Sean McVay knows where Rams must be better in order to snap losing streak to 49ers

[theramswire.usatoday.com] Sean McVay knows where Rams must be better in order to snap losing streak to 49ers

Cameron DaSilva
January 7, 2022 4:00 am PT

The Rams took the field at home against the 49ers in Week 10 after losing to the Titans the week prior. They were aiming to prevent a two-game losing streak, but instead, they were embarrassed by the 49ers.


San Francisco won that game 31-10, extending its winning streak against the Rams to five. Sean McVay wasn’t pleased with the way his team played that night, turning it over twice and allowing the 49ers to possess the ball for nearly 40 minutes, getting steamrolled in every way.

Ahead of Sunday’s rematch, Sean McVay shared what the Rams need to do in order to win this weekend.

“We need to play better in that three-hour window,” he said. “I need to coach better. We need to execute better. We need to take better care of the football – all the things that are indicative of playing good, clean football. They are a really well-coached team. They’ve got great players, good schemes. So, we (got to) be on the screws, but we’re excited about the challenge.”

The 49ers don’t boast the best offense in the league, but they maintain possession and run the ball successfully, which allows them to dictate the game and keep the ball away from the opposing offense.

That was true in Week 10 when they had just 335 total yards and gained only four more first downs than the Rams, but they didn’t turn it over and went 8-for-14 on third down.

“I thought in a lot of instances, the Niners are a really good offense,” McVay said. “They do a great job of being able to control the pace of the game, being able to run the football, and then the actions and different things that come off of it. But, we’ve just (got to) play good sound football snap in and snap out. Good execution. In a lot of instances too, it goes hand in hand with playing good team ball. Possess the ball. Be better on third downs. We can’t turn it over. Those are all good team goals that in essence will help our defense be better as well.”

The Rams’ offense did nothing to help the defense, with Stafford throwing two interceptions, including a pick-six that deflected off Tyler Higbee’s hands. The defense allowed two touchdown drives of 10-plus plays and ate a combined 18:55 off the clock, so this game loss wasn’t solely on the offense.

It was poor execution all the way around by the Rams.

“We kind of got behind early. They made some plays to kind of swing the momentum in their favor and then they did a good job of staying efficient and possessing the football,” McVay added. “So, that’s really what stood out. I can’t remember a time that I’ve seen a tipped screen pass go back the other way, but they made the plays. They did a good job, but it was really just that initial early momentum. And then their ability to be able to possess the football and our inability to be able to execute on some of the third downs offensively.”