The Los Angeles Rams, who everyone pegged as the overwhelming Super Bowl favorite going into this season, are somehow sitting at a dismal 2-4. They are already lagging well behind the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West race, and their latest loss to the Arizona Cardinals wasn’t just another notch in the L column, it was the biggest upset of the entire NFL season. Seriously, how did that happen? We dug into what league execs and scouts are saying about this mess in L.A., and what we found out is wild.
The “Dream Team” Is Having a Nightmare
League sources aren’t exactly shocked by the Rams’ abysmal start, even if the rest of us are. Remember when everyone was hyping up their roster construction this summer? “Everyone loved their roster construction this summer!” an NFL front office executive told us. They were dubbed the “Dream Team” for a reason. But here’s the kicker: the same executive isn’t “overly critical of it” now. Why? Because that “Dream Team” came with a catch. This is an older roster, making them way more susceptible to injuries or a steep decline in performance. And guess what? That’s exactly what’s happening. They’ve been hit with some truly bad luck in a couple of games, and now they’re dealing with the Kobie Turner injury on top of that. This team has always lacked depth, which is why their special teams play has been so poor. It’s a combination of bad luck and relying on an older roster. They’ve already lost foundational players like Myles Garrett, Davante Adams, and Turner to injured reserve.
Close Calls, Kicker Woes, and a Glimmer of Hope?
It’s not all doom and gloom from everyone, though. Another league source who’s seen the Rams play in person this season says they “easily could have won the last two games.” They should be 3-3 or 4-2, but they’re stuck at 2-4. Three of their four losses came in the final moments of the game, including an overtime heartbreaker against the Buffalo Bills where kicker Harrison Mevis had his game-winning field goal attempt blocked, leading to his release. Missing kicks is missing kicks, sure, and they even got a bad call in Denver. The most baffling part for this source was their inability to score more points against the Cardinals last game. Aside from that, though, it’s “nothing shocking” to this person. The margins are small, and let’s be fair, they’ve played some tough teams, with three of their four losses coming against last season’s playoff contenders: the 49ers, Broncos, and Bills. The good news for Rams fans, if there is any, is that the schedule gets much easier. Over their next four games, L.A. faces teams with a combined record of 6-17-1. Plus, despite the issues, that executive still thinks they’ll be okay because they have an elite coaching staff in place.
But don’t pop the champagne just yet, Rams fans. A longtime scout is still concerned about Sean McVay’s long-term prospects for the rest of the year. The pressure of going all-in for the Super Bowl, like they did in the past with that “F’ them picks” mentality, and winning that year, is intensifying now. They need to turn this around. Their schedule lightens up, but they have to execute.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply