A Tale of Two Coaches

A Tale of Two Coaches

Many are focused on a close non-call. That played a part in the end, but the bigger story is how both coaches faced down adversity, and how their players fed off of it, or didn't.

Down 13-0 with a crowd drowning out his offense which was falling apart in front of his eyes, McVay didn't flinch. His internal strength and belief carried the Rams through that storm and was picked up by the players (evidenced by their post-game remarks) and he gave the Rams their chance to succeed. As a leader of men, McVay did not fold, as a result we grabbed the chance to win when Zeurlein, riding the confidence of his coach, nailed it from 57.

Tied 20-20 with a chance to drain the clock and go ahead by 3 or 7 leaving the Rams with only seconds to respond, Payton took an unnecessary chance. Wanting to go for the jugular, he rolled snake-eyes. He didn't get the call and he let the Rams off the hook. Just wow. But even worse is how he responded through the rest of the game, arguing with the refs, standing there with his off-putting smirk. Did he steel his players to defend the Rams in regulation and OT? Or did the Rams' resiliency, thanks to McVay, defeat a team that was suddenly rudderless, playing without emotion or intensity? I think it was the latter.

How the two coaches responded to adversity--that is the real story of this game.