a run. 4 yards on 2nd and 10, leading to 3rd and 6. 13 yard completion to Puka. Thats a passing down. then 2 runs for 5 yards and a 5 yard penalty makes it 3rd and 10 and a sack fumble. Ball game.
McVay never abandoned the run and Stafford was regularly getting chuck yards on passing. The game plan was solid. No OC game plans his QB throwing 2 ints and fumbling, or only having the ball for 3 plays in an entire quarter.
2. Not sure it was the players or the DC, but that was an awful display of run defense. They should all learn form this. 1 run was for 18 yards, everything else was 2 to 7 yard runs. So its not like the D got gashed. They just couldn't do enough to keep Carolina in 3rd and long.
3. Defensive players earn the right to rush the passer by stopping the run. Thats the rule. They didn't earn the right to rush the passer enough.
4. I'm not down on Forbes today. But it will be nice to get Witherspoon back and making that secondary stronger. On the game winner, Forbes was on an island and he looked like he guessed wrong on the ball in the air. He wasn't beat, until he changed direction towards the sideline instead of staying with Mac towards the endzone.
5. There was no way Stafford was gonna stay on a heater like that for 9 more games. Glad he got that out of his system.
6. Even with the poor defense, Stafford giving away the football like halloween candy, on the road, in the rain, the Rams still had a shot at winning that game.
7. I'm not worried about Chicago. At all, not even a little. I'm thinking the NFC North cannibalize themselves down the stretch.
8. It weird seeing so much negativity in regards to the Seahawks. Under McVay the Rams are 12-6 against the Hawks. Darnold is 0-3 in the last 2 years against Shula's defense.
9. This hurt Staffords MVP chances, but if Maye wins the award with that cupcake schedule the Pats have played, it'll be a massive injustice to a HoF QB that has genuinely earned it this year (to date)
10. As a fan, I hate being a frontrunner. All the #1 team in the NFL and the all the SB favorite odds makers stuff makes me nervous. I personally like to lurk right behind the lead dog. But thats just me.
11. You learn more from losses than wins, so yesterday school was in session.
12. Man is Atlanta melting down. I know some fans on the board this spring after the draft pick trade thought that Atlanta had a legit shot at the division and playoffs and the pick would be in the 20s. Welp, its spiraling towards a top 10 pick if it isn't right now.
13. Speaking of melting, are there fans worried about HFA? I get the 1 less game, but this Rams team took Philly to the brink in Philly last year and I just don't think this Rams team is like Rams teams of the past. This one plays defense and can run the football. Those things travel. I still would take the Rams over any team in the hunt in the NFC right now.
14. Now back to feeding cattle in 8 degree weather. But hey, the sun is shining...
Don't waste your time looking back, you're not going that way. - Ragnar Lothbrok
